Call number
FIC RUS
Collection
Genres
Series
Publication
Villard (1998), Edition: 1st, 436 pages
Description
Mary Doria Russell's debut novel, The Sparrow, took us on a journey to a distant planet and into the center of the human soul. A critically acclaimed bestseller, The Sparrow was chosen as one of Entertainment Weekly's Ten Best Books of the Year, a finalist for the Book-of-the-Month Club's First Fiction Prize and the winner of the James M. Tiptree Memorial Award. Now, in Children of God, Russell further establishes herself as one of the most innovative, entertaining and philosophically provocative novelists writing today. The only member of the original mission to the planet Rakhat to return to Earth, Father Emilio Sandoz has barely begun to recover from his ordeal when the So-ciety of Jesus calls upon him for help in preparing for another mission to Alpha Centauri. Despite his objections and fear, he cannot escape his past or the future. Old friends, new discoveries and difficult questions await Emilio as he struggles for inner peace and understanding in a moral universe whose boundaries now extend beyond the solar system and whose future lies with children born in a faraway place. Strikingly original, richly plotted, replete with memorable characters and filled with humanity and humor, Chil-dren of God is an unforgettable and uplifting novel that is a potent successor to The Sparrow and a startlingly imaginative adventure for newcomers to Mary Doria Russell's special literary magic. From the Hardcover edition.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member bnbooklady
While I found this book thoroughly enjoyable and as well constructed as Russell's debut novel, I didn't love it the way I loved The Sparrow. Part of the beauty of the first book was that it left the reader with so many questions and so much to think about...the fact that this book provides
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resolution to many of those questions was nice but also a bit unsettling. Some of the storylines seemed to wrap up a bit too neatly, and Russell seemed less willing to ask the hard questions and examine the gritty details of her characters' experiences. Still a very good read and an almost-necessary follow-up for anyone who read The Sparrow, if for nothing else than to end the torture of wondering what happens next. Show Less
LibraryThing member dudes22
I read Mary Doria Russell’s [The Sparrow] for the May SFFF and knew I’d need to read [Children of God], the follow-up novel for this month’s SFFF. I have heard much about (but not read) her novels [Doc] and [Epitaph], so I was curious that her first two novels were actually SF and written 9/7
In [Children of God], the remaining priest from the first mission Emilio Sandoz is asked to return to Rakhat on another mission. The story alternates between how he comes to be on the mission there, what has happened on the planet since he left, and what happens once he returns.
I found this book perhaps even better than [The Sparrow]. I don’t read a lot of SF, but I thought she did an excellent job of world building in both books; names, relationships, plants, tools, languages, rules of society, etc create a believable place and I was invested in the story. At the same time, this book delves more deeply into the moral and ethical questions of inhabiting and changing an existing people. And I saw many parallels in how the questions raised could be applied every day.
For those of you who liked [Doc] or [Epitaph], and for those of you who like SF, I highly recommend this series of books.
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years before her first stand-alone novel.In [Children of God], the remaining priest from the first mission Emilio Sandoz is asked to return to Rakhat on another mission. The story alternates between how he comes to be on the mission there, what has happened on the planet since he left, and what happens once he returns.
I found this book perhaps even better than [The Sparrow]. I don’t read a lot of SF, but I thought she did an excellent job of world building in both books; names, relationships, plants, tools, languages, rules of society, etc create a believable place and I was invested in the story. At the same time, this book delves more deeply into the moral and ethical questions of inhabiting and changing an existing people. And I saw many parallels in how the questions raised could be applied every day.
For those of you who liked [Doc] or [Epitaph], and for those of you who like SF, I highly recommend this series of books.
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LibraryThing member Lisa2013
recommended by: Sandi Kallas
recommended for: every reader who has read the author’s The Sparrow but none who have not
I am so glad that Mary Doria Russell continued with the story from The Sparrow. I was so happy to see some of the characters from that book in this one. It’s my favorite kind of
This is a fascinating study of human and other sentient being psychology and cultural and social anthropology, which is how I saw it what with my predilections, and because my personal philosophy differs from many of these characters and from most people, I did not see it as a story about G-d or religion. I do like that the author has converted to Judaism and I do like the references to Judaism in the book, a lot. It was particularly moving to read about this subject when the events are taking place on another planet with humans and two sentient species native to the foreign planet.
She writes very interesting characters although in this book I felt as though the plot got bogged down at a few points and it took me some time to warm up to many of the new characters. I felt impatient occasionally which did not happen with The Sparrow. I also feel outrage that (unless I missed it?) a certain character did not tell another something that would have been of great solace to him and that also would have also been better for the story, I think.
This book could work as a stand alone book but I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone who hasn’t read The Sparrow. I don’t think this book is as well crafted as The Sparrow but I can’t conceive of reading The Sparrow without finding how this story continues and what happens with the characters and their descendents. I now think of these two as one book.
As a vegan both these two Mary Doria Russell books gave me much “food for thought” and I think that was even more so with Children of God than it was with The Sparrow.
If I wasn’t reading this as a continuation of The Sparrow it would have probably received only 3 and maybe only 2 stars from me.
recommended for: every reader who has read the author’s The Sparrow but none who have not
I am so glad that Mary Doria Russell continued with the story from The Sparrow. I was so happy to see some of the characters from that book in this one. It’s my favorite kind of
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science fiction: character driven and thought provoking. This one had me sobbing at the end.This is a fascinating study of human and other sentient being psychology and cultural and social anthropology, which is how I saw it what with my predilections, and because my personal philosophy differs from many of these characters and from most people, I did not see it as a story about G-d or religion. I do like that the author has converted to Judaism and I do like the references to Judaism in the book, a lot. It was particularly moving to read about this subject when the events are taking place on another planet with humans and two sentient species native to the foreign planet.
She writes very interesting characters although in this book I felt as though the plot got bogged down at a few points and it took me some time to warm up to many of the new characters. I felt impatient occasionally which did not happen with The Sparrow. I also feel outrage that (unless I missed it?) a certain character did not tell another something that would have been of great solace to him and that also would have also been better for the story, I think.
This book could work as a stand alone book but I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone who hasn’t read The Sparrow. I don’t think this book is as well crafted as The Sparrow but I can’t conceive of reading The Sparrow without finding how this story continues and what happens with the characters and their descendents. I now think of these two as one book.
As a vegan both these two Mary Doria Russell books gave me much “food for thought” and I think that was even more so with Children of God than it was with The Sparrow.
If I wasn’t reading this as a continuation of The Sparrow it would have probably received only 3 and maybe only 2 stars from me.
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LibraryThing member kevinashley
I seem to be one of the few reviewers of this book who has not read, nor even was aware of, its prequel "The Sparrow." So bear that in mind if you read on...
This was a powerful and well-written story of alien contact, religion, betrayal, love and a heap of other things besides, and quite different
It threatens to be all these things and yet it isn't; although the metaphors are certainly there they aren't central to the story. The two similar-but-not-identical species of aliens are anthropomorphic in many ways and yet also truly alien in subtle but telling ways. The moral message is mixed if it exists at all, and there's a lot of tragedy which is not necessarily redemptive nor an inevitable consequence of character flaw.
A good read, and a thought-provoking one.
This was a powerful and well-written story of alien contact, religion, betrayal, love and a heap of other things besides, and quite different
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from anything I've read for some time. Yet it wasn't always apparent as I was reading it that this was so. It has a set of intermingled plots that keep pace throughout the book, but other aspects of the novel wax and wane. I thought in the early chapters that it might become a religious polemic of some sort, but thankfully it wasn't. And then I imagined that it might return to the themes that James Blish explored in "A Case of Conscience", and I was most surprised when it skirted that as well. And then I began to wonder if it was going to become a heavy-handed metaphor for apartheid, or the Holocaust, or other instances of human hatred.It threatens to be all these things and yet it isn't; although the metaphors are certainly there they aren't central to the story. The two similar-but-not-identical species of aliens are anthropomorphic in many ways and yet also truly alien in subtle but telling ways. The moral message is mixed if it exists at all, and there's a lot of tragedy which is not necessarily redemptive nor an inevitable consequence of character flaw.
A good read, and a thought-provoking one.
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LibraryThing member amf0001
This is the sequel to the Sparrow which so moved me. I think it made clear for me the problem that millions of death is horror but one death is tragedy. We deal with the aftermath of the Sparrow and what happens to Rakhat aftter the first disasterous Jesuit mission. There are many many more deaths
It was a satisfying read and a good conclusion, I would recommend it easily and consider it a keeper, but the Sparrow held more power for me.
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and destruction, but I didn't care for any of the characters as much as I had cared for the original missionk, and Emilio held the book together for me. It was a satisfying read and a good conclusion, I would recommend it easily and consider it a keeper, but the Sparrow held more power for me.
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LibraryThing member MarthaJeanne
The Sparrow was more powerful, but this one wrapped up the loose ends. Both are exeedingly good books.
LibraryThing member hoosgracie
In a follow-up to the Sparrow, her excellent science fiction novel of Jesuits exploring a new world, Russel continues to explore the consequences of interacting with new “speciesÂ? both socially and religiously. Excellent.
LibraryThing member BCCJillster
The answers so many questions from The Sparrow, but not as inspiring as The Sparrow. Still a must read
LibraryThing member Carole114
Only the second sci fi book [not a SF fan] that I can truly say I loved. Doria Russell is a wonderful writer.
LibraryThing member mdbenoit
Children of God is Maria Doria Russell’s sequel to The Sparrow. In her first book, we followed a Jesuit mission to another planet, which resulted in total failure, especially for its lone survivor, Father Emilio Sandoz, who returns to Earth, ill and broken, under suspicion of prostitution and
In the second book, we follow Sandoz’s struggle to achieve a Godless but satisfactory life on Earth, the consequences of his unwillingness to return for a second mission to the alien planet, as well as the tragic effects of the first mission on the two sentient races they left behind.
It is difficult to talk about this book without revealing the previous book’s storyline and ending, and it’s even more difficult to discuss this book’s story without giving away the salient points and ruining the reading experience.
I can, however, talk about Russell’s writing and my reaction to Children of God. Most sequels, as a rule, have disappointed me, especially if I liked the first book. It’s not the case, here. If anything, Children of God is more complex, better written, more intense than the first. So intense, in fact, that I had to set aside the book several times to center myself, find a measure of calm, digest the underlying meanings of apparently simple dialogue or character’s thoughts.
Here, Emilio Sandoz again takes center stage, but only in half of the story. He is the one we know, the one we’ve suffered with. But there are others, now: the two races of the alien planet with, in each of them, unique individuals who care passionately for life, and sometimes for just their way of life. Sandoz’s and their lives are presented to us in an intricate web of events that left me in awe about its complexity and breadth. Again, the story is about the quest of the divine, of the existence of God, of his repudiation, of God’s goals towards his children. But it is not a book about religion. It does not preach. It asks more questions than it answers, leaving us with searching our own souls for the divine.
Children of God, however, is not a story in itself, and it may be its only fault. I would have found it difficult, if not impossible, to read it without having read The Sparrow. It would also have been my loss. They are not two books, two stories, but one, split in two, even though they are pretty much indivisible. The story culminates, in all its horror, but there’s also a message in its ending. Whatever happens, in our small, short lives, it is possible to find peace.
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murder.In the second book, we follow Sandoz’s struggle to achieve a Godless but satisfactory life on Earth, the consequences of his unwillingness to return for a second mission to the alien planet, as well as the tragic effects of the first mission on the two sentient races they left behind.
It is difficult to talk about this book without revealing the previous book’s storyline and ending, and it’s even more difficult to discuss this book’s story without giving away the salient points and ruining the reading experience.
I can, however, talk about Russell’s writing and my reaction to Children of God. Most sequels, as a rule, have disappointed me, especially if I liked the first book. It’s not the case, here. If anything, Children of God is more complex, better written, more intense than the first. So intense, in fact, that I had to set aside the book several times to center myself, find a measure of calm, digest the underlying meanings of apparently simple dialogue or character’s thoughts.
Here, Emilio Sandoz again takes center stage, but only in half of the story. He is the one we know, the one we’ve suffered with. But there are others, now: the two races of the alien planet with, in each of them, unique individuals who care passionately for life, and sometimes for just their way of life. Sandoz’s and their lives are presented to us in an intricate web of events that left me in awe about its complexity and breadth. Again, the story is about the quest of the divine, of the existence of God, of his repudiation, of God’s goals towards his children. But it is not a book about religion. It does not preach. It asks more questions than it answers, leaving us with searching our own souls for the divine.
Children of God, however, is not a story in itself, and it may be its only fault. I would have found it difficult, if not impossible, to read it without having read The Sparrow. It would also have been my loss. They are not two books, two stories, but one, split in two, even though they are pretty much indivisible. The story culminates, in all its horror, but there’s also a message in its ending. Whatever happens, in our small, short lives, it is possible to find peace.
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LibraryThing member JGoto
The charcters in this sequel to The Sparrow were not as believable or as likeable as those in the first book. The book was, however, worth reading because it gave further insight into the chain of events which took place in The Sparrow.
LibraryThing member whitetara
I never thought at the end of The Sparrow that there could be a successful follow-up to that story. But I was wrong. Once again, Ms. Russell takes you on another journey that puts your own opinions and emotions at question over who you think is "good" or "bad" in a very subtle way. I enjoyed this
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just as much as her first book and wish the story of these characters could just keep going. Show Less
LibraryThing member VirginiaGill
I so enjoyed The Sparrow that reading the rest of the story was essential. While I have liked The Children of God it did not grip me in the same ways The Sparrow did from page one. A good read, one I do not regret, but not one I'd shout about from the mountain tops like I have been The Sparrow.
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Well worth a read though. Show Less
LibraryThing member mckait
Sequel to The Sparrow... fantastic read.. somewhat sad..Russell is among the best storytellers I have found.
LibraryThing member chaws
Not as satisfyingly tragic as the prequel (The Sparrow), and it risks being didactic at times, but an enjoyable read overall.
LibraryThing member the_awesome_opossum
Children of God is the sequel to The Sparrow, taking place just a little bit after the first book. The Jesuits are determined to send a second mission to Rakhat, and Emilio Sandoz has to come to terms with what he faced on the planet the first time. Although it's not as tightly written as the
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Sparrow, Children of God is still a compelling book for the complex and fascinating world that Russell builds, and her unique and lovable characters. Well worth the read Show Less
LibraryThing member anyanwubutler
The terrible betrayal that Sandoz experienced at the hands of the Rakhat was a colossal misunderstanding. The betrayal that Sandoz experiences at the hands of the Father General of the Society of Jesus and The Pope can have no similar justification. Sandoz has gotten on with his life. The emotional
On Rakhat Sofia has lead her Runa revolution against the Jana‘ata, she has had her and Jimmy‘s son Isaac. Isaac is autistic. At the end of the book Isaac tells Sandoz, “It’s God’s music. You came here so I would find it.” That it was for Isaac’s music, that is based on the DNA of humans, Runa and Jana’ata played together that you originally came to Rakhat.
Vincenzo Giuliani the Father General of the Society of Jesus is having a conversation with Daniel Iron Horse who will be the Jesuit in charge of the second mission .
“The Pope believes Sandoz must return to Rakhat to learn why he was sent there in the first place. He believes Sandoz is beloved of God.”
Danny pursed his lips judiciously. “Like Saint Theresa said: If that’s how God treats his friends, it’s no wonder He’s got so few of them… Sandoz is medically fragile, emotionally unstable and mentally unreliable. This mission doesn’t require him and I don’t want him on it.”
“He is the toughest man I’ve ever known, Danny. If you had seen what he was like a year ago, even a few months ago…. He will be on that ship, Father Iron Horse. Causa finita. The matter is closed.”
…”Taking Sandoz back to Rakhat is the price of getting the Supression lifted, isn’t it. All we have to do is humor the Pope! Put one poor, old, broken- down ex-Jeb on the next ship out, and win, lose or draw-- the prodigals shall be welcomed back to the bosom of Peter, with Vatican bells ringing and a glory of angels shouting hosannah.”
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and physical pain is no longer constant. He falls in love and is about to marry, when he is beaten, kidnapped and put on a ship bound for Rakhat. On Rakhat Sofia has lead her Runa revolution against the Jana‘ata, she has had her and Jimmy‘s son Isaac. Isaac is autistic. At the end of the book Isaac tells Sandoz, “It’s God’s music. You came here so I would find it.” That it was for Isaac’s music, that is based on the DNA of humans, Runa and Jana’ata played together that you originally came to Rakhat.
Vincenzo Giuliani the Father General of the Society of Jesus is having a conversation with Daniel Iron Horse who will be the Jesuit in charge of the second mission .
“The Pope believes Sandoz must return to Rakhat to learn why he was sent there in the first place. He believes Sandoz is beloved of God.”
Danny pursed his lips judiciously. “Like Saint Theresa said: If that’s how God treats his friends, it’s no wonder He’s got so few of them… Sandoz is medically fragile, emotionally unstable and mentally unreliable. This mission doesn’t require him and I don’t want him on it.”
“He is the toughest man I’ve ever known, Danny. If you had seen what he was like a year ago, even a few months ago…. He will be on that ship, Father Iron Horse. Causa finita. The matter is closed.”
…”Taking Sandoz back to Rakhat is the price of getting the Supression lifted, isn’t it. All we have to do is humor the Pope! Put one poor, old, broken- down ex-Jeb on the next ship out, and win, lose or draw-- the prodigals shall be welcomed back to the bosom of Peter, with Vatican bells ringing and a glory of angels shouting hosannah.”
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LibraryThing member elmyra
This is, overall, not a worthy successor to The Sparrow. Getting comparisons out of the way first, the structure is less tight, parts of the plot more ropey, and the ending is extremely unsatisfying. On the other foot, some of the characters we met in The Sparrow acquire more depth here, most
Having said that, the ending was god-awful - pun intended. It was cheap, not internally consistent (Isaac's music is Deus ex Machina of the worst kind), and morally shocking in all the wrong ways. And the trouble is, I can't even choose to read it a different way anymore: Mary Doria Russell seems to be advocating a moral absolutism that I just cannot deal with. On top of that the strong environmental message of The Sparrow is turned on its head here, with the Runa overrunning the planet with a rapid population increase driven by agriculture, having committed an almost unquestioned genocide against the Jana'ata under Sophia's leadership, and the only questioning of whether this is any way a good thing happens in two lines uttered by one of the supporting cast. The humans end up imposing their values and to a great extent their religion on both Runa and Jana'ata, and everyone who survives seems to live happily ever after.
Let's just say I'm unimpressed.
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notably Hlavin Kitheri and Supaari VaGayjur. I'm not entirely sure I want to make any sort of judgment on Sophia, and the characters introduced for the first time in this book remain as one-dimensional as the supporting cast was in The Sparrow. Like The Sparrow, Children of God is a quick and addictive read. The actual language has improved a touch. Most of the book, in fact, was, despite the aforementioned flaws, an enjoyable read.Having said that, the ending was god-awful - pun intended. It was cheap, not internally consistent (Isaac's music is Deus ex Machina of the worst kind), and morally shocking in all the wrong ways. And the trouble is, I can't even choose to read it a different way anymore: Mary Doria Russell seems to be advocating a moral absolutism that I just cannot deal with. On top of that the strong environmental message of The Sparrow is turned on its head here, with the Runa overrunning the planet with a rapid population increase driven by agriculture, having committed an almost unquestioned genocide against the Jana'ata under Sophia's leadership, and the only questioning of whether this is any way a good thing happens in two lines uttered by one of the supporting cast. The humans end up imposing their values and to a great extent their religion on both Runa and Jana'ata, and everyone who survives seems to live happily ever after.
Let's just say I'm unimpressed.
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LibraryThing member tobiejonzarelli
In this sequel to The Sparrow, which won the Arthur C. Clarke prize in Britain, we find that Father Emilio Sandoz, a Jesuit who barely survived his trip to Rakhat where he watched the remains of his expedition massacred by the Jana'ata, and was physically brutalized by Hlavin Kitheri, has lost his
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faith. Russell uses not only the schism between the Runa and the Ja'anata in this Rakhatian society to explore existential questions of life, but adds more fuel to the fire as we feel Sandoz' internal war with his god. As in the Sparrow we meet new characters that are complex but not quite as memorable as in her first work. While I think this is a great sequel, I personally preferred his first work. The depth and range of the issues that Russell addresses are astonishing, including slavery, abuse, faith, meaning, friendship, and duty, and it didn't hurt that the Jesuits were known to utter a few curses. I enjoyed it and look forward to her next work. Show Less
LibraryThing member Gwendydd
When I first found out there was a sequel to The Sparrow, I wasn't sure if I liked the idea - sequels are rarely as good as the original. However, The Sparrow left Emilio in some pretty bad space, and I'm really glad Russell wrote a sequel to resolve his crises.
The book is amazing. It delves into
[SPOILER ALERT!]
However, it's much easier to write a really good book about someone losing their faith, and much harder to write a really good book about someone regaining their faith, especially after such a hard shock as Emilio's. The events that lead to Emilio's renewed relationship with God are very credible and very creative. Somehow, though, I found the end of the book somewhat unsatisfying, maybe because I felt it ended rather suddenly.
The book is amazing. It delves into
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a lot of the incidents in The Sparrow in more detail, but from the Ja'anata and Runa point of view. Russell has done an incredible job of creating not just one but two very believable alien species and cultures. It is very enlightening to hear the aliens' point of view, and fascinating to see how they react to the events spawned by the human visitors.[SPOILER ALERT!]
However, it's much easier to write a really good book about someone losing their faith, and much harder to write a really good book about someone regaining their faith, especially after such a hard shock as Emilio's. The events that lead to Emilio's renewed relationship with God are very credible and very creative. Somehow, though, I found the end of the book somewhat unsatisfying, maybe because I felt it ended rather suddenly.
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LibraryThing member CaroTheLibrarian
PLUS -
• Sequel to the enjoyable Children of God so worth a read to find out what happens next. But…
MINUS -
• Not as gripping as Children of God
• A bit too much emphasis on the politics and history of Rakhat which was rather difficult to follow at times.
• The newer characters, introduced
• Sequel to the enjoyable Children of God so worth a read to find out what happens next. But…
MINUS -
• Not as gripping as Children of God
• A bit too much emphasis on the politics and history of Rakhat which was rather difficult to follow at times.
• The newer characters, introduced
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in this sequel didn’t seem as well developed as some of the others. Or maybe it’s just that they weren’t as likeable. Show Less
LibraryThing member rampaginglibrarian
The sequel to "The Sparrow," i had to start this, the second i finished "The Sparrow" and it totally lived up to that book, or so i think. They can both stand on their own but both should be read.
LibraryThing member chndlrs
Really enjoyed this thought-provoking two-book series. The Sparrow and Children of God relay the story of Jesuit first contact with a new culture. Questions of faith and doubt are masterfully wrestled with as misunderstandings led to hardships and despair.
LibraryThing member Mumineurope
Sequel to The Sparrow, brilliant.
LibraryThing member stephmo
While I didn't fall into the camp of best book EVAH!!! when it came to The Sparrow, I found it just good enough to look forward to reading Children of God not just because it was for book club, but because I genuinely wanted to know where the story was going to go. I had actually found the
The question of Sandoz and what he'll do is resolved with the rest of his life is resolved in short order. With this taken care of and presented with over 350 pages of, "so, what do we do now?" we're given something that resembles a nighttime soap opera in space. Kidnappings! Characters back from the dead! Bad guys turning good! Mafia! Political upheavals! Nearly magical children! Endings with pretty bows. Ugh. For as subtle as the first book was, this just felt like being pummeled with 2x4's with occasional interludes of made-up political histories that I was supposed to care about with a side of religious philosophy so I could feel like this book was important with air quotes.
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ambiguity in the end of the first book satisfying, so maybe my expectations for the sequel were set a bit high. After all, if you're going to answer unanswered questions, we can't just go through the motions, right? Unfortunately, for all of the supposed action that takes place, we merely seem to be doing just that...The question of Sandoz and what he'll do is resolved with the rest of his life is resolved in short order. With this taken care of and presented with over 350 pages of, "so, what do we do now?" we're given something that resembles a nighttime soap opera in space. Kidnappings! Characters back from the dead! Bad guys turning good! Mafia! Political upheavals! Nearly magical children! Endings with pretty bows. Ugh. For as subtle as the first book was, this just felt like being pummeled with 2x4's with occasional interludes of made-up political histories that I was supposed to care about with a side of religious philosophy so I could feel like this book was important with air quotes.
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Awards
Hugo Award (Nominee — Novel — 1999)
Gaylactic Spectrum Award (Nominee — Hall of Fame — 2000)
British Science Fiction Association Award (Shortlist — Novel — 1999)
Otherwise Award (Long list — 1998)
Pages
436
ISBN
067945635X / 9780679456353