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timinbc's review against another edition
3.0
Meh. Too much of a muchness. I'm not sure there's much more to be said in this extended series, except perhaps for the hints that a certain key character isn't necessarily defunct yet.
yoyosemite's review against another edition
3.5
why are the 6 year olds making incest jokes?
anyways we at least get to see the buggers again and the plot steadily improves throughout the book, so that’s good i guess. the first couple chapters are incredibly rocky though.
anyways we at least get to see the buggers again and the plot steadily improves throughout the book, so that’s good i guess. the first couple chapters are incredibly rocky though.
jennkei's review against another edition
4.0
Damn, only read the abridged ebook version. Will see if I can get my hands on it when it comes out in paperback form. Liked it even though it was kinda...pretentious. Then again, when is Card not pretentious. -wry-
kathydavie's review against another edition
5.0
Fifth in the Shadow and twelfth in the Ender's Saga military science fiction series revolving around a small group of boys who saved our world from insect-like aliens.
There is a note on the cover that this story is the sequel to Shadow of the Giant (Shadow, 4; Ender's Saga, 9).
My Take
I had no idea I had gotten so far behind in following Ender! I think the last book I bought was Shadow of the Hegemon. I suspect it was because Card seemed to be wandering off in odd directions and I lost interest. With all these lovely sites that cater to us readers, it's so much easier to track the stories in a series...and I have this urge to go back and start over from the beginning. Right after I read Shadow of the Giant!
It's sad and insightful on the fears of an evolutionary advance and the points that Bean makes about the children's maturity. Card lets us in far enough that I was seduced into seeing these very young children as very grown up until Bean's comments and it is suddenly so clear. The fights between the children, their thoughts about Bean---his true role in this was a mind bender (probably 'cause I ain't yet read the preceding novel, dang it…). And just like that, Card has caught me up in Ender's Game again...I am so looking forward to the next installment to discover how the children adapt.
Someone didn't read the book when they wrote the summary on the flyleaf. That is sooo annoying.
The Story
Bean and three of his children have been experimented upon, infected with a mutation that ensures a very short life, but also a brilliant one. It was decided to split up the family and send Bean and these three into space, hopeful that the speed of the ship will lengthen their life spans, giving scientists time to find a cure.
The Characters
It's a short list: Bean is the Giant who spies on the children; young Ender is the scientific one, the one with the inquiring mind; Carlotta is the engineer with a need to make peace siding with whoever is strongest; and, "Sergeant", a.k.a., Cincinnatus, is the military mind with his study of tactics and obsession with weaponry.
Think of your kids, kids you've observed. Their rivalries, their changing alliances. Their lack of consideration or morality. Until they're taught these values. That's this brilliant threesome whom Bean despairs of and hopes for.
The Cover
Ooh, I like the pastel quality of the cover! A tiny spaceship orbiting a yellow giant in a dusky purple universe.
I'm a bit lost as to the title. Since it's been awhile since I've read any of the stories in the Ender series, that could be part of it. My best interpretation is that with all the decades that have passed since Bean and the children set off into space and the mention Card has made as to how mankind has forgotten about them, the four of them of become Shadows in Flight.
There is a note on the cover that this story is the sequel to Shadow of the Giant (Shadow, 4; Ender's Saga, 9).
My Take
I had no idea I had gotten so far behind in following Ender! I think the last book I bought was Shadow of the Hegemon. I suspect it was because Card seemed to be wandering off in odd directions and I lost interest. With all these lovely sites that cater to us readers, it's so much easier to track the stories in a series...and I have this urge to go back and start over from the beginning. Right after I read Shadow of the Giant!
It's sad and insightful on the fears of an evolutionary advance and the points that Bean makes about the children's maturity. Card lets us in far enough that I was seduced into seeing these very young children as very grown up until Bean's comments and it is suddenly so clear. The fights between the children, their thoughts about Bean---his true role in this was a mind bender (probably 'cause I ain't yet read the preceding novel, dang it…). And just like that, Card has caught me up in Ender's Game again...I am so looking forward to the next installment to discover how the children adapt.
Someone didn't read the book when they wrote the summary on the flyleaf. That is sooo annoying.
The Story
Bean and three of his children have been experimented upon, infected with a mutation that ensures a very short life, but also a brilliant one. It was decided to split up the family and send Bean and these three into space, hopeful that the speed of the ship will lengthen their life spans, giving scientists time to find a cure.
The Characters
It's a short list: Bean is the Giant who spies on the children; young Ender is the scientific one, the one with the inquiring mind; Carlotta is the engineer with a need to make peace siding with whoever is strongest; and, "Sergeant", a.k.a., Cincinnatus, is the military mind with his study of tactics and obsession with weaponry.
Think of your kids, kids you've observed. Their rivalries, their changing alliances. Their lack of consideration or morality. Until they're taught these values. That's this brilliant threesome whom Bean despairs of and hopes for.
The Cover
Ooh, I like the pastel quality of the cover! A tiny spaceship orbiting a yellow giant in a dusky purple universe.
I'm a bit lost as to the title. Since it's been awhile since I've read any of the stories in the Ender series, that could be part of it. My best interpretation is that with all the decades that have passed since Bean and the children set off into space and the mention Card has made as to how mankind has forgotten about them, the four of them of become Shadows in Flight.
lilli_w12's review against another edition
3.0
The saga of Bean is at an end. This book was very different from the rest of the Shadow Series, I think the first two were better, but this one was okay. I enjoyed the space aspect and the long-forgotten Formics. I do think that some of the revelations contradicted earlier books, but it was still interesting. I don't think I'll be able to see the Hive Queen the same way again, after the entire Ender Saga tries to show how she is misunderstood. Bean's death was quite sad, but a fitting way for the character to go. I can't wait to see how O. S. C. ties in the Shadow Series with the Ender Saga. Overall, could've been better, was a little on the short side, but was a novel that kept me interested and was good enough.
capgambit's review against another edition
4.0
Although this book is shorter than the rest it is nonetheless fantastic. The last book kind of upset me and left a bitter taste in my mouth due to the extreme lack of resolution. This book finally satisfies me.
Shadows in flight in my mind is more about the relationships between Bean and is thre, 6 year old, "non-human" children. There is the clear plot of coming across a wandering ship of an "extinct" race.
Shadows in flight in my mind is more about the relationships between Bean and is thre, 6 year old, "non-human" children. There is the clear plot of coming across a wandering ship of an "extinct" race.
protoman21's review against another edition
5.0
Shadows in Flight is a book more about Bean's children than about the man himself, but it is still a great addition to the series and a joy to read. Bean is now a giant and he is both wise and compassionate. He has grown not only in size, but in character. Bean's son, the new Ender, is a lot like his namesake in that he wants to resolve conflict without violence whenever possible, but he also can and will end a fight with one well planned and executed action. The Sergeant is more like Peter who enjoys testing boundaries and being in control. He takes what he thinks is rightfully his because he is the one who is aggressive and will take it. To complete the family, Carlotta is like Valentine and plays the role of peacemaker and is caught in between her two brothers. She is strong and puts herself where she will do the most good. The crews' encounter with the Formic ship and their discoveries, while interesting, really is just a vessel for telling the story of the characters and the final days of Bean's life. I have always thought Card was the master of dialog and he proves it yet again in this book. The characters all play off each other brilliantly and their conversations are impressive displays of verbal attack and parry with one person seizing the advantage only to have the other person flip their argument around on them and regain control. Though Bean's story is over, the possibility that more stories could be told about his kids leaves me hope that his legacy will continue.
brendalovesbooks's review against another edition
2.0
Meh. Kinda boring, but I felt like I had to read it because it's in the Ender series. Orson Scott Card just doesn't do it for me as an author anymore.
djredhawk's review against another edition
4.0
A great little read... I say 'little' because I read it in a day. It's not as extensive as previous Ender sagas are, but still brings some good information to the Formics table. I learned more about the Buggers than I've ever known before, as well as finally finding out what happened to Bean and his children. I'm glad I picked this baby up!
rainbyrd's review
3.5
It's been a while since a read this book, but I remember enjoying it. I barely remember the details of this book though, unlike some of the other book in the series, which have stayed with me for years.