Who’s read the book? C’mon people, get with it! It came out 11 days ago. What have you been doing with your lives? I just wanted to discuss the book a bit.
I loved the book. I don’t think it’s as good as Ender’s Shadow but then, strange as it may sound, that’s an unfair comparison. Just as Speaker for the Dead was a completely different book from Ender’s game, so is this book from its predecessor.
To those that have read it, I don’t really need to summarize. To those that haven’t, you should read Ender’s Game first. In fact, read it anyway. Everyone should read that book at least once.
I think it’s fairly obvious that Card is a history buff. He has the ability to blend information on WWII or the background information on the tensions between Pakistan and India, making you learn without realizing you’re learning. While he very rarely describes the environment or the physical features of the characters, it’s all irrelevant. What you learn is who they are from the inside, the way they think. There were several enjoyable conversations between characters where each side brought up good points, making me think through their dialog like a debate to be judged.
I wasn’t even disappointed with the ending. It wasn’t a matter of not killing Achilles because he needed sequels. It was a justifiable decision based upon the choices the characters made.
The only problem I found in the book, which I have a strong feeling will be rectified later, was Peter’s noticable absence from most of the book. Granted, he’s living in America, and the action is happening across the world, but his role is mostly reduced to writing e-mails to people. He has the ability to influence nearly everyone he meets and yet the only ones he comes in contact with are ones who won’t be influenced by him: Bean and Sister Carlotta. I would have liked to have seen more of him after he shed his nom de plume halfway through the book. BTW, I found it convenient that he was just sitting at his computer at the exact moment that Bean needed him for a favor in clearing a landing area to the Indian airstrip.
Also, I’d like to know about this Hegemon position. Leader of the world and yet has no power whatsoever? How did this come about? What was the point of creating a position that no one takes seriously? And by what election process was Peter accepted into the role?
That’s enough for now. Your thoughts?