#85 Xenocide by Orson Scott Card
The following review, has spoilers for both Ender's Game and Speaker for the Dead. There are no spoilers for 
Xenocide.
Ender Wiggin has found a new home and family on the planet Lusitania, but this new life is threatened by the descolada virus, which kills all humans it comes in contact with, but it is necessary to the lives of the native species of Lusitania. Starways Congress, fearing the impact of the descolada, sends a fleet of ships housing the same device that Ender used to destroy the bugger fleet thousands of years ago. He and his new family work to save all the lives on Lusitania. But the key to Lusitania's future lies on the planet of Path, where the Gloriously Bright live. But will the future result in saving of Lusitania, or it's destruction?
Xenocide is the third book in the Ender saga, and is typically met with much more mixed reviews that Ender's Game and Speaker for the Dead. The reason behind this is the fact that the book can be long-winded. Much of this almost 600 page tome is spent discussing such weighty matters such as philosophy, religion, science, ethics, etc. Personally, I enjoy such discussions. I love a book that can tackle really weighty matters. Still, it got a little much even for me by the end so I can understand some of the criticism. One of the topics the book really delves into, is what is life, what lives are worth saving, and if some lives are worth more than others. The descolada virus is deadly to all humans that live on Lusitania. At the same time it is vital to the survival of the pequininos (the native alien species). If it possible to find a way where everyone can survive?
Xenocide is divided into several different parts. You have the experiences of Ender's family on Lusitania, conversations between the Hive Queen and the pequininos, and people living on the planet of Path. I found the Path section in particular to be interesting. Inspired by Chinese history and religion, these sections provided a nice counterpoint to the Brazilian/Catholic viewpoint on Lusitania. The storylines involving Ender's family, were also interesting, although I felt the story was too often sidetracked in infighting. I also enjoyed following the development of the character of Jane, as she continues to develop from a highly advanced computer program to a real character.
Xenocide may be a shakier than the brilliant Ender's Game, and it's the follow-up, Speaker for the Dead, but for the most part I really enjoyed it. There are some really surprising twists at the end that I did not see coming at all. I am really curious at where the series will go after this. I chose to experience Xenocide, as an audiobook, where I had read paper copies of the first two books. I think this made some of the denser moments easier to swallow, and I was overall impressed with the several voice actors they chose to narrate the story. I would recommend choosing the audiobook version.
Rating: four stars
Length: The print version is 592 pages. The audio is 20hrs and 15 minutes
Source: Lewiston Public Library
Other books I've read by this author: Ender's Game, Speaker for the Dead
Next up I will be reading The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan.
Xposted to
temporaryworlds, 
bookish, and goodreads
Xenocide.Ender Wiggin has found a new home and family on the planet Lusitania, but this new life is threatened by the descolada virus, which kills all humans it comes in contact with, but it is necessary to the lives of the native species of Lusitania. Starways Congress, fearing the impact of the descolada, sends a fleet of ships housing the same device that Ender used to destroy the bugger fleet thousands of years ago. He and his new family work to save all the lives on Lusitania. But the key to Lusitania's future lies on the planet of Path, where the Gloriously Bright live. But will the future result in saving of Lusitania, or it's destruction?
Xenocide is the third book in the Ender saga, and is typically met with much more mixed reviews that Ender's Game and Speaker for the Dead. The reason behind this is the fact that the book can be long-winded. Much of this almost 600 page tome is spent discussing such weighty matters such as philosophy, religion, science, ethics, etc. Personally, I enjoy such discussions. I love a book that can tackle really weighty matters. Still, it got a little much even for me by the end so I can understand some of the criticism. One of the topics the book really delves into, is what is life, what lives are worth saving, and if some lives are worth more than others. The descolada virus is deadly to all humans that live on Lusitania. At the same time it is vital to the survival of the pequininos (the native alien species). If it possible to find a way where everyone can survive?
Xenocide is divided into several different parts. You have the experiences of Ender's family on Lusitania, conversations between the Hive Queen and the pequininos, and people living on the planet of Path. I found the Path section in particular to be interesting. Inspired by Chinese history and religion, these sections provided a nice counterpoint to the Brazilian/Catholic viewpoint on Lusitania. The storylines involving Ender's family, were also interesting, although I felt the story was too often sidetracked in infighting. I also enjoyed following the development of the character of Jane, as she continues to develop from a highly advanced computer program to a real character.
Xenocide may be a shakier than the brilliant Ender's Game, and it's the follow-up, Speaker for the Dead, but for the most part I really enjoyed it. There are some really surprising twists at the end that I did not see coming at all. I am really curious at where the series will go after this. I chose to experience Xenocide, as an audiobook, where I had read paper copies of the first two books. I think this made some of the denser moments easier to swallow, and I was overall impressed with the several voice actors they chose to narrate the story. I would recommend choosing the audiobook version.
Rating: four stars
Length: The print version is 592 pages. The audio is 20hrs and 15 minutes
Source: Lewiston Public Library
Other books I've read by this author: Ender's Game, Speaker for the Dead
Next up I will be reading The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan.
Xposted to
temporaryworlds, bookish, and goodreads