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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
This book is about a Jesuit expedition to Rakhat, Alpha Centauri. The focus alternates between the pre-mission party and post-mission Emilio. To give you an idea of the pace: Jimmy (one of the mission members) only receives the signal around page 100, and the travellers finally meet the aliens at page 280(!) of 500. An excessive amount of text is spent on the rather enjoyable and well written background stories of the characters. Mary uses this to create some wonderfully interesting characters to carry the rest of the book.
Rakhat is inhabited by Runa and other aliens with a strange name I forgot. The predator-prey relationship with animal husbandry thrown in was a really awesome concept. Other than that, the aliens were not very alien. I could easily imagine them being humans living in some forgotten place on Earth.
After 280 pages, when the reader thinks the book can finally start telling its story, the book keeps putting it off. From here, the biggest issue is character. They just kind of are on Rakhat, and things happen to them, usually by chance or otherwise unexplicably. The characters lack willpower and motive, if not agency. Emilio, while easily the best character, is on an aimless search for god. The other characters entirely lose their purpose in the story after landing on Rakhat.
I felt the story only really started at page 450. One of the most important ingredients in story is conflict, and you'll only find any conflict in the last 10% of the book. Everyone gets along wonderously well. Although it took over 200 pages to get the asteroid spacecraft going, the mission wasn't hindered by anyone. The Jesuit party itself was also characterized by an alarming lack of internal conflict.
The one character with a strong agency, Supaata, was incomplete in other areas. We know why he sold Emilio, but not why he did it then, nor how he felt about that.
Some plotholes. The killing of Askana made no sense whatsoever. A small, frail, human without the use of his hands rams into a Runa at least of similar size, instantly killing her.
Another: how did the UN party conveniently happen to meet Askana right after landing? And how did Askana know where to find Emilio?
So we've got a book with a weird self-spoiling structure that misses most beats. Good writing and good dialogue not only kept me going, but made this a quick read, despite the problems. Hence the second star.
Rakhat is inhabited by Runa and other aliens with a strange name I forgot. The predator-prey relationship with animal husbandry thrown in was a really awesome concept. Other than that, the aliens were not very alien. I could easily imagine them being humans living in some forgotten place on Earth.
After 280 pages, when the reader thinks the book can finally start telling its story, the book keeps putting it off. From here, the biggest issue is character. They just kind of are on Rakhat, and things happen to them, usually by chance or otherwise unexplicably. The characters lack willpower and motive, if not agency. Emilio, while easily the best character, is on an aimless search for god. The other characters entirely lose their purpose in the story after landing on Rakhat.
I felt the story only really started at page 450. One of the most important ingredients in story is conflict, and you'll only find any conflict in the last 10% of the book. Everyone gets along wonderously well. Although it took over 200 pages to get the asteroid spacecraft going, the mission wasn't hindered by anyone. The Jesuit party itself was also characterized by an alarming lack of internal conflict.
The one character with a strong agency, Supaata, was incomplete in other areas. We know why he sold Emilio, but not why he did it then, nor how he felt about that.
Some plotholes. The killing of Askana made no sense whatsoever. A small, frail, human without the use of his hands rams into a Runa at least of similar size, instantly killing her.
Another: how did the UN party conveniently happen to meet Askana right after landing? And how did Askana know where to find Emilio?
So we've got a book with a weird self-spoiling structure that misses most beats. Good writing and good dialogue not only kept me going, but made this a quick read, despite the problems. Hence the second star.
This book sucked me in from the first pages. It is science fiction in that it deals with a mission to meet life on another planet sometime in the future. However, the real topic is the nature of faith, in particular, faith in god.
The characters are rich and believable. Their story is haunting. As an atheist, I was very interested in the faith angle, since it was juxtaposed with atheism and agnosticism in a very respectful and honest way. This novel asks what are the best things about humanity and how do we honor them?
I admit, I was disappointed a bit by the end. To explain would necessitate a spoiler. Instead, if you've read it and want to discuss, contact me.
I was extremely moved and emotional during the latter half of the book.
The characters are rich and believable. Their story is haunting. As an atheist, I was very interested in the faith angle, since it was juxtaposed with atheism and agnosticism in a very respectful and honest way. This novel asks what are the best things about humanity and how do we honor them?
I admit, I was disappointed a bit by the end. To explain would necessitate a spoiler. Instead, if you've read it and want to discuss, contact me.
I was extremely moved and emotional during the latter half of the book.
Loved it. Gripping and thought-provoking. Is there life on other planets? Can we travel there by asteroid and make contact with other species? Do they understand the world in the same way we do? Does meeting them deepen or undermine faith in God's plan?
It's physics meets science fiction meets theology, all wrapped into one -- perhaps that's why it's one of Molly's favorite books (thanks, Molly!) It's not nearly as Christian as I expected with four Jesuit priests leading the mission to the planet Rakhat. It's spiritual, but not so religious. Roopa may disagree after she reads it.
The reader is told that there's only one survivor, so suspense builds through the entire book to figure out what happened during the ill-fated trip. It's a little hard to get a feel for the characters in the early part of the book because of the alternating chapters of present day (2060) and flashbacks to 2019. I also still can't figure out how traveling at the speed of light makes time pass faster on earth. Regardless, I couldn't put it down. It would be a great book club book. I would love to talk more about it!
It's physics meets science fiction meets theology, all wrapped into one -- perhaps that's why it's one of Molly's favorite books (thanks, Molly!) It's not nearly as Christian as I expected with four Jesuit priests leading the mission to the planet Rakhat. It's spiritual, but not so religious. Roopa may disagree after she reads it.
The reader is told that there's only one survivor, so suspense builds through the entire book to figure out what happened during the ill-fated trip. It's a little hard to get a feel for the characters in the early part of the book because of the alternating chapters of present day (2060) and flashbacks to 2019. I also still can't figure out how traveling at the speed of light makes time pass faster on earth. Regardless, I couldn't put it down. It would be a great book club book. I would love to talk more about it!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is the most emotionally challenging book I have read to date. Don't expect a good time. Do expect to think a lot.
The first 95% excuses the last few pages, which is a disappointing religious cop-out. I don't think everyone will feel the same way I do, so maybe for once a choose-your-own-ending would have been appropriate. Heh.
The first 95% excuses the last few pages, which is a disappointing religious cop-out. I don't think everyone will feel the same way I do, so maybe for once a choose-your-own-ending would have been appropriate. Heh.
Slow going, but worth the read. A story slowly revealed, gently unraveled, brilliantly crafted.
This is my first five-star book of the year and my first experience with this author.
***SPOILERS***
I know some have questioned the style of jumping back and forth between the story before arriving on Rakhat but I loved this. It kept me intrigued with how this man in 2019 could end up so broken in 2060. I had to know!
I know from other reviews that some have read a political message in this story but I came at it with a spiritual outlook. I thought about Emilio Sandoz's internal struggle -- is god doing this, or is it me? -- and that was with me right up to the end. I think this question could be asked of everyone today, especially when so many are using the "this is what god wants" justifications to do horrible things to each other. So much fell into place for Sandoz that, instead of just telling himself it was great that everything was working out, he had to give credit for the coincidences and luck and opportunity and whatever you would call it when you get something because you've worked bloody hard for it and deserve it, to god. Maybe this was to give his life meaning (everything he had done for god was finally being rewarded, it wasn't for nothing). I don't know. But this book gave me a great insight into that kind of faith, as well as the argument against that kind of reasoning.
All in all, this book made me think, and has kept me thinking long after finishing it. And I love that in a story.
***SPOILERS***
I know some have questioned the style of jumping back and forth between the story before arriving on Rakhat but I loved this. It kept me intrigued with how this man in 2019 could end up so broken in 2060. I had to know!
I know from other reviews that some have read a political message in this story but I came at it with a spiritual outlook. I thought about Emilio Sandoz's internal struggle -- is god doing this, or is it me? -- and that was with me right up to the end. I think this question could be asked of everyone today, especially when so many are using the "this is what god wants" justifications to do horrible things to each other. So much fell into place for Sandoz that, instead of just telling himself it was great that everything was working out, he had to give credit for the coincidences and luck and opportunity and whatever you would call it when you get something because you've worked bloody hard for it and deserve it, to god. Maybe this was to give his life meaning (everything he had done for god was finally being rewarded, it wasn't for nothing). I don't know. But this book gave me a great insight into that kind of faith, as well as the argument against that kind of reasoning.
All in all, this book made me think, and has kept me thinking long after finishing it. And I love that in a story.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No