4.23

5

Feb 04, 2008

My friend Jared recommended the Ender’s Series to me and I am very grateful. I bought this version which has both Ender’s Game and Speaker for the dead and read it straight through. I fell in love with the characters quickly and the settings became real places. Card does a wonderful job of creating a vastness that seems reachable not only within space but time as well. I am very much looking forward to reading the rest in the series.

5

Dec 06, 2018

I’m glad I decided to randomly pick this book up. It is a dual book including Ender’s Game and Speaker for the Dead. I had read Ender’s Game years ago, but then just recently read Ender in Exile. In this new book, Ender in Exile, Card changes the last few chapters of Ender’s Game to further the new book (written almost 25 years later). So, I was glad to have the original to re-read Ender’s Game and then I immediately read the Speaker for the Dead after that.

Here is my review for Speaker of the I’m glad I decided to randomly pick this book up. It is a dual book including Ender’s Game and Speaker for the Dead. I had read Ender’s Game years ago, but then just recently read Ender in Exile. In this new book, Ender in Exile, Card changes the last few chapters of Ender’s Game to further the new book (written almost 25 years later). So, I was glad to have the original to re-read Ender’s Game and then I immediately read the Speaker for the Dead after that.

Here is my review for Speaker of the Dead:
This is a great sci-fi fantasy series! I wasn’t sure I would love a book set 3,000 years after Ender’s Game and Ender’s Exile, but it works! What it comes down to is—people are people, no matter what planet we live on, or what time we live in. Human emotion is universal and this book demonstrates that perfectly. The book is about living light years away in space and meeting and learning about a new intelligent alien species, but there are misunderstandings and secrets and death, which would happen at any time and any place. The author has a very involved and sophisticated way of writing. I feel like I am taking a philosophy course while reading and it makes me think!! ...more

5

Jan 26, 2019

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Not a revew:
Just had to say that I can't stop laughing at the piggies calling her "Shouter"..."but not where any of them could hear".

3

Aug 16, 2012

This is two books in one: Ender's Game, & the sequel, Speaker for the Dead. Having already read & reviewed Ender's Game, this review is for, Speaker for the Dead.

Murder mystery in space! That's my over simplified summary of this story. Or rather, a murder mystery set on distant planet, being colonized by humans, but also inhabited by native creatures & possibly other aliens... And since I love a good murder mystery, this was pretty enjoyable, even with some formulaic mystery This is two books in one: Ender's Game, & the sequel, Speaker for the Dead. Having already read & reviewed Ender's Game, this review is for, Speaker for the Dead.

Murder mystery in space! That's my over simplified summary of this story. Or rather, a murder mystery set on distant planet, being colonized by humans, but also inhabited by native creatures & possibly other aliens... And since I love a good murder mystery, this was pretty enjoyable, even with some formulaic mystery elements. But this story also shows a nice progression of Ender's maturity, from the first book, & his ability for compassion & empathy allowing him great wisdom.

As much as I liked it, I have one beef. Card just couldn't help himself. It wasn't enough to create new & strange names for places & creatures of his imagination. He had to throw in a human language, Portuguese, just to make the names that much more confusing & unpronounceable. Yeah, yeah, I got the point, & how it fits in with your story, but it was still tiresome to my little brain.
...more

0

Mar 12, 2012

So this is actually two books, Ender's Game (1984) and Speaker for the Dead (1986), and the second takes place 3000 years after and many light-years away from the first. Game is the coming-of-age story of Andrew "Ender" Wiggin, a third child in a society that only allows two per family. Sent away to school at age six, he has both a talent for killing and an aversion to causing anyone pain, a combination suited to computer games but not when they become real. He is still grappling with the So this is actually two books, Ender's Game (1984) and Speaker for the Dead (1986), and the second takes place 3000 years after and many light-years away from the first. Game is the coming-of-age story of Andrew "Ender" Wiggin, a third child in a society that only allows two per family. Sent away to school at age six, he has both a talent for killing and an aversion to causing anyone pain, a combination suited to computer games but not when they become real. He is still grappling with the combination in Speaker, having aged only twenty years through interstellar travel even though he has gained thousands of years' worth of knowledge and experience. Game, with its school setting of bullying and competition, could appeal to young adult readers, Speaker, more concerned with the ethics of interspecies contact, probably not as much, making me wonder why the publisher decided to bind the two together. Both are worth reading in a world where conflict often seems unavoidable. ...more

5

Jun 25, 2014

One book - two novels.

The first is the Sci-fi seminal work Ender's Game. I read this novel many years ago and loved the Battle School scenes, in fact I loved this entire book, the characters, the plot, virtually everything about it. Rereading it again, the story shows it's age a bit, the ending which seemed cool to me as a kid, seems forced now, a bit unrealistic that the battles were actually real and not a game and not noticed doesn't seem possible. And, the relationships between siblings seem One book - two novels.

The first is the Sci-fi seminal work Ender's Game. I read this novel many years ago and loved the Battle School scenes, in fact I loved this entire book, the characters, the plot, virtually everything about it. Rereading it again, the story shows it's age a bit, the ending which seemed cool to me as a kid, seems forced now, a bit unrealistic that the battles were actually real and not a game and not noticed doesn't seem possible. And, the relationships between siblings seem very one dimensional. Still, the Battle School is way cool and the concepts it introduces still rock.

The second book is a much quieter story, in essence a murder mystery story involving a second non-human race. I found this story equally fascinating but in a totally different way. It explores the what makes us human theme, it tosses in pain and grief, it talks about culture and yearning, and is generally a very interesting read.

Both, highly recommended, for totally separate reasons.

...more

3

May 31, 2013

I read the original story version of "Ender's Game" many years ago. This is my first time reading the novel version in this omnibus volume comprising both "Ender's Game" and the sequal, "Speaker of the Dead."

I wanted to read this before the movie comes out this fall. Unfortunately, not knowing, nor having been a precocious child, I did not take to this cast of gifted children. I had the same problem with Scout from "To Kill a Mockingbird." The children just weren't belivable.

I've known AP kids I read the original story version of "Ender's Game" many years ago. This is my first time reading the novel version in this omnibus volume comprising both "Ender's Game" and the sequal, "Speaker of the Dead."

I wanted to read this before the movie comes out this fall. Unfortunately, not knowing, nor having been a precocious child, I did not take to this cast of gifted children. I had the same problem with Scout from "To Kill a Mockingbird." The children just weren't belivable.

I've known AP kids from when I was in public school. They could still be immature and petulant even with their gifts. Ender's kids are not. They are brilliant young adults in juvenile bodies. Just didn't work for me.

I enjoyed the story twist and want to see how it is played out in a movie treatment. But I doubt I'll be reading any more Ender books. ...more

5

Jan 27, 2016

I've previously read Ender's Game, but since I found this two-novel volume in the public library, I decided to reread it before moving on to the sequel, Speaker for the Dead. (Since I'm doing the Challenge this year, it would probably be unethical to include a book I've already read once, so I'm including the volume instead as a single entry.)

This is an absolute must-read for anyone interested in science fiction. Card is a master, not only of story but of storytelling. This is a different kind I've previously read Ender's Game, but since I found this two-novel volume in the public library, I decided to reread it before moving on to the sequel, Speaker for the Dead. (Since I'm doing the Challenge this year, it would probably be unethical to include a book I've already read once, so I'm including the volume instead as a single entry.)

This is an absolute must-read for anyone interested in science fiction. Card is a master, not only of story but of storytelling. This is a different kind of book: not focused particularly on action, or on technology, or on dialogue, or on philosophy. It's focused on thought, on the inner world of the characters, and as such, it gives each of these other realms all the attention they're due.

Oh, and the Twist. Never forget the Twist. ...more

4

Dec 30, 2013

This book was on a list of banned science fiction books. I had never read any of Orson Scott Card (probably a deficit in my education!) and I am such a rebel that I wanted to read a banned sci-fi book. So I picked this one as a place to begin.

It is a very good book and probably was banned because the book was all about young children who fought the war. The story is well-told and is a page-turner. It is in the genre of a future dystopia (even found it on a Wikipedia list: ( This book was on a list of banned science fiction books. I had never read any of Orson Scott Card (probably a deficit in my education!) and I am such a rebel that I wanted to read a banned sci-fi book. So I picked this one as a place to begin.

It is a very good book and probably was banned because the book was all about young children who fought the war. The story is well-told and is a page-turner. It is in the genre of a future dystopia (even found it on a Wikipedia list: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_... the premise that children, educated "properly" from an early age, can be turned into fighting machines. ...more

3

Nov 06, 2013

Ender's Game was a great book for a nerdy middle school/High School boy to read. However, Speaker of the Dead, which is also combined in this edition, will seriously alter your perception of Ender's Game. As an adult the impact of Ender's Game was not the same, as most of the story revolves around Ender dealing with the social problems of his age and emotional maturity, and the adults that surround him.

5

Oct 13, 2010

I love Ender's Game a lot! I've read it at least 15 times, and intend to keep re-reading it in the future! And, the scifi didn't bother me in this book at all.

No such luck with the sequel... all of a sudden I realized how scifi the series was and how the focus was off the space cadets and their heroic quest to save their world.

Not bad, but also not the most exciting fun I've had either. After this I feel that it just went a tad downhill... and then more so with subsequent novels!

5

Dec 04, 2012

One the best books that I've read in quite some time. I can't believe that it took me so long to find it! From everyone that I've spoken to about it (even my wife) they remember reading it in high school or at some other point in their lives when they were younger. I just happened to find the title in some random comment section.
I would highly reccomend this book to anyone. It's written in a very pleasant and flowing style and will make you think. I may just read it again.

5

Dec 30, 2013

This is the book that catapulted OSC's career into orbit. Please don't use the movie as an indication of what this book is about. There is so much internal conflict in the book that I'm surprised they even attempted to translate it to the big screen.

There is a reason this book makes it on to so many lists of fiction books to read. This reason is the characters. They are written so you actually care about what happens to them and can't wait to see how each hurdle is overcome.

5

Nov 23, 2010

Wasn't sure if I would really like a sci-fi/fantasy book but really enjoyed it and am currently starting the next in the series- "Speaker of the Dead". Orson Scott Card is a very talented writer and I was drawn in pretty quick. I definitely recommend this book, especially if you don't usually read these types of books-its a good "starter".

0

May 07, 2016

Reread Speaker for the Dead. Since I hadn't read it since I was probably 15, it was a very different experience. I could more clearly understand the philosophical positions of the characters this time 'round, which made the novel a bit more interesting. Still, I felt like it was rushed (even though I wouldn't wish it longer) in some indefinable way.

5

Nov 04, 2014

Enders Game, just as good to re-read as the first time (and infinitely better than the movie). Speaker for the Dead, a totally different kind of book, but with shared intensity of perspective... it actually makes me eager to read more sequels.

4

Oct 05, 2007

I've heard hype about this book for years and years and years. I've had a pretty good idea of what it was all about by the time I got to it. I wasn't surprised by anything (by now, anyone who's a part of the sci-fi world knows the story) but it was still a really enjoyable book.

5

Jun 14, 2011

I only read the "Ender's Game" portion of this book. I've read "Speaker for the Dead" and it is good, but the first book is, in my opinion, the best. I'm also the guy who only reads the Felix parts of "Armor" (I did read the whole book the first time).

4

Dec 01, 2008

I couldn't put it down - I'm very much looking forward to reading the rest of the series. I don't know how deep the books really are when you get right down to it, but they have a really great mix of biology, anthropology, philosophy, and theology.

0

May 16, 2013

Ender's Game MTI Boxed Set II: Ender's Game, Ender in Exile, Speak for the Dead

3

Aug 16, 2011

This book contained Ender's Game and Speaker For The Dead. Both were okay but I wasn't blown away by them as I expected to be based on all the hype I've read over the years.

4

Sep 24, 2008

This book contains both Ender's Game and Speaker for the Dead. I love Ender's Game, not so much Speaker.

5

Jan 24, 2009

Gr. 6-Adult. Fascinating bildungsroman story. Highly recommended for lovers of sci fi and adventure. But who hasn't read it and the series!

5

Apr 28, 2008

I'm not usually into science fiction but this was really good and there is supposed to be a movie eventually. I couldn't put it down!

5

Nov 07, 2012

Just as good as Ender's Game. I didn't know if it would be possible to have a hero as likeable as Ender, but Bean is just as wonderful. It was awesome seeing the other side of things.