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autogeek's review against another edition
4.0
I liked it. Judging from the reviews, a lot of people don't appear to, but I thought this was a well written book.
Unlike some of the more recent YA that I have been reading, this one is slower, steadier and builds up pace slowly. The plot is fairly well thought out and problems are resolved in a more reasoned and intelligent manner rather than just blowing things up. Characters are also developed well and are quite detailed. As a result, most characters can't be categorized flat out as good or bad but instead are more complex and mixed.
Wierdly, the most interesting part in this sci-fi book was the theology. Not because it introduced anything novel or anything but because of the stereotypically daft arguments used by the religious fundamentalists. The reason why I find that fascinating is because, while Card seems to have a good understanding of how daft religious fundamentalists can be, ironically, he appears to have done the exact same thing with his (now former) opposition to same-sex behaviour (yes, behaviour, not just marriage). I was half expecting the religious fundamentalists to win and take over the universe in this book and was genuinely surprised when they didn't.
In the end, I just found myself shaking my head at the clear understanding that Card seems to have at the absurdity of religious fundamentalism and how he manages to reconcile that with his very own extremist stance.
Overall, a pretty good book with a good plot, characters and solid pacing. Most interesting was the theology in this book, which isn't all that interesting in itself, but becomes so when you put it in context with Card's own fundamentalist religious views.
Unlike some of the more recent YA that I have been reading, this one is slower, steadier and builds up pace slowly. The plot is fairly well thought out and problems are resolved in a more reasoned and intelligent manner rather than just blowing things up. Characters are also developed well and are quite detailed. As a result, most characters can't be categorized flat out as good or bad but instead are more complex and mixed.
Wierdly, the most interesting part in this sci-fi book was the theology. Not because it introduced anything novel or anything but because of the stereotypically daft arguments used by the religious fundamentalists. The reason why I find that fascinating is because, while Card seems to have a good understanding of how daft religious fundamentalists can be, ironically, he appears to have done the exact same thing with his (now former) opposition to same-sex behaviour (yes, behaviour, not just marriage). I was half expecting the religious fundamentalists to win and take over the universe in this book and was genuinely surprised when they didn't.
In the end, I just found myself shaking my head at the clear understanding that Card seems to have at the absurdity of religious fundamentalism and how he manages to reconcile that with his very own extremist stance.
Overall, a pretty good book with a good plot, characters and solid pacing. Most interesting was the theology in this book, which isn't all that interesting in itself, but becomes so when you put it in context with Card's own fundamentalist religious views.
gossamerwingedgazelle's review against another edition
5.0
I read this book quite a while ago and loved it.
elliedotmcd's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
3.25
abbyharrison's review against another edition
3.0
Xenocide is the 7th Ender's Game book I have read and it is most definitely my least favorite. While other books in the series focused more on adventure and war and politics, Xenocide focused on pages-long descriptions of philotes and ansibles and wish-thinking and sentience and more boring things I am forgetting now. I still enjoyed the core story of this book but the last third of the book lost me. So glad after reading the entire Shadow series that Peter is suddenly alive and well and ready to become Hegemon again.
Overall, fine but turned me off from reading more EG books for a while.
Overall, fine but turned me off from reading more EG books for a while.
jackmplant's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Unless you're a catholic philosopher, or you're interested in hearing from one, this book isn't for you. Wayyyy too preachy and philosophical for my taste. I just wanted a Sci FYI book, not a 20 hour lecture on the mortality of whether or not an AI and deluded slaves can co-exist
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