The Swarm Orson Scott Card Read for Free
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Orson Scott Carte's ENDERVERSE has grown to 16 novels and counting, forth with several novellas and short stories, since he published Ender's Game in 1985 (or if yous want to get back even further, since the original "Ender's Game" brusque story was published in Analog magazine in 1977). Andrew Wiggin, or Ender, is the master character in only a few of these works; others focus on his brother Peter Wiggin, Ender'southward protégé Edible bean, and other new or
3.5 stars. Review commencement posted on Fantasy Literature:Orson Scott Card's ENDERVERSE has grown to 16 novels and counting, along with several novellas and short stories, since he published Ender's Game in 1985 (or if yous want to go dorsum even further, since the original "Ender's Game" brusque story was published in Analog magazine in 1977). Andrew Wiggin, or Ender, is the main grapheme in simply a few of these works; others focus on his brother Peter Wiggin, Ender's protégé Edible bean, and other new or secondary characters from Ender's Game. Which brings united states of america to Mazer Rackham, the half-Māori state of war hero who plays a brief but pivotal office in Ender'due south Game.
In 2012, Card, along with co-author Aaron Johnston, began writing prequels to the original ENDER series, starting time with Earth Unaware, set almost a century earlier Ender's Game. Mazer Rackham is a key character in this serial, but shares the stage with many others, especially Victor Delgado, a space-built-in mechanic; Bingwen, a brilliant young Chinese male child training every bit a soldier to fight the alien Formics; and Lem Jukes, immensely wealthy son and heir of the offset Hegemon.
I mention this background because, although The Swarm is designated every bit the first book in the 2d FORMIC WAR trilogy, readers should actually consider it the fourth volume in the prequel novels about the original Formic attacks on Earth. It's possible to start your prequel reading with The Swarm, just the events and characters are and then closely connected to the FIRST FORMIC WAR trilogy (World Unaware, Earth Afire and Earth Awakens) that I actually tin can't recommend offset with The Swarm.
After barely beating off the Formics who invaded Earth in the Get-go Formic War, the people of Earth have reorganized themselves politically and militarily, knowing that a larger invasion of Formics is inevitable. Lem Jukes' father Ukko has become the Hegemon, a type of prime minister over the unabridged planet, and he's been joined by a Polemarch, main over the new International Armada, and a Strategos, in charge of the defence force of our solar system. Equally Victor and his shipmates discover a second invasion of Formics gearing upwardly, hidden amongst the asteroids in our solar arrangement, Mazer battles his superior officer's greed and corruption that have resulted in punitive court-martial proceedings against Mazer. Meanwhile, Bingwen and other Chinese orphan boys are being whipped into soldiers by the merciless and driven Captain Li, who knows that their minor size may make them invaluable warriors if humans need to boxing Formics in their underground tunnels.
The plot of The Swarm is complex, jumping between these and other characters' points of view. One of the more fascinating, and bloodcurdling, characters is Khalid, a murderous Somalian infinite pirate, whose brief subplot makes for compelling reading. (There will certainly be more to come from Khalid.) At that place's also Wila, a young Thai biochemist who takes a lot of heat for her Buddhist-inspired empathy toward the Hive Queen of the Formics, simply whose scientific and philosophical insights may atomic number 82 to key breakthroughs in defending confronting them. Overall information technology's a typical Bill of fare bandage of characters: incredibly brilliant, precocious children; idealistic fighters for freedom; and the corrupt, self-centered people who stand in their way.
The theme of deadly alien threat, counter-balanced with the grave problems caused by human selfishness and greed, plays out throughout The Swarm. For my coin, Card and Johnston are taking much as well long to spin out this tale, when you consider not just the 500+ pages in this novel simply all of the other books you need to read to get the entire story. Simply all in all, it's a well-told tale if you like SF space operas and y'all're a fan of Orson Scott Bill of fare's ENDERVERSE books. If you lot haven't already read Ender'southward Game, I strongly recommend that you starting time at that place, then read my favorite book in the unabridged series, Speaker for the Expressionless, and and so decide from there if you lot desire to become deeper into the ENDERVERSE. The Second FORMIC WAR series continues with The Hive, but published in June 2019. It'due south on my short list for upcoming reads!
Initial mail. OSC's publicist sent me a copy of his latest Enderverse novel, The Hive, and since I hadn't read the first volume in that series (this one, The Swarm) and I hate trying to spring into series mid-stream, I dutifully trotted off to the library and checked out this book. What I didn't realize at the time was that I didn't become back
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Unless you REALLY enjoyed the characters from the previous trilogy about the First Invasion, you will probably desire to pass on this one until the rest of the Second Invasion trilogy is out. I found it to exist horribly boring, and total of characters that I oasis't given a shit near for years, if I always did to begin with. The only part of this volume that I constitute ev
An interesting idea for the beginning of a story ruined by completely uninteresting characters, and series shattering continuity errors.Unless you lot REALLY enjoyed the characters from the previous trilogy near the First Invasion, you lot will probably want to pass on this one until the balance of the Second Invasion trilogy is out. I institute it to be horribly ho-hum, and full of characters that I haven't given a shit about for years, if I e'er did to begin with. The merely part of this book that I plant even mildly entertaining was Mazer Rackham's storyline, and even he was somewhat banal and colorless in this volume. I mean, the guy is one of the most badass characters in the Enderverse and what does he exercise in this book? Complain. Period.
Don't care virtually Victor, his family, and their drama. His family overstayed their welcome in the previous trilogy to a ridiculous degree and I'm still annoyed past that. Certainly don't Care about Lem, he's notwithstanding a slimy, contemptible piece of shit. Absolutely do not give whatsoever shits about Bingwen, and never did. And I forget her name, but the new character, the Thai pharmacist, oh my god, I hate this character. This graphic symbol has no reason to be, except to take ideas opposite to every single other human being, because the plot says it volition be important for the coming state of war. She'south an extremely lazy and desperately written character. Nosotros never come across how she came to any of these earth-changing realizations or discoveries, she just knows them all, because the plot says someone needs to tell Mazer Rackham well-nigh them for the final battle. And I don't mean to shit on other religions or annihilation, only when an alien menace appears on earth and begins murdering innocent people by the millions... THAT Conflicting Creature IS NOT ON THE PATH TO ENLIGHTENMENT Co-ordinate TO YOUR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS!!! I mean, even the book immediately points out how absolutely fucking stupid this character is for assertive it through another character's dialog, and pokes every sort of hole in the belief possible, but and then she just keeps talking almost it like it's not the almost idiotic affair she's ever said in her life. Some characters y'all merely want to achieve into the volume and strangle to death, and this is one of them.
Canonically, Mazer Rackham noticed that the Buggers/Formics/whateverthefuckyouwanttocallthemnow were interim oddly, Globe was losing, desperately, and he was on one of the last ships left in the fight. He made a last second judge that maybe a queen was controlling them all and attacked the female parent transport, winning the state of war. NO I KNEW OR Even SUSPECTED BEFORE THAT MOMENT IN THE FINAL BATTLE!!! FUCK THIS STUPID FREAKING NEW Graphic symbol!!! And that doesn't even have into business relationship that in Ender's fourth dimension, decades later, it is non mutual cognition at all, and here, every single person on Earth seems to know about it. The continuity errors here are admittedly enormous. Hey, if yous desire to go back and tell the back story, that's fine. But it CANNOT straight contradict the material that yous accept already published. I'thousand looking at You lot George Lucas!!! If you can't make information technology work as a skillful story on its ain without making continuity shattering changes to preexisting material so DON'T WRITE IT!!! How is this a difficult thing to effigy out? Seriously!!!
This volume is probably necessary for the overall plot of the trilogy, but it'due south a bit of a chore to read through with tedious characters, and lazy writing. It likewise breaks previously set continuity in a big way. My communication would be to wait for the rest of the trilogy earlier touching it, and care for information technology every bit not-cannon to the overall series, unless y'all're a huge Enderverse fan and absolutely have to read anything and everything connected to information technology as shortly as you lot learn of their existence. Throughout the entire book I was thinking to myself, "why am I reading this when I could exist re-reading Ender's Game right now instead...?"
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What is different in this episode is that the International Armada is completely dysfunctional. In the other books, the governmental regime accept a level of omniscience and infallibility that is godlike. Generations ahead of time, they can predict time to come battles, prefer the appropriate strategies and select the perfect leaders to win the state of war. I recall, sadly, that it's a sign of the curre
Practiced fun for Enderverse fans, so 4* for that crowd. Non the best in the series and not worth information technology on its ain.What is different in this episode is that the International Fleet is completely dysfunctional. In the other books, the governmental authorities have a level of omniscience and infallibility that is godlike. Generations ahead of time, they can predict time to come battles, adopt the appropriate strategies and select the perfect leaders to win the war. I call up, sadly, that it's a sign of the current times (2016) that this is also implausible even for scientific discipline fiction, and and then the future has changed to lucifer the present culture of corruption and incompetence. Information technology will be interesting to see how they overcome that in the story.
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At present fourth dimension for some real criticism. I don't consider the background the book a spoiler, so I am not hiding anything yet, but I will hide what I do consider spoilers. In the epilogue Johnston explains that they decided that the primary conflict in this book would be Mazer's first courtroom-martial. That would have been all well and good, if that's what they did. It might accept been interesting to have a science fiction court-room drama book - like Grisham in space or A Few Practiced Men. Instead, they barely spent any time preparing for his court-martial or even in the court room. And what time they did spend dealing with War machine Justice, I cringed every step of the manner. I empathize that the Fleet armed forces justice system is still in its infancy and is attempting to merge the justice systems of several different countries, so information technology won't wait similar the US military justice organisation. But every bit a JAG for the United States Air Strength there was a lot that frustrated me. If English language is the language of the fleet, I would await that an English/American justice system would be the primary model. If that is the case there is a lot that needs to be corrected. Did Carte du jour or Johnston even consult with a JAG officer? Johnston said he consulted with many military machine members, only did not mention a JAG. I would exist happy to provide some advice if they need a JAG consultant for Mazer's second courtroom-martial. I would be happy to get through everything that was incorrect with the system they created, simply I won't exercise that here. But I will note one: (view spoiler)[ In no armed services justice arrangement that I know of, can someone be acquitted of a crime (found not guilty) and yet the judge can still issue a letter of reprimand along with a recommendation for non-judicial punishment. Mazer was found not-guilty. Therefore there is no basis for any penalization, non-judicial or otherwise. Further, a letter of reprimand is considered a class of punishment also, and you CANNOT punish a person who is found not-guilty. Of class, I'k not sure how the guess found Mazer not-guilty without a trial, he should have dismissed the charges - which would have been better for the story since the charges could still be re-charged, unless they were dismissed with prejudice, so Mazer would still take a threat of court-martial hanging over his head. (hibernate spoiler)]
The other conflicts out in space with the formics were slap-up. There were some intense scenes and interesting world building. I did find the dialogue betwixt characters, specifically Victor and Imalla dragged quite a bit. Card in his erstwhile historic period is more interested in relationships than action, and I notice relationship building to exist a good thing in some stories. Still, I institute myself speeding up my audible app, simply to go through it faster.
Okay, at present to finish on a high signal. I liked the the Battle School foreshadowing.
Just know that while I was disappointed in this book, information technology didn't disappoint me enough to keep me from reading the next book when it comes out.
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Now that that'southward over with, The Swarm, the most recent entry into the Ender'south Game prequel serial-es, was an absolutely outstanding component of the serial that you absolutely cannot fully appreciate without reading (and probably enjoying) every other volume in the End
Damn y'all, Card and Johnston. Damn you for creating such a uniquely vibrant world that sucks me in similar literally no other. Damn y'all for putting out merely one of these a yr that I'm almost literally forced to read in a single sitting.Now that that's over with, The Swarm, the most contempo entry into the Ender's Game prequel series-es, was an admittedly outstanding component of the series that you absolutely cannot fully appreciate without reading (and probably enjoying) every other volume in the Enderverse. This presents a host of issues every bit a book, but I'll disregard those for now, considering reviews are subjective and this detail reviewer is a long-time fan of said Enderverse.
Every bit a component of the wider series, The Swarm fills one of the most genuinely fascinating narrative roles I've e'er had the pleasure to see. Brief diversion: I love to play games while I read a book; largely, I read the last few pages of a book and endeavor to constantly fill in the blanks as I read it from the front. This approach is regarded equally wildly sacrilegious past many, but makes reading a much more than active challenge for me, which makes me pay attention to every little detail the author(south) chuck in that much more. The Swarm provides a borderline unparalleled opportunity for this game, as information technology masterfully spins the world that Card and Johnston congenital in the Outset Formic War series into the universe that birthed Ender's Earth, dropping hints, clues, and origin stories left and right. This kind of backstory prequel work tends to be very hit-or-miss for me from most authors, relies wholly upon the gelling of said origins in context of both the narrative of the book in question and the wider universe, a massive claiming for any creative to undertake; additionally, distinct characters are relied upon even more heavily in these cases, as they're the reader's only viewpoints into this plot-dense transition time.
And holy cow, does The Swarm check EVERY box above, and absolutely blow its peers out of the h2o. The same characters I barbarous in love with in The First Formic War serial have grown up over the meantime, and their new status quos feel perfectly natural and fitting to who they are. Established relationships feel like destiny in activity, new relationships drag me in immediately, new characters grab my attention from their first couple of paragraphs, then totally undercut my expectations, simply every bit I've come to (not) expect from this tag-squad writing duo.
Every bit many other reviewers have pointed out, there is non much activeness in this book, and it's largely table-setting; but it'south table-setting undergone in a borderline perfect manner, which is something to be truly celebrated as a fundamental component of the series. With each entry into their wonderful prequel series, the Enderverse grows exponentially fuller and more vibrant, literally all a long-fourth dimension fan could ask out of a volume similar this.
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I'yard wondering if Orson would have washed better without a co-author hither. The story is very slow-paced, the characters I really don't care much about.
I did like the adventure of explor
Starts out OK but to brand a long story short, it should accept been shorter! There is much to be said for a build upwardly to the next volume, but this one was not actually developing the characters much from the previous novel. You are required to read the previous one or else you will be lost, not a skillful sign for any author.I'k wondering if Orson would accept done better without a co-writer here. The story is very boring-paced, the characters I actually don't care much about.
I did like the run a risk of exploring the asteroids the Formics are using for weapons confronting Flesh. And that a giant send is budgeted. At the end of the novel, the ship is all the same approaching and the Formics have all the same to practice much of annihilation!
I might go onto the next one, not sure yet!
...more In that location's a lot of nano tech, and all-encompassing videos of the Formics here that I found myself wondering how they didn't make it into the fix-in-the-future Ender's Game book. The authors have already created an alternate history (gay people and cel phones don't exist, for example, though it's never explicitly stated) timeline to set the Ender books in. Why not but stick with that?
The cerebral dissonance of the autho
Getting back more than to what I desire the Ender books to exist-- politics, hard science, etc.There's a lot of nano tech, and all-encompassing videos of the Formics here that I found myself wondering how they didn't make it into the set-in-the-future Ender's Game book. The authors accept already created an alternate history (gay people and cel phones don't be, for example, though it'southward never explicitly stated) timeline to set the Ender books in. Why non only stick with that?
The cognitive dissonance of the authors is also interesting-- military is a bureaucracy full of selfish careerists, simply "back up our troops".
There were possibly too many characters hither, with new ones introduced, merely getting only one or 2 POV chapters each. Post-obit vii POVs in one book was alot to go along track of. The affiliate headings with historical-writing snippets are helpful and well-done once more at least.
Also, learn to kill your darlings. Past this book, I actually wanted certain characters to dice. They had just defied the odds style as well much for me to append disbelief any more. Allow them make a noble sacrifice and be done. I desire to cheer when someone lives through something, not roll my eyes.
Anyway, all that aside, we do follow Mazer, Lem, Victor, Amala, and Bingwen as they do strategic, interesting things and narrate complex social/cultural relationships. And that's why I keep reading.
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I thought The Swarm was very entertaining
Ender'southward Game is always on those lists of the Top Science Fiction Novels of All Fourth dimension, just to tell you the truth, I kind of experience similar it's overrated. Not that it's bad, considering information technology's non bad, information technology'southward good, but information technology's not great. It's structure and the way it ends drain the drama out of it in my opinion (I won't say more virtually it, considering I don't desire to spoil it). So, when I say that I really liked The Swarm ameliorate than Ender's Game, don't read too much into it.I thought The Swarm was very entertaining. I enjoyed all the characters and their stories. I liked the style Aaron Johnson (considering let's face information technology, Orson Scott Card didn't write this) went nearly revealing the mysteries of the Formics and their technology. I enjoyed the book'southward peppy pacing and the $.25 of activity (though at that place could accept been more of them).
The Swarm is classified as book one in the 2nd Formic State of war series. I assumed, based on its status as "book 1" that I could bound right into it without worrying virtually any books that may have come up earlier. I was wrong. The Swarm references a big number of earlier events and clearly assumes you know all nigh them already. Patently, I should have read the books of the First Formic State of war series showtime. The good news is that I enjoyed The Swarm enough that I absolutely want to read them.
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Stylistically, I hand information technology to Johnston—he got me to cry with the dazzler of one chapter's end. That's all I'll say, and then as to avoid spoilers, but he deftly used a character who's been built upwardly over the past few books to effectively tug at heartstrings and brand me co
Builds well. Fills in gaps nicely. Pays tribute to characters from both the original story and those nosotros've met in the Formic Wars series. In short, it functions very well for what a story has to do in its slot in the timeline of prequels.Stylistically, I mitt it to Johnston—he got me to cry with the beauty of one chapter's end. That's all I'll say, so as to avoid spoilers, but he deftly used a character who's been built up over the by few books to finer tug at heartstrings and make me commit my emotions. I don't frequently cry from the events in the extended Ender serial, so when those moments come up, I relish them.
And one last annotation I experience compelled to make, particularly for those keeping score from the recent books: The authors' LDS-inspired views of Family Uber Alles™ however show upwardly in this text, but on the whole they're kept well plenty in check that I don't curlicue my eyes. Romantic dialogue got a wee fleck shallow on a couple occasions, simply things moved along soon enough. The importance of family in this volume exists less as a moral lesson to the reader and more as a lid-tip to folks in uniform. The romantic tensions we see aren't glaring examples of how to enhance a wholesome family with 18 kids; they're an exposition of the challenges of being in love while existence at war. The families, in other words, are and so essential to the characters that nosotros can't alive with the people and come up to sympathize them without as well agreement their (views of) relationships. I appreciate the minor shift in emphasis, and I think information technology works well to take the shine off a coating applied to previous stories in this series.
Overall, this was ane of the more enjoyable books in the recent set. Admittedly, not terribly much happens, plot-wise. Most of the events obviously prepare us upward for things to come up—the grand climax of the whole series has already been written and is in this book'south future—but enough events comport significance, especially given the context within that total series, that it holds up well. An enjoyable, worthwhile read, if you need something quotable. :)
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The Swarm is the kickoff entry in The Second Formic War series, but actually information technology is just the fourth entry in what I'thousand deeming The Formic Wars serial. After barely repelling the Formic invasion in Earth Awakens, Victor Delgado, a spaceborn mechanic, Bingwen, a brilliant young Chinese boy training as a soldier, Lem Jukes, now CEO of Jukes Limited and son of thursday
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The Swarm is the first entry in The Second Formic War series, merely actually it is merely the 4th entry in what I'g deeming The Formic Wars serial. After barely repelling the Formic invasion in Earth Awakens, Victor Delgado, a spaceborn mechanic, Bingwen, a brilliant immature Chinese boy grooming as a soldier, Lem Jukes, now CEO of Jukes Limited and son of the first Hegemon of Earth, and Mazer Rackham, elite soldier whose heroic deportment in the First War are concealed, only known past a select few, continue to set up for the impending second invasion that is a lot closer than they previously expected.
I actually enjoyed The Swarm. Don't get me wrong. It'due south not great literature, but I do recall information technology is a superior book to whatsoever of the three in The First Formic War trilogy. In office, I've spent more time with the primary cast of characters so I know them better and after four books in their characters are a bit more fleshed out. But the other part is that it'south but improve writing and storytelling, period. The Card/Johnston duo seem to have learned some of what went incorrect with the first trilogy and accept fabricated changes to give u.s.a. a more character-axial, fleshy story, if that makes whatsoever sense.
Like Earth Unaware, The Swarm is a big build upwardly without any major payoff. While that's unfortunate, it does make big promises for the next book in the series...which I'll become to straightaway.
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I establish this an arresting read, suspenseful enough that I (a suspe
Ideally, i should read this book afterward Ender's Game, Ender's Shadow, and the Offset Formic War serial. I don't think I've read all of that series, but at that place are sufficient clues to what happened. As for Ender'south Game and Ender's Shadow, this book takes place before either and tin can be read independently of them, though the reader would miss a number of winks and nods toward those books, including some satisfactory foundation-laying.I found this an absorbing read, suspenseful enough that I (a suspense wimp) looked alee a few pages at to the lowest degree once to find out what happened to a character in which I had some emotional investment. The political and armed services maneuvering is for the well-nigh part laid out conspicuously. I await forward with some impatience to the second book in this series.
The two authors, Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston, collaborate seamlessly.
...more than The Swarm is some other solid volume in the serial. Like the first formic war series, information technology'due south interesting knowing the ultimate results hundreds of years later. And yet again the story that unfolds has many twists and unexpected details.
One new thing I picked upward that seems mutual in other Ender books is what I'd call a sketchy emotional sub plot. In this version it'southward a couple characters that in one encounter get from engaged to confused and
I waited also long to write this. The specific details are fading.The Swarm is another solid book in the series. Similar the first formic war series, information technology's interesting knowing the ultimate results hundreds of years later. And yet again the story that unfolds has many twists and unexpected details.
1 new thing I picked up that seems common in other Ender books is what I'd call a sketchy emotional sub plot. In this version it's a couple characters that in ane encounter get from engaged to dislocated and unsure about their condition. It seems shallow, notwithstanding it's not distracting from the overall plot.
Old characters are the center of attention, like to the last series and many plotlines are left incomplete in anticipation of the next couple books. It'south all ramping up again, and the most of import plotlines reach a satisfying climax to lead us to the next book.
I'm looking forward to the completion of the serial. I don't recall whatever of these are life irresolute, only for an Ender Universe fanboy they are definitely worth the fourth dimension.
Pros: Pleasing the fanboys, interesting and logical plot. Edifice apprehension!
Cons: Possibly not a con, merely the pacing is a niggling slower than I expect and hope for. Not much bad to say though.
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Ender's Game is truly a classic of the sci-fi genre. Menu'southward depth of understanding of his bailiwick created a need in his readers for more than. Although y'all tin still see Card's influence in this book, it is clear there is a co-author. It is somewhat like the motion from George Lucas' Starwars to Timothy Zahn'south Starwars. The stories remain compelling, merely go less about the original characters, and more most the universe the
Another entry in the "Ender-verse". Orson Scott Card never fails to deliver.Ender'southward Game is truly a classic of the sci-fi genre. Carte du jour's depth of understanding of his subject created a demand in his readers for more. Although you can all the same see Carte du jour's influence in this book, information technology is clear in that location is a co-author. It is somewhat like the motility from George Lucas' Starwars to Timothy Zahn's Starwars. The stories remain compelling, merely go less about the original characters, and more than well-nigh the universe the characters inhabit. This isn't a bad alter, but information technology is a alter.
Recommended for: Fans of the Ender Universe.
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And so we remember how did humans win over them in the first place? Well we saw the answer to that in the get-go formic war. Millions killed. Sheer luck and lunacy.
The 2d fourth dimension they await more organized, only so are the formics. It's looking to be a david vs goliath for at present.
I find the excessive participation of Victor in eve
Good read. In the Ender'south series, it's a given that humans won over formics. But in the subsequently books we realize how intelligent the hive queen is and how organized her workers are.Then we remember how did humans win over them in the commencement identify? Well we saw the respond to that in the first formic state of war. Millions killed. Sheer luck and lunacy.
The 2nd fourth dimension they wait more organized, simply and so are the formics. It'due south looking to be a david vs goliath for now.
I find the excessive participation of Victor in everything daunting. The guy is a free miner,with informal education. How the hell he figured out hydrogen's upshot on respiratory systems? He's a good mechanic, not bad, simply that doesn't tell us anything.
At this point, Victor, Bingwen and Mazer can do absolutely anything, and that doesn't seem realistic.
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I started with this as information technology was the outset of the trilogy before the actual Ender's Game.
Well, cringe, information technology wasn't good.
What I liked, was some of the inquiry of weapons every bit they effigy out how to defeat the Formics (hirsuite issues alien things). This went across Lem'southward and Mazer's story lines.
Also similar thursday
I started with this every bit information technology was the beginning of the trilogy before the actual Ender'due south Game.
Well, cringe, it wasn't good.
What I liked, was some of the inquiry of weapons as they effigy out how to defeat the Formics (furry issues conflicting things). This went across Lem'due south and Mazer'south story lines.
Also like the exploring and solving the mystery of the asteroids. Across Victor'southward and Mazer'south story arcs.
What I didn't like...the massive story arcs of boredom
(view spoiler)[
Such as that whole Court Martial matter with Mazer, everything leading up to it, during it and on the moon. Wearisome and not needed. I don't really care about the nuances of how messed upwardly the war machine is and going on information technology at length
BIngwin the chinese child soldier. I get information technology, this sets up Ender'south Game, just this really could accept been trimmed significantly.
The drama with Victors family, it is nice to have some depth of graphic symbol and background, but this was also much for my tastes
That buddhist biochemist - Willa i think? Anyhow, this part was HORRIBLE, plain and simple HORRIBLE. I worked through the part where her mentor DESTROYED her theory of the how the enemy queen was on the path to enlightenment, however she kept going on and on nearly information technology. And the author portrayed her like she was walking in a axle of sunshine awesomeness that became sickening and forced me to skim read to go past her. The worst function, her buddhist expositions/essays were non necessary to the story!!!! The manner they figured out how to breech the enemy hull could take been washed in then many other means.
The space pirates. Kahzid or something like that. Now I do love some great infinite pirate actions, but that was done badly. The part where they captured the Brotherhood ship...stupid... in brief: Kahzid manages to get himself on board a military vessel (That was fine), but then he came out of his 'tool closet prison house' that had zero locks, and one VERY inattentive guard who a got a screwdriver to the cervix. (Lack of security dumbfounding) - then because it was 'nighttime shift' he easily snuck his way onto the bridge. (which had the bare minimum security). He then promptly killed the SINGLE person on the bridge who had his back to the door and put up nothing fight. All that was bad bad bad. The ship had a crew of 42, which normal naval procedure would exist three equal shifts over a full day so the transport would E'er be operating at full stations. That bridge should have at to the lowest degree 4-5 crew on it. But I gauge, we had to have idiotic armed services coiffure and protocol to bulldoze a story line that I am sure will get explained in a future novel."
(hide spoiler)]
So to summarize, too much fluff and filler, not enough meat. Some bones logic fails likewise. Many times along the way I was debating if I should quit and non terminate, but kept talking myself back into it. If I am thinking like that, and so I know the book wasn't good at all. The beginning and catastrophe were good, the rest....
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Information technology doesn't matter that we "know" the large motion picture of what happens. Information technology'due south the how. I desire to know HOW sooner than later.
As with all the best space operas, information technology is the people and the love and ultimately, family unit and perpetuating the homo species that makes these lives worth living.
Gah! Why is it that I just establish out nigh this volume and at present take to wait for the adjacent one?!?It doesn't matter that we "know" the big flick of what happens. It's the how. I want to know HOW sooner than afterwards.
As with all the best space operas, it is the people and the love and ultimately, family and perpetuating the human species that makes these lives worth living.
...more In this book nosotros run across Vico, Mazer, Bingwen and Lem again, together with other erstwhile, and new, characters, and see how they have evolved and/or changed from the aftermath of the offset state of war.
Nonetheless there are things that doe
I like this volume, and encourage all who liked the 3 sometime books on the Formic wars to read this besides, and by all ways those who haven't read the former books. Though it would be recommended to practice and so offset, as you'll understand more of what the principal characters have gone through.In this book nosotros meet Vico, Mazer, Bingwen and Lem over again, together with other old, and new, characters, and run into how they accept evolved and/or changed from the backwash of the first war.
Yet there are things that doesn't add upwards to info in Ender's Game, e.grand. (view spoiler)[how many who believed there was a Hive Queen (not many in Ender'south Game, vs a lot in this book) (hibernate spoiler)]. But by all means they are free to change things in the books every bit they see fit, equally I believe Card has said that he have done, or wanted to do, before.
(view spoiler)[Its fun to run into the beginnings of the Battle School, or what will become the Battle School in the future, particularly the Battle Room. (hibernate spoiler)]
Ane of the things I found a bit odd, but in a future quite possible, is the monk and Wila. I detect it a chip odd, but others might not even notice it. (view spoiler)[The matter I constitute a flake odd is when the monk and Wila goes dorsum and along between religion and science. It feels as they have been created as both scientists and buddhists merely not entwined properly. (hide spoiler)]
(view spoiler)[Another thing is that at times it feels like the Hive Queen have been made a piffling less smart than I had expected, I would think she would accept acted differently on the asteroid. (hide spoiler)]
In that location are other things I find strange, but which very well exist explained in the 2 adjacent books, which I look forward to read!
...more If this were written as a stand alone piece of literature -- it would be perfectly acceptable. It's a techno-babble heavy, grapheme light, sci-fi adventure book. Perhaps not the height of literary achievement, but a genre which has its ain charms and audition.
But there'due south very little continuity betwixt what other books in the serial accept told us about the events
This book suffers from yet flaws as the others in the Ender-verse prequel series. That is, they don't belong in the Ender-verse.If this were written as a stand alone piece of literature -- it would be perfectly acceptable. Information technology's a techno-babble heavy, character calorie-free, sci-fi take a chance book. Peradventure not the peak of literary achievement, simply a genre which has its ain charms and audience.
But there's very piddling continuity between what other books in the series take told usa about the events this book depicts, and how this volume tells the story of those events. Sometimes these contradictions are pocket-size and annoying, sometimes they're the pillars the plots of earlier books relied upon. Either way, information technology makes this book thoroughly unpleasant for whatever fan of the other Ender-verse books.
There's a practiced deal of world building done in this book as well (Ofttimes to the disservice of the story and characters). Merely the world beingness congenital is a completely different earth from that of the novels information technology's supposed to be based on. Kittenish "cool tech" is constantly being discussed which is completely absent-minded from books that take place chronologically in the future (or far in the future). Information technology's as if someone took I, Robot and said information technology was the prequel to Independence Twenty-four hours.
And finally, characters. Ender's game and its sequels had characters. This book has caricatures. People who are in that location considering someone had to be there for the events described... who maintain a bizarre duality of competence and incompetence depending on what the plot requires at that moment.
In short, while a competently written low-brow activeness volume; as a successor to Ender's Game, this book falls flat on all counts.
...more
Also these and other science fiction novels, Menu writes contemporary fantasy (Magic Street, Enchantment, Lost Boys), biblical novels (Stone Tables, Rachel and Leah), the American frontier fantasy serial Th
Orson Scott Card is the author of the novels Ender's Game, Ender'south Shadow, and Speaker for the Dead, which are widely read by adults and younger readers, and are increasingly used in schools.Besides these and other science fiction novels, Card writes contemporary fantasy (Magic Street, Enchantment, Lost Boys), biblical novels (Rock Tables, Rachel and Leah), the American frontier fantasy serial The Tales of Alvin Maker (beginning with Seventh Son), verse (An Open Book), and many plays and scripts.
Card was born in Washington and grew up in California, Arizona, and Utah. He served a mission for the LDS Church building in Brazil in the early 1970s. As well his writing, he teaches occasional classes and workshops and directs plays. He recently began a long-term position equally a professor of writing and literature at Southern Virginia University.
Carte du jour currently lives in Greensboro, Northward Carolina, with his wife, Kristine Allen Carte du jour, and their youngest child, Zina Margaret.
For farther details, meet the author's Wikipedia page.
For an ordered list of the author's works, see Wikipedia'southward List of works past Orson Scott Bill of fare.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/orsons...
...moreOther books in the series
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