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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
Having already read Speaker For The Dead, which occurs later in the timeline, Ender In Exile filled in some missing peices in the storyline. This book is about Ender's life post-war. I really enjoy the authors' writing style and the entire Ender series.
While this is "The Direct Sequel to Ender's Game," it was not written directly after it. It is a bridge that he later wrote between Ender's Game and Speaker for the Dead (I hope I explained that right, because I didn't know it until a few minutes ago and haven't read Speaker for the Dead; Orson Scott Card discussed this in the afterward). This book was not particularly well-received by many Ender fans who have read several of Card's books over the years. However, from my perspective reading this a few months after reading Ender's Game, it is a fitting sequel.
As Ender ventures out to govern a colony on a former Formic planet, he faces much different problems than he faced in Battle School. It is less about military strategy and more about political strategy. Ender doesn't seem confident in his ability, nor do his rivals. However, they overestimate him. After all, Battle School was about more than military strategy. There were social issues at play, which of course is what led to his confrontations with Stilson and Bonzo. Ender does not disappoint. He brilliantly maneuvers around new rivals in completely different settings.
This book has no shortage of the Orson Scott Card elements that I love so much. The subtle tricks that Ender uses to control conversations and confrontations, especially when he refrains from response at the exact right moments, allowing the other person to do his work for him. Ender's brilliant leadership skills. Witty arguments between characters whose relationships are loving but complicated. A constant questioning of morality, the very existence of which proves the strength of the morality of the characters who question themselves.
There is significantly less battle action than Ender's Game. However, I don't have a problem with this. As Card writes, "It’s still war, even if there are no weapons but smiles and words." Card captures this new kind of war brilliantly, picking archetypes we've all seen and gradually revealing the manipulative strategies they use socially that are so similar to those used by Ender's more violent enemies. These elements make Card's novels a course in leadership. There is so much to learn from his stories and characters. However, Card's philosophies push a little too far late in this novel and not with enough support. Ender puts a questionable amount of faith in genetic determinism that almost gets him killed. Can morality really be inherited strictly through genetics? Card also gives fate a lot of credit, as Petra declares, "We're all beggars at the throne of fate." It is odd that two of Card's smartest, strongest characters give so much credit to fate despite having exceptional gifts for controlling their own destinies.
Given that the Ender books are often considered to be in the young adult genre, the volume of philosophy that Card discusses, even if you don't agree with it all, is perhaps his most impressive accomplishment. Like Ender's Game, Ender in Exile is exercise for the reader's mind and soul. It is a fine addition to the massive world of Ender's Game.
As Ender ventures out to govern a colony on a former Formic planet, he faces much different problems than he faced in Battle School. It is less about military strategy and more about political strategy. Ender doesn't seem confident in his ability, nor do his rivals. However, they overestimate him. After all, Battle School was about more than military strategy. There were social issues at play, which of course is what led to his confrontations with Stilson and Bonzo. Ender does not disappoint. He brilliantly maneuvers around new rivals in completely different settings.
This book has no shortage of the Orson Scott Card elements that I love so much. The subtle tricks that Ender uses to control conversations and confrontations, especially when he refrains from response at the exact right moments, allowing the other person to do his work for him. Ender's brilliant leadership skills. Witty arguments between characters whose relationships are loving but complicated. A constant questioning of morality, the very existence of which proves the strength of the morality of the characters who question themselves.
There is significantly less battle action than Ender's Game. However, I don't have a problem with this. As Card writes, "It’s still war, even if there are no weapons but smiles and words." Card captures this new kind of war brilliantly, picking archetypes we've all seen and gradually revealing the manipulative strategies they use socially that are so similar to those used by Ender's more violent enemies. These elements make Card's novels a course in leadership. There is so much to learn from his stories and characters. However, Card's philosophies push a little too far late in this novel and not with enough support. Ender puts a questionable amount of faith in genetic determinism that almost gets him killed. Can morality really be inherited strictly through genetics? Card also gives fate a lot of credit, as Petra declares, "We're all beggars at the throne of fate." It is odd that two of Card's smartest, strongest characters give so much credit to fate despite having exceptional gifts for controlling their own destinies.
Given that the Ender books are often considered to be in the young adult genre, the volume of philosophy that Card discusses, even if you don't agree with it all, is perhaps his most impressive accomplishment. Like Ender's Game, Ender in Exile is exercise for the reader's mind and soul. It is a fine addition to the massive world of Ender's Game.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was not a huge fan because it was slow
I love the Ender universe. I almost wish I had reread the series before reading this because it's been so long, but I loved it just the same. Card's characters are so fascinating and real and I never feel like I get enough of them. I was happy and surprised that this book covers up holes in both the Ender series and the Shadow series. It seems to me that an author should be allowed to fix mistakes found in earlier books, especially in a series as long and in-depth as this one. I appreciate that Card explains his motivation.
Ender's letter to his parents had me in tears and so many different moments had me laughing out loud. I wish Card had delved more into Ender's relationship with his parents after he wrote the letter. It seems strange that after such a heart-felt and moving letter we only get a small mention of any kind of relationship from a letter Graff writes to Ender. While I think it was very well done overall, there were parts that almost felt hurried and as if there should have been more.
Ender's letter to his parents had me in tears and so many different moments had me laughing out loud. I wish Card had delved more into Ender's relationship with his parents after he wrote the letter. It seems strange that after such a heart-felt and moving letter we only get a small mention of any kind of relationship from a letter Graff writes to Ender. While I think it was very well done overall, there were parts that almost felt hurried and as if there should have been more.
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Besides reviewing Ender in Exile, I'll also comment on the entire Ender's Game series (known as the "Enderverse"). First of all, if you haven't read the original, you should do so. Card is an excellent storyteller, and this is one of the most important and acclaimed sci-fi novels of our generation. Even non sci-fi fans will probably enjoy the read.
The next three after that -- Speaker for the Dead, Xenocide, and Children of the Mind -- were in parts some of the best stuff I've *ever* read. Unfortunately, no entire book held up that well throughout, but the flaws and/or less exciting parts were very much bearable, and the books as a whole well worth it. The Shadow series consists of four more novels focusing on the character Bean. I read the first couple, but I'm not sure I'll finish the rest. However, they were also fine stories.
Finally, Ender in Exile jumps back to what happened to Ender immediately after the original Ender's Game. Like every other book in the series, it was nice to return to the familiar Enderverse after some time away. It tied up some loose ends and was an interesting read, though I believe it also had some flaws and, contrary to Card's claim, probably would be somewhat confusing to anyone who hadn't read at least the original book.
So that's it. Maybe I'm through with the Enderverse... or maybe I'll return in a couple of years to finish the last couple. I hear Card may have at least one more book to go in the series, so I'll probably be drawn back in.
The next three after that -- Speaker for the Dead, Xenocide, and Children of the Mind -- were in parts some of the best stuff I've *ever* read. Unfortunately, no entire book held up that well throughout, but the flaws and/or less exciting parts were very much bearable, and the books as a whole well worth it. The Shadow series consists of four more novels focusing on the character Bean. I read the first couple, but I'm not sure I'll finish the rest. However, they were also fine stories.
Finally, Ender in Exile jumps back to what happened to Ender immediately after the original Ender's Game. Like every other book in the series, it was nice to return to the familiar Enderverse after some time away. It tied up some loose ends and was an interesting read, though I believe it also had some flaws and, contrary to Card's claim, probably would be somewhat confusing to anyone who hadn't read at least the original book.
So that's it. Maybe I'm through with the Enderverse... or maybe I'll return in a couple of years to finish the last couple. I hear Card may have at least one more book to go in the series, so I'll probably be drawn back in.
Finally finished this volume from the Enderverse, and I have to say that I struggled to stick with it. This book was very disjointed, wandered all over the place, and some of the storylines just really didn't interest me. The second half was definitely better than the first in that I became even more interested in the formics/buggers than I was when I finished Ender's Game. I think I'll be moving on to Speaker for the Dead next, because I really want to read more about the formics and their reasoning, history, and maybe their future?
I won't be reading this one again, but it had some good moments in it that make it worth the effort. The writing is not great, the characters are not always well-developed (especially the women... Card does not seem to understand women in the slightest), but there are some good nuggets in there, and I'm glad I caught those along the way.
I won't be reading this one again, but it had some good moments in it that make it worth the effort. The writing is not great, the characters are not always well-developed (especially the women... Card does not seem to understand women in the slightest), but there are some good nuggets in there, and I'm glad I caught those along the way.
I hadn’t anticipated needing to read another OSC book, although I had thoroughly enjoyed _Ender’s Game_. Totally fell hook, line and sinker for this one! Keeping track of the expansion and compression of time for different parties communicating with Ender was a mind-stretch that felt good…And whereas I didn’t like Harrison Ford’s Graff in the movie Ender’s Game, I was comfortable with that embodiment of the post-war Graff corresponding with Ender in this story. I may just have to roll back to _Speaker for the Dead_ as a result!