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squareninja's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
forloveoflit_'s review against another edition
3.0
It’s taken me nearly 5 years to read this book if that’s any indication. I’ve started it about 4 different times and even this time I had to start it and 6 months later come back to finish it. I don’t even want to think about how long it will take me to read the last one.
Enough about the time though, while the book isn’t necessarily boring the concepts it tries to convey about physics, reality, and religion in combination with 3 alien species is enough to give you a headache when tried to swallow all at one time. It gives oddly discomforting closure to Enders story after his 3000+ literal years of life but his depression and sadness at the end with no hope for a better ending seems like a terrible way to treat someone so great and terrible even if he is only a literary character.
Like many I’ve come to love Ender through his complicated fictional brilliance and ability to love even his enemies and it was sad to me that his story should come to an end like this but I guess I will seek closure in the Children of the Mind.
Enough about the time though, while the book isn’t necessarily boring the concepts it tries to convey about physics, reality, and religion in combination with 3 alien species is enough to give you a headache when tried to swallow all at one time. It gives oddly discomforting closure to Enders story after his 3000+ literal years of life but his depression and sadness at the end with no hope for a better ending seems like a terrible way to treat someone so great and terrible even if he is only a literary character.
Like many I’ve come to love Ender through his complicated fictional brilliance and ability to love even his enemies and it was sad to me that his story should come to an end like this but I guess I will seek closure in the Children of the Mind.
liv99x's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
spongefoot's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
tabatha_shipley's review against another edition
3.0
What I Did Like:
+The entire discussion about whether it’s ever right or justified to eliminate another species, even when it is trying to eliminate you, is FASCINATING. It’s, obviously, the entire concept for this series and it has played out in various ways across the books. It continues in this one and lets us into many of those “closed door” conversations. It definitely was written to make you think.
+In the same vein, this is a book that isn’t afraid to look at the idea of control vs free will in an interesting way. The debate this could spark in an open minded book group would be amazing. Nothing is safe from this introspective look, not even religion and the existence of god(s).
+Jane and all the philosophical discussions around her. It seems obvious to me that the next book in the series will continue to delve into Jane, how she came to be, and what happens to her next.
Who Should Read This One:
-Fans of speculative science fiction with big themes on philosophy, creation, religion, and life. This book is intended to make you think and examine things in a new way.
My Rating: 3 Stars
The heavy nature of this one makes it a bit more niche, but it’s worth it if you like big themes.
For Full Review: https://alltherightreads.com/2023/11/08/2023-book-review-xenocide/
+The entire discussion about whether it’s ever right or justified to eliminate another species, even when it is trying to eliminate you, is FASCINATING. It’s, obviously, the entire concept for this series and it has played out in various ways across the books. It continues in this one and lets us into many of those “closed door” conversations. It definitely was written to make you think.
+In the same vein, this is a book that isn’t afraid to look at the idea of control vs free will in an interesting way. The debate this could spark in an open minded book group would be amazing. Nothing is safe from this introspective look, not even religion and the existence of god(s).
+Jane and all the philosophical discussions around her. It seems obvious to me that the next book in the series will continue to delve into Jane, how she came to be, and what happens to her next.
Who Should Read This One:
-Fans of speculative science fiction with big themes on philosophy, creation, religion, and life. This book is intended to make you think and examine things in a new way.
My Rating: 3 Stars
The heavy nature of this one makes it a bit more niche, but it’s worth it if you like big themes.
For Full Review: https://alltherightreads.com/2023/11/08/2023-book-review-xenocide/
akazen's review against another edition
3.0
This was.. okay. It was weird, you absolutely can tell Orson is religious with how he portrayed the Catholics/ Religion. Didn't like it that much in that regard, outside of that, it was alright. This book stepped outside of the realistic sci-fi aspects and I'm still not sure how to feel about it.
2.5-3*
2.5-3*
hayoungpark's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
lbbelly's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
3.5
If I were to recommend this series to someone, this would have to be the book I warn them about