Jesuit priests in space. Jesuit scientist-priests in space. My new favorite science fiction book, next to Contact by Carl Sagan. Both are "first contact" scifi, both muse on the uneasy relationship of science and God (though The Sparrow has more theological themes - it focuses more on the relationships that humans have with God, and religion in general is more central), and both are written by scientists. Coincidence? Maybe preference. Anyway, The Sparrow is beautifully written. The characters are intelligent, complex, and real. And lastly, I was THRILLED by the anthropological perspective - both cultural and linguistic anthropological approaches in presenting the alien species. LOVE. 
 I have to mention that though religious discourse is a big part of the book (the central character IS a Jesuit priest, after all), it is presented in such an elegant, thoughtful, philosophical way that even the most hardened atheist may appreciate it. I know I certainly did. 
 My edition has an interview with Mary Doria Russell and I liked this bit, which gives you insight on what to expect in this novel: 
 Q: "Until The Sparrow you had written only serious scientific articles and technical manuals. How did you end up writing a speculative novel?" 
 A: "The idea came to me in the summer of 1992 as we were celebrating the 500th anniversary of Columbus's arrival in the New World. There was a great deal of historical revisionism going on as we examine the mistakes made by Europeans when they first encountered foreign cultures in the Americas and elsewhere. It seemed unfair to me for people living at the end of the twentieth century to hold those explorers and missionaries to standards of sophistication and tolerance that we hardly manage even today. I wanted to show how very difficult first contact would be, even with the benefit of hindsight. That's when I decided to write a story that put modern, sophisticated, resourceful, well-educated, and well-meaning people in the same position as those early explorers and missionaries - a position of radical ignorance."