6. What do you think of the alien civilization discovered in Alpha Centauri?

[Manuel]

Compare the origin of this alien civilization with those in other sci-fi novels we or you have read.

[Francis]

I'm not sure everyone has read that far?

[Manuel]

Francis wrote: "I'm not sure everyone has read that far?"

Surely not. But the way I've worded the question does not give any information about the alien civilization. On the other hand, for whoever is reading this book, the fact that they must find something like an alien civilization in Alpha Cantauri is obvious. And the question is ready for you, whenever you reach that point in the plot.

[Fonch]

I read a novel about this topic "The Sparrows" by Maria Doria Russell but i had after reading that this woman would give up being catholic soon. Today she is jew. "Sparrows" made me feel mixed feelings. The translation into spanish was not very good. The author spoke about the control of births. The author of this novel inspired in the martyrs of french jesuits in Canada.
This Michael D. O'Brien's novel interested me by this topic. I am interested by the dystopia of the planet earth.

[John]

(view spoiler)[It is us.

I have often remarked that abortion is nothing but modern child sacrifice and as a society we sacrifice our children on the altar of license, of unrestricted sex and of convenience. Those are our Molochs. (hide spoiler)]

[Fonch]

John wrote: "It is us. The Sparrow

Let's hope that this alien civilization is more benign than the one in "The Sparrow" by Mary Doria Russell. Which is the most depraved thing that has ever been in literature.

[Manuel]

Fonch wrote: "Let's hope that this alien civilization is more benign than the one in "The Sparrow" by Mary Doria Russell. Which is the most depraved thing that has ever been in literature."

I have not read "The Sparrow," but I have read its reviews in both Amazon and Goodreads. It seems to me that this novel would not change much if it were rewritten as a dystopy on future Earth, and the space trip to Proxima Centauri were replaced by a trip to the future by the characters. Am I wrong? And can you explain why you gave it 3 stars?

[Fonch]

Manuel wrote: "Fonch wrote: "Let's hope that this alien civilization is more benign than the one in "The Sparrow" by Mary Doria Russell. Which is the most depraved thing that has ever ..."

Very interesting Professor. I'm going to give you my opinion on the matter. "The Sparrow" I read an edition in Spanish, which curiously was not called "The Sparrow" but "Rhakat" which is the name of the planet of Alpha Centaur to which they end up arriving. I thought the book was very badly translated. It was very difficult for me to read it. By the time Mary Doria Russell had written the book, she had ceased to be Catholic. In fact, moved by the Holocaust, this author converted to Judaism A Thread of Grace. But already reading the novel I already noticed that this woman was going to stop being Catholic. He talked a lot about contraceptives and promoted birth control. There were comments from the friends of the Jesuit Emilio Sandoz, which were in very bad taste. If there is a dystopia it would not be on Earth, but in Alpha Centauri, because the new alien civilization is evil and degenerate and enjoys causing pain and doing harm. The celestial music that brought them to Rhakat was the sound of the in which their sadistic rituals took place. Rhakat reminded me a lot of the planet in James Blish's "A Case of Conscience," which had been created by the devil. But there is no apparent perfection there, but pure evil. But I mentioned this novel, because it's the only one I've read that was about a trip to Alpha Centaur. They arrive because they condition a meteorite and use it to reach Alpha Centauri.

[Manuel]

Fonch wrote: "If there is a dystopia it would not be on Earth, but in Alpha Centauri, because the new alien civilization is evil and degenerate and enjoys causing pain and doing harm."

This could also happen in future Earth. That's what I meant.

Fonch wrote: "Rhakat reminded me a lot of the planet in James Blish's "A Case of Conscience," which had been created by the devil. But there is no apparent perfection there, but pure evil."

Yes, I also thought about Blish's novel when I read the comments about "The sparrow."

[Fonch]

Manuel wrote: "Fonch wrote: "If there is a dystopia it would not be on Earth, but in Alpha Centauri, because the new alien civilization is evil and degenerate and enjoys causing pain and doing harm."

This could ..."
Seeing the way men behave, unfortunately I agree with you, and even more so if, as I think, the drift of history leads us, as Rino Cammilleri and Massimo Introvigne maintain, "I mostri della Razioni" lead us towards a satanic society and the reign of the antichrist as I believe. Unfortunately I think we will see superior mistakes that we have not yet seen.

[Fonch]

Manuel wrote: "Fonch wrote: "If there is a dystopia it would not be on Earth, but in Alpha Centauri, because the new alien civilization is evil and degenerate and enjoys causing pain and doing harm."

This could ..."

With respect to section two, there were similarities and also differences. James Blish in his novel and, in his work, has always defended that happiness was in the elimination of free will, but he was sensible enough to realize that that world would be a satanic world, because free will is a quality given by God to man so that he can make a sensible use and, beneficial to their freedom. Something that unfortunately does not always happen. Otherwise, although I liked it very much, the novel was theologically weak since the Devil could not create, but corrupt what had already been created, althoughJames Blish 's idea is interesting. What is interesting is that I spoke of the risk of an excessive Protestantization of the Catholic Church. Something that Philip Pullman also talks about. Sometimes, as my father says, the enemy warns you and warns you against something bad that happens or can happen.
Mary Doria Russell's novel her Rhakat is the embodiment of the worst of all possible worlds and shows the deepest degeneration that can be reached. It also tells us about evil disguised as good and that beauty can sometimes be horrible. It is a pity that the translation I read was so bad and some of the author's witticisms were very heterodox and profoundly unpleasant.

[John]

Fonch wrote: "Manuel wrote: "Fonch wrote: "If there is a dystopia it would not be on Earth, but in Alpha Centauri, because the new alien civilization is evil and degenerate and enjoys causing pain and doing harm..."

I think I often respond to Fonch to point out where I disagree with him, but in this case I want to say I completely agree.

[Fonch]

John wrote: "Fonch wrote: "Manuel wrote: "Fonch wrote: "If there is a dystopia it would not be on Earth, but in Alpha Centauri, because the new alien civilization is evil and degenerate and enjoys causing pain ..."

Thanks John :-).