Children of God

memorable

i read this book over ten years ago and still remember it well. it was a page turner and difficult to put down. i highlu recommend the book. it had me thinking in a whole different way.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Amazing!

Wonderful. The most perfect sequel anyone could have asked for.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Wonderful sequel

'The Sparrow' was a wonderful novel that could stand well on its own, but 'The Children of God' is a great continuation with a more pleasing conclusion. The two books should really be read together as one, and the sequal really reads like the second act of a Broadway musical. While the first book has a more clear, concise, and driving plot, the second book ties up loose ends, characters are more well-developed, and new issues are brought to light. This is awesome reading even for people who hate science fiction, as Mary Doria Russel's books are more 'speculative' fiction with lots of intelligent research thrown in. As the first novel did, this book really provoked thoughts about faith and our very own existance and purpose.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Powerful and true

The story is about humans encountering an alien civilization. But it can be read as a story about the difficulties any distinct civilzations have in understanding each other. Read this book and think of the Spanish meeting the Aztecs or the trouble we have in the WEst of understanding the ISlamic world, and vice versa. This book is about how much suffering and excitement can come from these encounters.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Must Read (after the Sparrow)

Decidedly tragic, poetic, and informative of the internal struggle between faith and reason. Rarely does one encounter a sci-fi novel that transcends the genre to this extent. A classic as much as The Sparrow. Gone are the typical sci-fi alien encounter tropes that make the humans infallible, quick to learn and dominate, and capable of change. This novel reminds us of how unique, stubborn and cruel we are, by pitting us up alongside a culture and people no less cruel, ruthless, and incapable of truly understanding of others as ourselves, whether it be in Earth's past or present. The author realizes that great science fiction does not solely rely on imagination and "clever" scientific concepts, but how the genre can enrich and inform our lives by showing real people dealing with extraordinary circumstances, technologies and culture. There were many moving moments, and some take you by surprise, like Nico's offering of food to Sandoz. This novel also jumps back and forth through time to great effect. Sometimes teasing us with what may happen, and creating tension. The only criticism is a slight lag in pace with some of the political stuff, but I may have just been tired. Please read THE SPARROW, before this, and you'll see what all the fuss is about.

Loved it

Nice follow up to The Sparrow

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