In pre–Civil War Virginia, people who are white, whatever their degree of refinement, are considered “the Quality” while those who are black, whatever their degree of dignity, are regarded as “the Tasked.” Yes, it's a blend of sci-fi and theology, which makes for an interesting premise, but it is extremely watered down.

At 22 pounds for a low-cost singlespeed, the Sparrow is very lightweight bike, The Sparrow is designed and assembled in Detroit, USA.

An enigma wrapped inside a mystery sets up expectations that prove difficult to fulfill in Russell's first novel, which is about first contact with an extraterrestrial civilization. The Sparrow includes remarkable characterization and depictions of an alien society. Assembly of the Sparrow was easier and quicker than for many delivered bikes. The celebrated author of Between the World and Me (2015) and We Were Eight Years in Power (2017) merges magic, adventure, and antebellum intrigue in his first novel..

Setup was 90% complete, with owners only needing to adjust saddle height and attach the front wheels and pedals. I was bored for the majority of the book but kept pushing through in hopes that it would get better.

I had seen a review of it and loved the basic idea of future Jesuits being the first “missionaries” to make contact with the first sentient alien species discovered. But I lost that review and was never able to … Not being a Jesuit or a Catholic, I cannot judge the realism of her depictions of Jesuits or their behavior, but her characters are consistent within the world she portrays for them. I was very disappointed in this book after reading all of the reviews. I had wanted to read The Sparrow since its release back in 1996/1997.