# The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell

6 Hacker News commenters recommended The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell and 1 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 3 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** Readers call Mary Doria Russell's The Sparrow very compelling, and one says it has stuck with them strongly long after reading.

## Why people recommend it

- Compelling, memorable story (2 comments): "I read it recently and it has stuck with me very strongly!" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48265987)) "The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell is very compelling." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46674335))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir](https://hackerapproved.com/p/project-hail-mary.md): 117 recommend
- [There Is No Antimemetics Division by qntm](https://hackerapproved.com/p/there-is-no-antimemetics-division.md): 98 recommend
- [Blindsight by Peter Watts](https://hackerapproved.com/p/blindsight.md): 96 recommend
- [Dune by Frank Herbert](https://hackerapproved.com/p/dune.md): 82 recommend
- [Accelerando by Charles Stross](https://hackerapproved.com/p/accelerando.md): 71 recommend

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell", https://hackerapproved.com/p/sparrow/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).