Xenocide : Volume Three of the Ender Quartet

Rating:
Summary: Full of philosophy, no action to speak of.
Review: This was a very disapointing read. The first two books of the Ender series are some of my favorite books of all times so its easy to see that I would have high expectations for this one. Instead of the suspense, excitement, and novelty of the first two books, this one basically sinks into complicated (and fantastical) philosophical debates over everything from the meaning of life to instantaneous travel and everything in between.. While those might seem like pretty interesting topics, Card definitely spends way too much time and serious thought into them only to have them all solved by a simple answer that doesn't really make any sense anyway. It seemed that Card was really trying to show his readers how much of a genious and deep thinker he is.

The whole book is spent on Lusitania with Ender and his friends trying to figure out a way to replace the descolada while keeping the pequininos alive and to find a way to get all the people off the planet before the fleet from Starways Congress lets loose with the Little Doctor molecular disruptor cannon. I did somewhat enjoy the tangent of the Godspoken of Path and their Congressionally induced brain defects that makes them into some kind of think-tank for the government while imprisoning them with their redardation.

Overall, the book had a lot more potential than it lived up to. The plot stayed mainly on focus but got really bogged down in extra heavy philosophy, making for a pretty boring overall read. I will say that the book left off with great possibilities for the next (and last) book of the series. With most of the philosophising out of the way (I hope) and with the uncovering of the evils of Congress, the introduction of young Peter, and the freedom of the Lusitanians from the descolada virus, the next book should hold some pretty exciting scenarios.

Rating:
Summary: A Steep Cliff...
Review: I must first state that "Ender's Game" is one of my absolute favorite books. I cannot even count the number of times that I have read it. The sequel "Speaker for the Dead" was a facinating read with an interesting and moving plot. "Xenocide" is like dropping off of a cliff in what was shaping up to be an excellent series.
"Xenocide" basically picks up where "Speaker" left off. But instead of an interesting plot, we are faced with ENDLESS ethical and philosophical debates. This book also begins Card's habit of including the point of view of a completely annoying and unlikable character (see Sister Carlotta in "Ender's Shadow"). Wang Mu, the super genius Chinese girl happens to be my least favorite character in ANY series. Every time there is a chapter where Ender solves yet another ethical problem, the follow-up chapter is about the Chinese girl trying to solve the exact same problem. Though Card's writing ability has developed since his first book, "Xenocide" remains an excercise in tedium. This book, and its sequel could have easily been written as one book with half of the number of pages.
I won't spoil the cop-out ending but needless to say, I did not go on to read "Children of the Mind."

Rating:
Summary: Another Solid Release from Card.
Review: Xenocide in my personal opinion is better than "Speaker for the Dead". I thought that since we knew all the characters now it would be easier to follow and I found this book less confusing than "Speaker for the Dead".

The story in this book is top grade and it gave me goosebumps thinking about it. I recommend this book only to fans of the Enderverse series. If your new to the whole Enderverse you might want to start reading "Ender's Game" or perhaps "Speaker for the Dead". If you haven't read those books then you'll be totally confused reading this. This book for me though was great, five stars!

Rating:
Summary: Yuck.
Review: Why you should read this.

People who can't get enough of Ender Wiggin will indulge themselves and enjoy this book. They will be disappointed and will likely not re-read it a second time but they will not regret the purchase. People easily fascinated with metaphysical issues but don't want to have to think about them too hard will end up liking some of the bits about Path but again won't be doing any re-reading. People doing critical research about "Good Authors Gone Bad" will find this book a singularly instructive performance.

Why you should pass.

Don't pick this book as an introduction to Orson Scott Card. Instead, take Ender's Game or Pastwatch. Perhaps even The Worthing Saga. There are many, many readers who liked Ender's Game a great deal but were only marginally interested in Speaker. If you were one of those readers, do not read this book. It's not more Ender; it is more Speaker. Don't pick up this book thinking it's a quick read: it's not. It is longer and more didactic as Publisher's Weekly correctly pointed out, without any of the pacing that was so exhilarating in Ender's Game.

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Rating:
Summary: Continues the series well
Review: In some respects "Xenocide" has some of the most interesting elements of all of the Ender books, while in other areas being a bit clumsy. The book is well written of course, and it is fascinating to see the development that Card is able to bring to the characters throughout the series. However, the book ends far to abbruptly and is thus incomplete. This book cannot be read as a unit, but must be read as part one of a larger book of which "Children of the Mind" is the conclusion.

There are, of course many things that are fascinating about this book. Card develops his concept of philotes and the aiua (which essentially centers around the nature of the soul). His concept of the aiuas in outspace seems to owe something to Mormon theology, but that is debatable.

The plot is fascinating, but drags on and is not resolved until the end of "Children of the Mind." Perhaps the most interesting element in this book is the part of the story that takes place on the planet Path, and centers around the girl Qing Jao. Her faith and eventual descent into a blind arrogant religiosity is fascinating to watch. Card seems to be toying with the notion of a worldview here. The way that Quing Jao is able to easily interpet everything she learns through her understanding of the gods, despite how obvious it is to everyone else that she is being decieved is fascinating. Those that have read Thomas Kuhn's book, "The Structure of Scientific Revolutions" will see the connection at once. She is so enmeshed in her own belief paradigm that no ammount of evidence will convince her otherwise and she has no difficulty rationally answering such evidence. Her story, ending as it does in madness and arrogance is a fascinating commentary on the stubornness and religiosity of many people from all walks of life and faith (maybe even ourselves).

There is certainly much more that is wonderful in this book. The martydom of Quine is very movign and well written. The interaction between the chruch and society forms an interesting subtext for the book as well. Also, Card's sharp perspective on the hegemonic powers of government also comes to the fore in this book, where the powers that be clearly form a murky force that are manipulated entire populations and even races for their own benefit.

Despite this book's flaws, it is a good book and offers much to think on, even if it is a bit more tedious than the previous two books in the series.