Earthborn

Rating:
Summary: A stirring and long awaited conclusion.
Review: We waited for this book a long time, and the wait was worth it. Card concludes the series in great form. His world building is second to none, and his philosophical views on mankind, and his parallels to our own society, are enough to make you sit back and take a look at the kind of person you really are. A very enjoyable read, but catch the rest of the series first if you don't want to be lost in the history that is presented here

Rating:
Summary: A disapointing conclusion to a decent series...
Review: Well, if you like Orson Scott Card (Ender's Game), you will probably read this book anyway, but I'm here to tell you, DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY Having just read the homecoming series from start to finish, I can tell you that "earthborn" is just one more in a absurdly long list of disapointing conclusions to a science fiction series.
To be more specific, Card fails to answer the ONE question that all readers are hoping to have answered form the first volume of the homecoming series.....that is, what or who is the "keeper of earth". This topic is adressed by only one very vague paragraph. That's it. One paragraph in a 420 page book, which is filled mostly with long mental and verbal dilerberations of uncomprehesible 'logic'. It would seem to me, that Card is desperatley trying to persuade the reader of his characters bizare actions. The only problems is that, the more he tries, the worse it gets. Although it was difficult to understand the motivations of some of the characters(Elemak) in earlier volumes of this series, there was allways a plot point or lingering question to be answered which kept the writing moving and interesting. In contrast, This entire book is mental, which would be fine, except the characters that Card introduces in this volume are very hard to associate with and understand.
Anyway, I think this book left a great deal unexplained and was not very enjoyable. I wish Orson Scott Card would try again, and this time, try including some science fiction. Anyone who wants more information or discussion should feel free to contact me at my e-mail adress listed above

Rating:
Summary: Dissapionting and Slightly offensive end to a great series
Review: What happened? I was anjoying this series and Card in general and then he drops this bomb. The whole book was something that could just be summed up in an epilogue in Earthfall. First of all, let me say that all the most interesting characters are gone. Shedemei is the only survingin one and she was the least interesting of all. This book seemed to drag along and we're left in the dark as to the nature of the keeper. The Keeper is almost desribed as magma flows that somehow create an intellegence. It's almost as if Card couldn't think of anything and just wrote that. Then there is the issue of one of the characters, Akma. Akma is obviously a metaphor for an Athiest of today. He is a person filled with hate and intolerance and is an insult to all Atheists. So the Keeper sends Shedemei down to strike him down for believing freely as he does. Don't stop reading Card after this one, though. This is far from his best and is still one of the best SF authors around

Rating:
Summary: Good book, does justice to the series, but not the best
Review: While I didn't like that this book skipped over so much time (five hundred years) I did like the way the author expanded on the story, and what became of the rivalries between Nafai and Elemak and such and the effect it had on their descendents. See what happens when you fight with your brother? Shedamei was one of my favorite characters from the beginning, so I was also quite pleased to see her return. This book also had a few more strong women then the other books, but less emphasis on that part of the story than the others as well. All in all, a good ending, and though the women's rights part of it wasn't solved to my satisfaction, the ending was hopeful so my mind was put at ease.

Rating:
Summary: Orson ..... Please!!!
Review: Why did he do it? The brother conflict which was the glue of the first four books was never resolved. The originator of the distant call from the stars which started the whole journey was - a huge let-down. I love his books but this one REALLY bothered me. Orson, if you ever read this, PLEASE write it again, but this time make it a suitable ending to a great series.