Product Description
In this third volume of his Women of Genesis series, Orson Scott Card paints a vivid picture of the intertwined lives of four celebrated women. We meet Leah, the oldest daughter of Laban, whose "tender eyes" prevent her from fully participating in the daily work of her nomadic family, and Rachel, the spoiled younger daughter, the petted and privileged beauty of the family -- or so it seems to Leah. There is also Bilhah, an orphan who is not quite a slave but not really a family member, a young woman desperately searching to fit in, and Zilpah, who knows only how to use her beauty to manipulate men as she strives to secure for herself something better than the life of drudgery and servitude into which she has been born.
Into the desert camp comes Jacob, a handsome and charismatic kinsman who is clearly destined to be Rachel's husband. But that doesn't prevent the other women from vying for his attention.
Tracing their lives from childhood to maturity, Card shows how these women change each other -- and are changed again by the holy books that Jacob brings with him. Ambition, jealousy, fear, and love motivate them as they vie for the attention of Jacob, heir to the spiritual birthright of Abraham and Isaac.
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Customer Reviews (24)

Huge disappointment
This book was a huge disappointment for me. I have read many books by Orson Scott Card and greatly enjoyed them all. I also read Sarah: Women of Genesis, the first book in this series, back when it came out, and I liked it well enough. What a difference from Rachel and Leah: Women of Genesis!

I disliked most of the characters in this book and found them all to be unrealistic. The main women were too flawed, too petty, too immature, too quick to anger, etc, to be believable human personalities. The main men, on the other hand, were too perfect, too noble, too kind, too wise, too strong, etc. The dialogue was similarly unrealistic and un-human, plus it sounded much too modern to ever let me forget I was reading something from the 21st century.

Similarly, the characters are never shown to be doing anything that's particularly from their time period. They aren't really shown doing work or the activities of daily life, they only talk about doing things. There are no details about their lives that makes it feel like they're living in another time. Consequently, I never got a feel for the time period like one does with good historical fiction. The pacing was also off--sometimes we read about every minute and sometimes years passed from page to page.

All in all, although I was sometimes interested in a storyline or a bit of character development that was taking place, it was mostly a drag to keep reading this book. And when I found out that this was only part one of two...I was honestly not sure if I'd even want to try reading the second part.

Insightful and Beautiful Historical & Spiritual Fiction
I just finished reading the entire Women of Genesis series for a second time.

I first became interested in OSC's books with Ender's Game (Ender's Game (Ender, Book 1)) and the whole saga. After Ender, I moved on to the Alvin series (Seventh Son (Tales of Alvin Maker, Book 1)), which I liked even better, and then read some of his other books, like Enchantment (Enchantment) & Pastwatch (Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus), which were also very good. My family members all passed these books around, and for Christmas one year, my brother gave me Sarah (Sarah: Women of Genesis). I followed the reading of Sarah with Rebekah (Rebekah (Women of Genesis)), and then, finally, Rachel & Leah. I think now that this has become my favorite series of OSC's books.

When I first read it, I enjoyed it very much as a story and I really loved OSC's character development, as always. It felt like he really did well filling in the historical gaps, while keeping most of the known details in place. It was well researched, and I felt like it really could have been accurate (or was at least as good a guess as any). I read it mostly like a historical fiction, thinking it was similar to Pastwatch, and it was very good on that level.

However, the second time through, I really began to focus less on the story and more on OSC's portrayal of these women as examples in faith. With Sarah & Rebekah especially, I found a lot of inspiration from his depiction of their spiritual lives. Both times I read these books, I also read back to the Bible verses they were based on, but this time, I took more from it for my own spiritual journey. Reading OSC's interpretation of what these women's lives might have been like helped me to read their stories from a different perspective, opening my eyes to the fact that these were real people, real women, that I can learn from. I began to see in their stories examples of how their issues were not that much different from the issues of today, and took comfort in the strength they showed in their faith and in the face of adversity.

OSC has a gift for bringing characters to life on the page, and I am hoping that OSC will continue to the final book in the series, finishing the story of Rachel & Leah.

Engaging and insightful
I was so excited when I came across a copy of this book, and it is an amazing read, that takes us through the lives of four incredible young women later to be mothers of the Nation of Israel.

First we read about Bilah, a clever young girl, who is taken by a a friend of her late father's to Laban's camp at Padan Aram, after her father's death in a tragic work accident, before we are introduced to 'tender eyed' Leah, the ravishing Rachel and the other handmaiden Zilpah.
Rachel and Leah are introduced to us at the ages of eleven and fourteen respectively. Bilah is a similar age to Rachel and Zilpah a similar age to Leah.
As we read of the lives and interactions of four beautiful girls, each with their own unique personalities and characters, I grew to love and care about them all.

The entry of Jacob fleeing from his brother Esau's wrath shapes the lives of all four girls who will later bear Jacob's twelve sons.

Card departs very little from the Biblical novel while filling in the caps in a most skillful manner.
It is an interesting insight into the intricacies of the lives of the characters who shaped the history of the nation of Israel.
A very sensitiveinsightful, and compassionate portrayal that keptthe right amount of humour and intrigue.
Fascinating insights into the Book of the revelations ofEnoch as Enoch, who walked with the people of Zion, is taken up to heaven, as Jacob teaches Leah and Bilah.
The only flaw may bethat the author seems to downplay the love of Jacob for Rachel who was in fact the center of his attention, and he turns Laban, who is not well though of in Jewish and Christian scripture into a sympathetic character.

But we feel as if we are really there in Padan-Aram as we share the lives of Jacob and four fascinating young women.
Card shows a deep understanding of women and of men and of their interactions.
It is a novel and a work of historical fiction that is at once engaging and enlightening. It really deepened my perspectives of these events and people.
I am determined when I am next in Israel to visit Rachel's Tomb between Gilo and Beit Lechem and the Tomb of the Matriarchs in Tiberias where Zilpah and Bilah are buried, having visited the Cave of Machpelah in Hebron where Jacob and Leah are buried.

Disappointing
I was excited to read this book because I really enjoyed "Sarah" and "Rebekah."Unfortunately, I found this particular book to be filled with inaccuracies and sexual references.It is in no way as disgusting and offensive as the account of these four women in "The Red Tent," but it made me wonder if Orson Scott Card was trying to capitalize on the success of that book by imitating it.I understand that historical fiction is just that -- fiction.But it's difficult to take the word of God and ancient stories that have been passed down for thousands of years and change them around just to suit an author's whims.I would have appreciated this book more if it had built a story that was more faithful to the accounts in the book of Genesis.

solid, uplifting fiction with strong female characters
The third book in Card's Women of Genesis series, this intertwines the stories of four women - the two sisters from the title and their unlikely handmaidens, Bilhah and Zilpah. Similar in tone and style to the previous entries in the series, Sarah and Rebekah, it remains faithful to what is shown in the Bible while breathing full life and spirit into the characters.

While the book is clearly one about faith, it does not shove that down the reader's throat. The women have normal hopes, fears and dreams. They are shown to be as strong as the men around them, which isn't a common view from biblical times. It is not often you can find spiritually uplifting fiction that flows this well.

Card is an excellent writer, and fans of his better known science fiction and fantasy works would be well served to try out this series. ... Read more

Product Description
As Harmony's Oversoul grows weaker, a great warrior has arisen to challenge its bans. His name is Moozh, and he has won control of an army using forbidden technology. now he is aiming his soldiers at the city of Basilica, that strong fortress above the Plain.

Basilica remains in turmoil. Wetchik and his sons are not strong enough to stop a army. Can Rasa and her allies defeat him through intrigue, or will Moozh take the city and all who are in it?
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Customer Reviews (45)

Best Series for OSC fans
The Call of Earth continues what is probably the best or second-best of Orson Scott Card's series. Card really makes you care about and understand each individual character, from struggling but honorable Nafai, to brutal Elemak, to quiet genius Shedemei. The Call of Earth, along with the rest of the series beginning with Memory of Earth, is a must read for all readers of fantasy and fiction.

Bored to tears
Sorry, this book is not Mr Card's best. The characters are 2 dimensional and the plot is transparent. This is in stark contrast to his Endgame books which I thoroughly enjoy. Sorry Orson, you hit a skunk with a broom on this one.

funny!!! the ancient language is Russian profanities!!!
This is a reasonably good sci-fi series, but not as good as some of the rest of Orson Scott Card's writings, which is generally superb.What makes this series interesting, is the fact that the "ancient" language is actually Russian, and half the words used are profanities, mostly used in correct context.Funny!!!

great science fiction series
Love all of Orson Scott Card books.He is a fantastic writer, pulling the reader into the story, immediately.

Great Book!
This is a great book!The whole series is wonderful-- it definitely makes you think! ... Read more

Product Description
Welcome to Battleschool.

Growing up is never easy. But try living on the mean streets as a child begging for food and fighting like a dog with ruthless gangs of starving kids who wouldn't hesitate to pound your skull into pulp for a scrap of apple. If Bean has learned anything on the streets, it's how to survive. And not with fists. He is way too small for that. But with brains.

Bean is a genius with a magician's ability to zero in on his enemy and exploit his weakness.

What better quality for a future general to lead the Earth in a final climactic battle against a hostile alien race, known as Buggers. At Battleschool Bean meets and befriends another future commander - Ender Wiggins - perhaps his only true rival.

Only one problem: for Bean and Ender, the future is now.
Amazon.com Review
Ender's Shadow is being dubbed as a parallel novel toOrson Scott Card's Hugo and Nebula Award-winningEnder'sGame. By "parallel," Card means that Shadow begins andends at roughly the same time as Game, and it chronicles manyof the same events. In fact, the two books tell an almost identicalstory of brilliant children being trained in the orbiting BattleSchool to lead humanity's fleets in the final war against alieninvaders known as the Buggers. The most brilliant of these youngrecruits is Ender Wiggin, an unparalleled commander and tactician whocan surely defeat the Buggers if only he can overcome his own innerturmoil.

Second among the children is Bean, who becomes Ender's lieutenantdespite the fact that he is the smallest and youngest of the BattleSchool students. Bean is the central character of Shadow, andwe pick up his story when he is just a 2-year-old starving on thestreets of a future Rotterdam that has become a hell on earth. Bean isunnaturally intelligent for his age, which is the only thing thatallows him to escape--though not unscathed--the streets and eventuallyend up in Battle School. Despite his brilliance, however, Bean isdoomed to live his life as an also-ran to the more famous and in manyways more brilliant Ender. Nonetheless, Bean learns things that Endercannot or will not understand, and it falls to this once patheticstreet urchin to carry the weight of a terrible burden that Ender mustnot be allowed to know.

Although it may seem like Shadow is merely an attempt by Cardto cash in on the success of his justly famous Ender's Game,that suspicion will dissipate once you turn the first few pages ofthis engrossing novel. It's clear that Bean has a story worth telling,and that Card (who started the project with a cowriter but laterdecided he wanted it all to himself) is driven to tell it. And thoughmuch of Ender's Game hinges on a surprise ending that Card fansare likely well acquainted with, Shadow manages to capitalizeon that same surprise and even turn the table on readers. In the end,it seems a shame that Shadow, like Bean himself, will foreverbe eclipsed by the myth of Ender, because this is a novel that caneasily stand on its own. Luckily for readers, Card has left plenty ofroom for a sequel, so we may well be seeing more of Bean in the nearfuture. --Craig E. Engler ... Read more

Customer Reviews (657)

Really good book
I read Ender's Game, and when I read this, I was suprised at Bean's point of view, especially at Command School! I heard someone say that Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow were a good entre amd dessert, but it did not matter what order you ate them in; that is correct.

Good job re-writing the same book twice!!!
How Bean got to the streets is a little unbelievable but I found the story with Poke and Achilles very interesting.After that, Card does a wonderful job re-telling the same story without re-telling the same story.It was fun to read eventhough I already knew the outcome.

Bean finds the Amazing Love of Jesus
If you liked Enders Game then this is an interesting sidestory.I did like Enders Game and I did like this book except that is for the drivel about Jesus.A little less Jesus-Freakin' and a little more substance and this book could have been really good.

Excellent companion to Ender's Game
Read it in 3 days.Though it's possible it can stand on it's own, it's much better, I'm betting, to read it after Ender's Game.

Excellent book, definitely recommended.

Swell Books
Card has produced by far my favorite books, Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow. They do have a plain style of writing, although it did make the story center around the story and not the author. This book in particular associated itself in my mind with Radiohead's Scatterbrain so that was quite nifty, too. I have almost all the books but I haven't read them all yet but I certainly plan to. My teacher read Ender's Game to us in middle school and I was able to see how great it was even though I DESPISE when people read to me.
I find it so unbelievable that people would find this to be a bad book, but I guess I should expect the worst such as my favorite author being a homophobe. YES! I SAID IT!!! ORSON SCOTT CARD IS A HOMOPHOBE! but that won't take away the feelings I have for the series. I love the lessons in Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow and that's all I will take away from it and I hope people will be able to, also, because they are great books. ... Read more

Product Description
In one of the most powerful and thought-provoking novels of his remarkable career, Orson Scott Card interweaves a compelling portrait of Christopher Columbus with the story of a future scientist who believes she can alter human history from a tragedy of bloodshed and brutality to a world filled with hope and healing.
Amazon.com Review
Anyone who's read Lies My Teacher Told Me : Everything Your American History Textbook GotWrong knows about the devastating consequences that Columbus'svoyage and ensuing colonization had on the native people of the Americasand Africa. In a thought-provoking work that is part science fiction, parthistorical drama, Orson Scott Card writes about scientists in a fearfulfuture who study that tragic past, then attempt to actually intervene andchange it into something better.

Tagiri and Hassan are members of Pastwatch, an academic organization thatuses machines to see into the past and record it. Their project focuses onslavery and its dreadful effects, and gradually evolves into a study ofChristopher Columbus. They eventually marry and their daughter Diko joinsthem in their quest to discover what drove Columbus west.

Columbus, with whom readers become acquainted through both images in thePastwatch machines and personal narrative, is portrayed as a religious manwith both strengths and weaknesses, a charismatic leader who sometimes roseabove but often fell beneath the mores of his times. As usual, Orson ScottCard uses his formidable writing skills to create likable, complexcharacters who face gripping problems; he also providesan entertaining and thoughtful history lesson in Pastwatch. --Bonnie Bouman ... Read more

Customer Reviews (149)

Couldn't put down
Both my wife and I read this book in about a day and a half only taking time to eat, sleep (though very few hours) and care for our 4 young children. It's a must read if you even wondered What if? regarding history and how the world was shaped.

Remarkable Mix of Sci- and Historical-Fiction
If you knew there was a bomb in a building, would you feel obliged to yell as loudly as possible to warn other people? The bomb explodes and the injuries are high and the death toll unimaginable. But then you have an opportunity to go back in time and prevent the bomb from ever being planted in the first place. Take things one step further...let's say that you stop the bomber before he even places his bomb...what else might change? Now you're dealing with what's known as 'the butterfly effect' - if a butterfly flaps it's wings in China, can it change the weather on the other side of the world?

"Pastwatch" takes that concept one step further by asking if you can change the course of one man's life, can you change the course of the entire world? That one man happens to be Christopher Columbus.

"Pastwatch" is about discovery, exploration and redemption. Columbus is believably passionate as we gain glimpses of his upbringing in Genoa, his early years in Portugal, and his ultimate journey to Spain where, for years, he lobbied King Ferdinand and Queen Isabela to support his adventures westward.

Pastwatch is a fictional organization tasked with utilizing cutting edge technology that allows people to view events in the past. Card's Pastwatch technology evolved over time, initially only allowing viewers to see events at a very macro level (historical world weather patterns initially), but developed eventually to see into actual human interactions. The most modern versions of Pastwatch technology allow viewers to watch humans interacting in full 3D.

Card moves the story swiftly by jumping through 15th century Europe and the future. With each jump, Card effectively evokes emotion and understanding from each characterization. Columbus is but one axis upon which the story revolves. The other characters are instrumental in the analysis and discovery of the ability to change the past. Tagiri focuses her Pastwatch career around the study of slavery. Kemal made one of Pastwatch's early and most fundamental discoveries when he found an individual who very plausibly was the basis upon which Noah, Gilgamesh and other world flood myths stand. Diko and Hunahpu are at the center of a new generation of pastwatchers.

Card has an uncanny ability to explore deep and influential topics while unraveling his narrative in an interesting and attainable way. Once the idea of time travel emerges, the characters debate its risks and rewards, but not for a moment did it feel bogged down in pseudo scientific mumbo jumbo. Likewise, there's much debate over slavery, European-based religion, and new world religion, and the speculation of alternative futures for Earth, but they blend seamlessly with the plot and merge well with the jumps into Columbus' inevitable journey across the Atlantic.

Card approaches his plot-lines very intelligently, but I found a few gaps in the characters' rationale that ultimately leads to the time travel adventures into the 15th Century.

The saga of "Pastwatch" is a remarkable book. I'm such a fan of exploration-era historical novels AND science fiction, that I'm ashamed to have never come across it until recently. It's truly a terrific read and I highly recommend it.

One note: the pastwatch concept originates from Card's short story called "Atlantis" which delves deeply into Kemal's identification and discovery of the "original" Noah. It's a very good standalone and rewarding work, and while it's not a necessity to read before "Pastwatch", it adds to the aura and myth that surrounds Kemal.

Both interesting and believable
This novel is a stand-alone alternate history science fiction novel exploring the idea of, "What if Christopher Columbus hadn't sailed West?"It also includes the author's thoughts on various other historical happenings such as the creation of the institution of slavery.

While this bok starts off a little slow, it's just because Mr. Card is laying a foundation for the story.The story ends up being both interesting and believable, and I recommend it to folks who like alternate history and/or time travel stories.

I do wish that Amazon's book rating system were a little more robust.Like, I wish it had 10 stars rather than only 5.I would rate this book at about a 7 (or maybe even an 8) if this were a 10-star rating system.

Epic History of Alternate Reality
In an era of restoration of a world destroyed by man's heedless abuse, past watchers study a bygone history to preserve the stories of individuals lost to memory. Like her mother, Tagri learns that in observing, the watchers have affected the lives of the people they watch. History has taken a wrong turn, and Tagri learns that inhumanities suffered over the centuries could have been prevented. Generations of watchers trace the history of Columbus to find the moment that turned events down the wrong path. Tagri's daughter, Diko finds the pivotal moment when Columbus thinks God spoke to him, turning him to the discovery that started it all. I don't want to spoil any surprises, and they never stop.

Pastwatch is a tour de force of epic history, a multi-generational saga of memorable characters, civilizations of history and future in the balance. Card has accomplished moving narrative that reaches far beyond the constraints of time and place. It stands up to Asimov's Foundation series as a classic achievement in the Science Fiction realm. That said, I don't know why Card needs to bring graphic ritual into an otherwise inspiring work of such magnificent scope. There seems to be no limit to the imagination of Pastwatch: The Redemption of Columbus. Card's no-holds-barred approach keeps the surprises coming, but it comes at a risk.

husbands
recieved for husband cannot review, besides got sometime ago and believe I gave this same review. ... Read more

Product Description
The Perfect Place To Raise A FamilyFrom the bestsellig storyteller Orson Scott Card comes a gripping story of terror within a small town. Step Fletcher, his pregnant wife DeAnne, and their three children move to Steuben, North Carolina with high hopes. But Step's new job with a software company turns out to be a snake pit, and eight-year-old Stevie's school is worse. As Stevie retreats into himself, focusing more and more on a mysterious computer game and a growing troop of imaginary friends, the Fletchers' concern turn to terror. Young boys whose names match a list of Stevie's nonexistent friends have mysteriously vanished from Steuben. And as evil strikes out from the most trusted corners, it's suddenly clear: Stevie's next on the list.

Customer Reviews (173)

Flat out Great Read
I am blown away by the bad reviews on this.Are you kidding me?This book rocks.

Over-toots the horn of Mormonism
This book isn't poorly written or anything, but it's not at all comparable to the Ender's Game series or the other Orson Scott Card I am familiar with. I certainly wouldn't call it an "absorbing thriller". The indications of creepy/supernatural content given by the cover art, title, and plot synopses are all misleading. The whole story of the 'lost boys' is just background material, just a vehicle for a story which is really about a Mormon family trying to be good people... which is kind of interesting, I mean, you don't read too many books where the main characters are Mormons. Card, though, he really hits you over the head with the religious values stuff. And anyway, I felt kind of wronged, as I was expecting both a ghost story and something at least HALF as exciting as Ender's Game and its progeny.

For a better book about both family AND supernatural stuff, I recommend "Firestarter" by Stephen King.

Yaaawwwwwn
I am trying my best to get through the audio book version of Lost Boys. I listen to this book on my train ride commute every morning.And every morning it helps me fall asleep.Nothing and I mean nothing goes on in this story.The first chapter sets it up that we are ready for a good suspense story, but it never happens.I don't understand why Stephen King keeps getting brought up in the reviews.It's an insult to compare this book to anything the great Stephen King has written.

If you have trouble sleeping at night get the audio book of Lost Boys.It's better than Ambien.

No matter how bad a book is, someone will give it 5 stars
Really, I mean really, it'sa short story that some apparent ghost writer (that joke was better than the book) padded out to a novel.It blows my mind that someone would think that a story about day to day mormon life, followed by more day to day mormon life, followed by the lame last chapter, would give this five stars.It seems like the fix is in on many of these amazon reviews.

Autobiography not Scifi/Horror
The genius of Orson's Enders Game and the promotion of this book as a Scifi/Horror,led me to listen to an audio version of Lost Boys.What a disappointment!This book sends a mind numbing amount of time going over very mundane everyday activities.Mormon activities that is. Complete with magic underwear dialog.... It was as if Ned Flanders from the Simpsons decided to write a novel.Much of the dialog was outlining who was more righteous and lots of Biblical references....This book should have been sold as a story of "an ideal Mormon family coping with living with the unrighteous"Of course, the Book Publisher knew the truth would not sell as well.... This book is well written with good character development but if you are looking for a page turning Stephen King horror novel or a mind bending SciFi plot,go elsewhere.

At the very end of the audio book,Orson speaks of what drove him to write this novel.He describes how this is really an autobiography of his life, with the places and people changed enough to make it a work of fiction.Orson is a devout Mormon and he really did have a job writing Technical manuals in North Carolina in the 80's.Also,he really did have a son with cerebral palsy at the time he wrote this book.Tragically,his son died at age seventeen.

Orson did promise that he will never again write a book so closely tied to his real life. Thank you Orson!
... Read more

Product Description
High above the earth orbits the starship Basilica. On board the huge vessel is a sleeping woman. Of those who made the journey, Shedemai alone has survived the hundred of years since the Children of Wetchik returned to Earth.

She now wears the Cloak of the Starmaster, and the Oversoul wakes her sometimes to watch over her descendants on the planet below. The population has grown rapidly--there are cities and nations now, whole peoples descended from the who followed Nafai or Elemak.

But in all the long years of watching and searching, the Oversoul has not found the thing it sought. It has not found the Keeper of the Earth, the central intelligence that also can repair the Oversoul's damaged programming.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (48)

Not very engaging; slow; a tad too much proselytizing
I have to admit that this is one of the worse Orson Scott Card works I've read to date...and I've read a LOT of his stuff.Perhaps he's proselytized in some of the other works I've read from him but it was subtle enough or the story was engaging enough that I didn't care.The problem with this book is that I had a very hard time staying interested in the story.All but one of the characters from the rest of the series are gone and it's hard to try to re-engage with a completely different set of characters that aren't all that interesting to begin with.

There's no attempt at much "science fiction" in the book.How is it that the characters completely forgot about the technology the Ancient Ones knew about and didn't try replicating any of it on Earth again?The book become a big socio-political story and it just didn't really move.

Since it's the last of the series, I guess you might feel compelled to buy it.Quite frankly, you could end with Book 4 and feel just as satisfied if not more so.

pretty good
I did not find this volume as big of a departure as some of the other reviewers.Just when you were getting really tired of Elemak you are introduced to another character who cannot let go of a childhood grudge and wants to kill everyone.Another new character is the only one who can hear the Oversoul and so on. It does finally wrap up the story line about what the Keeper intends even though the resolution is kind of weak and does not offer any real surprises.
I have to mention that I was able to enjoy the series even though I am an atheist.Some reviewers raged about its supposed Mormon propaganda.So what?Dune has messianic elements and it is one of the finest sci-fi books ever written.Anyway I thought it was pretty funny that for 50 million years a power that could move mountains, fly people to other planets heal or kill at will can only influence people with barely understood hints or through riddles sent in dreams.Like people who believe that the only way the supposed creator of heaven and earth has communicated with us in the last 2,000 years is by painting a picture of his mother under leaky bridges and on pieces of moldy bread.

Not Part Of The Home Coming Series
The Homecoming series should have stopped after Earth Fall. This book takes place many many years after the end of Earth Fall. None of the original characters have anything to do with this book. The characters that are in, are poorly developed. The plot is very hard to follow and what I could follow, was uninteresting. I admit, that I did not finish this book. It was just to bad to keep reading. However, it may have had an excellent ending but I doubt it. The first four books of this series were some of the best that I have ever been blessed enough to read. However this book is not included in that list. I am typically a huge Orson Card fan, but he disappointed me with this book. I do think that if you were a die hard fan of the Home Coming series, you should at least attempt this book. It may be good to you. However, do not be shocked when it turns out to be horrible.

Worst of the series
So you've read books one through four.You were impressed by Card's fascinating premise in book one, started to get really turned on to his idea of "god as a machine" in book two, loved the fantastic revelations and conflict in book three, and were intrigued by the first-hand narratives of diggers and angels in book four.I guess I should see how it ends, you say to yourself.

Don't be a fool.This book is utter dreck.

In retrospect, I can see how the series suffered a gradual, inexorable decline as Card kept writing, how the wonderful premises with which he began (far-future human evolution, god as a machine) were slowly subsumed by his frankly simplistic mysticism and allegorical Mormon proselytizing.But I only recognized this trend about halfway through book five, the one you're thinking about buying.Like you, after reading book four, although I wasn't that impressed with the strength of that volume I wanted to see how it all turned out.

Let me save you the trouble: angels and humans and diggers get along after all, and God loves you.

All the careful characterization of books one through four is thrown away, and we start fresh with all new characters and a "fun" new naming scheme we have to stumble around.Not only that, but the oversoul is practically a no-show, being completely replaced by the keeper of earth.I won't insert a "spoiler" by telling you about the keeper's true nature, but believe me you'll be disappointed with the explanation when it's revealed around 50 pages from the end.Oh, and he never explains the faster-than-light dream-sending mechanism.He never even mentions it.

Leading up to that tiny piece of plot resolution three volumes in the making, we're treated to a protracted morality / religion play where our protagonists learn to put their lives in God's hands and respect the literal truth of a set of golden plates written by their ancestors.For 400 christ-thumping pages.It's not all that well written, it's not very interesting, and most importantly, it's not what you signed on for after the first four books.

I can't for the life of me understand why Card didn't end the series with book four.This is a boring, barely-related addendum to an otherwise decent series.I was literally gnashing my teeth and straining to get through the last 80 pages.

Don't make my mistake.Pretend book four was a reasonable resolution and pretend this one was never written.

Ending the series with different characters....eh...
It's the final book in the Earthbound series by Orson Scott Card. Shedemei is the sole living character from the earlier story of the journey from Harmony. Her life is being extended by her status as the Starmaster of the Basilica and by help of being in stasis for long periods of time. She awakens occasionally to check in on civilization and to tend her gardens. Meanwhile, on Earth below, the peoples descending from Nafai and Elemak are warring. Some cling to their belief in the Keeper of Earth and some do not.

The story begins with slavery...the slavery of Akma and his family and his people. As a result of their miraculous escape, Akma has developed a deep disrespect for his father, who essentially converts their captives and leads them out of slavery. As the story progresses, racial hatred crescendos and the angels and diggers are discriminated against by some of the humans. It is the Keepers wish that all species be able to live together in peace, but those who deny the existence of the Keeper take a very modern "politically correct" stance against those who are not human.

In this book, the author tackles quite a few modern issues in his development of his Earth. The attempt to prove God's existence. Rationalizing church/state issues. Racial tensions. Much time is spent in Earthborn on religious themes like baptism, faith, prayer, visions and even some theology. (The author is a Mormon and has an interest in Biblical history.)

One disjointing issue that I can't quite understand is that the previous four books have focused on one set of characters, Nafai and the band of travelers. In Earthborn, the final book in the series, all but one of the original characters is already dead. The setting is several hundred years after Earthfall. I found it hard to get into this book at first due to the fact that the author made us start over right at the end of the story with new characters, naming conventions and cultures. I suppose there wasn't any other way to do it, but it was quite a jump. ... Read more

Product Description
Kidnapped at an early age, the young singer Ansset has been raised in isolation at the mystical retreat called the Songhouse. His life has been filled with music, and having only songs for companions, he develops a voice that is unlike any heard before. Anssets voice is both a blessing and a curse, for the young Songbird can reflect all the hopes and fears his audience feels and, by magnifying their emotions, use his voice to healor to destroy. When it is discovered that his is the voice that the Emperor has waited decades for, Ansset is summoned to the Imperial Palace on Old Earth. Many fates rest in Anssets hands, and his songs will soon be put to the test: either to salve the troubled conscience of a conqueror, or drive him, and the universe, into mad chaos.Songmaster is a haunting story of power and lovethe tale of the man who would destroy everything he loves to preserve humanitys peace, and the boy who might just sing the world away. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (50)

Fascinating Future
This is an OK read. It's the story about a very beautiful boy who sings enchanting. Somewhat the plot seems to be transferred from one of Shakespeares dramas about ancient Rome. Because this boy (a songbird) really gets the attention of various emperors living in palaces. It's a story also about love and desire, a bit sophisticated for a sci-fi in this case also about homesexual love. Anyway it's kind of an OK cool little book. As usual the computers in this sci-fi seems terrible outdated from what everybody uses everyday in todays world!

Interesting ideas, but not a master work from a prolific author
I have read and loved a number of Card's other books, and this was not among his finest works. Quite a few interesting ideas, especially the way that certain characters in the book possess the ability to communicate with and influence others through songs, even without using words. But Card never really described how this occurs. In most of his other books, when he introduces novel ideas or futuristic concepts, he takes the time to carefully describe and explain them to the reader; but here I was left wondering how it could be possible for people to sing like this -- it was never fully explained and left me confused at times. More than a typical suspension of disbelief, it required me to force myself to stop constantly asking "How do they do this?" and just try to focus on the rest of the plot.

In addition, Card brings in incidents of [...] that seem forced and out of place in the larger context of the plot, almost as if he threw them in just for added conflict, or because they were very controversial and perhaps even uncomfortable topics. These parts of the book felt very unnatural and didn't really advance the plot. The book could have done without them without changing any of the actual story, which indicates to me that they were not necessary to have included in the book.

Finally, the ending of the book, like more than a few of Card's endings, felt like it rushed to wrap things up. The book jumped forward in time by a substantial amount -- whole decades were skipped and summarized in just a few paragraphs, leaving me wonder what was missed and why the rush to wrap things up. The ending left me fairly unsatisfied as a reader.

In conclusion, although I will probably, at some point in my life, read every single one of Card's books just because I love his writing so much in general, this didn't rank anywhere near the top of the list for me.

If you love books about pedophilia and homosexual intercouse, you'll love this book.
This book has a recurring theme of pedophilia and homosexuality, which really turned me off. Without that I'd have given this book 5 stars. Orson Scott Card is a great author. It's sad that he chose to cheapen this book with such unnecessary content.

Surprisingly, It Has Stuck With Me
I finished reading "Songmaster" several months ago, and I decided not to review it at the time.The book was fun, and it kept me engaged so well that I raced through it, but it didn't strike me as anything extraordinary.At most, it struck me as a slightly-stunted version of Orson Scott Card's "Ender's Game."Both "Songmaster" and "Ender's Game" are about brilliant, detached youths who face struggles and wild expectations and become significant leaders.And both books are gripping and, at times, philosophical.But "Ender's Game" does the job better.

Interestingly, though, I woke up this morning thinking about a particularly violent scene described in "Songmaster."In my memory, the scene was vivid and intense.And, surprisingly, when I re-read the corresponding section of "Songmaster," I found that my memory/imagination matched the book's descriptions quite closely.Orson Scott Card's words had, in fact, made a pretty significant impact on me.

Now, I won't argue that this is a terrific work, but it was fun, it was gripping, and it made an impression.Also, I think Card's prose - in particular when describing song - can be quite nice.

By all means, read this book, but if you haven't read "Ender's Game," that should be a higher priority.

Orson Scott Card comparison
A story of one man, one boy... that is all. It is beautiful to read of his influence, love, emotion, experience. The power of the song is great. The allusion in the future is intriguing, but it is lost in the story of one boy.

I enjoy reading Orson Scott Card, especially those novels from when he was younger. I relate more to the exploration and searching Card does in his stories. Through is books, such as Ender's Game, I have been able to discover the world and my impressions of it.

Songmaster is about the life of Ansset, a beautiful young boy with a voice of power. He can relate and change moods. It is great to read of his struggles as a child. He must learn to be human and understand what he can do with his voice. The novel reads like a movie. Although I am unable to imagine seeing the greatness representing in this novel on screen, Iwatched the story play out infront of me as a read frivolously.

To re-discover Card as a youthful writer, read Songmaster. Just don't let your expectations and values keep you from enjoying another's experience. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (36)

A little book but it goes a long way
The author is engaging, funny, and thoughtful.I get the impression that he truly wants you to write well and gives us a good foothold to get there in the crazy world(s) of science fiction.His humor is spread out over the book and keeps the text lively.I didn't think I was going to read the end of the book on the nuts and bolts of publishing but he had me in his grips and I read on.It was good information or so I hope and at least it gives me some idea of what is ahead.I recommend this book to you.It was published in 1990, but it is still wonderfully relevant and I hope you find it so too.

Good, solid advice
I liked much that this book had to offer for the beginning writer of speculative fiction.I appreciated the sections on building worlds and on writing well.I also gained a lot of practical advice in the last section, about the "nuts and bolts" of being a writer.However, there were times that my mind drifted while reading.The book also leaned towards science fiction and, since I prefer writing fantasy, I found myself longing for more specific info in that arena.All in all, this was a very solid choice in beginning my journey as a fiction writer.I gleaned nuggets that I can use right now in preparations.However, the book was not earth-shattering or life-changing.A good but not great resource.

Writing For Pleasure or Profit
Orson S. Card provides a great over view of the writing process while keeping it specifically to speculative fiction. Easy to understand, easy to follow.

Great Book
In this book, Orson Scott Card uses his own experiences to illustrate the process of writing.Fans may appreciate his personal stories - I certainly enjoyed hearing about where some of his ideas came from and how they were developed.

Beyond that, however, he gives practical and inspirational advice about how to write that can be applied to any genre (although he focuses on SF and fantasy).Definitely a must-read for anyone interested in writing.

Good, Short, Beginner's Book
This book is an excellent resource, summarizing why and how one writes science fiction or fantasy.Other Amazon reviews back up this opinion.

The book is a bit larger (length and width) than a paperback and a bit thin at 140 pages, 3 of which are the index.

The book is a beginner's book, and only a passing familiarity with science fiction and fantasy is needed to understand the occasional name-dropping of books and authors.The language used is at the late middle-shcool/early high-school level.The book is broken into easy-to-digest sections within chapters, and reading the book is a joy rather than a chore.

A second edition of this book has been printed, and I do not know what changes have been made.This edition is $CHEAP$ but worth more than you will pay for it. ... Read more

Product Description
Founded in 2005 by multi-award winning author, Orson Scott Card, Orson Scott Card's InterGalactic Medicine Show is a bold experiment in online magazine publishing. Featuring science fiction and fantasy short stories from an eclectic mix of established pros (including Card himself) and exciting up-and-comers, each Kindle issue contains the short stories and custom illustrations from the corresponding issue published on InterGalacticMedicineShow.com., as well as interviews and other content.

Certain content from the online version of the magazine, such as graphic novels and audio stories, may not be available in the Kindle version. Book reviews, movie reviews, game reviews, and other columns are always available for free at the magazine's website.

InterGalactic Medicine Show Issue 1 - October 2005: Table of Contents

Respite
by Rachel Ann Dryden

A Rarefied View at Dawn
by Dave Wolverton

Loose in the Wires
by John Brown

Trill and the Beanstalk
by Edmund R. Schubert

Night Walks
by Robert Stoddard

Taint of Treason
by Eric James Stone

Eviction Notice
by Scott M. Roberts

Mazer in Prison
by Orson Scott Card

... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great stories
I got this because of the story that takes place in the Ender Universe, and was planning on only reading that story. But am surprised at the other great stories that can be fund inside.
If you are a fan of sci-fi books this is a must have. All the short stories have a good plot and really make you fill you are along for the ride with the people in the story. ... Read more

Product Description
From the author of "Speaker's for the Dead", and "Seventh Son", this science fiction thriller is set in the Caribbean where a US submarine is mysteriously attacked. Foul play by the Soviets is suspected, and the world draws close to nuclear war. But the answer has nothing to do with human deeds. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

A must read for sci-fi lovers
When I first read this book I couldn't have been more that 12 and it flowed so wonderfully, so artfully through my imagination. It was like the words were placed just right for me to imagine the picture being created without a skip. Not only does the novelization add so much more to the movie that can possibly be made up in directors cuts, but it is still over 18 years later one of my favorite books of all time.

Not Free SF Reader
Underwater oddities.


This is a movie novelisation, and a pretty decent job.In fact, in this case I like it more than the other, which was rather tedious, so I can recommend the book as far as that goes.

As far as the story goes, underwater explorers find something definitely not human, and some of the new gear they are trying gets used to try and help understand and communicate.

Uncle Orson's novel adds a whole new dimension to Cameron's movie
The dusk jacket of this novel takes great pains to explain that this is "A Novel by Hugo and Nebula Award-winning Author Orson Scott Card based on an original screenplay by James Cameron." That lengthy description is important because it is trying to make it crystal clear that this is NOT a "novelization" of a screenplay, and to give you some idea what a unique and exquisite book you are reading. Card provides an entirely new dimension to Cameron's screenplay.

I still think "The Abyss" is James Cameron's best movie, Oscar winning block busters aside, although that other film certainly proves water is his natural element. Displeased with the "cursory, mediocre, often inaccurate, and sometimes downright reprehensible" novelizations he had already read of his films, Cameron determined there would be a NOVEL. In a totally unique process, Card worked from videotapes of the film as the editing progressed, updating his manuscript as scenes were changed, added or cut. In addition to covering everything you see in the film version of "The Abyss," Card made two significant contributions to the story in his novel.

First, he wrote chapters focusing on the three main characters of Buddy, Linsey and Coffee. Each chapter goes back to when they were kids and relates the seminal events that made them the people they grew up to be and brought them to the setting of this story. Cameron was so impressed with these chapters that before filming began he gave them to Ed Harris and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio (and you have to wonder what Michael Biehn would have done with the background on Coffey). Second, Card works in the entire story from the side of the alien beings, explaining what they are doing and thinking even when they are not around the humans on Deepcore. Things that you wondered about in the film (How could Coffey survive that great depth and cut the right wire?) will be made clear and the additional scenes add great depth to the film (intentional pun).

It is because of this added dimension that I think you will best enjoy this book after you have seen the film and more specifically the Special Edition or Director's Cut of the film. Of course, I can certainly appreciate that fans of Orson Scott Card might pick up "The Abyss" without any care about the movie. This is not a bad thing either because Card is a first rate imaginative writer, as he has proven from "Ender's Game" to "Enchantment." If you loved the movie, you will love the book. You do not want to miss out on this one.

Adds to the movie
This is a very unusual book, as it was written AT THE SAME TIME as the movie (from what I remember).I loved this movie, and the book was great to go along with it... it starts with 3 chapters to give you background on the characters. But after that, it's EXACTLY true to the movie, but what's cool is you get to see all the emotions and thoughts that aren't in the movie, and it doesn't feel like it's a "book based on the movie" or anything.I was able to find this book at a used book store, and it was definitely worth buying.The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because I read it 5 years ago and I'm not sure if it is truly 5 star worthy.

Bear Hugs
I haven't written a book review since college many years ago.
The reason I decided to write this one is because it truly touches your heart & soul. Like pg. 21Living Each Day As If It's Your Last. In my field of work I often hear people say if only...
(and now it's too late)this has made me stop & think of things I wish I had done. However this book really speaks to you & helps you put what is important to you in perspection.
There are so many other affirmations & poems that I believe everyone could relate to. This book is easy to read and will leave you in deep thought on some pages & smiles on the next!
The title fits perfectly! ... Read more

Product Description
Alvin is a Maker, the first to be born in a century.

Now a grown man and a journeyman smith, Alvin has returned to his family in the town of Vigor Church. He will share in their isolation, work as a blacksmith, and try to teach anyone who wishes to learn the knack of being a Maker. For Alvin has had a vision of the Crystal City he will build, and he knows that he cannot build it alone.

But he has left behind in Hatrack River enemies as well as true friends. His ancient foe, the Unmaker, whose cruel whispers and deadly plots have threatened Alvin’s life at every turn, has found new hands to do his work of destruction.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (38)

I Never Knew Court Rooms Could Be So Intense
This is a wonderful addition to the Alvin Maker tales. It is about his trial when Makepeace accuses him of stealing "his" plow. With many schemes, conspiracies, and deceiving, this book is wonderful. I never thought that a good book could be written involving a court room trail, but this book proved me wrong. If you have enjoyed the other Alvin Maker tales, than you must read this one. It will not disappoint you.

Another great addition to the series, a joy to read.
Card's return to the story of Alvin Maker came more than five years after the publication of Prentice Alvin.He says that he wasn't sure he would ever come back and finish the tale, but after being repeatedly urged to do so by fans, decided to give it a go.In this book, the story slows down dramatically, focusing on a seemingly periphery storyline and stalling the overall direction of where Alvin's life is going.While some important events take place here, the pace of the story doesn't progress as quickly and is not as focused as before.Still, this is a great book, written with the same extraordinary skill and feeling as the others in the series.

ALVIN JOURNEYMAN focuses on a rather bizarre time in Alvin's life where he is accused of wrongdoing and has to stand trial for something that he is completely innocent of.While Card tries to make the issue seem serious (by utilizing Peggy the torch as a warning of dire consequences), he isn't able to convey to the reader any real danger for Alvin.Another part of the book (and the better half in my opinion) tracks the development of Alvin's brother Calvin.Bent on making his own name as a powerful Maker, but without acknowledging his brother's superiority, Calvin sets out to France to learn from Napoleon.His adventures are entertaining and suggest great and tragic happenings in the future of the series.

Perhaps the most enjoyable aspect of this book is the often hilarious manner in which the characters interact.Wholly believable, the "ol-timey" dialogue of the people in Card's alternative world brings this story to life and makes the book a joy to read.In this manner, the story itself becomes less important and even if you don't feel like it is leading anywhere, the book is still very fun.

...
Another great addition into the incredible world of folklore America. Alvin's purpose becomes more clear as he involves himself with other characters with amazing talents. There is romance, adventure, and even some witty humor.It's impressive how Card can take the history of his own faith, twist it with his originality, and make a surely delightful little adventure.

Big Disappointment
The second and third books in the Alvin Maker series were progressively less engaging than the original, but all ALVIN JOURNEYMAN has in common with the compelling story SEVENTH SON is the character names. This story brings us no closer to Alvin learning how to teach others to use their gifts or to build The Crystal City. Much of the book is spent on Alvin stubbornly refusing to defend himself in a protracted jailhouse scene, then a courtroom trial - not in plot or character development. Alvin, an everyman character who started out so likeable, is downright annoying in this book.

Sorry I listened to the naysayers...
I didn't buy this book right away after I finished Prentice Alvin because of the negative reviews I read on here. And boy am I sorry! I really loved this series and it was bothering me not to know how it continued. So one day when I was in the bookstore and saw it there I bought it.

I literally just finished reading it 15 minutes ago and I'm here to tell anybody who is looking at the reviews to see if its a good book that it IS!! I don't get how anybody could have read the other three and then said there was something wrong with this one. So much happened to further Alvin's journey and yeah he did have to suffer through that trial and he found a new enemy in his own brother. But I thought it was wonderful that through all of the bad that a lot of good took place. More good than bad. Just like real life. Hopefully.

So I say boo to the naysaysers! I will be reading ALL of the other books in this series no matter what anybody else says. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (64)

Best read of 2010
A virologist with military training, Dr. Frank Hartman, must find a way to stop a genetic scientist's insidious plan that goes beyond healing genetic disorders. This scientist, George Galen, believes he has the science to take humanity to their next step in evolution. His followers' physical advancements make them formidable opponents and the stakes our heroes have to overcome to avoid unleashing a catastrophic virus, let alone maintain their sanity, make this story a thrilling ride.

I picked up this book as a research tool into genetic therapy, but was instantly hooked by his characters, writing style, and the way he kept me guessing which way the story would turn. I felt more like I knew his characters than that I simply knew what they looked like, and that added a personal touch that kept me engaged in their lives from page one straight to the end. I walked away from this book planning a second read to further study his craft and because I just loved the feeling of such a flawless delivery of a well-crafted story.

A "how not to write" text
Forty pages in, I thought I was going to puke. I've read and loved dozens of OSC novels and if he typed a word of this book I'll eat my left sock. Aaron Johnston thinks I'm a sixth grader with no attention span and have never watched a minute of PBS and never paid attention in science class.

I'm finishing the book anyway, as each paragraph has something to teach when compared to Card's work. I want to make sure nothing I write ever resembles the brackish timbre and wordy stilt and halting stereotype of Invasive Procedures.

Very Good!
I would recommend this book for anyone who is interested in medical, biological, science fiction, or for anyone looking for a good read. I look forward to reading more books by the same author. The book reads really well. It is really nice to read a book that's not filled with profane language as well.

Not up to Card's standards
My wife picked this up at a book sale, knowing I've read many OSC books.He's one of my favorite authors, so I expected good things, even if it was adapted from a screen play.But how Card, who has contributed to SF with such notable works as the Ender series, could put his name on this lame, trite, one-dimensional novel is beyond me.

I'm not sure where even to start.The characters are cut-out figures, and there is no character development I can detect.The main characters don't learn, grow, or overcome personal obstacles to become something greater, and neither do the leading man and leading woman character find any romantic involvement, which may have given the plot some believable substance.The bad guy is a bargain counter version of a James Bond villain, complete with unquestioning strong-man minions as bland as robots -- remember Jaws from "Moonraker"?At least he exercised some comedy relief.And how about the plot?A single-arc dud as predictable as the ending of a Gilligan's island episode.You know who's the bad guy, who's going to be the hero, and who the double agent from the moment you meet them, and there are no twists to keep you interested.Writing style?If you would have given me this thing, I would never have guessed OSC played any part in it.Page by page it's lamentably poor, as if somebody had taken a B-movie script and added a couple of descriptive paragraphs at the beginning of each scene to fill it out (but were prohibited from using any action or dialogue in setting up the history).I thought any decent author would weave the character's relevant history into the action, but in this book I felt like some annoying voice-over was intruding to spoon-feed me information that I would rather see evidenced in the character's current life.As well, the filler material was just that, filler, adding no substance -- I felt as though if the original screen play were a bland meatloaf sized for serving four plates, this novel simply kept adding oatmeal until it served eight.

I really don't mean to rip OSC too much, but come on, when you have reached the pinnacle of SF writing, you should know better.I want some depth, some character development, some intersecting plot arcs, and some interesting conflict.I'll give this 2 stars just because I thought the original premise was a good one, and it honestly could have been worse without a good idea -- but any worse, and I would have discarded this thing after the first couple of chapters.

Spectacularly awful.Truly something to avoid.
I'm a huge O.S. Card fan.If you've never read any work by Card, please don't read this book.You'll never want to read anything by him again.If you are a fan of Card's other works, avoid this one, you'll be sick to your stomach.

I don't know that I've ever read a book so dreadfully awful.The concept was cool - and could have been great.If you're familiar with Xenocide, Card took some of the basic sci-fi from there, and twisted it into a modern medical thriller.Except, even for sci-fi, it was way too far.Simply corny.Cheesy.Cliche.Any pejorative you can think of fits.

If you took the worst of Ken Follett (Hammer of Eden) and mixed in the least plausible science of Island of Doctor Moreau, then covered it in a thick layer of Hardy Boys, you begin to approximate the brilliant travesty of writing that became Invasive Procedures.

Maybe a 9 year old boy might enjoy the book, for its sheer juvenile portrayal of life, science, and action.

Mr. Card, if you read this, I'm sorry to have gone to such lengths.I respect you and your work greatly, and truly believe this book will do more damage to you then it'll ever make you in sales.

For the rest of you, if you like genetic manipulation as a sci-fi basis, read the original Ender's Game trilogy.Ender's Game should just be required reading for anyone - it's that good.But the two sequels (Children of the Mind, Xenocide) show you what's possible with a genetic-fi story, and how it can be done really, really well. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (50)

A compelling story about slavery in so many forms
Card is great at using the future of space travel as a backdrop to explore human nature.The theme of slavery (physical, mental, metaphorical, you name it) and the search for autonomy was very powerful in this book.Think of the name Lovelock.The reason I gave this book four stars instead of five is because there aren't any likable characters.I spent most angry at them.That doesn't mean the characters weren't interesting - the reasons why I disliked all of the characters definitely made them more interesting - and it certainly didn't stop me from caring about them.The ending is tragic, especially because you knew it could never work out.Anyways, not a bad way to spend a few hours.

It's all about the ending
I love Orson Scott Card and this book doesn't fail to deliver even though it is only half written by Card.

Without spoiling the book, I think it is safe to say Lovelock was wrong about Causo. It's the only logical way that the book could have been written.

Since Causo is not introduced until the very end, I don't think this information is going to spoil too much.

Les.

Incredibly Powerful
The setting for the novel "Lovelock" - first in a projected trilogy - is a massive 'ark' of a spacecraft departing the solar system to search for a new habitable planet.The real story is that of its title character, a capuchin monkey who's been genetically engineered to the point of human or above-human intelligence, and who serves as a 'witness', using implants to record the activities and lives of their human masters.Like all witnesses, Lovelock has had an innate affection for and loyalty to his 'master' programmed into him, hence the disturbing accuracy of his name.Even so, the monkey is astute enough to recognize what humanity is stepping towards here - 'slavery without shame' - by developing animals to human levels of intellect (or perhaps to the human Variety of intellect would be more appropriate; human society in the novel seems quite oblivious to the prospect that some animals might already have their own fairly high intelligences of a different perspective that's more suited to their individual life patterns) and engineering them to, in effect, like it.The terrifying thing is I can see this potentially happening, and possibly well before humanity is ready to attempt interstellar travel.

The unforseen catch is that Lovelock eventually grows to want his freedom.What though, could a single small monkey do about his situation?Given the vast mental capacities programmed into him (even among the enhanced witnesses Lovelock seems to be quite the intellectual prodigy) and the fact that it never seems to occur to any human that a mere animal could do anything But docilely serve them, the answer might be surprising.

The ending of this book is mind-blowing.Science Fiction has delivered some great endings of awe and discovery and revelation, but few that pack this kind of emotionally hammering punch.Few novels of any sort have delivered this kind of finale, where you can scarcely believe the words you're reading on the page.In terms of the science/ethics condundrums potentially faced in humanity's future (well actually I guess you might as well say the present in this day of advanced biotechnology, A.I., etc.) this is along the thoughtlines of works like "Frankenstein", "Jurassic Park", "Monkey Boy" or the prequel portions of "The Animatrix".A great - and emotionally turmultuous - gem of science fiction that could open a lot of eyes to the power of the SF field at its best; and to a host of real-life questions that are becoming more relevant day by day, as a possible future version of the human race is viewed through the eyes of one of their new slaves.

I loved Lovelock!
I have to say I'm biased, having been a huge Orson Scott Card fan for years. But in spite of the slight problems in this story, I loved it. I agree with other readers -- where are the second and third books?? You don't need the subtitle, "Mayflower Trilogy," to notice that there are loose threads that are obviously left for subsequent books to sort out.
I have re-read this book multiple times, and find myself speculating on whether the 2nd and 3rd books would be from Lovelock's point of view as well, or perhaps Diana's, Peter's, Neeraj's, or even Causo's.
We all know Orson Scott Card generally has more on his plate than he can handle at any one time. People have been pestering him for more books in the Alvin Maker saga. Until he came out with Shadow of the Giant, they waited impatiently for THAT. He has the feminist series featuring women of the Bible. AND he writes "other" books as well -- poetry, vaguely supernatural books (I don't know a better classification for Lost Boys and Homebody) and non-fiction as well. I expect he just doesn't have time to come back to little Lovelock and his pals on the Ark.
But I don't have to like it. Maybe if he and Katheryn Kidd already have the outline of the rest of the Lovelock saga, SHE could write it. I don't know if this is the solution, but the crew of the ark have been hanging around in limbo for SEVERAL years now, I think it's high time they were allowed to progress on their journey.

My vote is, READ MORE ORSON SCOTT CARD!!! He doesn't HAVE any books I DON'T recommend. And don't get caught up in any particular genre -- his historical fiction is just as well -thought out as his science fiction, so make sure you don't miss his book, Saints, for instance.

Hello... Where are the other two books.
I enjoyed this story, it had some uncomfortable monents but I still enjoyed it. I have been waiting for the rest of the "Mayflower Trilogy" for all the years since. What's up with that?
... Read more

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Customer Reviews (46)

be careful what you are buying
Wyrms, by Orson Scott Card is a great novel and I can't recommend it enough to science fiction and fantasy fans who like complex, mature themes.However, please be careful what you are buying. Wyrms [Paperback] is a novel with no pictures apart from the cover art.Orson Scott Card's Wyrms is a collection of Marvel comics with the same story and characters.It is well illustrated but leaves out many of the complex ethical themes that make the originalnovel such a great book.It also censors the mature content to a PG-13 level.

Disgusting - OSC at his Worst
Wyrms, tells the tale of a 15 year old girl named Patience, who is the rightful heir to a powerful throne on a distant planet. However, through events outside his control her father is not on the throne.

There is also a powerful prophecy theme surrounding her; as many people believe that her coming has been foretold by legend and that she is destined to save the human race.

As the story unfolds, Patience receives a 'desire' from an alien creature to go to a place called Cranning to mate with the creature. The creature schemes to topple the human race by mating with Patience to produce a supper human who would overtake all life on the planet.

This is where the story begins to fall apart. Patience and her companions know the trap that has been set for them.So it doesn't make any sense why Patience would be needed to come along. Two of her companions are even kings of the powerful Geblings who could squash the big bug in a instant.

In fact humans have known for generations that this creature has been 'calling' all the wise men and consuming them for their knowledge. So wouldn't it make sense for humans to send an army to wipe out the bug? In fact humans have been fighting each other for generations right under the bug's door step without giving a thought to wiping out their real enemy a few floors upstairs.

Overall, Card's themes are not original. The prophecy theme based on a young religious leader and the transfer of memories from ancestors have been discussed in the SF classic Dune. The mind control theme from an alien intelligence is nothing new and has been discussed in other novels.

The whole idea of mating between species is an old idea, which doesn't work in reality. The Roman historian Pliny once suggested that the ostrich was the result of a mating between a gnat and a giraffe. Obviously such a mating could never occur just as a mating between two very different life forms could never happen.

Other than Patience, the characters are one-dimensional and boring. Some of the characters change personalties without warning to fit the story.

The climatic scene discussed by many reviewers, it's not just gross, it's stupid. It's not remotely realistic. It's like Card is writing some dark fantasy that doesn't fit the story.

So I disagree that the climax was necessary to tell the story.

It's a shame; Card developed an intriguing character in Patience, but he didn't take the time to develop the story. I think this could have been a very good book if Card had taken the time to develop the plot and the other characters.

This is by far Card's worst effort. I'm just glad Card hasn't written any sequels.

Another good read from Orson Scott Card
We enjoyed this book.I was happy to get it, even though it's out of print.

Satisfying novel
I've read this book several times and find it a great allegory for dysfunctional childhoods, co-dependence and addiction. What else is Patience but a neglected child whose focus is survival and pleasing her distant father? After her father's death and the revelation of her true identity, Patience questions who she really is - as she says, perhaps simply a piece of paper folded by others and when the paper is unfolded, what then? Along her journey where she is again manipulated by a powerful "other," Patience fights against her own compulsions to find a way to save the world and herself, realizing that she must trust her friends and herself in order to do so. It's sort of a "Pilgrim's Progress," but much better. Well, other than the whole alien/insect mating thing. Ick.

Wyrms:Unreal
Title: Wyrms by Orson Scott Card

Pages: 246

Time spent on the "to read" shelf: About a year.

Days spent reading it: 3 days.

Why I read it: I have enjoyed some Orson Scott Card, most notably Ender's Game (which I HIGHLY recommend) so I figured I'd give this one a chance. Even though the cover of this book looked really cheesy, I thought I might give it a try because it was cheap and I enjoy Card enough to give him a chance. I sometimes do judge a book by its cover. Its hard not to when its so hideous.

Brief review:
Wyrms is a strange novel. It is about the quest of Princess Patience to find her destiny in the layer of her enemy/lover Unwyrm. She is drawn to him by his constant calling. Patience wants to destroy Unwyrm, but is also attracted to the monster. On her quest she picks up a number of followers who help her prepare for this ultimate showdown. Its a standard quest story. Good guy has ultimate goal, sidekicks help out, bad guy wants to destroy world, etc, etc.

This book is a little quirky. Its not terrible, but its not great either. For some reason this book was not as compelling to read as some of Card's other works. Card does have an interesting plot about how the different sentient beings came to exist on this planet through genetic alteration. He plays with some of the same idea a little in some of his Ender novels. He obviously is fascinated with genetics and the practical implications of mutation and adaptation.

I would not recommend this book to just anyone, but a bored sci-fi reader might enjoy it for its story line and strange characters. Susan, my wife, read it and liked it up until the end, which is admittedly a little strange. Not a book for the casual reader (sorry Susan), but maybe for a fan.

Favorite quote: "We used to pity you humans for your solitude. Well, I pitied you, and he despised you. But now, well, he keeps telling me that solitude is the foundation of true wisdom, that all the brilliant thoughts in this house come as the desperate cry of one human being to another, saying, Know me, live with me in the world of my mind."

Stars: 2.5 out of 5.

Final Word: Unreal. ... Read more

Product Description
An overview of the best science fiction short stories of the 20th century as selected and evaluated by critically-acclaimed author Orson Scott Card.

Featuring stories from the genre's greatest authors:

Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, Robert A. Heinlein, Ursula K. Le Guin, Ray Bradbury, Frederik Pohl, Harlan Ellison, George Alec Effinger, Brian W. Aldiss, William Gibson & Michael Swanwick, Theodore Sturgeon, Larry Niven, Robert Silverberg, Harry Turtledove, James Blish, George R. R. Martin, James Patrick Kelly, Karen Joy Fowler, Lloyd Biggle, Jr., Terry Bisson, Poul Anderson, John Kessel, R.A. Lafferty, C.J. Cherryh, Lisa Goldstein, and Edmond HamiltonAmazon.com Review
Masterpieces: The Best Science Fiction of the Century may not include every reader's choices for the top science fiction of the 20th century, but it lives up to its title. Editor Orson Scott Card has assembled 27 standout stories by the biggest names and best writers in the genre. Not surprisingly, most of these stories have been anthologized or collected elsewhere, and some (like Arthur C. Clarke's "Nine Billion Names of God," Harlan Ellison's "'Repent, Harlequin!' Said the Ticktockman," and Robert A. Heinlein's "All You Zombies--") have been reprinted innumerable times. In addition,Card has previously placed some of these selections in his retrospective 1980s anthology Future on Ice.

While some stories in Masterpieces lack fine prose and well-rounded characters, they are solid and engrossing entertainments. Other selections combine literary and science fiction virtues to produce a superior blend, and some of these stories--"Bears Discover Fire" by Terry Bisson, "Snow" by John Crowley, "'Repent, Harlequin!' Said the Ticktockman" by Harlan Ellison, "Face Value" by Karen Joy Fowler, "Tourists" by Lisa Goldstein, and "The Ones Who Walked Away from Omelas" by Ursula K. Le Guin--are art.

Masterpieces isn't an anthology for the well-read fan. However, it is a great book for the new or intermediate science fiction reader. --Cynthia Ward ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

a great introduction
I will be teaching a class on Sci Fi lit. These stories are a great intoduction to the genre.

Sci Fi Masterpieces
I'm using this book for a college course, and so far all of the stories have been great!

Masterpieces?
I was really surprised by the choices included here. While there are some classic outstanding stories, those are almost without exception ones I have read before. There are more than a few completely unimpressive ones. I have been reading science fiction for more than 30 years and there were a number of authors I had never even heard of. When I read the story hoping for an undiscovered gem, I was disappointed. I really don't understand Card's choices here in most cases. Oh well, Card is assuredly more familiar with the genre than I, but I wish I hadn't bothered with this one.

the best???
If these stories are the best science fiction has to offer, I'm surprised anyone ever reads it.

Used for a Class
Great, perfect collection of short stories by some of the greats!
This book made one of my classes signifigantly more fun. ... Read more

Product Description
A fantasy novella by the best-selling author of Ender's Game. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Stonefather, Storymage
Orson Scott Card has done it again.He has touched upon the dreams and desires of the lowliest in a desparate world.In Stonefather his storytelling is as fine as anything he has written.This tale of Runnel, a farmboy from the hills, who wanders onto an adventure and finds in himself the wherewithal to start a new life, takes on some of the same feeling as the early Alvinmaker Series and yet seems simpler in the telling.Mr. Card has created a new world that is more in the line with Middle Earth, minus fantastical creatures, than his other futurist or historical settings.Though a quick read, this little book is signature for Card in that it plucks the heartstrings that uplifts the reader.The world Mr. Card has created in Stonefather will appeal to readers who are inclined to read Fantasy and yet will not disappoint his fans.

Great Start to a New Series, Only Wish It Was Longer
You can read the summary of the story in other reviews. This is just some of my impressions about the novella.

I've heard this was the start to a new series, which couldn't make me happier. I enjoyed Stonefather a lot more than some of Card's other novellas of late.

The story set up the magic system in this new fantasy world and had a typical Card hero (a young boy coming into his power and learning more about it).

Because it was a novella, I finished it in a day. So take a Saturday and sit down with this book. You won't be disappointed.

Quintessential Card
Orson Scott Card hooked me with a neat little story in Omni magazine many years ago called "Fat Farm"--in fact, his short story collection Maps in a Mirror is among my favorite books.I had felt that his interests in writing fiction were waning as he pursued other artistic and commercial goals but was wonderfully surprised to discover this story, which is reminiscent of "A Planet Called Treason" and harks back to Mr. Card's powerful early work.Though ostensibly a fantasy, I suspect that the world of the Mithermages and the conflicts of its inhabitants will bear more than a passing familiarity with current world events.

Mr. Card is at his best when discussing Powers--he often utilizes creation themes and his characters, like all of us, have gifts waiting to be discovered.There are echoes of Jason Worthing lurking in this story of a young man who discovers that his life offers much more adventure than he had any reason to suspect.A young man from a hick town who comes to a realization of his pivotal position and stature, no doubt to play a major role in the promised series.With Power comes Choice and nothing is more evident in Mr. Card's writing than his care to portray the struggle to do good and to make wise choices.

There is joy and meaning in this story as well as evident mastery in the telling of it.I look forward to the remainder of the series with great interest and am grateful to have found this volume before it sold out.It is a must own for any fan of Mr. Card's work.

Highly Recommended

Definitely interested in the series(3.5 stars)
"Stonefather" is our introduction to Orson Scott's new series, the Mithermages.It's the story of Runnel, an abused child from parents who'd just as soon forgot he existed in a village that's a few steps below third world even for a fantasy.

Runnel runs away from his village and discovers there's a whole new world out there.That includes friends, which is definitely a different concept for him.When he signs up as a servant in a stone mage's house, he quickly learns he's got some abilities of his own.

The short's rich in details of the world, but the story vehicle is one we've heard before time and again."Stonefather" is still a hopeful tale that opens our eyes to a new world that I'm very much looking forward to exploring.

Rebecca Kyle, November 2008 ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (11)

Interesting book
I enjoyed reading some of the stories.Others just didn't interest me at all.All of the stories that Card wrote were excellent.

Fun collection of stories
Some good background for the Ender's Game Universe fans, and a few other entertaining stories by some unknowns.A few of the stories weren't very intriguing for me.

Card's stuff is by far the best
I was a bit disappointed to realize that only a handful of the stories in this book are actually written by Orson Scott Card himself. However, I did read them all. His stories are by far the best of the bunch. If you didn't know who wrote which ones, it would be easy to pick his out. A few of the rest were very good; most were just OK. Overall worth the time to read but not spellbinding.

Great source of short scifi stories
I liked this book a lot.Card's Ender's Game stories were what I bought it for and I was not disappointed.I also found some of the other author's stories to be very good and I hope they write more.

The book was a bit too short though.I hope there will be more volumes in the future.

A lot of bang for a little buck
I bought this as an Orson Scott Card fan but dare I say that I found authors that rival the great OSC in this book?These stories are not very long and most can be read in a sitting.There is a lot of variety which was nice for me.I like fantasy slightly more than science fiction.This was a nice combination of both and some other unique items thrown in as well.I have been reading a story or two each night.I discovered author Eric James Stone by reading this book and finding his work has been like finding treasure.His stories were particularly enjoyed by my sixth grade son and I and I think we'll be buying any/everything with his name on it.His writing is brilliant.I saw the other reviewer comment that the Taint of Treason wasn't well recieved by him.I have been quoting a line from that story to my son for weeks which has us both laughing (in a morbid way).You'll know the line once you read the story.Thanks goes out to Schubert and Card for giving us a "sampler" of so many great writers.You really can't go wrong with this book. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (4)

Grief Is Another Word for Love
Oscar Scott Card, under a pseudonym, Scott Richards, made a small novelette called Zanna's Gift, a Christmas story told from the view of the late 1930s and spans through present day.

It's the story of the Pullman family who have a family of three teenage boys and one four year old girl.The girl, Zanna, loves to draw and it seems her big brother Ernie is the only one who can decipher her scribblings.

The story starts off in a shocking way, when the boy, who is built up by the author to have so much promise and life, dies in his sleep!Wasn't expecting that!

The little girl had just drawn a picture for Ernie for Christmas, and when she finds out he has died, she's devastated.No one will know what her picture means!Even her parents can't tell what she drew.

The years roll on, little Zanna deals with her grief, and eventually it is revealed she is a twin of another girl who died at birth.

The author keeps up these shocks, one after another, until you're just torn apart by the grief.Gets pretty heavy.

Scott Richards though then loses his way a bit.The development of secondary characters, such as Zanna's nephew, doesn't really go along with the rest of the theme of grief and redemption.He's just sort of "bad" and somehow that plays out.

The whole book shows Zanna growing up, having kids of her own, her own dealings with her brothers and her painting that she drew at four.It's faded now, and framed, but becomes part of a family tradition for Christmas, and out-livesher.

The story picks up again with her niece Betty, who suffers from debilitating polio.My goodness, how much grief and despair can this family take??

The story is somewhat unrealistic, but the themes of grief, despair and conquering it will nurturing love is throughout the book.

Makes a great little story for anyone suffering from these things and gives some hope, and does fit into the full meaning of Christmas.

Not bad, Scott!

For Oscar Scott Card's science fiction books:

Xenocide T3
The Ender Quartet Box Set: Ender's Game, Speaker for the Dead, Xenocide, Children of the Mind

And one of my fav alternate history stories:

Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus

exquisitely heart touching
ZANNA'S GIFT: A Life In Christmases, by Scott Richards (148 pgs., 2008).This Christmas novella opens right before Christmas 1938.A little girl has just lost her adored oldest brother.How she helps him be remembered over the years by her immediate family & then, even by the children of the children & then by their grandchildren is the gist of this story.It's about love, faith, family, innocence, trust, joy, sadness, happiness, siblings, loss, gratitude & the true meaning of what is important in life.I cried & cried throughout this book.The ending is exquisitely heart touching.I am a sucker for these tear jerker Christmas novellas!

Short but sweet
First off, this book is NOT long! It spans a mere 144 pages and hasa rather large font. However, even in it's extreme brevity there are some genuinely touching moments and it's fine way to spend some snowy winter afternoon.

Zanna's Gift is timeless, beautiful, and full of emotions.
A friend gave me this book simply because my daughter's name is Zanna. I read it and fell in love with it. It speaks about loss and grief and their connection to love. The Pullman's are like so many families in America who left innocence behind too early. But in them there is the hope of things to come, the love of what was, and the joy for what will be. Read it today and start thinking of how you can leave a gift like Zanna's for the world to love. ... Read more

Product Description
Is it space that children dream of, or merely visiting other worlds? Todd had always set his heart on being an astronaut, but when he meets an alien and travels to another world, he doesn't use a spaceship, he just hangs out in his own back yard.In Space Boy, Orson Scott Card, author of Ender's Game, takes readers into a strange and wonderful future, where people from another world regularly visit Earth - usually without being noticed. And when humans travel to their world, they find themselves dangerously weak and powerless. Until Todd finds a way to set both worlds to rights.By turns funny and painful, Space Boy is Card at his best, exploring human nature for the entertainment of readers young and old. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Interesting Story, Poor Character Development
It's an easy to read, short, fun fantasy story.I read the whole thing in less than two hours with distractions.I don't regret having read it--I was just looking for a bit of brief diversion.

That said, it's not five stars simply because the characters are very flat.With only 5 characters total and Card's writing ability, I should have cared about the characters.Only one character interested me--for his unusualness--and he's not the main character.

If Card were to take the basic premise of this book, including the fable character reference, and develop it into a full Card quality novel, I think it'd be a five star work for certain.

Not what I expected of Card
When I pick up an Orson Scott Card book, what I am usually expecting (and looking forward to) is thoroughly developed characters facing a complex (and probably morally ambiguous) situation . . . and probably some violence.

This story has just a touch of the last one and none at all of the first two. First off, this is substantially a short story and not a novel. It could easily be finished in an afternoon. My most significant problem with this book is that it has none of the exploration of character I've come to associate with Card. There's no hero I'd really like to meet nor villian who I find weirdly fascinating, despite disliking him. At its most basic level, this is really just a simple, adolescent adventure story.

This is not to say it's bad. As light entertainment for what libraries like to call "young adults" it works fine. But it's simply not the style of book most of Card's fans are used to.

good SF intro for kids
It is short. It has pictures. It's a good gift for an 8 - 12 year
old boy. It's the kind of book that could start a lifelong interest
in reading. It's not badly written either.

Intelligent, family friendlySci-fi adventure
This is a great little book with adventure, a little bit of sci-fi, heaps of clever dialogue and a family that relies on each other, especially when it counts. It makes an ideal story to read out loud, in particular to boys 10 and up (if not younger). Fantastic story that treats boys as intelligent creatures!

Too short
I love Orson Scott Card; always.I loved Space Boy too, and thought it was a wonderful story.However, it seemed to me that it was just that; a story.I don't think it was developed enough to call it a novel and was a bit disappointed by its length or lack thereof. ... Read more