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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
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? Complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? 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.
draav's review against another edition
5.0
It wasn't as great as the first book I think, but then again, it's so vastly different it's hard to compare. I sort of feel like the ending half of the series was basically just Card trying to smash all the cool ideas he had into one story, then when I read his afterwords and forwards for the books, he basically said exactly that. He fit them all together amazingly well, but it still felt kind off at lots of parts. I'm not sure, either way it was great to reread this entire series, I'm looking forward to starting that Shadow series he wrote. I havent read any of those yet, so I'm excited!
rinnan's review against another edition
2.0
Worth reading simply for the resolution of the series, and knowing that I can leave the Enderworld with no cans of worms left so blatantly open, but boy, did this series lose steam at the end. I don't think I could've made it through another one.
nichael_billiam's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
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? Yes
4.0
jdpeven's review against another edition
2.0
I’ll give Enders shadow series a shot next year but I really couldn’t get into any of these sequels. The relationships seem forced (every male/female character pair falls in love and gets married). Just unrealistic and uninteresting. The rules of the universe change so quickly it’s unclear what the stakes are supposed to be. Jane quite literally is a god so when she is at full capacity there’s no tension at all.
I thought there was going to be an interesting twist at the end with Quim but that was a quick switch (and probably for good reason), but it still left all the characters unchanged.
I thought there was going to be an interesting twist at the end with Quim but that was a quick switch (and probably for good reason), but it still left all the characters unchanged.