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midwifereading's review against another edition
3.0
I really did enjoy this book quite a bit, as I love Card's writing style, and the depth to which he takes the reader into each of his principle characters. Ender is never fully a mystery, because we get to explore his inner workings, a little at a time, and can come to understand him.
This book takes place between the final chapters of Ender's Game, and the author includes a note that he plans to revise the final chapter of EG in order to fit his "true story." It sounds as though the Enderverse has grown and morphed into something bigger than he originally dreamed. I have yet to read the other books at the core of Ender's story, but I feel like this one was a good start.
I can't give it more than three stars, though, because this book honestly felt a little bit more two-dimensional than EG. It just didn't feel as impactful as EG did to me. Maybe it's just that stillness after war. The lack of our ability to truly grasp what happens on Earth after EG is probably responsible for this feeling. It almost feels anti-climactic. In fact, it really does feel like a book out of place - neither a beginning, nor an end, but a middle of sorts. There simply doesn't seem to be a climax of any kind. Not really.
There are a few chapters in the book where I feel like threads belonging to other stories seem to intersect with Ender's, but we aren't really given as much depth as we could be given. Then again - those stories may play out in more depth in the other books, which I have not yet read.
There isn't much action, but that isn't really a complaint. More of an observation. Another note I filed away in my brain was Card's obvious moments of conservative "preaching," for lack of a better term. As a conservative, I am not entirely bothered by this, but even if I did agree with everything he stands for (which I don't know, because I know nothing about him other than that he's a Mormon), I don't like it when books try to tell me what to think. The fact that he cloaks these statements in character voices, and as accepted, never-debatable facts seems a bit unrealistic. Then again, this IS a science fiction novel, not a text book. So, it seems I can just let that go. And really -- no author can help but to write in his own Voice. If Card wrote from a voice not his own, the book would be utterly disingenuous, and completely unbelievable.
Ultimately, I liked it. I didn't love it. I enjoy wandering around in the Enderverse, and contemplating how close to reality it may turn out to be in Earth's future.
This book takes place between the final chapters of Ender's Game, and the author includes a note that he plans to revise the final chapter of EG in order to fit his "true story." It sounds as though the Enderverse has grown and morphed into something bigger than he originally dreamed. I have yet to read the other books at the core of Ender's story, but I feel like this one was a good start.
I can't give it more than three stars, though, because this book honestly felt a little bit more two-dimensional than EG. It just didn't feel as impactful as EG did to me. Maybe it's just that stillness after war. The lack of our ability to truly grasp what happens on Earth after EG is probably responsible for this feeling. It almost feels anti-climactic. In fact, it really does feel like a book out of place - neither a beginning, nor an end, but a middle of sorts. There simply doesn't seem to be a climax of any kind. Not really.
There are a few chapters in the book where I feel like threads belonging to other stories seem to intersect with Ender's, but we aren't really given as much depth as we could be given. Then again - those stories may play out in more depth in the other books, which I have not yet read.
There isn't much action, but that isn't really a complaint. More of an observation. Another note I filed away in my brain was Card's obvious moments of conservative "preaching," for lack of a better term. As a conservative, I am not entirely bothered by this, but even if I did agree with everything he stands for (which I don't know, because I know nothing about him other than that he's a Mormon), I don't like it when books try to tell me what to think. The fact that he cloaks these statements in character voices, and as accepted, never-debatable facts seems a bit unrealistic. Then again, this IS a science fiction novel, not a text book. So, it seems I can just let that go. And really -- no author can help but to write in his own Voice. If Card wrote from a voice not his own, the book would be utterly disingenuous, and completely unbelievable.
Ultimately, I liked it. I didn't love it. I enjoy wandering around in the Enderverse, and contemplating how close to reality it may turn out to be in Earth's future.
khetti's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-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
4.5
protoman21's review against another edition
4.0
I, like many others, am a huge Ender fan and eat up any book that ties into his story. It's been a long time since I've read a full length Ender book so this was indeed a pleasure. One thing I love most about Card's Ender books is that every word of dialog matters. It's not just fluff where characters are talking just to establish a "connection." Each conversation has a purpose and usually has a winner and a loser. Card has said that relationships are very important in his novels and that he considers carefully each character and their relationship to every other character. I believe this is one reason why Card does such a fantastic job in a genre that isn't well known for being character driven.
Ender in Exile is another quality book in the Ender series. The book lacks a clear direction, so although I enjoyed reading each chapter, I didn't feel a drive to read on after each chapter was finished until Ender traveled to Ganges and faced a real physical threat. Having read the other Ender books that come after this chronologically and knowing several key plot points before they happened probably didn't help with the dramatic effect of some of the story, but it didn't hurt too much since there was a lot of new material and new characters who we didn't already know their fate.
Ender in Exile is another quality book in the Ender series. The book lacks a clear direction, so although I enjoyed reading each chapter, I didn't feel a drive to read on after each chapter was finished until Ender traveled to Ganges and faced a real physical threat. Having read the other Ender books that come after this chronologically and knowing several key plot points before they happened probably didn't help with the dramatic effect of some of the story, but it didn't hurt too much since there was a lot of new material and new characters who we didn't already know their fate.
brendalovesbooks's review against another edition
3.0
There were some good moments in this book, but I think the author that I loved who wrote Ender's Game doesn't exist anymore. It's almost like there's another author trying to fill in. Maybe it's time to put the Ender universe to rest, and I say this as a fan; Ender's Game is my very favorite book.
eestellar's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Parts of this book were interesting, I enjoyed the parts in the beginning and after they got to the colony, but not a lot of the middle. I also didn't like that this is advertised as part of Ender's Saga when it's a sequel for 2 separate series - I felt lost a lot of the time. I also think it should've gone in chronological order, it's been so long since I've read Enders game I was often confused
alex_watkins's review against another edition
3.0
I'll be honest I expected this book to suck. I mean come on another ender book. There were even blurbs on the back of the book being like it's another ender book BUT it doesn't suck. But honestly that's usually all lies. But out of the need for completeness I checked it out and read it (misguided completeness because apparently there are a bunch of short stories). However it was actually good, like the other ender books you just want to read it and it goes by fast and good. Better that the shadow series mostly because it has ender in it, and the ender story line is much better with my favorite stuff like time dilation and aliens. It only gets slightly bogged down by the shadow series stuff and it has a kinda weird construction with more like 2 climaxes. This review has a few too many that's what she said worthy lines for my liking. Also it sucks that Orson Scott Card is a giant dick but at least you can't tell in his writing.
roseleaf24's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this return to Ender's Game! This book covers the beginning of the time between the end of the second to the last chapter of Ender's Game and Speaker for the Dead, rewriting and filling out the events of the last chapter and the beginning of Ender and Valentine's time traveling around the universe. It was also a return to the writing style of that original book, more YA appropriate and less philosophical that the rest of Ender's saga.
I want a huge fan of Ender and Valentine's relationship here. Card seems limited in his scope of womanhood.
I want a huge fan of Ender and Valentine's relationship here. Card seems limited in his scope of womanhood.
awingard's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
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
4.5
2000rebecca2000's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
callmecat's review against another edition
3.0
It was so short! That was kind of a bummer. I waited a really long time to get to this part of the story! I had to read all those others to get to this part! Card has written so many, does he intend to write any more? I feel greedy asking for more but I hope for them because I still want to know what else Ender did, traveling with Valentine. But I don't care about that as much as I care about BEAN and his family. I HAVE to know what happened to them. So I really hope that gets covered in another book. I hope there are plans for that.
I expected the part with Bean's son to be really epic and scary because it was set up so well. If only Randy wasn't so crazy her hold on him might've been stronger. But wrapping it up quickly was alright too, I guess.
I expected the part with Bean's son to be really epic and scary because it was set up so well. If only Randy wasn't so crazy her hold on him might've been stronger. But wrapping it up quickly was alright too, I guess.