Children of God (1998)

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 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. ( )

I enjoyed this sequel as much as the first book. ( )

I didn't like Children of God as much as The Sparrow. To some extent, it felt like needless extension of a story that was fine as it was, and I definitely didn't enjoy the characters as much in this part. I didn't feel attached to any of them except Emilio, Gina, Celestina and John, for most of the book. It was interesting to read Mary Doria Russell's take on how things would go after that, but I thought this book was more political than philosophical, and I didn't particularly buy the story of Isaac and the holy music. I especially didn't buy Emilio's eventual healing through that.

I was also quite angry about the way Russell treated her characters. I didn't feel their motives were properly justified and actually conflicted with their characters, in some cases. Emilio and John were the only ones who really remained consistent, which I was glad about, because what Vincenzo Giuliani did upset me quite a bit. Sofia's actions were more understandable and in line with her character, but I still didn't enjoy what she did.

I also wasn't so keen on the writing/plotting in this book. It failed to engage me as well and there were massive jumps, odd sections of exposition, etc. Despite the two timelines being told alongside each other in The Sparrow, that was much better done.

I almost wish I hadn't read this book, although I did enjoy some aspects of it. If you thought The Sparrow was perfect as it was, I wouldn't suggest reading this book. ( )

I really enjoyed reading this, but I kind of wish I hadn't.
The Sparrow was just right on its own--it didn't need a sequel. ( )

I liked it. Good follow up to The Sparrow, with many of the same virtues and vices. Among the virtues, great characters well described, attention to moral questions without being dogmatic (greatly appreciated), aliens that are really aliens, a beautifully light touch with the exposition. Among the vices, too MUCH foreshadowing, some clunky plot developments yeah I get that some of this has to happen that way thematically but I still don't buy it, and a certain effect of emotional distancing in parts.

Given that this book covers decades of activity on two different planets I think it was clever to tell parts of it out of chronological order and through the recollections of some of the main characters. It really works to pull the story into a coherent whole, but the price is some loss of emotional engagement - for example, you know the character must have survived the danger because they are telling the tale. Taken all in all I still think it was the right choice though. ( )