Rating: 
Summary: Cards Religion on Display
Review: Where are the charachters from the first two books? Where did the relationship of Bean and Petra come from? Why is a teenage girl obsessed with child birth to the point of endangering her own life? Why is Card writing about a 14 year old boy having sex and getting a girl pregnant?It seems that either Card was forced to write a diminished story due to publishing pressures. Or he had to write about the joys of unrestricted reproduction to apease his mormon fans. Either way this was a horible book that was ruined for me as soon as Petra started nagging Bean to father her children. Card seems to have lost his way and I for one will not be buying his next offering.
Rating:
Summary: I wanted to like it...
Review: ...but I found that impossible. I am a big fan of Orson Scott Card's literature, especially the Ender and Shadow series, but "Shadow Puppets" was a letdown.
This book was too preachy-- Card's Mormon side definitely shows through, as both Bean and Anton are converted to the belief that the ultimate goal in life is to have many babies, and Petra is reduced to a subservient, loving wife who nevertheless lies to Bean. Also, you'll discover Card's views on abortion in this book.
"Shadow Puppets" is a fine title for the book, as I got the feeling that Card was controlling his characters (the "puppets") against their wills, forcing them into scenarios and decisions that go against their personalities and previous character developments. Even Alai, previously one of my favorite characters, undergoes major changes and isn't even recognizable. Bean is completely different, and not even all that likeable. Suriyawong (introduced in "Shadow of the Hegemon") appears only in two chapters.
Card relies too much on humorous banter that isn't even all that funny, and certainly isn't brilliant.
If you must read this book, check it out from the library, but don't waste your money.
Rating: 
Summary: Perfunctory is right...
Review: Though you'll want to pick it up if you've been following the Bean series, Shadow Puppets really is sub-standard material. The book is essentially a string of sometimes only distantly related minor plot lines, each of which lacks any internal dynamic and is simply nudged forward each time it comes up. The Big Battle at the end only awkwardly ties them together and really provides no sense of closure. Now for the specifics (and spoilers)...
Card usually appreciates the importance of maintaining a close link between the personal and the political; in Ender's Game, for example, Ender's predestined role and responsibilities feed and accentuate his personal tragedy, and we care about larger events in the Enderverse because he and the other protagonists are directly involved in and affected by them. In Shadow Puppets the Bean/Petra story is completely unrelated to anything else in the book, though it's of course complicated by the predictible dastardly schemes of Achilles. Meanwhile it's hard to care about Chinese oppression since we barely hear of it, much less see it; hard to care that they lose what they only won in the last book anyway; hard even to be particularly excited about the war against them since it pops up so late and so suddenly.
On the whole the characters are pretty disappointing as well--in the case of Peter Wiggin 'disappointing' is too mild a word. Yes, the sick sadist of Ender's Game had to be domesticated to some degree, but now not only is his cruelty and ambition completely gone, so is his genius. One of the driving ideas of the series is that it concerns kids who are not 'just kids', but here Peter seems to be exactly that, just a kid. Meanwhile in place of another series hallmark, strange and terrible psychological conflict and paradox, you have simplistic, mechanical character trademarks; 'he'll kill you if you see him when he's weak,' etc. I've never really liked the Achilles character, but in this book he's not even a character anymore, just a plot mechanism that keeps the book moving; as a result his death is highly anti-climactic. Meanwhile Petra and Bean crying all the time becomes wearisome, and for the most part the dialogue, at its best sharp and witty in Card's work, has deteriorated to "cute."
And just forget the endless plot liberties, as when Alai suddenly appears at just the right time to drag Bean and Petra back into the Big Picture, and with unexpected but fortuitous plans to give the book some sort of central event, i.e. attack China. Or Achilles's shooting down an IF shuttle--whether or not Peter had been on it, the IF still would have traced the attack and Achilles's goose still would have been cooked. Why on earth would an evil genius make such a stupid move?
But this is not a 1-star review; Shadow Puppets is a good read on the whole, and Card's trademark plot twists, secret codes, and political/military strategy bits are all satisfying and clever enough. I just wish more could be said to the book's credit.
Rating: 
Summary: An excellent read.
Review: It was interesting reading other people's reviews. People had complaints that never crossed my mind. Personally, I thought it was excellent. It took me only two days from start to finish. First of all, I enjoyed watching Bean and Peter's progression. Bean realizes what it was that made Ender the ultimate general to defeat the Buggers and adopts the idea. Peter is forced to be more humble as he's outsmarted by the evil Achilles and realizes that his parents are not the idiots he thought they were. Another great aspect was seeing Ender's parents in action. The Wiggins are two of the most interesting characters in the book and seem to me to be as smart as Ender and Peter. They're definitely wiser than Peter ever thought of being. I love how Peter has no idea how much his father is helping him in his job as Hegemon and how his mother turns out to be key in protecting Peter from Achilles. Finally, the part that may turn some readers off: the speech by the gay (or sexually aberrant) character about having children may irritate people. Many scientists (especially biologists) would make the case that it is instinctive to have children. However, he makes the case that all humans want to have a bond with the opposite sex. I suspect a scientist wouldn't assume something like that, as it would be difficult to prove, even if it is true. Also, Bean and Petra's romance may not be appealing to some. Petra does, for some strange reason, want to have children with Bean, despite his altered genes and she's only eighteen at most? Furthermore, she knows he's going to die young, but she doesn't worry about that. Lastly, Bean is probably only about fifteen or so! Well, I guess these genius kids grow up fast! All in all, it was extremely interesting and I loved the ending. I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: What a pity...
Review: Ender's Shadow was a brilliant book. Shadow of the Hegemon was good, but not at par with any of the other Ender books. Shadow Puppets is nothing less than a complete let-down. It is a pity that Card has allowed his job to fall that low, and I hope that he will not make this mistake again. I only give it one star because I cannot give none. I really cannot find one reason to make me propose this book to other readers, even Ender fans, except "if you are dying from curiosity to see what life holds for Bean". Oh, and possibly the brilliance of two secondary characters, Virlomi and Alai. On the contrary, I can find many reasons why to avoid it. Let's start:
* The characters are completely off, compared to the other novels. Peter, the Hegemon, is reduced to a clever teenager who, however, can't do anything without the support of either Bean or, from all people, his parents. Where is the brilliant Demosthenes / Locke who shook the world while his brother was saving it from the Buggers? Where is the extremely interesting clash between brilliance of the mind & sickness of the soul that was the essence of Peter's character in Ender's Game? Petra has become a snivelling housewife, and that was to me, as a woman, one of the major disappointments in the book. She has lost her edge, and is almost unrecognisable. As for Peter's parents, they are definitely not the same people that we've met in Ender's Game or even in the two previous Shadow books. So suddenly they are nearly as geniuses as their son? And finally, Bean : where is the tough, sharp as a knife and immensely clever boy who could outdo even Ender? Who won the respect even of Graff, and definitely of all of us? Now he is suddenly only interested in getting rid of Achilles and becoming a father? * The book is preaching. Preaching on the benefits of marriage, preaching on the blessings of parenthood, preaching, preaching... And I say this despite being pregnant myself, when theoretically I should be in a position to better appreciate Card's philosophy. And I do, but from agreeing on whether it is good to have children to accepting this as the focal point of the whole book there is too big a gap. * There are other inconcistencies in the book. Reading it, you come to expect that Alai should be Hegemon, Alai the gentle, clever, respected, deeply human Muslim Chalif. But we happen to know that Peter is and will continue being Hegemon, and with no war between religions : a war between a friend as beloved as Alai and a brother as feared and hated as Peter would have been mentioned by either Ender or Valentine in some point of their story. Yet where else could the story lead? To a meak submission of the Muslims to the Christians for fear of the Chinese? No way. And Achilles, the master of duplicity, buys so easily into Suri's friendship that he allows his trust to actually lead him to his death? * Finally, in general I found the book too flat. I missed terribly the contrasts and the clashes of the Ender series, in Xenocide for example. I missed the portrayal of interesting people, of misplaced loyalties (remember the people of Path?), of arrogant leaders, of love misunderstood and happiness lost and found, of death and rebirth. There is no such richness in this book. All in all, a dissappointment, and a bitter one at that, because in my mind Orson Scott Card was never an author who would make a book simply for money, or because pressed by his publishers, and I feel this book is nothing more than that. Even if you are a devoted fan, don't read it. And if you are not, don't start your acquaintance with Card with this book. Try the Ender series, if you are more sci-fi oriented, or even the Alvin Maker series if you prefer fantasy.
Rating:
Summary: What was Orson thinking?
Review: "Shadow Puppets" is a very dissappointing addition to the Ender series. I was very excited when "Ender's Shadow" came out and thought it was a great read. Very accessible to all levels of reades, exciting and fun. It really got back into the feel of Battle School and the brilliant kids. It took a very different track from "Speaker..." and "Xenocide" but it fit into the series perfectly. "Shadow of the Hedgemon" was somewhat flat by comparison, but sorta kept to the story-line and was entirely readable. "Shadow Puppets" is really quite bad. It felt like OSC was preaching that everyone should get married and have as many children as possible to fight the heathen Chinese. (Even the one implied gay character got married and had children.) I felt this book didn't remain true to the story or the characters. Achilles has been relegated to the sidelines and has only a bit part. What little character the Wiggin parents have in this book is drastically different from the other books in the series. Bean is depicted as almost bumbling and confused most of the time. And Petra is no longer strong-willed and independent, she is portrayed as a subservient wife. It's almost as if someone else wrote this book and OSC just put his name on it.
Rating:
Summary: Good continuation
Review: I've enjoyed the "Ender" series since Analog first published it. I've progressed, along with Card's writing, from action-adventure to philosophy to interpersonal relationships. This book was a decent contribution to the series, in much the same way that "Heartfire" was a decent contribution to the "Alvin Maker" series. But like Heartfire, it didn't really advance the ball much. Some of the book was Tom Clancy light, and some of the further characterization seemed contradictory to previous installments (Peter continues his transformation from egomaniacal psychotic animal-torturer to just another rebellious teenager, getting bailed out by his parents). Where Card succeeds is with Bean and Petra, although my prurient and adolescent mind would have appreciated more explicit romance from the two. Oh well... I can see at least one more installment to this series, where Card either kills off Bean or gets him a cure. Being a sentimentalist, I hope for the cure.
Rating:
Summary: Hopefully the last
Review: This story picks up where the last book left off, unfortunately. Unfortunate, because the last book was very disappointing. In a way, I guess it was to be expected because Shadow of the Hegemon was an instant classic. It was probably too much to hope that the next books in the series could be as good. Shadow Puppets certainly is not. Shadow Puppets continues the tale of Bean's war with Achilles, discusses a blooming relationship between Bean and Petra, and, by the way, does talk about Peter Wiggins, on occasion. My first disappointment with this story is that I didn't believe it. Why or how would one homeless crippled boy with no contacts (Achilles) suddenly become the most dangerous person on earth when all of those battle school graduates, while still savvy, seem to have no real political connections. Everyone from Bean to Peter to the Commander of the Space Station seems terrified of this one boy. Why? Achilles was a drop out from flight school where he was outsmarted by Bean. Why would he become so much more dangerous now? More disappointing is the lack of Peter Wiggins. In the first book in this series Peter's brother, Ender, saves the world from the Buggers. We are told that Peter, eventually, became the leader of a new earth government. With the title to the first book in this new series, I had hoped that we were going to see a similar story about a young Wiggins defeating impossible odds to become the leader of earth. Along the way I have hoped we would learn how such an evil person would or could transform into something good. Instead, we have an almost complete wimp, and a whiner besides, who only survives because of Bean and his efforts. This was the monster who terrified Ender? Please Finally, I was really annoyed by the "love story" found in the book. While the motivations of the involved parties are clear, the insertion of this plot line turns a political or military story into a tired cliche as Bean discovers love, but maybe too late. Instead of discussing Peter's conquest of the world, it is clear that, if there is an eight book in this series, it will degenerate into an unusual egg hunt as Bean attempts to find his lost children, in embryo form. How sad. By the book if you must, but don't expect anything near the level of Ender's Game or Shadow.
Rating:
Summary: not Card's best and completely without dramatic tension
Review: Shadow Puppets is the most recent novel set in the Ender universe (series began with Ender's Game) and is the third novel that features Bean as the protagonist. While the Ender Quartet was complete, Card wrote Ender's Shadow as a parallel novel that focuses on smallest boy in Battle School: Bean. Shadow Puppets is the sequel to Shadow of the Hegemon. Shadow Puppets follows Bean, a Battle School graduate and one of the heroes of the Formic War that saved the planet from the Buggers. In Shadow of the Hegemon we watched as all of the remaining Battle School graduates were kidnapped except for Bean who managed to escape. Behind it all was Achilles, a murderer who Bean knew before Battle School. Achilles had started several wars but by the end of Shadow of the Hegemon he was in a Chinese prison. Shadow Puppets has Achilles rescued by the Hegemon as Peter Wiggin believes he can learn from Achilles. Bean and Petra decide that it is time to leave the Hegemony and begin a life on the run. They know that Achilles cannot be trusted and that their lives are in jeopardy. Bean also has to deal with the fact that he knows that he will die soon. What caused Bean to be so small as a young child and so intelligent also means that he is growing at an alarming rate and will grow so large that his organs will not be able to cope and will just shut down. I enjoyed this trip back into the Ender Universe, and these are familiar characters that I enjoyed reading about. However, to be perfectly honest and fair, I also thought this was the weakest of the three Shadow novels (as well as the weakest of the 7 in the Ender Universe). I'm not entirely sure what it was, but the novel wasn't as interesting as the last too, nor was there as much tension. By this point I simply expect everyone to survive and for Peter to regain control over the Hegemony. Orson Scott Card is a good writer, but this one is not one of his best. It isn't quite a let down, but it isn't a thrill.
Rating:
Summary: I enjoyed two out of three plots in this book...
Review: Of all the things out there to read, this is not the worst. However, compared the others in the series, it's certainly at the lesser end of the scale. I loved getting to know Peter and his parents better. Seeing Peter grow as a leader was enjoyable considering that the picture of Peter ruling the world in the Ender books is depressing given his role as tormentor and psychopath. Conversely, this transformation could irritate some readers who feel that the Peter of Shadow Puppets betrays the original character. I liked the military campaign subplot. This facet of Card's books contines to shine. I hated the Petra and Bean subplot. It felt contrived and like an excuse to epouse the generally religious believe that life begins at conception. Card was previously able to keep most of his religious beliefs out of the science fiction series. (Also, if the phrase "making babies" appeared one more time in the book, I think I would have stopped reading any chapter containing their names.) Irritatingly, the ending of the book seemed rushed and several subplots were left unresolved. Ultimately, the book is worth reading if you're a fan of the Ender series, but don't expect Ender's Game all over again or you'll be disappointed.
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