Here are a couple of science fiction novels I’ve read lately, one recently released, and the other a classic released thirty years ago:
by Adrian Tchaikovsky
“The point of being a god is to have the joint running to your specifications.”
– Guy Vesten, The Hungry Gods by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Amri, a member of the Rabbit tribe, finds her already poisonous and wrecked world turned upside down when some “gods” return to earth to turn it into paradise.
This short novella is part of Tchaikovsky’s standalone collection, which is all “connected thematically.” Besides Children of Time, this novella is the only other story by Tchaikovsky I’ve read.
The Hungry Gods displays the author’s imagination in hard science fiction. From what I’ve read of his work, he often explores environmental themes and consistently leans toward hard science fiction.
The protagonist, Amri, finds herself up against Guy Vesten, a supposedly superior being who keeps trying to sell himself as a “god.” But does Amri buy it?
This novella could easily have been twice as long, but sometimes I want to read something quick. At one point, I felt disconnected from Amri, but in later chapters her interiority returns. The story starts dark and serious, but later takes on a humorous slant, which feels jarring.
Overall, The Hungry Gods is a fascinating apocalyptic tale which teaches us to neither overestimate nor underestimate those who surround us.
by Mary Doria Russell
The Sparrow is a haunting tale of first contact, where science and faith collide as a Jesuit-led mission journeys to meet an alien civilization—and in the process, discovers what it means to be human.
This was one of those books that had been sitting on my “to-read” list for years, and now I’m kicking myself for waiting so long. Honestly, the premise had always put me off: Catholics in space? I’m not Catholic, and the whole “ragtag group of humans heads to another planet to meet aliens” trope felt like an old cliché.
But Mary Doria Russell made it work—and made it extraordinary.
Even if you’re not a science fiction reader or religious, The Sparrow is absolutely worth picking up. Russell grounds the story with rich characterization and taut suspense, making it resonate beyond the sci-fi genre. I especially connected with the warmth and humanity of Ann and George, whose relationship added a steady, emotional anchor.
That said, a word of warning: this book can be unsettling. At times, it veers into horror, and the ending is even more disturbing than I anticipated.
Still, if you’ve been meaning to read this modern sci-fi classic, don’t put it off like I did. You won’t regret it.
Andrew M. Friday 
Leave a comment