Ender’s Shadow, by Orson Scott Card

Reviewed By: The Goose

I didn’t want to read it. Refused to buy it. But, that cantankerous old monkey pulled a fast one and shipped me his copy. He knew I would then read it, that I wouldn’t be able to resist. For once in his benighted life he was right. Sneaky old trickster!

I have many reasons for not wanting to read this particular novel. First, I was seriously disgruntled with Card after I read that transcript on sff.com. Secondly, the early reports I had about Ender’s Shadow filled me with misgivings. Score one for intuition!

Right now, let me warn those of you monkies out there, whom-against our better advice-have not yet read Ender’s Game: DO NOT READ THIS ONE FIRST! It will ruin Ender’s Game for you on several levels.

Despite my misgivings about Card, he is still one of the most talented writers around today. So, I quickly fell into the story, which begins, innocuously enough, in the streets of Rotterdam where Bean is a very little urchin living on the streets.

However, he quickly organizes all the street kids of Rotterdam into a semblance of civilization (as Card puts it) and thus comes to the attention of the International Fleet (I.F.). So, of course, Bean is rushed off to Battle School.

This is where Card starts to fall off of his rocker, both scientifically and story-wise.

Generally speaking, Card has always grounded his theories in some sort of scientific fact. But, let me just say this: intelligence, and especially great intelligence, requires longer gestational and juvenile periods of development. This is a biological truth. It is never the other way around. And story-wise, it’s not that he deviates from the original plot, but more that he ruins or distorts some of the central assumptions and facts of that plot.

So, other than shattering the core of Ender’s Game and stepping off the scientific deep-end, this is a good story and an excellent tale of the life of Bean. If you have read E.G., you may be offended by some of the things Card has done here, but you will agree that it is still a good story.

P.S. Look up Deus ex Machinain your dictionary before you read this - see if you can pick out what Card has disguised his as!

Hardcover - 384 pages 1 Ed edition (August 31, 1999) Tor Books; ISBN: 031286860X ; Dimensions (in inches): 1.28 x 9.55 x 6.45