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Summary: We've Bean waiting too long....
Review: Ah, another great book by Card! He has a way of coming up with new ways to portray the classic fight between good and evil, and his character development is superb! You can't help but feel Bean is a member of the family by the time you're done reading this book. If you want to learn to write, study Card! If you like to read than you can't go wrong with Card either.Also check out "With Crystal Clarity" by Melody Higdon... she's cool
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Summary: You would probably enjoy rereading Ender's Game More
Review: Here is the down and dirty on Ender's Shadow....It is a complete re-hash of Ender's Game told through the eyes of Bean. Card does start the book by imparting previously unknown information about Bean and his life leading up to battle school, but other than that, you would probably enjoy a re-read of Ender's Game more. This book was an absolute snooze to read, one wonders how Card could stand to write it.
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Summary: Worthy of Ender's Game
Review: I have read all of the Ender's quartet, and I feel that Ender's Shadow is worthy of its "parallel novel", Ender's Game. In Ender's Game, Bean is mentioned, but you really dont know how valuable he was to Ender until you read Ender's Shadow. I think in Ender's Shadow, Card really gets into the mind set of a child Bean's age. You might think it immature, but if you really think about it, its just what a child that age would think. I personally believe that it is equal to Ender's Game, they both have great storylines that can only be compared with their equally great viewpoints.
Rating:
Summary: Even Better
Review: I'm not going to bore you all. If you haven't, read Ender's Game immediately-- or sooner. I'll assume the rest of you have read it. Now to commit the ultimate sin: I liked Ender's Shadow more than Ender's Game. I felt that Card did a better job of character development and interaction in this parallel "sequel." I strongly urge you to at least read this book, if not buy it.
Rating: 
Summary: A Second Rate Side Story
Review: When I learned a new book in the Ender Wiggin Universe was coming out I was elated. When I found out it was about Bean, one of the boring "extras" from Ender's Games I was very angry. Plenty more could have been done after Children of the Mind, Card had no reason to pursue the life of Bean. The book is moderately entertaining, but no where near the same level as Ender's Game, Speaker For the Dead, Xenocide, or Children of the Mind.
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Summary: The Legend Continues
Review: Every few years, a book comes along that burns into the very core of the reader, leaving memory of the book for many, many years to come. When ENDER'S GAME first appeared in the mid-80's, the groundbreaking novel did more to turn legions of "mainstream" readers into sci-fi fans. The gripping human drama in that Hugo & Nebula winning book left many of us stunned and wowed. While some many have followed Mr. Card's foray into the further adventures of Ender Wiggins through the sequels, I personally couldn't get through SPEAKER FOR THE DEAD and decided to abandon the further life story of Ender. And when I saw that a "parallel" novel of ENDER'S GAME was published, I thought to myself, "Well, Mr. Card is selling himself out. Talk about rehashing." Then as fate would have it, I picked up ENDER'S SHADOW anyway about a week ago and began reading a few days ago. By page 2, I was hopelessly lost in the world of Rotterdamn, where the 2-year old Bean begins his political maneuvering, leading to murder, lies and powerplay by various memorable characters. Forget SURVIORS. The truth about human nature and its various social manifestations are in ENDER'S SHADOW. The reason why ENDER'S GAME was so successful was that, despite its background as a SF story, it was really about believable characters that you cared about. ENDER'S SHADOW does that, too, and by the end of the book, you're sad that you'll have to say goodbye to your imaginary friends. From the backstreets of Rotterdam, through the Battle School, then to the final simulation game that signals the end of the war between human and buggers, we see the transformation of Bean, from the secretive, emotionless, distrusting schemer to a full-fledged leader of soldiers. For those who think SHADOW might be rehashing old story, read the book and see how perfectly it fits into the GAME. While events are the same, Ender is only a pivoting point for Bean, the lead character. They say that the journey isn't the destination; it is the journey itself, the road by which you arrive at the destination. The story here is the road where you walk with Bean, where the now-old surprise ending of the GAME is not the point. For those who have never read ENDER'S GAME, you might want to read that first, but frankly, even without that first book, you'll thoroughly enjoy this one. But, again, frankly, you'll be mad at yourself in the end because, 9 out of 10, you'll wind up picking up that first book immediately. Is ENDER'S SHADOW equal to ENDER'S GAME? Probably not. But what can equal the power of the first book? ENDER'S SHADOW is almost as good, and will not disappoint. Don't take my word for it. Go ahead and read it.
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Summary: 2 words: Wow
Review: This was an amazing story. When I first picked it up, I was thinking one thing: Spinnoff of Ender. Could I have been more wrong? The term "Parellel Novel" was a great way to explain it. It takes place during the Game, and Bean, the main character, is one of Ender's greatest assets. I say assets because friend is no way to describe it, and that is how Ender uses him. It was an amazing way to paralell Ender's greatness. I can't wait for Shadow of the Hegemon, the sequel.
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Summary: Card Does it Again...
Review: Not surprisingly, this book lived up to all of the expectations placed upon it and more. Card displays his excellence by engaging the reader with multiple viewpoints, writing characters with "perfect understanding" as Ender might have said. The popularity of Card's Ender series continues 15 years past the first book in the series, and amazingly, I have tried for a month to win a used hardcover of this book on eBay for less than Amazon's hardcover price, all to no avail. It is simply too popular to obtain, so thank goodness they are releasing the paperback, which will be a wonderful addition to libraries everywhere. Thank you again, Mr. Card for another terrific voyage - please take us on another one soon.
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Summary: A Worthy Companion to "Ender's Game"
Review: This is neither a sequel nor a prequel to "Ender's Game," but rather a look at, for the most part, the same events, but from the viewpoint of Bean, who was a minor character in "Ender's Game." It is a tribute to the greatness of "Enders Game" that another great book could be written about the same major events. "Ender's Game" is such an outstandingly excellent book that it would seem an impossible act to follow, but follow it Card does with a story every bit as fascinating, even tho it lacks the blockbuster surprise ending of "Ender's Game" and you already know the major events of the story. There are two great surprises at the end of "Ender's Shadow," but neither is as mind-blowing as the surprise in "Ender's Game." "Ender's Game" should be read before "Ender's Shadow," so as not to weaken the impact of the ending of "Ender's Game."
Rating:
Summary: Better than Ender's Game
Review: I love this book even more than I love Ender's Game. They are both masterpieces. I think the book should have been titled "Urchin" like Card says in the acknowledgements. By calling it Urchin, it would make you read the book thinking of Bean more as an individual rather than a product of Ender. Bean is a great solid character who changes greatly throughout the book. Read this book, it rules!
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