Rating: 
Summary: Strong story with an intellectual prose.
Review: Orson Scott Card's fifth novel in the Ender Quartet series is one great yarn that really entertains you and keeps you reading until you reach the back cover. Keep in mind, this story is very smart and incredibly insightful upon all these magnificently created characters of one totally unique story, and, if you look at it closely, you'll find that this novel is pretty much based one hundred percent around characterization, entirely involved around Bean, his origins, his friendship with Ender and the daunting tasks he had to suffer through, everything from his emotional stresses to his rough life. Although this novel is Sci-Fi, it is not your regular blast up the alien un-originality that manifests itself within many SF stories today. There is actually very little violence, destruction, gore and war in this book, even though it shows up in some places. No, 'Ender's Shadow' is more scientificly suspenseful with just tension and unpredictability alone, with colourful characters and a visually impressive picture of a dark, gothic vision of Rotterdam after the first two alien invasions. After the invasion, we find ourselves, once again, in Space.
Even though I've never really liked Sci-Fi, I found this book a great read. The only problem that I had with it, however, was the fact that although Mr. Card was building enough tension to the fact that a third invasion of the Formics would be coming, he didn't make the ending battle scene very dramatic or climactic to support that theory. Like I said earlier, however, this is not a video game book, this is not circled around violence or blood; just pure characterization.
I enjoyed this novel thoroughly, however, and would without a doubt reccomend anybody to read it, Sci-Fi fan or not.
Rating: 
Summary: Spectacular parallel novel to Ender's Game
Review: "Ender's Game" told the haunting tale of a young child burdened with unspeakable responsibilities and tasks in a hyper-militarized society. Ender Wiggin was viewed as the last best hope for planet Earth in decades-long war with an alien species called 'Buggers'. The journey as Wiggin began to realize the expectations of him and comes to terms with the loneliness and burden of command (and the jealousies of other Battle School children) made for one of the most compelling science fiction novels written in recent years.
In "Ender's Shadow", author Orson Scott Card takes the unique approach of telling the story of the same events and time period, but telling it from a completely different point of view. In "...Shadow", Card takes one of Ender Wiggin's most trusted lieutenants from "Ender's Game", a tiny spud of a child named Bean, and tells the story from Bean's angle. While such an endeavor could seem as nothing more than a lazy way to cash in on the popularity of "Ender's Game", "Ender's Shadow" actually ends up telling the equally compelling of Bean.
Bean grew up in a virtual hell on the streets of Rotterdam. Because of rapidly advanced intelligence, he was able to survive and latch on with one of the local gangs of children in spite of meager age of four years and tiny stature. It is on these streets and in this gang that Bean learns the skills of influence and leadership while also being exposed to the worst of humanity. Certain actions by Bean catch the attention of a 'recruiter' (a nun named Sister Carlotta) for the Battle School, who recommends that he be sent there for training and as a possible last hope if the Battle School's 'secret weapon' (Ender) fails.
There are many parallels between "Ender's Game" and "Ender's Shadow", which is to be expected, given that it takes place during the same time frame. Bean, like Ender, is singled out by the administrators of the Battle School for his command potential and put in situations that earn the envy and animosity of his fellow soldiers. Bean also must deal with an arch-enemy like Ender did. Unlike Ender's conflict with the egomaniacal Bonzo Madrid, Bean caught the ire of the cold and calculating Achilles while he was still in Rotterdam. Through an oversight, Achilles was admitted to Battle School as well and becomes a constant threat to Bean.
The differing story angles enhance the overall scope of the Ender's saga. In the original four books of the Ender's quartet, the events following the destruction of the Buggers are only briefly referenced as Ender goes off on his time travel exile. "Ender's Shadow" deals explicitly with what may happen one Earth once the war is over. Ender was merely concerned with defeating the Buggers. Bean is concerned with defeating the Buggers AND what will become of the unstable geo-political situation on Earth after the war is over. It truly makes for fascinating reading. At no point does the reader feel as though the events are mere rehashes of previous material. The curiosity and thirst for knowledge of the events to come that is created by "Ender's Shadow" feeds perfectly into it's sequel "Shadow of the Hegemon". Such spectacular storytelling is why Card is one of the finest contemporary science fiction officers there is.
Rating:
Summary: Great new perspective on a great story.
Review: After Children of the Mind, I was a little skeptical about reading any more books in this series. Going in with low expectations may have helped, but I think this book would have delivered anyway.It's very interesting to learn about Bean's life before he gets to battle school. It gives the character a whole new depth. The story of Bean's journey from the streets to helping save humanity is a compelling one. And it also is a great complement to the story told in Ender's Game. Anyone who liked Ender's Game will probably enjoy this as well, and even if you haven't read Ender's Game, I would recommend this. When you finish, you will probably want to read Ender's Game which is also a wonderful book. If you have read Ender's Game, reading Ender's Shadow will make you want to read it again.
Rating:
Summary: Rhapsodic Prose With A Frightening Edge
Review: As with all of Card's beautiful novels I was succumbed into this new setting that quickly enraptured me. I had read Ender's Game about a year or so ago, and once again just a couple weeks ago. The first time I read it, I was quite frightened at the aspect of child murderers and power-hungry adults and so forth. The second time I read it I was scared still-- but with fascination. The same has happened for Ender's Shadow.
I'm glad that Mr Card managed to write the story with a different POV, and yet it wasn't as boorish as I thought it would be. Same conversations are brought up again, yes, but Bean, Bean with his ingenious mind contemplates every aspect of the conversation which somehow fascinates us. Just by reading these two books I can compare and contrast Ender and Bean-- Bean is certainly smarter, and I delight in him when he shocks Graff/Dimak/any adult by his intelligence. But Ender has so much more of a leadership quality, and yet he is still secluded in the way that he is burdened with guilt.
I definitely got to know minor characters better-- and knowing that Petra and Bean are going to fall in love in the future (sorry if I spoiled it ^_^;;), I was glad that Card kept it to a minimum, but that he didn't completely disregard it. But I STILL can't get over the fact that Bean is approximately 6 years younger than Petra (egads!).
Perhaps some of you are annoyed at the exaggerated intelligence that is inserted into the Battle School characters, but for me, it excited me and made me even more drawn in! Of course I do envy them, and wish I had been smart enough to know how to square root 2+'n', but *sigh* I shall have to be content.
Rating:
Summary: Even better than Ender's Game
Review: After reading Ender's Game, instead of continuing with the series, I picked up Ender's Shadow, which Card calls more of a "companion" novel than a sequel. Ender's Shadow is about Bean, whom we meet in the first book. Bean is a street urchin in Rotterdam, small for his age but phenomenally intelligent. His trials on the streets of Rotterdam comprise most of the first of the book, with local nun Sister Carlotta's attempts to get him into Battle School. Once in Battle School, Bean becomes seen as the next Ender, who is there at the same time. Thus, Card is able to tell basically the same story, but from the viewpoint of a very different mindset. I actually enjoyed Ender's Shadow more than its predecessor but either of them would be fine for anyone looking for a wonderful escapist novel. Even people who don't like science-fiction (like myself) find themselves engrossed in these stories. Try them out.
Rating:
Summary: Incredibly varied from Enders Game
Review: I was when I originally picked up Enders Shadow very skeptical. Mainly of the fact that it was made to cronolog essentially the same events as in Enders Game. Then I began to start reading and as I read I was completely amazed at how at how different every thing in the book was. So I believe if you enjoyed the previous Enders Game stories like I did you would be doing yourself an injustice to not read Enders Shadow. Enders Shadow had the same witty and thought provoking political insights as the rest of the Enders game series. Once again Card has delivered a thought provoking literary masterpiece as in all of his previous works. This book has alot to do with Beans past which is one of the most interesting parts and through the whole book more of his past is being revield. Also you learn about his inner turmoil about hving to constantly be taking second stage. Ecen though he is possible the most brilliant child in battle school. It is my personal opinion that if you like science fiction and/or Cards previous works you should get this book whether you get it from the library or buy it you should not miss it.
Rating:
Summary: Card returns to the top of his game
Review: For those who read "Ender's Game," the sequels that followed it went on a painful downward spiral. "Speaker for the Dead" was ok, but things just dropped off from there. This book marks Card's return to form. It is not just a retelling of the same story from a diffeent person's perpective; it tells the story of Bean's origin and makes Achilles into a much more powerful and chilling presence than he was in "Game. Some of the most interesting parts of the book, detailing Bean's life on the streets, occur prior to Bean's entry into Battle School. The rest of the book is fun too--well-executed, so much more than just the same story all over again.
Rating:
Summary: Good pace, a page turner
Review: Although is not as shocking as Ender's Game is this is a fine book that should be read after the first book in the series. I liked the fact that Orson Scott Card came full circle and wrote again about how savage kids can be. I'm not giving this book 4 stars because I think that it would be great to have new novels from this author, a 3+ book series is way too much.
Rating:
Summary: Everything the Ender Series Deserves in a Successor
Review: The original Ender series surely deserves to be ranked among the all-time greats of science fiction. It is better, in my estimation, than even Isaac Asimov's Foundation series. When Orson Scott Card published Ender's Shadow as the first book of a parallel retelling of the Ender series through different viewpoints, I resisted buying the book. I didn't believe it could live up to the original and besides, I knew what was going to happen, right? Wrong. Through the parallel retelling of the story, Card delivers magnificent new depth to characters who were little more than set pieces in the original. We get a much more fully developed idea of world events and the politics of the future Earth in which the series takes place. If you enjoyed the original Ender, belly up the bar for more because Ender's Shadow will not disappoint!
Rating:
Summary: Read the regular Ender series first
Review: This was a great novel to accompany Ender's Game. It gave you a much different perspective on the events of Ender's Game, from Bean's point of view, and Card really does change your mind on how things happened.
Card, in the introduction, says that he wrote Ender's Shadow to stand on its own without necessitating a read of Ender's Game first. While I agree it stands on its own, I really think you'd ruin some of the plot of the Ender series if you read this book first. Plus, A lot of what happens in the later novels of the Ender series is aluded to in this novel, and if you haven't read them, you won't get the importance of those references.
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