Rating: Summary: bean is a charmer Review: i actually like this a wee bit better. then enders game. i really dont know why. i ean I also loved enders game. I just feel this book is a liitle better. its funny how we see the chacters thourgh bean's eyes i mean it makes you feel totaly differnt about ender. i also like that bean knew hat the final test really was.i like how this one had somewhat happier ending i hope thres more bean books to come only i hoope card keeps hom a kid in them.
Rating: Summary: A good read for those who liked Ender's Game Review: A good book by OSC. Not one of his greats like Seventh Son or Ender's Game. I liked the way that he re-wrote the story from the standpoint of Bean, but not as exciting as Ender's Game was. None the less, still a good book and well worth the time to read.
Rating: Summary: Ender's Shadow, Card has seen the light! Review: If you have not read Card before, this is a great place to start. For a long time, Ender's Game topped the list on my coloum of must reads for anyone who asked, now I can add another title to that list. I worked in a book store, and Ender's Game got better feed back then any other of the first time author reads. Card in the master of modern sci-fi, and reading his work will show you why. Ender and the subsequet series are the best out there. Ender's Shadow is another great chapter in a thrill ride of a series. Card takes you from the innocence of youth to the frustration of age. You will love every moment. Shadow brings you back. Back to the begining of the story. Back to the begining of the Ender Wiggin Saga where the universe is possible. It gives you a new view of Ender (whether its your first time reading about him or the latest in your list of OSC favs). Pick up a copy today, I promise you will not put it down until the very last word on the very last page. Enjoy. I know you will!
Rating: Summary: Doesn't really add to the original Review: It's a funny thing about Ender's Shadow; I didn't like it, but I wasn't sure of that until I had read all of it. So this book was entertaining at any rate. But I'll never forget finishing the book, closing it, and literally in that instant, realizing that it didn't add up. At the beginning, the book works well, with Bean receiving his nickname, being discovered, going to Battle School, etc., etc. It's the interaction between Ender and Bean, already written in Ender's Game, that is the stumbling block. Here's the problem: the character of Bean in the original book is completely and utterly different from the one presented here. This is supposed to be intentional, with Ender's Game being written with Ender's idea of how things happened, and Ender's Shadow written with Bean's version. But when Bean and Ender talk to each other in this book, Bean is stuck with dialogue that the character in this book just wouldn't say. Card noticably attempts to rationalize why Bean says what he does, but doesn't really succeed. And Ender, without giving anything away, is presented here as being somewhat ignorant, in total contrast to his character in the first book. As I said, I really didn't notice all of this as I was reading, but after I'd finished it all jumped out at me. The end result is that I will always consider Ender's Game to be the "real" story of what happened at Battle School, and won't even think of this book. The idea of a parallel novel is really interesting, and the character of Bean was a good choice, but in the end, it just doesn't pan out.
Rating: Summary: An equally enjoyable book! Review: Okay, you obviously enjoyed Ender's Game, or you wouldn't be looking into Ender's Shadow, right? Well, let me assure you, you will not be disapointed! I have long considered Ender's Game to be my favorite book. I identify with him in some ways that would be hard for me to explain. No,I am not a genius like Ender, it's some of the other issue's he had to deal with. Like an older brother who torments him, and makes his life difficult. When I saw Ender's Shadow, I immediately knew I had to read it. Although I didn't really care for the sequels to Ender's Game, I thought that this would be different since it takes place when the original did. I was correct. This is now my second favorite book. I can identify with Bean on several levels too (again, not the genius part). I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and could not put it down. My wife has also enjoyed both books and highly recommends them.
Rating: Summary: Slightly redundant, but insightful Review: Although the story line is exactly the same as Ender's Game - and the ending is somewhat spoiled since you already know the outcome (at least if you've read Ender's Game) - the book remains interesting due to the unique perspective of Bean. I really enjoyed seeing the story from a different angle. Other people I have recommended the book to have skipped the parts they think they already know - but I recommend reading them. You may see something you missed before.
Rating: Summary: Why? Review: As well-written and compulsively page-turning as Ender's Shadow is, the reader is left, at the end, with the question, what is the point? Why bother to revisit this world when, essentially, one learns little new, and that little hardly worth a book? Additionaly, if one had not read Ender's Game, the world itself would be obscure, for Card fails to establish his ground-rules here, as he did in the real Ender: why are these children orphans on the streets of Rotterdam, and why are there so many? Why are children sent to Battle School? These questions, crucial to suspension of disbelief, were established in EG, but not here, and that both cheats the reader and weakens the story. Card is an exceptional stylist, but he needs to pay heed to the other aspects of story-telling than just the word crafting. Shadow is indeed but a shadow of its predecessor: it's an interesting character study, but that study itself is undermined by the lack of set-up. Even given the explanation of genetic engineering, did anyone REALLY believe Bean was six years old? Really?
Rating: Summary: Ender's Shadow is DA BOMB!!! Review: Okay, I'm going to say the obligatory statement right now: this is a great book, you've gotta read this book, it's one of the best books I've read.There. Now that that trite and somewhat bland piece is over and finished with, I'll tell you WHY I liked it. Most of you have probably read Ender's Game. It was terrific. I would say the best book ever. This book is probably second, not because it is much worse, but mainly because the surprise simply isn't surprising the second time around. Also, the first part of the book I didn't really LIKE Bean. I liked Ender all the way through. Which isn't to say I didn't EMPATHIZE with Bean. On the contrary, I was MUCH more empathetic to Bean's situation. Ender is the most brilliant kid ever to live. Bean, too, is brilliant, but to a lesser extent. No, that's not true, it's more like Bean's not a leader and Bean just doesn't believe in himself - at all. Other than that, though, he's as smart or smarter than Ender. I can certainly empathize with being thought of as second best, or no good at all, just because I don't put on a show about my intelligence. Ender doesn't do that, either, but accomplishments come so effortlessly to him it's impossible for people to think of Bean as being as brilliant as Ender... Anyway. The book was really, REALLY good, and that's all you need to know. Go out and buy it. Or, stay online and order it. Whatever you do, if you're smart enough to be looking into a little book called Ender's Shadow, READ IT! I guarentee you will enjoy it. And no, I'm NOT a professional salesman.
Rating: Summary: Ender's Shadow still just a shadow to Ender's Game Review: The entire Ender's Game series was an excellent series. It tells the riveting tale of Ender Wiggin, and his trials and tribulations as saving the world from a race of aliens that were supposedly set to destroy the earth. This book parallels the first book, Ender's game, through a fellow classmate and closely compared student of Ender's, known as Bean. Wile this book is about Bean and his childhood and all that he has undergone, it really is used to give a different look at Ender and at the entire Battle School arena. We are able to see Ender from a completely different view now, not from how he sees himself, but from how others look upon him. Card braves this feat with a very powerful and amazing book. However, the book does fall short from the origianl Ender's Game that it parallels. While the Ender's Game book inspired me to read the entire Ender's series, as well as the entire Homeworld series, this book does not have that same kind of grip. However, if you have read any of the Ender's Game series, then I highly recommend you pick this book up for a read, if nothing than for the interesting look at Ender from the other side of the looking glass.
Rating: Summary: Though I Doubted Review: Though I doubted how good this book could be compared the rest of the series, I did have faith in Card's writing gift. It has been several years since I read the original series and this was a great parallel. I read the book in three days, not being able to get away from the story of Bean. Bean had actually intrigued me in the first series. Not sure why until now. I enjoyed this greatly. The story of Bean and the way that his mind worked was beautifully told and written. I would recommend this to all Sci-fi fans, but unlike other books I would also recommend this to fans of other genre's. Some of the points brought out in this book have real world impacting thoughts that I had never hit me before now. Ender was a great hero. I think I like Bean's style better though.
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