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Anyone out there read Mary Doria Russell? If not try her. She's an anthropologist turned author whose first books, "The Sparrow" and "Children of God" explore the consequences of an encounter between a "superior" and "inferior" civilisation. Given that there are few, if any, "virgin" civilisations left on our planet to be discovered, she sets her encounter on another planet at some indeterminate, future date. The two books fall into the category of science fiction, but the underlying message is one of deep contemporary significance and raises questions of moral and ethical importance with regard to the methodology of introducing or even imposing ideologies or ideals on societies that are ill equipped to deal with them at a particular stage in their development. The obvious parallels are Iraq and Afghanistan.

Her next book was of a different tone entirely. Entitled "A Thread of Grace," it is a novel about human bravery, compassion and resilience in the face of almost unendurable misery and suffering. It recounts the true and little known heroism of the many Italians who, at great personal cost, protected and harboured Jews during the Second World War.

Following this she wrote "Dreamers of the Day" which fictionalises the early days of the creation, by the Imperial powers, of modern day Arabia.
Quite brilliant and, again contemporaneous.

Her next book, to be published later this year, is an account of the relationship between Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp.

I eagerly await it. Meanwhile read her. You will not be disappointed.

William

Hi in you posting I found It's really a nice book.

Thanks for the review. I will check out the books..

I read The Sparrow after another sci-fi fan said it was his favorite book, ever. I wouldn't go so far, but it was very, very good, especially considering it was her first novel. I really liked the characters and their interactions, and I think her training as an anthropologist helped with both her worldbuilding and her characters. The sequel is on my short-list of books to read. It was also suspenseful throughout because you don't know exactly what has happened, and that part made the frame very interesting. I'm glad to have found others who have read her!