Rating: Summary: deeply moving, innovative book Review: Children of the Mind is the conclusion of the Ender's Game series; it fulfils this function beautifully and naturally. This is a definite contrast to the shoot-em-up atmosphere of Ender's Game - this is a very thoughtful story, and while the plot is exciting, the most meaningful part of the book is contained in the maturing of all characters involved. Be warned: if you are only interested in science fiction because it redefines the limits of sex and violence, this is definitely not the book for you. CotM stimulates the reader's imagination; it satisfies all major plot points, but it certainly doesn't tie off all the loose ends. This is an excellent book, but don't expect to be spoon-fed.
Rating: Summary: Card further refines his philosophy Review: Card further refines his philosphy that misunderstanding results in tragedy, and that understanding results in joy and value. Characters are convincingly written, and it's a pleasure to once again return to the Ender's Game and "Speaker" cast of characters, who are older, wiser, and more complicated than ever. Card's personal notes at the end of the book should be required reading for any serious student of American literary culture, or for any serious student of American culture, period.
Rating: Summary: By far the best of the quartet! Review: "Children of the Mind," the long-awaited final installment of Card's wonderful Ender Series, is the best of the lot. I was never much of an SF fan before reading "Ender's Game" two years ago, and now Card has ruined me: I can't read any other SF novels without thinking how shallow they are compared to these four. COTM finishes the series better than anyone could have hoped. My greatest fear, going into this book, was that Card would finish off his character in a fiery battle with the Lusitania Fleet, as many other so-called SF writers would have. However, Ender dies in a perfectly natural way at the completion of his mission (to restore the buggers). I felt that the deepest, most moving character was the ansible-being, Jane. She moved me with her deep compassion for Ender and his new family. To those who have panned this book in their reviews: What were you thinking?! Everyone should read this book. Of course it's not a stand-alone novel, that was never Card's intention! Perhaps those used to "normal" (read:awful and shallow) SF might not like this book; they should read some real literature then come back to COTM. They will find that only Card's work stands up to that of such great modern authors as Doyle, O'Brian, and Gibbons.
Rating: Summary: This saga should be requiered reading. Exellent. Review: Orson Scott Card, my hat goes off to you. I truely lost myself in the series and compleated it in about a day. I'm only 16 but this book, it just hit me in the heart you know? I remember, I began reading the saga at about 9:30 pm or so....stayed up all night (On a school night!) and was done at about 4 in the morning...my mother came to my room and I was crying...it was awesome...Card has a strange power to make ethical dilemas seem like serious action..and you become so caught up in the book that you have to love it. Ender can rest in peace..his end was truely moving. Card is well on his way to being on the level of the late Isaac Asimov. On a final note: The end is'nt exactly an end, its more of a new begining. -Miguel Pimentel
Rating: Summary: Card comes up mediocre with final Ender Wiggin novel Review: Orson Scott Card has made us feel for the life of Ender Wiggin, the poor boy mentally tortured by his Xenocide. Now he deals with the end of Ender's lifestory with tragic numbness. It's worth reading if you want the rest of the story, but it can in no way function as a stand-alone novel.
Rating: Summary: Another Fine Work by Orson Scott Card Review: Though I am a fan of Mr. Card, I must say this series of books has made Sci-Fi readers of people not originally Sci-Fi readers. As for me, I liked the twists and turns this book brought about from the beginning. I thought it was befitting for Ender to move on in this book. I also liked how Jane was tied together with the rest of the characters. I have read comments from the naysayers, but Mr. Card really puts pieces of his life into this book. Those of you who are familiar with his life, can see a part of his life and culture tied directly to this book as well as others he wrote. To the new reader, please start at the beginning book, Ender's Game, and read the entire series.
Rating: Summary: One of the worse books I've ever read Review: Characters - Who cares? Plot - What plot? Science - No, not really. This is by far one of Card's weakest books, I guess he just felt he had to finish the series and Ender. Kind of Sad after the wonderful Ender's Game and the Good Speaker for the Dead. Read "Lovelock", it's a wonderful book, stay away from this one!
Rating: Summary: A complex work; read with intelligence. Review: While this is perhaps the weakest of the books in the Ender saga, that rating comes only in comparison to an awe-inspiring beginning. COTM perhaps didn't have the depth of the other novels, but Card did an excellent job of fleshing out some of the more minor characters from the previous stories. Most of the criticism of COTM seems to concern Card's rambling style. This stylistic choice may be seen as a reflection of Ender himself in his final days, a skillful projection of the personality of the main character onto the frame of the work. Card's narrative didn't ramble all the time; observant reading relates Card's style to the "rambling" of Ender's soul. This book needs to be read with an open mind and an eye to the author's art as well as his tale.
Rating: Summary: An end preluding something else? Review: So Ender saga came to an end. Mr Card, as its character Novinha, let him go peacefully, allowing him disintegrate because his life was no longer worth to live. Not a bad conclusion to a fascinating saga that was worth reading. We all know that finishing a book is much more difficult than beginning one, and that a saga it is no more than a way of delaying the final solution to a good story. Fortunately, Ender's universe is not ending with him. Mr Card has sown enough seeds for the story to continue, although next book if there is any (I deeply hope so) will not be a fifth book in a series but the first one of something new but familiar. And now a few bits of criticism. I prepared myself to enjoy this long delayed fourth instalment re-reading the third one, and to my surprise and if my Spanish translated copy did not fool me, I discovered than their merging was not as seamless as I expected. The I-do-not-know-who-I-am Peter of the fourth book has nothing to do with the arrogant, self confident character of the third one. We left Novinha inviting a reluctant Ender to join her in the Filhos do Mente, but find the opposite situation in the new book. Trips to the Outside seemed to need Ender or one of its replicas physically onboard, but Lusitania evacuation proceeds along the fourth book without this requisite. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this one as the previous ones for storytelling is the art Mr Card masters. I give a high qualification to the hours spent with one of Mr Card's books in my hands. Finally, I consider the afterword expendable and it makes me worry about the fact that Mr Card is somehow regretting writing fiction books.
Rating: Summary: Card displays all aspects of human nature Review: This is the first book that I truly lost myself in. I have to say that I could relate with the characters in this novel. By using non-human characters, Card is able to show all of the aspects of humanity, both good and bad. A must read for anyone interested in human psychology in action.
|