The Sparrow
by Mary Doria Russell
science fiction
copyright 1996
read in March 2021
rated 3/10: so bad it's embarrassing
I read the first sixty pages of slow moving philosophical and religious clap-trap then gave up. Will they ever reach the new planet? I wondered. And skipped over several hundred pages.
Okay, it seems that the story of the new planet will be dragged out -- tedious sentence by tedious sentence -- from the one survivor. I skip to the end, to see if it ever ends.
Some science fiction stories have rules of conduct for first-contact. The standard rules are -- do not interfere. These religious idiots go straight in, to live amongst -- and pervert -- the alien culture.
They teach the natives to grow vegetables; the natives are carnivorous. They encourage the natives to have more children; thus destroying a carefully balanced population. They say, Let us join your society -- without the faintest understanding of that society.
Having read the final chapters I stood up and muttered to myself, Well that was a miserable load of shit. With time for thought -- I cannot think of a better summary.
Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper
... Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved
===
I've never had bad luck. Just fits of stupidity... per Ginger Meggs
===
Dying for you to read my blog, at https: // notdotdeaddotyet .blogspot. com. au/ :-)
No comments:
Post a Comment