Ender in Exile 507
stoolpigeon writes "Orson Scott Card's work Ender's Game began as a novelette, which he says he wrote as a means of leading up to the full story he had developed, Speaker for the Dead. Ender's Game was published as a full novel in 1985, and won the Hugo and Nebula awards (as did Speaker for the Dead in '86 and '87). I think it is safe to say that Ender's Game is ensconced in its position as a science fiction classic. Now, 23 years later, Card has finished the first direct sequel to Ender's Game in his new novel Ender in Exile."
Keep reading for the rest of JR's review.
While Speaker for the Dead was published right after Ender's Game, there is a huge gap in time between the two stories. Due to the effects of traveling at close to light speed, thousands of years pass between the two novels. Chapter fifteen of Ender's Game does give an explanation of the events that fill that time. Card also went on to write other novels set in the Ender universe that do not involve Ender directly but rather other students from the battle school and family. This makes Ender in Exile more of a 'midquel', a term Card uses in the afterword, than a sequel. Because of this, from a high level view of the plot, readers who have stuck with the saga will not find much new here. This is a closer look at events already related in other books for the most part. Ender in Exile | |
author | Orson Scott Card |
pages | 377 |
publisher | Tor Books |
rating | 7 |
reviewer | JR Peck |
ISBN | 978-0765304964 |
summary | A good midquel in the Ender's series |
Card is an able author and this story is solid. Much of it reminded me of some of my favorite classic science fiction. There is colonization, extended periods of life aboard space ships, discovery of alien civilization and not much in the way of hard science. Card's primary purpose is to analyze and consider the human condition as opposed to exploring technological possibilities or theories. Almost everything that is highly advanced is the result of alien technology and is never explained or understood. Much of it functions on an almost mystical or magical level.
Ender is a young adolescent with an incredibly unique life and mind. In this novel we see him transitioning and growing from a youth into a man. I was often reminded of Herbert's Paul Atreides when he was first on the run in the desert with his mother in the book Dune. Ender is aware that he is different and has amazing capabilities but he is unsure just what the full ramifications of that difference are. He is trying to find his place in humanity and in the universe as a whole.
The story encompasses four basic plot lines that flow one to the next. I never felt any great sense of urgency or climax and resolution in the story. Really what it felt like was a thread weaving together pieces from the earlier stories. While the themes and issues were great, sometimes the characters were remote or the working of the issues very subtle. The most impacting and emotional moments relied upon knowledge of events from the other books in the series to carry their full force. In that light the novel is very effective. I think that fans of the Ender series, already biased towards this work, are going to be very pleased and enjoy Ender in Exile greatly. They are going to get to dig just a bit deeper into this world and it's primary character Andrew Wiggin. They will enjoy moments of discovery and the answer to questions that may have been in the back of their minds, possibly for the last twenty years or so.
On the other hand, someone new to the series may not be as enthralled and may find the story to be a bit flat. If I could I would rate this book in two ways. For those who have not read all the other Ender books, a 6 or 7. This is not bad since the book is designed to sit in the middle of an existing set of tales. It is possible that someone could pick this book up without having read a single Ender story or novel and track with it. I think they would even find it interesting if a little flat. But for a fan of the series with a high degree of familiarity with the characters and events of this world it is probably a solid 8 or 9. At the very least, Card has done nothing to tear down what he has built up but has completed a sturdy addition to the body of work.
In the afterword Card has some interesting comments to make about reader involvement in helping him to write this story. He also explains how he would like to approach some discrepancies between this story and what is related at the conclusion to Ender's Game. I thought it was a sign of the times that an author, facing a large and complex world he had created but could not track on his own, was able to use the internet to call upon readers assistance in achieving as much consistency as possible.
This is a thoughtful, well written book. It may even motivate some to dig up an old copy of Ender's Game so that they can relive the enjoyment of a classic and see what is new to find. I think that most will not be disappointed. Some may not be as thrilled as they would hope, but there is something here for any science fiction fan.
On a side note, in conjunction with the release of this new book, Marvel Comics is doing a limited series comic adaptation of the original Ender's Game novel.
You can purchase Ender in Exile from amazon.com. Slashdot welcomes readers' book reviews -- to see your own review here, read the book review guidelines, then visit the submission page.
Re:Nope, sorry (Score:5, Funny)
good call, thats why I don't use ReiserFS, watch any movie with heath ledger and don't use DC power (Edison was a big douche bag).
Re:Hey, remember when Ender's Game was good? (Score:2, Funny)
Just read some of it at your local bookstore. Unlike the RIAA and MPAA, it's ok to obtain a free copy and use it a little before deciding if you want to purchase it or not.
There's also this thing called a "Library" that contains an ancient form of knowledge, conveyed using smudges of pigment on dried plant fiber.
Re:Hey, remember when Ender's Game was good? (Score:5, Funny)
So... I have to ask. Did you come to that conclusion before or after you selected your nick?
Re:Nope, sorry (Score:3, Funny)
"...he thinks different than you..."
differently.
pet peeve.
fucking apple.
Spoiler (Score:5, Funny)
Ender proves himself by posthumously baptizing all the souls of his victims, thereby justifying all the killing and giving the story a feel-good Hollywood ending.
Re:don't remember anything of the sort (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Hey, remember when Ender's Game was good? (Score:4, Funny)
I kind of liked Ender's Shadow, but a while after I read it, I realized that I now looked on Ender more as middle-management. :)
Re:Nope, sorry (Score:3, Funny)
Don't purchase it. If you must, wait until your local library has a copy. Or find an ebook online! *cough*
Re:Nope, sorry (Score:3, Funny)
Re:don't remember anything of the sort (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Hey, remember when Ender's Game was good? (Score:5, Funny)
As you can tell from the UID, I've been using that name for a long time.
I don't want to lose the karma and the low UID
Lol. 6-digit "low" uid. Freakin' newbies. ;-)
Re:Hey, remember when Ender's Game was good? (Score:3, Funny)
Fantasy is very popular with religious people as fantasy is their life as well as a diversion.
Isn't that why they go to church?
Re:Hey, remember when Ender's Game was good? (Score:5, Funny)
"basic Mormon tenants"
Those are the best kind. Always out proselytizing so there's hardy any wear on the apartment.
Re:Hey, remember when Ender's Game was good? (Score:5, Funny)
screw you old man, us newbs are taking over
Re:Hey, remember when Ender's Game was good? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Hey, remember when Ender's Game was good? (Score:3, Funny)
Don't be disrespectful to your elders, death to all 4 digit and above UIDs!
Re:don't remember anything of the sort (Score:4, Funny)