“The Sparrow” flips the typical narrative and has humans as the invading species on an alien planet. After hearing a radio transmission of singing, the Jesuits send an exploratory mission to investigate. The book begins with the party’s sole survivor back on earth, coping with the traumatic experience. Alternating with flashbacks to recount the adventure, we follow the crew as they re-enact the Europeans ‘discovery’ of America and grapple with philosophical questions, namely the religious impact of intelligent life existing off earth. The ease to invest emotionally in the characters make the tragic events no less impactful for knowing they are coming from the beginning. Recommended for fans of space adventure and religious philosophy.