The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell was a gorgeous but punishing read. Erring much more on the side of fiction than science, this novel is set in the near future when a transmission of eerie music is picked up from Alpha Centauri. While the nations of Earth debate the meaning of this fragment of song the Jesuit Church quietly funds a manned expedition to travel through space to the music's source and bring the word of God to this new world. The crew contains eight people- eight wonderful human beings, some of the best and brightest, most compassionate, loving, funny and wise individuals that humanity has to offer. Only one of them makes it back to Earth, and by the time he is rescued he wishes he was dead.