ORSON SCOTT CARD

I have placed "sizzler ratings" next to books read, even if the review hasn't been added at this time.

THE SHADOW OF THE HEGEMON (2000)

Sub-category: Futuristic unrest on Planet Earth
The plot: Although the war with the Buggers is over, the Earth has barely begun to assimilate the changes that have happened. Technology and infighting has seen a complete restructuring of political and geographic boundaries, and unrest settles over the world as their gaze returns from the stars to focus once again to the home planet. Into this unsettled world, the children who saved the human race from a theorised invasion by the buggers are returned. However, the general feeling now is only one person can rule the planet, and the minds of these strategic battle geniuses is needed. Somehow, Bean manages to escape several attempts on his brilliant life to try and battle his biggest foe to get back the battle school children.
Comment: Unlike the Ender's Shadow, The Shadow of the Hegemon is a lot warmer and more interesting. For all the strategic brilliance that defines the Ender series and Ender's Shadow, the later book was a bit sterile. Now, Scott Card returns to adding more human characteristics and interest to the story and creates a tale which is not only still filled with mind boggling attention to interesting battle strategies, but he develops the characters of more than just Bean. Although Bean may never fully understand how to share his feelings, owing in part to the genetic experimentation on him when in the womb and living a street urchin life when young, he is still loyal to those who have helped him. With that in mind, sets out to rescue his friends - and it makes for compelling reading! Ender's Shadow is a brilliant book, but this one is even more intriguing, and I was pleased to read at the end that Scott Card has expanded the original Ender's Shadow trilogy to four books - I look forward to reading the next two books!

ENDER'S SHADOW (1999)

Sub-category: Future war with alien race
The plot: Bean is a genetically engineered human being struggling to survive on the streets of Rotterdam before being killed or die of starvation. At the age of about 4, he is recruited by Sister Carlotta to go and train at the Battle School with other young kids who are the human race's hope to survive another invasion by the alien race, the Buggers. Once there, he is constantly seeking new strategies to survive, beat the system, beat the school, avoid Ender and develop ways to not only beat the Buggers, but survive in the inevitable war that would break out on Earth when the Buggers were defeated.
Comment: A fascinating insight into thinking of the exceptionally young orphan, Bean. Having not read Ender's Game for a number of years, this book was a refreshing reminder of the way in which Card can right grippingly complex and strategic novels. Although to a certain extent, Bean was bit of a merciless and cold character, the logic he applied to try and stay one step ahead of everyone around him was fascinating. I enjoyed this book and it came to an end all quickly. I believe Card achieved his goal of creating a book which simulataneously supplements, complements Ender's Game - and yet is a stand alone in its own right. Mind you, if someone read this before Ender's Game, I suspect they would be let down by the profound lack of time devoted to the strategies of defeating the Buggers - after all the detail leaeding up to that point, as most of it was written up in Ender's Game.

Ender's Game (1991)

Sub-category: Future war with alien race
The plot: The Earth is desperately fighting for survival against an alien race which seems to be outsmarting them at every turn. In its desperation, the government agencies take to harnessing the raw creative powers of children in game playing roles. Young Andrew 'Ender' Wiggins is recruited by these agencies and goes to learn the military way of life in the orbiting Battle School. In the station, Ender proves himself uncanny at devloping strategies in the drills he and his comrades conduct. But, he finds himself alone and bullied. On Earth, his sadistic older brother, Peter, and his sweet sister, Valentine try to solve problems with a different approach.
Comment: Every computer game player's fantasy... Well, that aside, this is a seamlessly gripping book. Although nothing special to start off, the book is beautufully written and interesting enough to keep you turning pages. Then just as a game evolves to different levels of strategy and survival, so does Ender's life as the Battle School constantly throw new and different twists at him and his team in an effort to train him to be a leader. And yet, when the end comes, it is totally unexpected and shocking. Well worth the SF awards it won!
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