Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.4 AVERAGE
3.4 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The Call of Earth is the second installment of the five book series called Homecoming. The planet Harmony is inhabited by humans who are the descendants of people who fled a ruined earth a long time ago, and which is monitored by an orbiting satellite called the Oversoul. Somehow, all the people of Harmony are genetically altered so that the Oversoul can speak to their minds and influence their thoughts and actions. This was all set up by original settlers so that the Oversoul could maintain peace on the planet, and prevent the invention of certain technologies which would lead to weaponry, etc., which lead to the downfall of Earth. Well, the Oversoul is getting old and worn down and it is losing its ability to perform its duties, and things are starting to unravel on Harmony.
The story follows the continuing adventures of main characters, Nafai, who, along with a number of others in his family, is receiving messages through dreams from the Oversoul. The messages are instructing them to leave their city, Basilica, as a warlord who appears to be exempt from the Oversoul's influence is gathering an army and intends to take Basilica and other lands. The Oversoul has a plan but will it succeed, given that its powers of influence over the people are waning?
Like the first novel, I thought the concept was interesting and the plot moved along at a nice pace. The characters continue to become more fleshed out and their plight continues to become more serious as events unfold. And the antagonist warlord is a complex and unique character compared to the rest of the cast we've grown to know. I liked The Call of Earth better than The Memory of Earth and I thought it finished strong, unlike it's predecessor. It's got me on the hook now.
I don't think it's anywhere as good as the Ender series but definitely worth continuing on with at this point.
The story follows the continuing adventures of main characters, Nafai, who, along with a number of others in his family, is receiving messages through dreams from the Oversoul. The messages are instructing them to leave their city, Basilica, as a warlord who appears to be exempt from the Oversoul's influence is gathering an army and intends to take Basilica and other lands. The Oversoul has a plan but will it succeed, given that its powers of influence over the people are waning?
Like the first novel, I thought the concept was interesting and the plot moved along at a nice pace. The characters continue to become more fleshed out and their plight continues to become more serious as events unfold. And the antagonist warlord is a complex and unique character compared to the rest of the cast we've grown to know. I liked The Call of Earth better than The Memory of Earth and I thought it finished strong, unlike it's predecessor. It's got me on the hook now.
I don't think it's anywhere as good as the Ender series but definitely worth continuing on with at this point.
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I found the parallels to Christianity to be the very thing that made this so good. I respect that a lot of people might not care for this, but if you go in knowing that Card clearly wrote these (and Worthing Saga) to discuss religious (Christian) themes in an analogous way, then the story is in many ways quite brilliant.
Two major concepts are discussed in the series. One is the analog to Saul/Paul on the road to Damascus. The other is the concept of Hell being a disconnect from our creator, rather than a punitive torture.
I enjoyed the series as both sci-fi and a look at some Biblical concepts through a different lens.
(It has been quite some time since I read this series so I don’t recall which books were specifically based on each story, so this review is perhaps more of the series than a single book. I enjoyed them all very much though. I find Card’s writing style to be VERY comfortable and easy to read, so for me most of his novels are good reading.)
Two major concepts are discussed in the series. One is the analog to Saul/Paul on the road to Damascus. The other is the concept of Hell being a disconnect from our creator, rather than a punitive torture.
I enjoyed the series as both sci-fi and a look at some Biblical concepts through a different lens.
(It has been quite some time since I read this series so I don’t recall which books were specifically based on each story, so this review is perhaps more of the series than a single book. I enjoyed them all very much though. I find Card’s writing style to be VERY comfortable and easy to read, so for me most of his novels are good reading.)
Very slow start, but had a good ending! The character developments were great and at times hilarious. Chapters are quite lengthy, but understandable to keep the flow of a situation steady and not jumpy. I'll go ahead and continue this series!
I loved this series as a kid, though now that I know Orson Scott Card is a nasty LDS homophobe, and that this series is, essentially, a re-telling of the Book of Mormon, I'm much less interested/impressed.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
second book in the homecoming saga, again, it was just okay. it really did very little to move the plot of the story along though. it felt like a filler book, a book that could have really been written in maybe a couple chapters of another book. that is to say, it didn't seem to drag on. orson scott card has a talent for never making a book feel like that. still, by the end, i said to myself: what was the point of that book?