Orson Scott Card: Ender and Bean's stories

My book review site would not do justice to my favorite books without devoting at least one post to one of my all time favorite authors.

I included just a few of his books (yes 9 is a few) for a couple reasons. One being that he is a prolific writer and I have a lot of books that I enjoy reading and I still have books he has written that I haven't read yet. Another reason is because his books, although always excellent, are very different from each other, and need to be included in different posts, and I am sure that throughout the course of this website, I will bring up his books more than once, and so I cannot include them all in my first post about him.

His books, particularly this series, are the definition for books that take me away. As soon as I start one of his novels, I am completely lost and absorbed into the story of the book until it is finished. I have reread this series more than once, and will probably read it again in the near future. Actually, my husband was asking me a question about one of the books, I didn't remember what had happened, so I was flipping through it to find out the answer.... and I just started reading it again!!! I had to tear myself away.

What I have linked above are technically two series and an additional book. In all honesty, they are all part of the same story. Being the excellent writer that he is, he presents all sides of the story, and thus the reason for the two sets. They are all classified as science fiction, and although I normally don't like "space adventures" I loved these. They are unique, and special.

Ender's Game should be read first, because it is where all the other stories come from. Once you have read through the series (which I almost guarantee you will if you start it), you can reread it beginning with Ender's Shadow, which comes first chronologically, and then follows much of the same storyline as Ender's Game, but from the perspective of a side character, Bean.

Ender in Exile, the one that isn't in a box set above, is very new (published late in 2008). I recently finished it, and enjoyed it as much as the others. It was written as a midquel, and comes after Ender's Game and before Speaker for the Dead in that series. I recommend, now that it exists, to read it in that order.

I started typing out a brief description of each book, but I decided to delete it. If you want to know a basic synopsis of the books, you can look on any book cover, or amazon description.

What I believe is more valuable is my reasons for loving all these books.

The Ender series, which takes place out in space, or on different planets, I love because it is so unlike Earth, so unlike the present, that I get swept away into the world of the books, and yet it is written so convincingly that it doesn't seem made up when you are reading it. You start to believe in these other worlds, and the characters and the new species that are found there. You accept as reality that you could travel at a relativistic place, and that all of the things that take place in the books really could happen, even while realizing that they are impossible.

I love that his characters are so real. They are not "good guys" and "bad guys," in fact, part of the message of the novels is that perspectives can shadow the truth, and that many times the people that we think are bad, are just looking at the world a different way than we are. Every character has faults, and worries and concerns. The only characters that are perfect are the ones that aren't real, and again, shows the same message that none of us truly are perfect.

The Bean series, the one that starts with Ender's shadow is different. His stories mainly take place on earth, with a few exceptions. In these books I am astounded at Card's ability to take true places, true cultures, and twist them slightly into the fabric of the novel. For example, part of one of the books follows countries such as India and China that are trying to conquer other countries. Of course India and China are real countries, and their cultures are portrayed very accurately as they take on the fictional invasions lead by fictional leaders. There is enough mystery and suspense to take you through these stories very quickly. They also have the very common themes of coming of age, and love while still following the main storylines.

I encourage you, no, implore you to pick up all 9 books and read them. It sounds like a lot, but you will pour through these books so quickly, it won't seem so bad. Once you finish those, and are left begging for more, go pick up more of his books. I can honestly say that I have never once picked up an Orson Scott Card book and not become absorbed into the story of the book.

Scores are for all 9 books.

***** Overall
***** Hooking me into the story
***** Desire for a sequel
***** How far removed from this world