the stella maris

“but the sparrow still falls” join us for more astrobiology and suffering!

[aldieb]

“I had a dream last night,” he said quietly. “I was on a road and there was no one with me. And in the dream I said, ‘I don’t understand but I can learn if you will teach me.’ Do you suppose anyone was listening?” —The Sparrow, Mary Doria Russell

my first embroidery project, made for @boudiccabeautiful! ID in alt text.

[commander-minkowski]

[id: a meme featuring the cover of “The Sparrow” by Mary Doria Russell. Most of the cover is labeled “Well this is very catholic. Good characterization though.” The bottom part of the cover is labeled “I am a different person now” end id]

guess what I just read

[louisegluckpdf]

hi!! your posts on the sparrow (1996) got me to read the book. i finished it in one day and i'm insane now, i just wanted to let you know and say thank you!

WOW this thrills me to hear!!! i'm so glad you liked it <3 everyone read the sparrow (1996, mary doria russell)

[castratedvader]

[cantarellangel-deactivated]

the garden of eden implications of this

[castratedvader]

[cantarellangel-deactivated]

they meant no harm - others meant harm but not them

they meant no harm - they were well intentioned

they meant no harm - their actions reflected their intentions

they meant no harm - nevertheless, harm was done

[castratedvader]

"See, that’s where it falls apart for me!" Anne cried. "What sticks in my throat is that God gets the credit but never the blame. I just can’t swallow that kind of theological candy. Either God’s in charge or He’s not. What did you do when the babies died, Emilio?" "I cried," he admitted. "I think sometimes that God needs us to cry His tears."

The Sparrow, Mary Doria Russell

[louisegluckpdf]

he’s a priest he’s a scientist he’s from the future he’s a relic of the past he’s a saint he’s a murderer he’s an atheist he’s god’s best beloved he’s holy he’s desecrated god saved him god won’t let him die. i didnt say his name but he popped into your head didnt he

[manuscripts-dontburn]

It has been a long time since I finished a book shaking and with my soul crushed, unable to even think what to read next.

[alchemisedsenlinyu]

The Jesuit Party from The Sparrow: (from left to right, top to bottom) Emilio Sandoz, D.W. Yarbrough, Jimmy Quinn, Sofia Mendes, Anne Edwards, George Edwards, Marc Robichaux, and Alan Pace / created using Midjourney

[ferretteeth]

Emilio Sandoz, before and after

[ninsiana0]

Read THE SPARROW by Mary Doria Russell if you love first contact, religious quandaries, linguistics, pretty aliens, duel narratives, priests in space, music, trauma narratives, telescopes, love triangles, witty banter, interpersonal relationships, movie quotes, found family & having your heart ripped out.

[my-hand-that-will-not-harm-you]

Friend: Hey this bookstore has The Sparrow on sale. Did you like it?

Me: Yeah it’s fantastic. If I think about it for more than thirty seconds, I feel sick and have to lie down

[alchemisedsenlinyu]

and that's just this year!!

[alchemisedsenlinyu]

since my the sparrow server is once more becoming active, here's a friendly reminder that i do indeed have a discord server for the sparrow!! anyone is free to join!!

[firebuggg]

something about how you know that they’re all dead from the beginning…… you know they’re dead and you know what happened to emilio and you know that it ends in blood and suffering and still. you don’t realize what it’s going to be like. because emilio himself doesn’t have the words.