The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell

Format: Paperback

Pages: 408

Series: The Sparrow #1

Source: Library

Genres: Science Fiction

Publisher: Ballantine Books (Random House)

Publication date: September 8th 1997 (first published January 1st 1996) 

There is a difference between being responsible and being culpable

First impression

When I first finished this book I needed some time to re gather my ideas. I fell for the narrative and continued reading because at every step of the book the typical interpretation of things is questioned. How relationships are built and what makes a sentient society. How we define culture and friendship and abuse. The end (no spoilers, don't worry) of Sandoz's story made me cringe uncomfortably mostly because it made so much sense and the sorrow and hatred he had developed suddenly fell right in place with all the context. While I liked this book in general, I cannot bring myself to go for the sequel. 

It's like all sickness [...] His heart desires something he cannot have

Final thoughts

The Sparrow jumps from different time points: Early in time the discovery of extraterrestrial life and the quest to find it in person and in the future the story told by the only survivor who makes it back to Earth, Emilio Sandoz. He is a changed man and through the book we learn what type of person he was before joining priesthood, while on Earth and after traveling to Rakhat.

As I advanced in the book I noticed that I just needed to know more about each character, even if at first they would feel secondary to the story; while I admit that the beginning was quite a slow start for me, once the pace picked up I was passing pages like there was no tomorrow.

My favorite characters were by far were Anne and George Edwards, not only as a couple (a very nice and complex couple) but as individuals they were so interesting. How I would love to have dinner parties like theirs all the time! Imagine the fun of it. I cannot say that there was a character that I didn't like, even the priest (and I just forgot his name) that was so against Sandoz. Because all of the characters come from such different backgrounds, they add to the complexity of the team in an intricate way that for me at least made it even more involving and more touching as I learned more about them.

I absolutely loved the way the author deals with the subjects of faith, love, friendship and off course, culture. Particularly when presented with the 2 main alien groups. Unlike a lot of other reviewers, I didn’t cry but I have to admit that it was a very emotionally charged book, for all the subjects I mentioned before. Every character that left the story did it in a way that you would remember them.

More than a religion questioning, I feel the main point of the book is an anthropological question. That said, and as interesting as I found this first installment, I can’t find it in me to go for the sequel. I keep feeling that The Sparrow moved me as much as it could and it genuinely scares me to ruin the experience if the sequel doesn’t live up to expectations. I would recommend this book for fans of Science Fiction with a lot of philosophical questioning behind.

Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang

This was the September pick for the Sword and Laser book club

First impression

I have to admit that I was reluctant at first to give this book a try. First because I haven't read a lot of short stories so I wasn't sure this collection would grab me. Second, I went with the Audio version because my library didn't have it and I decided just to go with my Audible credit. The only other collection of short stories I've read recently was METAtropolis (also in audio) and while I enjoyed it, it didn't amaze me. Let me tell you, Stories of Your Life and Others might be the book that convinced me to try short stories more often.

Final thoughts

The collection is fantastic, I wasn't even finished and I kept telling people they had to give it a try. While very different, the short stories flow nicely. The fact that this time there were all written by the same person is really evident, even though the voice on each story changes quite a bit changing point of views and even presenting one as a documentary.

Goodreads describes the collection as multiple stories where the characters encounter sudden change. However, more than just sudden change, I believe that the common thread that this collection has is preconceptions and destroying or debunking them. From the concept of beauty to mathematics and even procreation, Chiang gives a new light to all of these subjects with touches of science fiction and even a bit of fantasy.

All the worlds presented are beautifully constructed; at no point did I get the feeling that what was being presented made no sense in the respective universe, and this is extremely important to me. This is not to say that the elements that made these stories feel outside of our world weren't there. They are obviously there without making it feel overdone and so my mind entered each story smoothly.

As might be expected, I liked some of the stories better than other, my favorites being Story of your Life and Others, which deals with the concept of language and physics, and Liking what you See, which deals with the concept and perception of beauty. Extra points for Understand not using the "we only use 10% of our brains" trope and actually going with something different.

Both narrators did a terrific job. Only at Liking What you See do we get to hear them at almost the same time, but I think they were perfect choices all the way through.

Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan

This was the June pick for the Sword and Laser BookClub

What the book is about
The book takes place in the country of Adro, where in the middle of the night the Field Marshal Tamas has overthrown the king in an attempt to stop a corrupt government. However his actions bring also a war against the neighboring countries as well as in internal fight against those who were far from opposing the royal regime. What would look like an historical fiction is touched by fantasy when you add the power of mages, Tamas' son included. Magic and gunpowder merge to deliver a book full of action and intrigue.

Final thoughts

I should've liked this book...I mean I really liked His Majesty's Dragon, so what was it about this book that I didn't enjoy?

I've read amazing reviews, boasting praises for the book. And I have to say, all the things that they mention are indeed there. An interesting magic system, with gunpowder being the source of the Powder Mages magic seems to be the part that most people agree was a strong point for the book. I agree, it was there, it was different, it...did nothing for me. I would find myself doing "meh" faces as the magic happened in the book, for it did not happen in my head sadly.

Is not that I do not enjoy a military novel, as I mentioned before, I really enjoyed HMD, but in this case it just didn't click. I never fell for any of the characters, although I have to say I started liking Ka-Poel towards the end.

It bothers me that I didn't like this book, because I think it has a lot of good things which is why I am giving it a 3, because while I didn't like it I can perfectly see why other people should and have liked it. Dear book, is not you, it definitely me, sorry.

A spy is not a soldier, Marshal. A soldier has a loyalty for himself, it is true, but at the end, he needs to fill his stomach and to get one month's worth salary. Spies are motivated by the love of the art. They love their country, and their king.

The Martian by Andy Weir

Love of science is universal across all cultures

Why I read this book

This was the May pick for the Sword and Laser and I was very excited to read it since all over the place people have been raving about it.

What the book is about

Mark Watney has a tiny little problem. He is stranded in Mars. A sandstorm made his whole crew leave but he was hit on the head and was sadly left behind. While everyone thought he was dead he has been trying to figure out 2 things: 1) a way to communicate with NASA to let them know he is still alive and relatively well and 2) a way to remain alive and relatively well. With limited resources, including oxygen and food, how will he manage?

First impressions

The first impressions I got were actually not mine but my boyfriend’s. You see, he started reading it before me so he would burst laughing every once in a while, and say, oh you have to read this. As for me, from the beginning I liked the main character; he is sarcastic, smart, funny and bitter…a perfect scientist if I may say so myself.

Final thoughts

Wow, just wow. This was an amazing book. Since Ancillary Justice I didn’t loved a book from the book club. I liked some, but loved? Nope. To quote a blogger whom I really liked it rang all of my bells.

First of all, the fact that it was well researched and mostly scientifically accurate. Sure it had some flaws here and there, but as a novel it had very good basis and good follow up to science related situations. Second of all, the characters, not only Mark but I liked all of the characters, even the ones I wanted to slap once in a while (if you read the book, you probably know who I am talking about).

While this book has been endlessly compared to Castaway in Mars I would like to point out that, unlike the movie, this is meant to be a comical thing and, at least for me, it didn’t feel like it was dragging forever (sorry, I just didn’t like that movie) and what’s more, by the time I got to the end of the book I felt I could have read more before it ended.

BTW, the end? I was flipping pages like there was no tomorrow. That’s how much I NEEDED to know what was going to happen next. It got to a point that I did not move in hours, only I didn’t know it was hours. By the time I lifted my head up from the book it was way past my bed time and my boyfriend was waiting expectantly so we could finally discuss it without fear of him spoiling I for me.

So yeah, for someone that usually leans more towards the Sword side of this Book Club I’ve felt head over heels for two Laser marvellous novels, both of them extremely different and entertaining in their own way.

You haven’t read it yet? Please do so we can discuss it in a lengthy way!

There is probably symbolism there. Phobos is the god of fear, and I'm letting it be my guide. Not a good sign. 

Altered Carbon (Takeshi Kovacs #1) by Richard K. Morgan

When they asked how I died, I said, tell them: Still angry

Why I read this book

This was the March Laser pick from the Sword & Laser book club.

What the book is about

In the future, you can change from body fairly easily, assuming you have the money to afford it. Your consciousness, you thoughts can be uploaded to a different sleeve if you wish so, or even to clones of yourself so you can almost live forever. Takeshi Kovacs a trained Envoy has been forcibly hired to uncover the mystery of a death. The murder has been ruled out as suicide, but the victim does not trust the judgement. Kovacs will try to solve the question and in doing so will entangle himself on a very complicated web that involves the darkest circles in Bay City.

First impressions

The premise e of the book is very interesting; the author questions amongst other things, what defines who we are. At to which point who we are is determined by the body we are in and what depends solely on our minds. While doing so he touches also the idea of a soul, eternity and real death. His critic on religion is quite punch too.

Final thoughts

I quite enjoyed this book, particularly the way it questions identity in several levels. As a detective, noir novella, I believe there are more things to be worked on, but considering this is a first work I thinks it is understandable. Some things that would've helped me lean towards a full 5/5 was the conclusions Kovacs made all along the books. Sometimes I had to re read the paragraph several times and still it wouldn't be clear to me how did he come to a certain idea. While off course I know that part of a detective's job is based on intuition one think I like about crime novels is reading the train of thought of the main character. Having the palm in my forehead moment, if you know what I mean.

Do I think some of the violence and sex scenes were a bit too charged? Yes I do, however this crudeness is probably what makes this book so god in terms of action flow. Some parts of the book are so charged of things happening, actually, that you will have to be fully concentrated or you might get lost. I'm talking from experience here people!

In general a very entertaining noir novella. I've read commentaries saying that as Morgan points at identity in this book, in the rest of the trilogy he tackles some other profound subjects and is mostly curiosity about how he does so that makes me want to continue with Kovacs' story. 

Why am I happy I joined a book club (and why haven't I joined another one)

At the end of 2012 I joined the online Book Club Sword and Laser (hosted by Veronica Belmont and Tom Merritt). This was prompted after watching them on the Geek & Sundry YouTube Channel. They were reading fun books, they were discussing them and I just figured why not give it a try.

More than a year and 14 books after I am ever so grateful I took that decision. Joining the book club introduced me not only to authors I didn't know before, but to books that have marked the history of the genres. Lately on the Laser months we've been reading that might be considered very old, but they have been appraised by several institutions but most importantly they have influenced greatly other stories that I've read before, felt in love with but never thought of the influences they might had.

Another great thing about the books club (and I will talk about THIS one, since I cannot talk about other ones) is the people. Not just the hosts who are hilarious, but the other members, just like me. Their critics about the book have made my reviews way deeper than at the beginning; there are arguments well established (most of the time) to defend or bring down a point in the story; political comparisons, moral and just fun comments come to brighten my day almost on every day basis, on books that I'm reading right now so the ideas are fresh in my head too. My favorite thread is "What else are you reading" which have let me find people with similar tastes but even better, not so similar and hence shedding a completely different light on books that I might've ignored before.

So yeah, I am very happy I joined S&L. I am also very happy it is an online book club (I think we have established that I am not that comfortable with direct interaction with strangers) since I can be there just reading the comments, nodding my head and I won't feel awkward if I don't jump right into the discussion. As the time passes by I feel more comfortable to do so, and I've noticed that I now talk a bit more about the different topics.

Now, you might ask, how is it that you haven't joined another one? Maybe a non-fiction to try to increase your reading of that genre? Well...you see, one of the things I want to do is LOWER the amount of books I own but I haven't tackle yet and it so happens that most of the readings from the books club (and this applies to others I have actually considered joining) are not books I own. Which makes sense, since the idea is to know new authors/books but it seems counter intuitive for my goal, doesn't it?. Also, as much as I want to increase (every year) the amount of books I read, it is getting a bit out of hand already and I still have issues not finishing a book I am supposed to read, particularly if I took it out of the library. I keep thinking, well I took it away from someone else, and if they are suggesting it I have to at least give it a try, no? What has happened is that I don't continue the series unless I LOVED the first book.

So there you have it. Do you guys have a book club? Online? In person? Are you happy you are part of it?

A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin

Danger must surround power as shadow does light.

Why I read this book

This was the February pick of the month for the Sword and Laser book club. If you need more reasons to read it I suggest that you read the following article from io9: 10 Reasons Why Le Guin's Earthsea Books Can Still Change Your Life

What the books is about

The book follows the life of Sparrowhawk a young wizard that will grow up to be the most powerful wizard of his time. Before that though, he will have to learn how to be a wizard and above all, to control himself; to stop being a kid and become and adult and in the process to confront his biggest fears.

First impressions

The first thing that caught me in this story was the writing itself. The author has a lovely way to turn phrases and construct sentences. It didn't feel dated as I had feel with some of the "older" reads of the book club. I also liked the pace, things happened at a nice rhythm.

Final thoughts

I liked the overall story even though the time spent on him learning the trade was quite short and I would've liked it to be a bit more extensive on this point. I enjoyed the way friendships were forged at the beginning of school and how the author used the typical teenager pride and desire to show off to build on what would shape Sparrowhawk's character.

The book is full of symbolism, which was expected with a book based on magic, but at some points made it hard to stay concentrated, for me that is; when a lot of this is in a book it gets me distracted since I have to start looking up for the meaning of each thing and then I fall in the spiral that is Internet Information.

It has been mentioned in the discussions boards of the book club that the book felt (to some people at least) as if it didn't treat women kindly, and that this was surprising, considering it has a female author. I didn't feel this. It is true that the book doesn't have a lot of female characters, but the ones I read didn't feel as poor maidens in distress or anything of the sorts.

In all I liked the book, but I do not think I will be continuing with the story.

For a word to be spoken... There must be silence

The Einstein Intersection by Samuel R Delany

Every life is a rhythm [...] Every death is a suspended rhythm, a syncope before restarting the life.

Why I read this book?

This was the January Book Club choice from Sword & Laser. Also I've known the name Delany for a long time, but I had never actually read a book from the author so this gave the opportunity to get to know the author. 

What's the book about?

The book tells us the story of Lo Lobey, an alien (?) individual from a race with 3 genders and also divided into functional or non-functional (or different). This race has arrived to Earth, after humanity has (I think) left it and as they try to accommodate themselves in the new planet they try also to absorb the mythology present on Earth by collecting and mixing pieces of history and pop culture, including references to Greek culture and rock and roll. 

First impressions

At first I was having a lot of trouble to follow the story partially because it was hard to follow the characters. As the story advances it gets a bit easier to recognize who is who, but several time I would have to go back on my reading to verify what was actually going on.

Final thoughts

So, here is the thing. I liked the critic about how society might treat a person that initially is consider as different. I enjoyed the use of a third genre. I even had a good time discovering some of the cultural references…but at the end of the book I am not sure I go the book. There were a lot of lost threads which made feel lost in the story. I did not understand the point of some of the chapter cuts or the choice of quotes for that matter. I think I see where the author was going for and why it was so acclaimed at the time. However I think this was just not for me.

There is in this world an infinite number of true things that are impossible to prove as truthful.

His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik

On duty, the more I learn about it, the least I appreciate the notion

Why I read this book?

This was the December Alternative Pick for the Sword and Laser. I was lucky enough to find both picks in my library and taking advantage of the extra time that comes with holiday season I decided to read both of them.

What's the book about?

The book is set in an alternative time frame during the war against Napoleon. Besides their armies and navies countries also have Dragons. The story follows Captain Lawrence and his dragon Temeraire. It also presents the dynamics between dragons and their pilots.

What about the characters?

I really enjoyed the dragon's personalities, all of them, but off course you get more acquainted with Temeraire; he has a very sweet personality and every time I would read him it would feel like a very endearing huge puppy...with wings, sure, but adorable nonetheless. The human characters however, didn't hit the right cord for me, and I was not attached to any of them.

Final thoughts

It's been a long time since a book makes me cry, as in real tears streaming down my face cry, and this book did that towards the end. As always, I will not give away what happens, but I was very touch by a certain event towards the end of this installment.

I absolutely loved the interaction between dragons and how they are portrayed not only as very smart animals but also much attached and very loyal, no matter what. I liked how Temeraire would question this ways since he is a young dragon, much like a kid would question the way we do things. I think the author usage of this to explain to the reader how this world works is very clever.

I also enjoyed the historical side of the book; the twists applied to combats versus Napoleon to keep the uniqueness of the history were well executed, while keeping enough details to make feel like an historical novel indeed. One great point was the presence of not only female dragons, but female pilots that are perfectly capable and not portrayed as damsels in distress.

The reason why I didn't give a higher rating to the book and the reason why I doubt I will continue with this series is the fact that I mentioned earlier. I did not like any of the human characters and while I liked the dragons it wasn't enough to carry me to the next book.

Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie

If everything that happens is the will of Amat; if nothing can happen that isn't already designed by God, why bother to do anything.

Why I read this book?

This was the November pick for the Sword and Laser Book club. It sounded like a very good book, so much that my boyfriend wanted to read it too, so we decided to get it with Audible and listen to it while driving to the lab.

What the book is about?

The book is told from the point of view of the Ancillary Justice of Toren a AI whose main "body" was a Radch spaceship and that also used to have hundreds of ancillary bodies, all connected to one same mind. Through the book we learn what happened to all of her bodies and to her as one episode describes us the present and the next the past until the story merges. This new single body, called Breq, is dealing with being a single identity, learning how to be human and getting all the way to get revenge.

Final thoughts

Both my boyfriend and I really enjoyed the book!. At first it was hard to get used to the absence of genre distinction amongst the Radch, but before you realize it you stop thinking about the characters as a he or a she and just concentrate on the story alone; it was a nice twist on language and it accentuates the fact that genre doesn't really matter for the story.

Another good point is the struggle of the AI being one or several and how this unity could be fractured. I think it was an interesting take on how we are also one and several at the same time. Even more, the fact that most of people would consider the Ancillaries as just machines incapable of feelings or moral clashes.

The whole political situation of the Radch was very well written too, a nice critique I think to the belief that people are just civilized if they are doing stuff the way we do them. A continuous thought during colonization centuries ago and actually still around, sadly.

Also the position on religion, I found it very interesting how the author created the whole Radch mythology that would also absorb the basics of religions all over the planets they "civilized"

Celeste Ciulla, the narrator was amazing, not only doing the different voices but giving a "mechanic" voice to Breq while filling her sentences with full intentions.

If you are going to do something that crazy, save it for when it will make a difference.