Helpful Score: 3
Xenocide continues where Speaker for the Dead leaves off in the Ender's Saga and meets and exceeds all expectations. I read these books after reading the Ender's Shadow series and they are not quite as good on that aspect but Orson wrote these 15 or 20 years ago and has only gotten better as an author. Where in Shadow(Bean's Saga) is about more war and the politics of the future and trying to unite the people of Earth before the third most devastating world war breaks out. This is more sacred addressing the religions of the future and what religions aliens might have.
Ender comes to the planet with the only other aliens human's have encountered other than the formic buggers which we wiped out long ago to try and stop another xenocide from occurring when this new alien's religion leads to what humans would call murder. The mystery unfolds in greater more complicated ways in this book and old technology is explained in new ways to create a new technology to solve all of the planet's problems. It's not a light read, and it's a bit complicated but I highly recommend it for the hard core sci fi fan.
Ender comes to the planet with the only other aliens human's have encountered other than the formic buggers which we wiped out long ago to try and stop another xenocide from occurring when this new alien's religion leads to what humans would call murder. The mystery unfolds in greater more complicated ways in this book and old technology is explained in new ways to create a new technology to solve all of the planet's problems. It's not a light read, and it's a bit complicated but I highly recommend it for the hard core sci fi fan.
Helpful Score: 3
The third book in the Ender Quartet, the story continues right on from book 2 (no more 3000 year gap!) The Starways Congress fleet is looming above the planet of Lusitania, a deadly virus is threatening to wipe our species, straining the relationship between mankind and his alien neighbor, the pequeninos. Note: to follow the story, you have to read the preceding two Ender books first.
Helpful Score: 3
Third in the series. Don't start here, go back to Ender's Game and Speaker for the Dead. GREAT sci-fi.
Helpful Score: 2
This is the sequel to "Speaker for the Dead". The Ender Wiggin story just gets better and better. Ender is reunited with Valentine. The mystery of Jane's origins is uncovered. Starways Congress is also unveiled for what it has become. New characters of great depth and interest are introduced. Now I can't wait to read the next book in the series!
Helpful Score: 1
This and Speaker of the Dead may be the best two books in the Ender series - especially for those who like intelligent conversation and characterization as well as action.
Helpful Score: 1
A thought provoking follow-up to "Speaker for the Dead."
Third in the series, I have really enjoyed Card's writings. His characters have such depth, you really learn their differences their dilemmas. Imagining other worlds and other intelligent species is a gift I wish I had, so I read.
This book is a wonderful sequel to Speaker for the Dead. Though Card went back later and gave us Ender in Exile, this book is one of a trilogy that traces the fate of the adult Ender Wiggins.
I like the whole Ender series. O. S. Card is a talented writer
This third installment in what is apparently the "Ender quartet" moves much slower than Speaker for the Dead, with none of the increased character exploration that accompanied Speaker's comparative slowdown over Ender's Game. The sub-story involving world of Path was intriguing, but it was not enough to hold my interest in an otherwise ponderous narrative. And the ending...wow. Most obvious deus ex machina I've ever seen in fiction. Way to write yourself into a corner and then invent solutions out of thin air, Card - and yet still leave the major crisis of the story unresolved! The fleet of ships headed to destroy Lusitania at the beginning of the novel are still on their way at its close.
I have to say, I didn't think a writer who cared enough about science to show time dilation in close-to-light-speed travel would then suggest that FTL travel was possible just by *wishing* for it hard enough.
I don't think I'll be reading Children of the Mind.
I have to say, I didn't think a writer who cared enough about science to show time dilation in close-to-light-speed travel would then suggest that FTL travel was possible just by *wishing* for it hard enough.
I don't think I'll be reading Children of the Mind.
My favorite book of all time. I have read this book so many times, there is so many little plot twist that I keep re-reading it. I have read other books by Orson but this is still the best one.
Wordy and a little long...some interesting concepts and moral & ethical dilemmas that ended a little too neatly but did make one think at times.
The war for the survival of the planet Lusitania will be fought in the heart of a child named Gloriously Bright.
Much more action than the second book
Ender's Game is a classic, but "Xenocide", "Children of the Mind" and "Speaker for the Dead" are nothing like the first book. But, good on a standalone basis.
Orson Scott Card just didn't know when to quit Ender's story. Xenocide isn't a bad book, but it's certainly a step down from Ender's Game and Speaker For The Dead.
On Lusitania, Ender found a world where humans and pequininos and the Hive Queen could all live together; where three very different intelligent species could find common ground at last. Or so he thought.
The only sci-fi author I will read. Excellent book.
Fascinating story keeps you in suspense!
Strange sort of stretch to put ender on a planet condemed with a virus but I enjoyed this.
A more mature Ender Wiggin. I love the classics, this is a very interesting followup.
Third book in the Ender's Game saga.
OMG this book is so SLOW. Pages and pages of drivel about the meaning of life. People - Quara, looking at you - acting like idiots. this should have been a massive fingernail-biting rollercoaster ride, with the potential destruction of Jane, the pequeninos, and the buggers, not to mention the entire planet of Lusitania. But no, Card has his characters just blather on for two=thirds the book. Then to wrap up by having them just wish the solution into being? C'mon. And the new Peter and Valentine ...c'mon. What was the point of Path anyway? I had intended to re-read the entire Ender-verse because it's been many many years, but I didn't remember this book being so incredibly dull.
I ended up a bit disappointed in this book although I have loved all the others in both series.
