Rating: 
Summary: Stone Tables Is Very Mormon, But Very Good Nonetheless
Review: OSC's book "Stone Tables" is an incredible book in the way that it presents a human face to such characters as Moses, Aaron, and the Pharaoh of the Exodus--characters that over 80% of the people in the world, if they don't believe actually existed, know of. Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike understand the incredible importance of Moses to each of their religions. Card has, as is stated many times with many of his other books, influenced these well-known characters with his incredible talent of realistic characterization. The result is a story of people we can, as normal people in a normal time in normal circumstances, understand and empathize with. Card derives influence from the Old Testament, and popular belief and tradition (Josephus in one instance). However, his largest influence by far is his use of LDS theology, which differs in many ways from most Christian theology when it comes to Moses. Probably most readers not familiar with such theology will be a little confused or puzzled because such events and ideas are not explained, but are simply presented along with the rest of the story that the everybody knows. The reader is forewarned. OSC's introduction describes this book as unashamedly religious and Mormon. It is an adaptation of a play he wrote while on a mission for the LDS Church in Brazil. Thus, I cannot understand why some of the reviews on this page are accusing Card of being 'insulting' or '[farcical]'. His book, in my opinion, clearly states at the beginning that his book will be deeply religious in nature. If you don't like that, don't read it. Also, it needs to be noted that *I am also biased in my own opinion.* I admire the writer of the review who stated in his review that he was atheist, and therefore didn't like the book. I am not atheist, and am also a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, so I am probably extremely biased. I say this to warn people who are not LDS to take my review with a grain of salt. I do not know how deep my bias ends at having an incredible piece of Mormon fiction and where my love of this book as a great story begins. Finally, when it comes to this book as a piece of literature, it is very good. It has all of the 'requirements' for good literature: character development, stress, rising action, universal morals and lessons, and inner climax (like all of Card's works, the most exciting parts aren't necessarily exciting because of something actually happening, but is when a character must make an incredible moral/inner decision). It presents the story of Moses as history with flesh-and-blood characters. It presents a God that is more involved than in other works (like "Saints") because Moses is God's prophet and receives direct revelation. It presents a story full of Mormon theology, but also fully warns the reader of such in the introduction. And it is emotionally powerful if read as the story of a family, separated by powers beyond themselves, trying to reach some common ground, some higher level above themselves. If it turns you off by its blatant religiosity, then simply read it as a character story: I am certain it will surprise you. It may not be the best book you have ever read by Card (it is to me, but I am biased), but I am sure it will be one of your favorites.
Rating:
Summary: Stone Tables Is Very Mormon, But Very Good Nonetheless
Review: OSC's book "Stone Tables" is an incredible book in the way that it presents a human face to such characters as Moses, Aaron, and the Pharaoh of the Exodus--characters that over 80% of the people in the world, if they don't believe actually existed, know of. Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike understand the incredible importance of Moses to each of their religions. Card has, as is stated many times with many of his other books, influenced these well-known characters with his incredible talent of realistic characterization. The result is a story of people we can, as normal people in a normal time in normal circumstances, understand and empathize with. Card derives influence from the Old Testament, and popular belief and tradition (Josephus in one instance). However, his largest influence by far is his use of LDS theology, which differs in many ways from most Christian theology when it comes to Moses. Probably most readers not familiar with such theology will be a little confused or puzzled because such events and ideas are not explained, but are simply presented along with the rest of the story that the everybody knows. The reader is forewarned. OSC's introduction describes this book as unashamedly religious and Mormon. It is an adaptation of a play he wrote while on a mission for the LDS Church in Brazil. Thus, I cannot understand why some of the reviews on this page are accusing Card of being 'insulting' or '[farcical]'. His book, in my opinion, clearly states at the beginning that his book will be deeply religious in nature. If you don't like that, don't read it. Also, it needs to be noted that *I am also biased in my own opinion.* I admire the writer of the review who stated in his review that he was atheist, and therefore didn't like the book. I am not atheist, and am also a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, so I am probably extremely biased. I say this to warn people who are not LDS to take my review with a grain of salt. I do not know how deep my bias ends at having an incredible piece of Mormon fiction and where my love of this book as a great story begins. Finally, when it comes to this book as a piece of literature, it is very good. It has all of the 'requirements' for good literature: character development, stress, rising action, universal morals and lessons, and inner climax (like all of Card's works, the most exciting parts aren't necessarily exciting because of something actually happening, but is when a character must make an incredible moral/inner decision). It presents the story of Moses as history with flesh-and-blood characters. It presents a God that is more involved than in other works (like "Saints") because Moses is God's prophet and receives direct revelation. It presents a story full of Mormon theology, but also fully warns the reader of such in the introduction. And it is emotionally powerful if read as the story of a family, separated by powers beyond themselves, trying to reach some common ground, some higher level above themselves. If it turns you off by its blatant religiosity, then simply read it as a character story: I am certain it will surprise you. It may not be the best book you have ever read by Card (it is to me, but I am biased), but I am sure it will be one of your favorites.
Rating: 
Summary: An Epic!
Review: Card really has done a super work that deserves to be known as an Epic in writing! His account of the life of Moses makes for stimulating reading. It builds anticipation in its readers chapter by chapter. Even though you know how the story turns out you have to read this one. Thumbs up to LDS super-publisher Deseret Book, and Mr. Card!
Rating:
Summary: a noble journey
Review: Card ventures into the face of the disbelief and has the courage to believe. He leads the reader on an important spiritual and historical journey that is enjoyable and enlightening.
Rating:
Summary: Warning: NOT Sci Fi!
Review: Even if you loved "Ender's Game" or some of Card's other sci fi or fantasy, you might have no interest whatsoever in this book. But if you love the subtle and overt religious themes in Card's writing, I highly recommend this book. (His "Saints" is good too.) "Stone Tables" is a novelization of the life of Moses, using what we "know" about Moses from the Bible and other sources and then creatively filling in the details. (I especially liked Card's explanation of Moses's stutter.) I found this a spiritually nourishing book, particularly Jethro's discussions with Moses about prayer and Moses's advice to Aaron on being a servant of God. Thank you, Orson Scott Card!
Rating:
Summary: Warning: NOT Sci Fi!
Review: Even if you loved "Ender's Game" or some of Card's other sci fi or fantasy, you might have no interest whatsoever in this book. But if you love the subtle and overt religious themes in Card's writing, I highly recommend this book. (His "Saints" is good too.) "Stone Tables" is a novelization of the life of Moses, using what we "know" about Moses from the Bible and other sources and then creatively filling in the details. (I especially liked Card's explanation of Moses's stutter.) I found this a spiritually nourishing book, particularly Jethro's discussions with Moses about prayer and Moses's advice to Aaron on being a servant of God. Thank you, Orson Scott Card!
Rating: 
Summary: Fans of Card will be greatly dissapointed
Review: Fans of Orson Scott Card will wonder if the author actually wrote this book: the writing is vastly inferior to other works of Card's. Compare, for instance, "Pastwatch" to "Stone Tables" and you may very well wonder if Card suffered some kind of head trauma or other kind of pathology. First off, Card insults his readers in his introduction by asserting that Moses was a historical character and that the "Slaughter of the Innocents" was a historical event (even though the myth has parallels in other cultures, such as at the birth of Krishna), and that Mormon mythology was also historical (it is not). After insulting his readers, he then moves on to insult historians and Bible scholars. This could be forgiven if he had not then written a very poor book. Many readers will wish to give up after the first two or three chapters--- Card's book starts off ponderously and then gets puerile in its occult absurdities.
Rating:
Summary: A look into the life of Moses
Review: I liked this book. Moses seemed true to life throughout the course of the novel. I can see how it would have been difficult to turn a musical/stage production into a novel, but the author succeeded. One of the things I had to get used to was having Moses during the reign of Hapseptsut and Tutmosis, instead of Ramses, but Card's explanation of this does have some merit. Also, although I knew that Moses stammered, I had to get used to how Card portrayed that in the book with the elipses. But that was an effective way of pointing out when he stammered and when he didn't. The supporting characters were well written. They each had their specific traits, and even I felt like smacking Aaron & Miriam around sometimes because they were just a little too full of themselves. Zeforah and her sisters were a lot of fun to read about. I think that this is a wonderful book.
Rating:
Summary: A look into the life of Moses
Review: I liked this book. Moses seemed true to life throughout the course of the novel. I can see how it would have been difficult to turn a musical/stage production into a novel, but the author succeeded. One of the things I had to get used to was having Moses during the reign of Hapseptsut and Tutmosis, instead of Ramses, but Card's explanation of this does have some merit. Also, although I knew that Moses stammered, I had to get used to how Card portrayed that in the book with the elipses. But that was an effective way of pointing out when he stammered and when he didn't. The supporting characters were well written. They each had their specific traits, and even I felt like smacking Aaron & Miriam around sometimes because they were just a little too full of themselves. Zeforah and her sisters were a lot of fun to read about. I think that this is a wonderful book.
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous!
Review: I'm sure most of the non-LDS readers of this book are drawn to it because they're Card fans. I know that's what happened with me. I am not particularly Christian, but I do have a firm belief in morality and humanity's duty to separate right from wrong. Card has an astounding ability to demonstrate through his characters how a person can be fundamentally good (even Great) yet still be flawed and very very human. This book does not disappoint on that score. Stone Tables is populated by men and women who struggle to do good in the world while fighting their own wrong-headed impulses. What a joy it is to watch them triumph! Also, by the time Card wrote this book, he was beyond the point of being a master storyteller. This epic is paced just right and held my interest tightly throughout. Nevertheless, I have to turn back to the characters. Some are not as fully rounded as I might have liked. For example, Miriam comes to realize she needs to phrase her declarations of Truth more diplomatically, but we never get to explore the repurcussions of that (basically, to me it seemed she needed a little more humility). Also, Joshua stayed a little too flatly Pure. But, of course, they're not the main characters. Moses is the important one here, and Card gives him remarkable vitality. Aaron and Tuthmose are also amazingly drawn. Card made me believe that these people once lived and breathed just as he has described them, even though this is a fictional account. The only people I imagine might have trouble with this book are those who cling to their own versions of Christianity enough to be offended by the LDS touches (foreknowledge of Christ, multiple worlds, etc.), or those who are turned off by Christian righteousness (too bad for them to be so closed-minded). Everyone else, I think, can only gain from reading this.
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