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bmw_reads's review against another edition
3.0
Solid 3 Star. Was concerned about reading it after some of the reviews, but it made up for the awfulness of Xenocide. Worth finishing out the series.
desertjarhead505's review against another edition
3.0
The Ender series winds up with this one, which continues the broadening of the metaphysical streak that really became noticeable in Speaker For the Dead. Story arcs are resolved and loose ends are tied up, maybe a bit too neatly; over the course of the four books, the series has gotten looser in the sense of the characters' ability to find solutions that are essentially magical to overcome whatever obstacles they meet - it reduces the suspense because it gets harder to doubt that they will achieve their goals, so in that sense I feel it makes the storytelling less compelling.
tranquilitycase's review against another edition
3.0
Satisfactorily ties up plot threads, but character development is not on par with the prior books. And there was some unnecessary magic in this book, like Malu knowing things he couldn't have known. Also, why is Plikt even a character? I think she could have been edited out entirely without hurting the series.
I wanted more Ender, I guess. Just a bit.
I wanted more Ender, I guess. Just a bit.
dtasevski's review against another edition
4.0
This book shifted it's focus on asking and discussing philosophical questions and focused a bit more on the story, more precisely Jane. Like the other books, it's pretty enthralling and opens up the type of moral and philosophical issues that probably have entire sections of the library dedicated to understanding them. Some people will likely find some stuff discussing in this book offending, but hey, this is just a fiction.
Quara and Novinha have continued to be really annoying tho, and Enders role in the book was really weak. Besides that I'm not sure if I'm disappointed or satisfied with the ending, I guess a little of both.
Quara and Novinha have continued to be really annoying tho, and Enders role in the book was really weak. Besides that I'm not sure if I'm disappointed or satisfied with the ending, I guess a little of both.
jenibo's review against another edition
3.0
To me this fourth instalment of The Ender Quartet Box Set is the final step in a deterioration of what should to me have been a stand alone book (Ender's Game), and this one is not quite worth reading in its own right.
I do feel that it is a fair criticism noted by other reviewers when they point out the limitations of Card's depiction of female characters. They are dependent,shrill, lacking in depth and too driven and limited by the roles that they play in relation to the more major characters.
The plot is at times fascinating, twisting and original, but I think that the excursions into political theory and Edge and Centre nations goes at times a little too far, expecting interest for its own sake, at the expense of plot, and it is my feeling that Card is more interested in these ideas than his own storyline by this stage in the quartet. This is maybe okay sometimes, but this interest does overwhelm the plot at times, making the characters seem a bit like placeholders, and the book reads at times as pretty self indulgent.
In my view, this is a tendency which grows as the quartet continues.
I do feel that it is a fair criticism noted by other reviewers when they point out the limitations of Card's depiction of female characters. They are dependent,shrill, lacking in depth and too driven and limited by the roles that they play in relation to the more major characters.
The plot is at times fascinating, twisting and original, but I think that the excursions into political theory and Edge and Centre nations goes at times a little too far, expecting interest for its own sake, at the expense of plot, and it is my feeling that Card is more interested in these ideas than his own storyline by this stage in the quartet. This is maybe okay sometimes, but this interest does overwhelm the plot at times, making the characters seem a bit like placeholders, and the book reads at times as pretty self indulgent.
In my view, this is a tendency which grows as the quartet continues.
andreahrome's review against another edition
4.0
This book would not make much sense as a free-standing novel, but I think it wraps up quite nicely the events presented in the previous book, "Xenocide". There are some interesting ideas presented, and as a sci-fi book, it is really quite original. It has that excellent Orson Scott Card flavor to it, with interesting, dimensional characters.
Having said all that- I miss Ender in his original form. He was so wonderful in Ender's Game and Ender in Exile- but then he grew up, and became *shudder* normal, and even a little sad. Maybe OSC's viewpoint changed? Or maybe he is trying to say something with the ultimate ordinariness of an extrodinary person. I suppose, no matter who you are or what you've previously done, your life will always level out to basic human emotions and experiences. And if you don't like it? OSC tells you to get over yourself.
Having said all that- I miss Ender in his original form. He was so wonderful in Ender's Game and Ender in Exile- but then he grew up, and became *shudder* normal, and even a little sad. Maybe OSC's viewpoint changed? Or maybe he is trying to say something with the ultimate ordinariness of an extrodinary person. I suppose, no matter who you are or what you've previously done, your life will always level out to basic human emotions and experiences. And if you don't like it? OSC tells you to get over yourself.
faithvrmcd's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
axmayhem's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Most romantic relationships feel forced and the plot was much simpler than the previous volumes but still enjoyable
pharebear's review against another edition
4.0
“We all have a little bit of varelse in us. And a little bit of raman.”
This review will be more of my reflection on the series as a whole than CotM itself, though I will include some thoughts on this book.
This book wrapped up many plot lines and characters, some better than others. I am still finding characters I absolutely loathe, which is tradition at this point.
I had no idea where this story was going to go when I read Ender’s Game and I am still surprised at how far it came. Books 2-4 are so different compared to the first, but I was so attached to Ender (maybe that’s the philotes) and interested in seeing where it went that I knew I would love the series as a whole.
I read this series extremely fast and essentially as one book opposed to four individual books, which is definitely influencing my rating and thoughts about each. As a whole, this story was interesting, exciting, and felt mostly complete when I was through with it.
I really enjoyed every book of this series, which I know can’t be said for everyone who read books 3 and 4. Either way, I relished many reflections this series caused me to have. What does it mean to be human? What does it mean to be sentient? What does it mean to be alive? Do humans have the right to decide when a species is sentient or dangerous and at what point is it us or them? Many other questions constantly passing through my mind as I read these books. I haven’t had a series take such a toll on my thoughts as this one in a while, which made it so much more enjoyable for me personally.
I fully plan to read the late addition, Ender in Exile. As well as Bean’s spinoff. For now, my time in Ender’s world is at an end. And what an unanticipated and congenial world this story built.
This review will be more of my reflection on the series as a whole than CotM itself, though I will include some thoughts on this book.
This book wrapped up many plot lines and characters, some better than others. I am still finding characters I absolutely loathe, which is tradition at this point.
I had no idea where this story was going to go when I read Ender’s Game and I am still surprised at how far it came. Books 2-4 are so different compared to the first, but I was so attached to Ender (maybe that’s the philotes) and interested in seeing where it went that I knew I would love the series as a whole.
I read this series extremely fast and essentially as one book opposed to four individual books, which is definitely influencing my rating and thoughts about each. As a whole, this story was interesting, exciting, and felt mostly complete when I was through with it.
I really enjoyed every book of this series, which I know can’t be said for everyone who read books 3 and 4. Either way, I relished many reflections this series caused me to have. What does it mean to be human? What does it mean to be sentient? What does it mean to be alive? Do humans have the right to decide when a species is sentient or dangerous and at what point is it us or them? Many other questions constantly passing through my mind as I read these books. I haven’t had a series take such a toll on my thoughts as this one in a while, which made it so much more enjoyable for me personally.
I fully plan to read the late addition, Ender in Exile. As well as Bean’s spinoff. For now, my time in Ender’s world is at an end. And what an unanticipated and congenial world this story built.