Beyond Ender's Game: Speaker for the Dead, Xenocide, Children of the Mind by Orson Scott Card
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Book Reviews of Beyond Ender's Game: Speaker for the Dead, Xenocide, Children of the Mind
Book Review: Engrossing Science Fiction at its Very Best
Summary: 5 Stars
This set contains the last 3 books in the quartet of books that began with Ender's Game. They tell a gripping story of the neverending struggle of diverse peoples (human and alien species) to learn to understand each other, live in harmony, and learn to cooperate for the common good. Book Review: Speaker for the Dead & Xenocide Review
Summary: 4 Stars
I'd read "Ender's Game" over a year ago and thoroughly enjoyed it, but fiddly-farted about getting to "Speaker for the Dead". What a mistake! "Speaker..." is an outstanding follow-up chronicling Ender's life post the Bugger's War. The introduction of the seemingly primitive, simple, and indigenous pequeninos, their mysterious evolution, their social structures, their propagation, and what seems like their murderous ritual makes for great sci-fi reading...well, as far as this newbie to sci-fi reading goes. The moral and ethical dilemmas inherent between two alien species who've little understanding of the other and whose ways may seem honorable to one, but abhorent to the other reflects the same complexities of human life and understanding among us. If understanding isn't pursued, questions truthfully answered, and prejudices destroyed, conflict, death, destruction...and as ender learned as a child, xenocide likely follows. It was a fantastic read!
On the other hand, while "Xenocide" took the moral and ethical conflicts even deeper, there was an excessive amount of "tearing up" and crying for me to remain completely engrossed in the "us or them" debate. (I sided in favor of the pequeninos. They were there first. Humans came later. They were certainly sentient and intelligent. Fortunately... ;-) ) Anyway, despite successfully weaving the many complex relationships among the extremely compelling and realistic characters, the story line in "Xenocide" took on an overly sentimental tone. This may be appealing to some, but way over the top for my tastes.
Perhaps when I've read more sci-fi, I'll be able to write a more technical and open-minded review devoid of my personality quirks. "Speaker..." rates a FIVE. "Xenocide" rates a THREE. "Children of the Mind" is pending...
Book Review: Challenging good read
Summary: 4 Stars
These books are for those who want a challenge. Possibly a little confusing at first, but keep reading and you are hooked. Good, creative author.Book Review: Beyond Ender's Game (3 books)
Summary: 5 Stars
Read them! Kids and adults alike! You will love them. Be sure you read "Ender's Game" first. One of my all-time favorites! (I'm 68 years old.)
H. in Texas
Book Review: Not worth the purchase
Summary: 2 Stars
By the end of Ender's Game, the Ender story feels complete. Author Card may have agreed, as the following stories take Ender and his tale in an entirely new direction. If you just stick to Ender's Game, you won't feel at a loss. These stories feel extraneous and the characters are too certain of their own righteousness to be believable.