The Sparrow

20 Sci-Fi Novels that Will Change Your Life (20 books items)

"Everything you learned about first contact between humans and aliens was wrong. This strange and sad book chronicles what happens when the Catholic Church sends missionaries to a planet where astronomers have discovered life. The two species of aliens our protagonist priest meets are terrifying in their difference from humans — and make the priest an alien to himself. Hauntingly written, this is literary science fiction at its best."

Blew My Mind

“Are you open minded? Read this book and find out for sure. In the future the first interplanetary mission is funded by the Jesuits. The team is made up of Jesuits and non-religious specialists. Only one priest survives to tell the tale. The philosophical quandaries that develop make the reader think and see things from many different angles. I particularly like the fact there are no "bad guys", just everybody doing what they think is right, and that which will benefit themselves. This is the second time I have read this book (and I almost never do that) and it was as good the second time around. If I have any problems with this book it is that everybody is too likable, but maybe that only serves to make the outcome more intriguing.” read more

“Beginning in the year 2059 the story cuts between past and present. Father Emilio Sandoz is a reformed no hoper with a great capacity for languages. He is the sole survivor of a failed mission to the planet Rahkat. The mission was funded by some sort of Jesuit HQ, to investigate beautiful music heard on this planet. It’s thought that such music must have been made by an intelligent life form. Very lively and imaginative.” read more