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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
Same disclaimer as before: Orson Scott Card is a jerk. I choose not to benefit him monetarily. I got the audiobook from the library.
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Speaker for the Dead is probably in my top 10 favorite books. When I first read it in high school, it was not so much that it informed my concept of humanity, but resonated with it. I wish that OSC's own character could confront him and Speak him, even before his death, so that he could see himself as completely as he saw his characters when he wrote this book in 1986.
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Speaker for the Dead is probably in my top 10 favorite books. When I first read it in high school, it was not so much that it informed my concept of humanity, but resonated with it. I wish that OSC's own character could confront him and Speak him, even before his death, so that he could see himself as completely as he saw his characters when he wrote this book in 1986.
It only took me 2 years, but I finally finished this book. I had a hard time getting into this book, and came back to it multiple times. I suppose that I got used to thinking of Ender/the series in the sense of 'Ender's Game'. About half way through the book I really got into it and found the story to be so engaging that it was hard to put down. I was honestly sad to finish this and plan to start the next book after I finish my current reading selection.
It has been a long, long time since I read a book like this. A book that I did not want to put down. A book that brought out my soul and brought tears to the backs of my eyes. A book that spoke to me on a deep human level.
A book that I finished in about a 24 hour period.
I liked Ender's Game when I read it years ago. I remember it being smart and sharp and deeply human, and I remember the character of Ender as feeling real and relatable and the message of the book being one about empathy and humanity. Speaker for the Dead far surpasses that, making the character of Ender even more complex and multifaceted, and the message of empathy for those who live outside our understanding even more powerful.
A book that I finished in about a 24 hour period.
I liked Ender's Game when I read it years ago. I remember it being smart and sharp and deeply human, and I remember the character of Ender as feeling real and relatable and the message of the book being one about empathy and humanity. Speaker for the Dead far surpasses that, making the character of Ender even more complex and multifaceted, and the message of empathy for those who live outside our understanding even more powerful.
(4.5 stars) I initially read [b:Speaker for the Dead|7967|Speaker for the Dead (Ender's Saga, #2)|Orson Scott Card|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1295660894l/7967._SY75_.jpg|2327777] shortly after reading [b:Ender's Game|375802|Ender's Game (Ender's Saga, #1)|Orson Scott Card|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1408303130l/375802._SY75_.jpg|2422333] for the first time in high school. I remember loving it then and it certainly stood up to my re-reading as an adult. [a:Orson Scott Card|589|Orson Scott Card|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1294099952p2/589.jpg] is not only skilled at building universes and developing complex characters, but he is a master of letting a story unfold just-so.
In this [b:Ender's Game|375802|Ender's Game (Ender's Saga, #1)|Orson Scott Card|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1408303130l/375802._SY75_.jpg|2422333] sequel, set 3,000 years after the original book, humanity has colonized many solar systems after the buggers were wiped out. Only one of the planets in the Hundred Worlds has what can be considered intelligent alien life and humanity is wary of letting history repeat itself. So, the humans who inhabit the planet must follow strict rules as they interact with the inscrutable piggies. However, ritualistic murders, disease, and moral ambiguity cause turmoil on this planet that ripples through the Hundred Worlds. Ender, with the Hive Queen in tow, travels there to try to make amends for the Xenocide of 3,000 years ago.
Sequels are always tricky and [b:Ender's Game|375802|Ender's Game (Ender's Saga, #1)|Orson Scott Card|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1408303130l/375802._SY75_.jpg|2422333] is a hard book to follow up, but this story of an older and wiser Ender delivers both in plot and in philosophy. The book calls into question the essence of personhood. It explores guilt and love and how they intertwine. It expands upon the lives and stories of the characters we already know and love as well as introducing new ones. If you liked [b:Ender's Game|375802|Ender's Game (Ender's Saga, #1)|Orson Scott Card|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1408303130l/375802._SY75_.jpg|2422333] and want to read more of his story or if the Prime Directive ever made you mad in Star Trek, I would highly recommend [b:Speaker for the Dead|7967|Speaker for the Dead (Ender's Saga, #2)|Orson Scott Card|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1295660894l/7967._SY75_.jpg|2327777].
In this [b:Ender's Game|375802|Ender's Game (Ender's Saga, #1)|Orson Scott Card|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1408303130l/375802._SY75_.jpg|2422333] sequel, set 3,000 years after the original book, humanity has colonized many solar systems after the buggers were wiped out. Only one of the planets in the Hundred Worlds has what can be considered intelligent alien life and humanity is wary of letting history repeat itself. So, the humans who inhabit the planet must follow strict rules as they interact with the inscrutable piggies. However, ritualistic murders, disease, and moral ambiguity cause turmoil on this planet that ripples through the Hundred Worlds. Ender, with the Hive Queen in tow, travels there to try to make amends for the Xenocide of 3,000 years ago.
Sequels are always tricky and [b:Ender's Game|375802|Ender's Game (Ender's Saga, #1)|Orson Scott Card|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1408303130l/375802._SY75_.jpg|2422333] is a hard book to follow up, but this story of an older and wiser Ender delivers both in plot and in philosophy. The book calls into question the essence of personhood. It explores guilt and love and how they intertwine. It expands upon the lives and stories of the characters we already know and love as well as introducing new ones. If you liked [b:Ender's Game|375802|Ender's Game (Ender's Saga, #1)|Orson Scott Card|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1408303130l/375802._SY75_.jpg|2422333] and want to read more of his story or if the Prime Directive ever made you mad in Star Trek, I would highly recommend [b:Speaker for the Dead|7967|Speaker for the Dead (Ender's Saga, #2)|Orson Scott Card|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1295660894l/7967._SY75_.jpg|2327777].
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-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:
No
Wow! This story was a complete different thought than Ender's Game, that's for sure. This book is issues of time, space, truth, family, and aliens all rolled into one. I have to say that I really enjoyed the vivid descriptions of the piggies. As world building goes, Orson Scott Card leaves nothing to chance. An excellent, really captivating read.
Another excellent entry by Orson Scott Card. He claims that this was the book he wanted to write, and Ender's Game was just the prequel he wrote in order to make this book possible. Ender's Game is a better book, but I buy that Card thought this one was more important. Indeed, it is the very "importance" of the book that keeps it from being quite on the level of its predecessor--it's too busy making a point and addressing "issues" to be a true masterpiece. Granted, it's far and away one of the best books I've read that existed primarily to discuss such "issues"--dealing with those who are "other," the definition of "human," the good inside all people, the importance of peace, the role of guilt and penance--but the issues still diminish the brilliance of the story. Card is at his best in describing Ender's with the family he befriends in the course of his work. And the biological punch line of the story is quite original and creative.
All in all, it's a great book. A tad preachy in spots, but still well worth reading.
The audiobook is a bit dodgy--they switch narrators from time to time depending on the character whose point of view is being presented, and even though the narrators themselves are quite good, sometimes the transitions are awkward, jarring, and quite distracting. You'd probably be better off reading the actual book for this one.
All in all, it's a great book. A tad preachy in spots, but still well worth reading.
The audiobook is a bit dodgy--they switch narrators from time to time depending on the character whose point of view is being presented, and even though the narrators themselves are quite good, sometimes the transitions are awkward, jarring, and quite distracting. You'd probably be better off reading the actual book for this one.
4.5 rounded to 5. Incredible and very dark. Feel like I need to start seeing a therapist again to break this one down.
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No