Amazon.com
From New York Times bestselling author Orson Scott Card comes the finely crafted novel of Sarah, about a beautiful and courageous Jewish woman who changed the course of history through her faith, wisdom, and commitment to her husband, Abraham. As a man writing from a woman's perspective, Card nevertheless shows great perspicacity. Sarah's range of emotions is credible, including her fear as she pretends to be Abraham's sister in order to fool the Egyptian pharaoh Neb-Towi-Re, and her pain as she deals with her barrenness. Later, the kindness Sarah showers on Hagar, her personal handmaid, conflicts believably with her agonizing jealousy over her decision to let Abraham father a child with Hagar. Card's research for the book results in detailed descriptions that help make it memorable, from the practice of religion and styles of dress to the accounts of desert and city life. He succeeds in offering a memorable tale for both those who are interested in biblical women as part of their faith and readers who just enjoy a good story. --Cindy CrosbyBook Description
Sarai was a child of ten years, wise for her age but not yet a woman, when she first met Abram. He appeared before her in her father's house, filthy from the desert, tired and thirsty. But as the dirt of travel was washed from his body, the sight of him filled her heart. And when Abram promises Sarai to return in ten years to take her for his wife, her fate was sealed.Abram kept his promise, and Sarai kept hers they were wed, and so joined the royal house of Ur with the high priesthood of the Hebrews. So began a lifetime of great joy together, and greater peril: and with the blessing of their God, a great nation would be built around the core of their love.Bestselling author Orson Scott Card uses his fertile imagination, and uncanny insight into human nature, to tell the story of a unique woman--one who is beautiful, tough, smart, and resourceful in an era when women had little power, and are scarce in the historical record. Sarah, child of the desert, wife of Abraham, takes on vivid reality as a woman desirable to kings, a devoted wife, and a faithful follower of the God of Abraham, chosen to experience an incomparable miracle. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (67)

Even atheists like this book!
Well, this atheist does, anyway.

I found the first in Card's Women of Genesis series to be engaging and exciting reading.Being a great fan of "ancient times" historical fiction, I have never been opposed to cracking open a good Biblical fiction novel in spite of my personal beliefs (or lack thereof).Yet I am very familiar with the Bible and I found myself amazed that Card was able to construct such a deep story from the brief mentions of Sarah's life in the Book of Genesis.

I've read most of the other reviews here and I know that many people were disappointed by Card's decision to tinker with the Biblical writings to make his Women of Genesis novels flow more logically.For example, the Bible states that Lot's wife is turned to a pillar of salt when she turns back to look on Sodom's destruction, but Card has her running back into the city to be killed when "fire from Heaven" (a comet?the falling brimstone of a volcanic eruption?) rains down on the city.As a person who does not believe in the inerrant and literal truth of the Bible, yet appreciates it as a look into the lives of an ancient civilization, I found myself even more enthusiastic about Card's take on the Biblical story when this and other ambiguous "acts of God" were revealed in Sarah.

The logical, rational handling of Biblical stories in Sarah makes for truly enjoyable historical fiction, whether you're religious or not.Card's God (as a character) is rather easy to interpret as a real god or as simply the spiritual conviction of Abrahm and Sarai, as the reader prefers.I find his sensitive handling of a potentially controversial character/concept to be a testament to his talent as a writer and his respect for readers of all beliefs.

I also own the audio version of this book (which is awesome, by the way) and it includes a really excellent afterword by the author, in which he explains his reasons for choosing a nonliteral interpretation of Biblical events.I practically cheered as he explained how he could imagine that the original tales told in Genesis could have been expanded and elaborated and mixed up over time, so that they turned into something more mystical and improbable than the literal, historical truth of the story.What a rare thing to read a book written by a profoundly religious man who still chose to treat human history with the dignity of logic and rationality.

Additionally, the depiction of Egyptian life was well done.Card obviously does his research before sitting down to his keyboard.

I highly recommend this book to any lover of historical fiction, whether they are religious or not.It is not just a good work of Biblical fiction - it is simply an enjoyable and entertaining novel all around.

Not quite right
The plot was okay other then too much dialouge and people argueing, but after reading three books in the series of Women in Genensis I was increasingly trouble by things the books claim didn't happen.Of course I know this is fiction and the author has every right to fill in missing places of the Bible with speculation and imagination, but to repeatly have the characters claim a part of the Bible isn't true distrubs me.At least twice in two of the books it's said that Isaac never tried to pass his wife off as his sister like Abraham did.However the Bible says they did.If the author didn't like that part of the story he could have just left it out, not called the Bible false.There are other Bibical problems with the books, but I wouldn't fault the author for not being totally bibically correct.We can't memorize the whole Bible and get every detail right.I may have kept reading his books anyway because I do really like that a central theme in the books is that there's only God and He loves us and has a wonderful plan for us even when it doesn't seem likely.However something I read in the afterword of the book Sarah made me reject any more of his books.If you don't mind the quote it said, "...I believe in the Bible so seriously that I think it really is what it claims to be - a record, written by men, of stories that seemed important and truthful to them at the time of writing, using the standards of truth available to them at the time.This means that the idea of inerrancy of Biblical scripture is silly on its face."
The Bible never claims to be just a book of records.It is inerrant as evidence by how little it has changed over the centuries. We can't just pick and choose what we want to believe or there really isn't a guidline.Maybe next an author will say not all of the ten comandments are real and God probably didn't really tell people not to murder.Maybe that's unlikely, but you get the idea.

LIFEGIVING STORYTELLING!
LIKE SO MANY WONDERFUL EVENTS THAT CAN BE HAD IN LIFE, THIS FINE BOOK IS A PART OF A SERIES!

THANKS TO MR. CARD'S CORE OF MYSTICISM THAT RUNS LIKE A VEIN OF GOLD THROUGH HIS WORKS, AND TO HIS COMPASSIONATE, LOVING AND DEEP KNOWLEDGE OF THE INNER WORKINGS OF WOMEN, THE STORY DOES COME ALIVE.

I AM INSPIRED TO DIG OLD MY OLD TESTAMENT AND REREAD THE STORIES OF MY CHILDHOOD.

WAITING IMPATIENTLY FOR THE FOURTH, ETC. IN THE SERIES.

Why did I doubt Card could handle this topic?:)
He's done it again.

It's been a while since I've read anything by Card, but I'm happy to say his storytelling stills rings true. When I first saw this on a Borders bookshelf, I had my doubts. Quite frankly, I thought it was audacious of anyone to try and tell such a well-known Biblical story. After skimming it briefly, I bought the book out of sheer curiousity.

I was not disappointed.

Card tells a wonderful story, which as far as I'm concerned stays faithful to the essence of the Biblical tale. His characters are beautiful and sincere in their emotions and motivations. His story never really feels like a sermon to the reader. The plot is filled with political intrigue, betrayal, suspicion, and passion that the characters rendered ultimately feel like genuine people with very real and legitimate fears and doubts. And through it all, their faith is always apparent--in one way or another.

This was definitely an enjoyable read, which was unexpected.

A living saga of love, courage and everlasting faith
Prolific Science Fiction/Fantasy author puts his pen to the service of narratin the lives of the Hebrew Matriarchs in The Women of Genesis series. Here Card beautifully and sensitively narrates the story Sarah, filling in the gaps with consumate and imaginative skill.

Unlike some novels, such as Sarah by Marek Halter and The Red Tent, by Anita Diamant, where the women are portayed as worshiping idols and other gods, Sarah is shown as a strong women, devoted to the service of Yahweh since she was little, as are the other matriarchs in the Women of Genesis series.

In this account, Sarai was ten years old, a bright and inquisitive child, when she first met the desert nomad and priest of Yaweh, Abram, who had come to her house to negotiate the marriage of his cousin Lot to the to Sarai's wilful and selfish sister, Qira. Abram captures little Sarai's heart, and and seals her destiny by promising that he will come back and marry her, within ten years.

Sarai, a princes of the Royal House of Ur, is promised by her father as a priestes to Asherah, but renounces this future, and instead devotes her herself to the worship of the one living G-D Yahweh.

Her prayers are answered soon after she prays for Abram to be spared by the vengeance of an Egyptian official, Suwertu-an earthquake shakes Ur and Suwertu is killed.

Abram and Sarai are married in a union of love and faith, joining the Royal House ofUr to the high priesthood of the Hebrew Nation. The epic of love, faithand peril follows from Haran to Canaan to Egypt and back to Canaan, where Abram and his tribe settle in Hebron.
Card gives us an interesting perspective on Sarai and Abram's experiences in Egypt where she is passed off as Abram's sister, rather than his wife.
Sarai's great kindnes to her handmaiden who she is given in Egypt, the Arab slave-girl Hagar.
The wickedness of Sarai's sister and Lot's wife Qira and the destruction of Sodom and Gommorah, and Qira's death there- only Lot and two of his daughters survive.

Finally Hagar's birth of Ishmail and Hagar's newfound spite against Sarah. The miraculous birth in Sarah's old age of Isaac (after G-D's promise),and the expulsion of Hagar and Ishmail from Abraham's household after Ishmail's brutality to the little Isaac.

The narrative is told with sensitivity and prose. The slight deviations from the Biblical account do not in any way take away from the spirit of the Biblical narrative. I actually preferred the idea of Qira being killed by the flames and lava, rather than being literally turned into a pillar of salt.
The author's Biblical understanding is supplemented by his comprehensive study of Canaan, Ancient Egypt and the Ancient Near East. What results is a living saga of love, courage and everlasting faith.




... Read more

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Customer Reviews (28)

Like reading your favorite book again without having to
I got this as a gift and I really liked it because I love the Ender Series and this little book gave me a little taste of something that I miss.I don't reread books, but sometimes a series comes along and I wish I had never read it so that i can read it for the first time again. Well, this little book gave me a taste of reading it over again for the first time, and from a different perspective.And I like that it was short and sweet...not too much investment of my time.

Good, but just not worth it
Yes, I saw there was a new Ender book out, and seeing as I've read all the ender, shadow and speaker books, I wanted it. I got it for christmas, and after some waiting, it finally arrived. I was very dissapointed. It was a thin little pocket book with pages that seemed to have been ripped off, rather than cut off (nothing bad about OSC there, only the publishers). So I started reading, and as usual I got interested in the story and the characters. After reading for twenty minutes two nights in a row I had read more than half. The book centers around the isolation and home-sickness of the kids in the orbiting Battle School. At the school, any religious activities are absolutely prohibited. In military training, there's no place for religion. One day, a kid gives another kid a christmas gift, and the conflict is a fact. It also centers around the genious of Ender Wiggin. This half-novel quickly gets started, has a less brief middle part, and ends abruptly. As if mr Scott Card realised he would miss the bus if he didn't finish it up quickly. Sure, it's written in the usual great story-telling way of OSC, but it really doesn't do anything for me. It's just a little short which I skimmed through in three days. I suggest you wait until a full-length novel shows up, this isn't worth your money, I'm afraid.

Unending Ender
I bought this for my grown son who has read everything OSC has written. I had a chance to read it - one sitting. Card's writing is smooth and his stories - while having complexities and very much things one should/needs/wants to think about - does it without a lengthy approach.

While the Ender stories sit in some hypothetical setting in our near(?) future, there are always applicable lessons to be taken away for our world and lives.

Cute, Quaint
And utterly forgettable.

An unremarkable short story (novella?) about the suppression of religion during Ender's time at the battle school.

Aside from the opening chapters about Zeck and his zealot upbringing, this book is best served for killing 45 minutes or for use as a coaster.

Disappointing
I was very disappointed with A War of Gifts. I thought the characters and nuances of Battle School were inconsistent with other Ender stories. Card is such an excellent author, I felt like this book was rushed and not up to his standard. ... Read more

Book Description

A shattering childhood tragedy left Quentin Fears devastated and unable to cope with the world and its citizens. It didn't, however, prevent him from making millions through brilliant investments. And now the enigmatic recluse has experienced the extraordinarily unexpected: love at first sight.

Customer Reviews (59)

Surprisingly Good Horror Novel by SF Master
Orson Scott Card's science fiction has always been characterized by strong character internalization and wonderment over the unknown (essentially a mystery element, but not in the who-dunnit sense).These virtues translate well into his forays into the horror field.There is an unsettling disquiet as to what is coming next that creates an erie, spookiness (no hack and slash gorefests here) that surprised me.I also think that the internalizations, as well as key elements of the plot, itself (sorry, don't want to give anything away by being more specific) suggest that one of the scariest things is for others to truly know what we are thinking about ourselves and others.A nice change of pace and a compelling read.Donald J. Bingle, Author of Forced Conversion.

Brevity can be a good thing
It was a little slow getting into, and the characters are completely unbelievable.But the storyline was still compelling, and by the time it reached its climax it had me on the edge of my seat, wondering what would happen next.I think I'm glad I listened to an abridged version, it kept the story very compact and engrossing - it was more of a really good short story than a decent novel, and it could have been pared down even further and still retained the ambiance and core tale.

The only thing that really bothered me was the very, very, very end.There was a paragraph or two at the end that was preachy and sappy and annoying.It could definitely been cut off, and detracted from an otherwise strong ending.

Another Horror Masterpiece by Orson Scott Card
Orson Scott Card has tackled many genres. He's done Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Speculative fiction, Biblical fiction, thrillers, political novels, and horror novels. Treasure Box fits into the latter category.

Card has written 3 horror novels: Lost Boys, Homebody, and Treasure Box. Each has it's own story to tell and each is unique. Treasure Box is the story of Quentin Fears (pronounced "fierce"). Quentin lost his sister Lizzy at a very young age. Since then, he has always felt a close, almost supernatural bond with her. After making many wise investments and becoming a millionaire Quentin meets a woman, Madeline, who reminds him of his long lost sister and marries her without knowing much about her. In meeting her family for the first time, Card gives us the perfect example of why we should not rush into a marriage when we don't know the person we are betrothed to.

Treasure Box is a haunting and thrilling supernatural ride from beginning to end. Card once again does not disappoint. He shows how he can tackle any genre and in doing so, become the master of that genre. Behind every Card book is a cast of strong, inspiring, human characters that the reader grows attached to. Treasure Box is no exception. Card has a powerful ability to portray his characters as living souls and someone that each person can relate to. He knows the human psyche and soul well.

I've read alot of criticism of Treasure Box, and I don't see why. I thought that it was a wonderful book from beginning to end. I've heard many people say that it "started too slow but gets really good in the middle." I don't think it started to slow at all. Rather than rushing in to the heart of the story, Card takes the time to build up his characters while at the same time setting up the story.

Card's done another wonderful job with Treasure Box, and I give it two thumbs up and a strong recommendation for someone looking for something more than another Stephen King novel.

Not up to Card Par
I am an avid OSC reader. Have been for years. Was surprised when I found this book on Amazon. Really excited to receive and read. Huge fan of Ender books, Worthing books, Alvin Maker series. If you are too..... steer clear of this one. Not up to OSC's usual impeccable quality. Oh well, can't bat perfectly.

Another page turner by Orson Scott Card
Before reading this book, the only other Orson Scott Card book I had ever read was Ender's Game, which was by far the most entertaining science fiction book I'd been exposed to. In Treasure Box, Orson Scott Card places the fantasy/sci-fi genre aside and writes a tale that combines a supernatural/horror storyline with Card's mastery at plot-weaving. The story is at once a moving one, with the traumatic death of the main character's beloved sister. Then the author takes you on a journey that is a love story, a ghost story, a mystery, and a horror story all wrapped up in one easy-to-read package.

This book was definitely entertaining and engaging, and would be perfect for a plane flight or rainy day. ... Read more

Book Description
When ten-year-old Dinah Kirkham saw her father leave their Manchester home in the middle of the night, she basked when he would be back. "Soon," he replied. But he never came back. On that night in 1829, John Kirkham laid the foundation of his daughter's certainty that the only person Dinah could ever really trust was herself.From that day forward, Dinah worked to support her family, remaining devoted to their welfare even in the face of despair and grinding poverty. Then one day she heard a new message, a new purpose ignited in her heart, and new life opened up before her. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (31)

Horrible!Not an uplifting book!
I found Saints to be a poor sampling of LDS fiction. The first half of the book tells the story how Dinah Kirkman grew up in England and is VERY depressing. I continued to read the book with the hope that it would get better. It didn't! The story continues with Dinah's polygamous marriage to Joseph Smith then latter to Brigham Young. The story takes a very harsh view of Emma Smith. The intimate relationships were too graphically described.This book, though maybe well written, is not historically accurate and has blatant historical flaws.It is a depressing book, with no redeeming factors.Don't waste your time on it!

I don't remember
It hasn't been that long since I read it but I don't remember much about it...However I remember a lot about the other books written by this author.So, I imagine it was good - I did read it - and I am pretty selective about what I read.Just not memorable.

THOUGH WELL WRITTEN, IT WAS OFFENSIVE
I AM A MEMBER OF THE LDS CHURCH. ALTHOUGH THE BOOK WAS WELL WRITTEN, I FOUND THE GRAPHIC SEXUAL DESCRIPTION OFFENSIVE. I BELIEVE THAT ONE CAN MAKE AN IMPRESSION OF HISTORY WITHOUT BEING INAPPROPIATE.I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED, AS HE MADE THE APOSTLES APPEAR CRUDE AND DECEPTIVE, SOME OF THE HISTORY WAS CORRECT, BUT HE WENT TOO FAR WITH HIS PERSONAL OPINION AND PLAYED A GAME TO INFLUENCE OTHERS WITH HIS CREATION OF THIER BEHAVIOR AND MANNERISMS.

Exploration of early Mormonism

I am often ambivalent about OSC writing about Mormon Characters.
I am sometimes troubled with the dichotomies of whether OSC is an intellectual Mormon, or a "Mormon Intellectual" some of you may know what I mean.

"Saints" is a tale broken down in thirds, the first third being about the life of working poor in early 19th century England, fascinating gritty and moving as we follow the early life of the story's protagonist from early childhood abandonment by her father, to her abandonment of her own children because she feels compelled by God to join the Saints in Zion.

The second third is about her reluctant pull into Polygamy in the early church history, her love and Marriage to the Prophet Joseph Smith until his martyrdom.

The End of the tale deals with the Pioneering travails to Utah, and her life long battle defending the "principle" of Plural Marriage.

"Saints" is a very interesting look at the history of early Mormonism, but one that may be hard on the uncommitted members of the Church. So am I glad I read "Saints"? Yes I am. Would I recommend it to others? Yes, but only sparingly. Or only with advice, I don't know which. One thing is clear, OSC has an immense knowledge of the early history of the Church, and I believe a great love for the Gospel as well, so I am not qualified to criticize this fascinating novel for over exposing the early histories of the Church, or the foibles of its members. It is true that if there is a general fault to find with Mormons, it is our tendency to remember history in a favorable light, and to many this tale may be seen as unfavorable. To me however, it just makes me grateful to live in the modern half of the latter-days.

So bottom line is, if you want to see how hard life was for the early saints, and to understand the sacrifice entailed in the practice of Polygamy, this is an excellent book to feel the day to day stress in the formative years of the Church. For a look at what it is like to be a Mormon in a non Mormon town in Modern days, read "Lost Boys" and learn or remember who we are today. So, I guess the fact is I am not as conflicted about OSC as I am for the intelligence of others, so excuse my ramblings and read away, decide for yourself.

Ready to Convert
It wasn't my favorite Orson Scott Card novel but after reading this fanciful, glossed-over version about the origins of one of Christianity's most successful, bizarre and ridiculous cults, I was almost convinced that polygamy was godly and that Native Americans were lost Israelis.

Better works by Card: Wyrms, Worthing Saga, Pastwatch...

He still earns stars because the man can narrate a story... ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (27)

Good, but...
Well, I read this book because it's written by Orson Scott Card, and I normally enjoy his books. And to tell the truth, it was good. Not high literature, but interesting, entertaining, and most certainly engaging. The basic premise was strong, and I thought the story was written fairly well, especially for something that's intended for film.

On the other hand, it definitely wasn't of the same quality as some of Card's other books, like the Ender or Bean series, or Enchantment, or even his historical novels. If you're expecting that, you won't like it.

It was much more in Card's recent style, closer to Empire than his other books. And like Empire, Invasive Procedures was thrilling, and worth reading at least once. As to whether you'd want to own it, I suppose it depends. If you can get over the fact that it's not as good as Card's other stuff, then by all means buy it, enjoy it. If you can't, then don't bother reading it.

Should have remained a short story
The padding is obvious.Between cardboard characters arguing pointlessly with each other and boiler-plate scenes that don't advance the plot, this book is a real loser.

Check out the back cover.Under the heading: PRAISE FOR ORSON SCOTT CARD, there's a quote from the Houston Post (a newspaper that's been defunct since 1995) and a description of "Empire" that simply isn't praise (just a non-evaluative description).

Note also Amazon's goof: under "See all Editorial Reviews" is a review of *Empire* not *Invasive Procedures*

Average; OSC slips down a notch
I'm not sure what happened here. The book started off great, but then they ran away with the plot, creating majorly hard-to-follow twists and plot holes. I found the characters 2D, very disappointing compared to OSC's larger than life populations of Ender's Game, etc. I don't recommend this book unless you're a hardcore OSC fan. And even then...it's not really worth your time. Personally, I wouldn't bet on any Johnston stuff, either.

Mainscreen Ambitions Out of Character
This project was apparently the brainchild of OSC and LA.It has all the earmarks of a summer action hit, but comes up short on charcterization. It's not horrid by any means, but it doesn't deliver the characterizations that I have come to expect from OSC.It can easily be converted to the big screen sure... I just wish OSC could get his great stories and characters on screen without having to adapt to a style that he and Mr. Johnston do well enough with but which seems to be missing the heart of some other work.

Orson Scott Card....how could you?
I picked this puppy up at the library (thank god) and finished it rather quickly.The idea of the book is pretty novel, and I was hooked by what was written on the book jacket, but the writing is just awful.

I realize that it's a science fiction book, so it's not supposed to be completely realistic, but it's not even remotely realistic.It just turns from interesting and mysterious to pretty corny to "Are you kidding me?" very quickly.The ending is pretty brash and quick, and I'm getting so sick of authors who portray women in this completely unrealistic, weak-woman, sobbing constantly, needing a strong man to protect her type of way.

No thanks. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (155)

Not your father's Orson Scott Card
I'll admit that I've read every novel Card has written, from the Ender sagas to the Alvin Makers books, even his gothic and biblical novels. The one thing that always marks the high point with his work his his terrific ability to tell a story: simply, clearly, with a terrific tone and voice appropriate to the context.

So I'm passionate about his work. I'm less than wholly satisfied with this book, however, and not because it's a radical departure in theme from his other works, this being a sort of near-future thriller. What is lacking is a consistent voice - the narration seems to switch. There are some plot twists which seem a bit absurd. In his afterward, he credits watching "24" to get the feel for a fast-paced narrative. I think he hit the fast-forward button a couple of times too often.

What saves the book, for me, is what I so enjoy about his writing in general: it's that he is one of the premier story tellers in modern American fiction. And despite its flaws, it's a story well worth reading.

How Ironic...
... that as of right now, this product has exactly 2.5 stars.It only underscores the point Card makes in his Afterword: we are a divided nation.

In fact, if I were only reviewing the Afterword, I would have given a 5 star review based on his balanced, logical, and very astute discussion there.Card's assertion is pretty on target: we assume that if a person holds a belief in something widely believed to be conservative or liberal, that the person has swallowed that cadre's whole world view.We use single ideas as shortcuts to labeling a person as either Red or Blue, and that devalues the complexity of who we are individually and as a country.For this alone, the book is worth reading.

But unfortunately, I'm reviewing the whole book.And while I think I understand what Card was trying to do based on what he tells us in the afterword, I don't feel this particular attempt was successful.

He tries for Fair and Balanced (note the use of Fox's tagline) but in fact gets pulled very hard to the right.

OK, so the main character is Conservative, that's fine - in fact, his character development is solid and well crafted.Card tries to balance this by having this particular Conservative be open minded enough to marry a Liberal.Of course, though, this particular Liberal has done everything that a Conservative would want in a wife: she's dropped her high powered job to raise their 5 kids. Which is fine as well ~ Women were fighting to have the *choice* to make this decision.But through the rest of the novel, she is the sole positive Liberal ~ the rest are the evildoers and rebels, criminal masterminds and spouters of mindless, brainwashed rants.And she doesn't even get to describe her positions ~ let alone keep up with the constant one-liners straight from Fox News.

Side note: Having these characters be Croat and Serb was actually a great idea: reminding us of another society pulled apart along very polarized lines, and showing that it could be unified.

If the book actually did represent a balance of the views of "regular people" - conservative and liberal alike - without so obviously siding for one side, I think this could have been a fantastic book.If a group of non-extreme Americans who supported and loved the Constitution had been created - military and non - to work together and re-build, I think he would have really had something here. Maybe Card thought he had done that with 1 liberal housewife, 20 miltary conservatives, and a Mormon president (albiet unelected) - but I think the odds were a little tipped toward the conservatives.Going to the Washington Post (and talking about how they're the enemy) and then going to Fox (and literally pandering to Bill O'Reilly) is not balanced, sorry.

No, Card hasn't "committed treason against the Left" as someone else said here.Far from it.But even so, the bias is a little more than obvious. The only sin he has committed is to say he's planning to be fair and balanced, and then not be.

(I should note I've read nearly everything that Card has written: not just Ender and its extended series, but the entire Alvin Maker series, the short stories, and anything else Card I can find.I have a significant amount of respect for this author; he's one of my favorites!)

Call me Ann Coulter
A reader of the Ender's series and several others by Card, I expected a good plot, fair handling of the subject, and balanced character development.While reading the first several chapters, I detected a very conservative bias to the plot and character development.This perception was not different at the end of the book.Maybe I am sensitive to the label of "liberal," or maybe the 140 hours of graduate level work in engineering and mathematics has warped my mind.But, this novel appears to have a right-wing evangelistic flavor.Disappointing.

Great Potential, Poor Execution
OSC has always been a personal favorite author.However, he needs to stay away from writing about contemporary or near-contemporary politics.In this book, he creates right-wing heroes and flat left-wing caricatures.People who think that left-leaning people are somehow evil and plan to take over the world will probably like the book.For those that don't see politics in black and white, the complete bias that the author brings will probably leave a sour and unpleasing taste in your mouth.Lets hope OSC stays in the past or the future--and leaves the present to others.

A good read with interesting themes
I want to preface my review by reminding/telling everyone THIS BOOK HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE "ENDER" SERIES.THE ONLY THING IT HAS IN COMMON IS THE AUTHOR.I say this because after reading all one-hundred and fifty other reviews for this book, it seems that, in general, everyone who gave this book a low rating started off by saying "I'm a really big OSC fan, and I love the Ender books"

Empire allows the reader to explore a potential future if partisan politics allow our nation to become divided... again.If, like in this story, the fighting between "Red" and "Blue" states became more heated and active than just general moral or political disagreements and debates.What intrigued me most about this book was Card's comparisons of America to the pre-empire (republic) period of Rome.I don't want to spoil anything for anyone, so let me say this - Give it a chance.It's a good read and really made me think, and hopefully will do the same for you. If you're not expecting Ender's Game or something like that, then you'll probably enjoy it at least as much as I did. ... Read more

Amazon.com
This romantic ghost story relies on a familiar horror backbone: a stranger with a tragic past moves into an old house thatalso has a tragic past, and is forced to reckon with the supernatural forces that dwell there. In Homebody, the stranger is an itinerant architect-builder who makes a lonely living by purchasing fixer-uppers, renovating them, and selling them. The house he buys in Greensboro,North Carolina, (where Orson Scott Card lives, in real life) has threemysteries attached to it: a tunnel in the basement, an attractive female squatter who refuses to leave, and a trio of weird doomsayers who live next door.

Card has a clear, well-honed writing style, full of human warmth--astyle that is especially effective in the development of the centralcharacter, and in details of tools and techniques for renovating an old house. His approach to murder, danger, and threatening forces is so free of closeness or oppression that one might call it "anti-gothic." Inan interview, he said, "I am completely uninterested in exploring evil. Evil (and weak and wicked) people are all evil (or weak, orwicked) in the same boring ways. But good people are infinitely interesting inthe ways they manage to be good despite all the awful circumstances oftheir lives."

Homebody is a pleasant tale about the triumph of love over evil, with a couple of bizarre twists to give it spice. (Hint: don't read the Kirkus Review if you want to keep the plot a surprise.) --Fiona WebsterBook Description

A master craftsman, Don Lark could fix everything except what mattered, his own soul. After tragedy claimed the one thing he loved, he began looking for dilapidated houses to buy, renovate, and resell at a profit--giving these empty shells the second chance at life he denied himself.

Then in a quiet Southern town, Lark finds his biggest challenge: a squalid yet sturdy mansion that has suffered decades of abuse at the hands of greedy landlords and transient tenants. While two charming old neighbor ladies ply him with delicious cooking, they offer dire warnings about the house's evil past. But there is something about this building that pushes Lark on, even as its enchantments grow increasingly ominous. Will finishing the house offer Lark redemption, or unleash the darkest forces of damnation upon him? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (56)

A Fun Read
I thoroughly enjoyed this book as did my mom and siblings when I told them about it. A couple friends of mine also liked the book. It isn't a really "deep" book as some people keep referring to Card's other writings, but it was very enjoyable! Different than some other books I had previously read. Just expect an entertaining "other worldly" read and enjoy!

Card should be embarrassed!
Let me start by saying that I really like Orson Scott Card and think that he has written some really excellent books (Ender's Game, Pastwatch, etc).This book is in not Card's normal sci fi genre but is a supernatural "thriller".I have to say that this book was absolutely terrible!It started off pretty well but just flopped in the end.Nothing exciting ever really happened, the characters seemed to have emotions with no context, and the ending was so predictable it was painful.If I were Card, I would be embarrassed to put my name on this book.If you love Card's previous books, you will be extremely disappointed by this one.

Disappointing
I thought this was, for some reason, going to be a more `normal' fiction book (it was recommended, so I didn't really look at the genre).But about fifty pages in it started getting weird.Not only with the addition of the supernatural elements, but the characters themselves.It was a case of having too much crammed into them.There were no `normal' people in the book to balance out all of the extremes, and that was not only wearing, but completely unbelievable (right, I realize I was suspending my disbelief on the whole possessed house part, but that doesn't mean I can't demand realistic characters!).The book ground to a predictable and tidy ending, which was rather... offputting.After wading through all of that insanity, I expected a more creative payoff.

THIS OLD HOUSE...
This book tells the story of a haunted house and the haunted souls that inhabit it. When Don Lark, a former home builder whose life was destroyed by the tragic death of his only child, sees the Bellamy House, he knows that beneath the years of neglect lies a diamond in the rough. He buys the house from a real estate agent with whom he forms an immediate bond, only to discover that she, too, has her own personal tragedy with which to contend, one that is anathema to him given his own tragic past.

After Don buys the house, he moves in with the intent of restoring it. He soon realizes that there is another inhabitant in the house, a mysterious woman named Sylvie. He also discovers that he has two somewhat eccentric old women who live next door. They, too, have secrets. They ply him with a home cooked meal and let him know that they adamantly oppose his renovation of the Bellamy house.

As Don renovates the Bellamy House, strange things begin to happen within. Moreover, he finds himself becoming interested in Sylvie who also seems to be changing. There is definitely something afoot at the Bellamy House, and Don needs to find out what it is before it is too late for them all.

The books starts off promisingly enough but soon careens out of control with characters that are poorly developed and subplots that go nowhere and add nothing to the book. Still, fans of haunted house stories and those who like books that have supernatural portents will get a modicum of enjoyment from reading this book.

Feel good with a twist
A great story about a lonely man trying to get by on his own. He buys homes, renovates and then sells them for a living.I don't think he could have thought he would be the one who would rejuvenated by jobs end, after meeting a woman who surprised them both! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (67)

FICTIONAL CHARACTERS
A well written, easy to read tool.Wish I had the use of it years ago.

Good Tips
Orson Scott Card is a master story teller, so it's great to learn from him. It's one of the basic books for learning how to construct your characters. You'll need others though, like The Complete Writer's Guide to Heroes and Heroines (Paperback)
by Tami D. Cowden

It takes time to find the gold
Characters & Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card

Reading this book was like eating soup that had bursts of flavor in it. To find the flavor, you had to eat a lot of soup that was tasteless. After reading this book, I felt it was suited more for the novice who knows little to nothing about the structure of a book and developing the characters in that book. A novice in my opinion is someone who wants to be published and famous but wasn't willing to put in the time reading while they were young a to learn the literary skills taught in English literature in high school/college. It is my opinion that this book digresses and has too much fluff and could have been written in fifty to seventy-five pages instead of the one hundred and seventy-three that it is. Although the book offers valuable insight into the development of characterization, it did not need to run on as long as it did. When I read Creating Character Emotions by Ann Hood, it didn't take long to finish the book. Hood's book was packed with information and examples and did not digress like Card's book did. On the other hand, it took me five times as long to read Card's book because of the digressions. However, I do not think that Hood's book was written for the novice.Card's book takes the reader by the hand and leads him/her gently toward an understanding of developing characterization along with plot and other structural elements that are required to write a story that has a chance to see print.Hood's book, on the other hand, leaps in and roars ahead without taking the time to develop the necessary skills.I felt that Hood's book took for granted that the reader would know the things that Card teaches them in his book.I have four more books on characterization by four other authors and I plan to read them all.I know what my main weakness is in developing a narrative--characterization. After reading Hood and Card, I feel it is important to have a diverse perspective on the topic of developing characterization. One book may not be enough to understand what it takes to bring people to life on the flat page filled with black print.

Valuable, entertaining little book
Somehow, Orson Scott Card has a way of making anything an enjoyable read.This is true with his book on Characters and Viewpoint.He places his knowledge in the package of his well developed prose so that it is fun to read and easy to understand.But Card also likes to give his readers special treats and this book is no exception.Readers find the special treats in the stories Card shares of his many writers bootcamps and workshops including anecdotes from such well read authors as Gene Wolfe.This helps the reader understand that Card is not just drawing off his knowledge, but that of many other authors just as talented as he is.Most certainly worth multiple reads.

A writer's notebook
If you desire to write stories full of imagination, as well as fact, then I suggest you read this book. It is chock-full of explanations, viewpoints, instructions, as well as entertainment. As a budding writer, I am constantly seeking for the one book that will propel me to stardom. I find this one to be a definite step-up in that direction. ... Read more

Book Description
Lanik Muellers birthright as heir to planet Treasons most powerful rulership will never be realized. He is a rada radical regenerative. A freak who can regenerate injured flesh . . . and trade extra body parts to the Offworld oppressors for iron. On a planet without hard metalsor the means of escapeiron is power in the race to build a spacecraft. Iron is the promise of freedomwhich may never be fulfilled as Lanik uncovers a treacherous conspiracy beyond his imagination. Now charged with a mission of conquestand exileLanik devises a bold and dangerous plan . . . a quest that may finally break the vicious chain of rivalry and bloodshed that enslaves the people of Treason as the Offworld never could. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (37)

Perfect
I'm not great at reviewing but I had to get a five-star vote in on this.Treason is on the short list of the best books I have ever read in my life.Card blows your mind again, and again, and again.

A Fantastical Tale
Lanik Mueller, a man born of a people that have genetically altered themselves to quickly heal travels across the world names Treason. His genetics allow his people to quickly heal injuries and even regrow severed body parts. Though his journey of exploration of both the world and himself is fast-paced and interesting it is not what I would call "Ender caliber".

I have read the other reviews and they perplex me when they speak of this book as though it contains more than one story.It does not. This book lacks that spark which allows the reader to suspend disbelief and experience the story rather than just read it. Little inconsistencies like Lanik's later ability to not need food or water (given to him in Schwartz) In Schwartz he was told "We don't kill animals...We don't kill plants...We don't kill water." yet when he was among the Ku Kuei Lanik thought "...in Schwartz, when the water pooled so I can drink..." It is difficult to believe that people living within a few weeks travel of each other would not have made similar contacts with the other cultures on the planet (after 28 plus generations). It is likewise difficult to believe that the "jailers" would send iron down as a currency and not have discovered the virtually limitless supply of iron that was discovered (or possibly accumulated) by the Schwartz.

The dialogue and non-stop action is what keeps the reader quickly turning the pages quickly enough to overlook most of the obvious problems with the plot. Read it for a quick enjoyment but don't dwell on it after finishing.

sympathetic main character
As an Orson Scott Card fan I expect to enjoy all his books.This book was no disappointment.As this is an earlier book, you can see the beginnings of the personalities and guilt ridden angst of his characters.Deals also with the destruction of a people much and the Ender series does later.Not a Nebula level novel but satisfying.

Perfect.Unbelievable in the grace of its execution.
This book is simply amazing.It is the best book of any kind I have read.

Many reviews of books say that "You simply cannot put it down."I don't know why, but I couldn't put this one down.It's not the suspense either, which is odd.The events are not THAT surprising, but the prose and dialogue are just beautiful.

Buy this book.You will not be disappointed.

you must be kidding
I'm a Card fan, so I was eager to read this book.Talk about disappointed.I'm honestly baffled by all these good reviews."Treason" is every bit as ridiculous as Marian Zimmer Bradley on a bad day (I'm thinking specifically of MZB's story in which two women handcuffed to each other PUT SHIRTS ON, THEN TAKE THEM OFF -- "Treason" is just as unbelievable).The plot's been described elsewhere in the reviews.It's fairly far-fetched, and I found the writing too clumsy to allow me to suspend my disbelief.Maybe it wouldn't have been so disappointing if "Ender's Game," "Pastwatch", "Lost Boys", and some others weren't such satisfying books. Anyway, Card and MZB have a lot in common:When they're good, they're very very good, but when they're bad, they're unreadable.For me, "Treason" is an incredibly painful read.Bad, bad, bad. ... Read more

Book Description
In this third volume of his Women of Genesis series, Orson Scott Card paints a vivid picture of the intertwined lives of four celebrated women. We meet Leah, the oldest daughter of Laban, whose "tender eyes" prevent her from fully participating in the daily work of her nomadic family, and Rachel, the spoiled younger daughter, the petted and privileged beauty of the familynbsp;-- or so it seems to Leah. There is also Bilhah, an orphan who is not quite a slave but not really a family member, a young woman desperately searching to fit in, and Zilpah, who knows only how to use her beauty to manipulate men as she strives to secure for herself something better than the life of drudgery and servitude into which she has been born. Into the desert camp comes Jacob, a handsome and charismatic kinsman who is clearly destined to be Rachel's husband. But that doesn't prevent the other women from vying for his attention. Tracing their lives from childhood to maturity, Card shows how these women change each othernbsp;-- and are changed again by the holy books that Jacob brings with him. Ambition, jealousy, fear, and love motivate them as they vie for the attention of Jacob, heir to the spiritual birthright of Abraham and Isaac. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

Disappointing
I was excited to read this book because I really enjoyed "Sarah" and "Rebekah."Unfortunately, I found this particular book to be filled with inaccuracies and sexual references.It is in no way as disgusting and offensive as the account of these four women in "The Red Tent," but it made me wonder if Orson Scott Card was trying to capitalize on the success of that book by imitating it.I understand that historical fiction is just that -- fiction.But it's difficult to take the word of God and ancient stories that have been passed down for thousands of years and change them around just to suit an author's whims.I would have appreciated this book more if it had built a story that was more faithful to the accounts in the book of Genesis.

solid, uplifting fiction with strong female characters
The third book in Card's Women of Genesis series, this intertwines the stories of four women - the two sisters from the title and their unlikely handmaidens, Bilhah and Zilpah. Similar in tone and style to the previous entries in the series, Sarah and Rebekah, it remains faithful to what is shown in the Bible while breathing full life and spirit into the characters.

While the book is clearly one about faith, it does not shove that down the reader's throat. The women have normal hopes, fears and dreams. They are shown to be as strong as the men around them, which isn't a common view from biblical times. It is not often you can find spiritually uplifting fiction that flows this well.

Card is an excellent writer, and fans of his better known science fiction and fantasy works would be well served to try out this series.

Complaint
I have already mentioned to you that I never recieved this book, I am expecting you to do something about this Rachael and Leah,also Zipporah wife to Moses and also Rebecca. These are three books I never recieved. Please correct this Carolyn.

Bibically shamed
The plot was okay other then too much dialouge and people argueing, but after reading three books in the series of Women in Genensis I was increasingly trouble by things the books claim didn't happen.Of course I know this is fiction and the author has every right to fill in missing places of the Bible with speculation and imagination, but to repeatly have the characters claim a part of the Bible isn't true distrubs me.At least twice in two of the books it's said that Isaac never tried to pass his wife off as his sister like Abraham did.However the Bible says they did.If the author didn't like that part of the story he could have just left it out, not called the Bible false.There are other Bibical problems with the books, but I wouldn't fault the author for not being totally bibically correct.We can't memorize the whole Bible and get every detail right.I may have kept reading his books anyway because I do really like that a central theme in the books is that there's only God and He loves us and has a wonderful plan for us even when it doesn't seem likely.However something I read in the afterword of the book Sarah made me reject any more of his books.If you don't mind the quote it said, "...I believe in the Bible so seriously that I think it really is what it claims to be - a record, written by men, of stories that seemed important and truthful to them at the time of writing, using the standards of truth available to them at the time.This means that the idea of inerrancy of Biblical scripture is silly on its face."
The Bible never claims to be just a book of records.It is inerrant as evidence by how little it has changed over the centuries. We can't just pick and choose what we want to believe or there really isn't a guidline.Maybe next an author will say not all of the ten comandments are real and God probably didn't really tell people not to murder.Maybe that's unlikely, but you get the idea.

Entertaining and enlightening reading
This book is the third in a trilogy of books based on the women who married the biblical heroes of faith from Genesis.Having read the first volume, Sarah - (Abraham's wife), and the second, Rebekkah -(Isaac's wife); both of which are fascinating reading - I could hardly wait to enjoy this book about the wives of Jacob.These books are wholly fiction and yet illuminate the characters from the biblical stories and give them context within the culture of their time and faith.Orson Scott Card has given these women genuine attributes of strength and weakness, love and jealousy, great faith and great doubt, and in so doing has deepened my appreciation for all that is written in these stories.I believe that the bible is God's Inspired Word and these books do not take anything away from that belief nor distort it in any way.I recognize these as works of fiction and yet still I am inspired by his conjecture that these people struggled within themselves and still managed to lead lives of faith.I recognize all the elements of the biblical stories and marvel at how Card contrives background and nuance to shaping their telling.The forward and afterword reveal too much of the author's bias regarding the bible and lessened my experience and if pressed I would say they could easily be skipped - but the text is formidable storytelling.... ABSOLUTELY ENTERTAINING !!!!!!!! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (28)

Like reading your favorite book again without having to
I got this as a gift and I really liked it because I love the Ender Series and this little book gave me a little taste of something that I miss.I don't reread books, but sometimes a series comes along and I wish I had never read it so that i can read it for the first time again. Well, this little book gave me a taste of reading it over again for the first time, and from a different perspective.And I like that it was short and sweet...not too much investment of my time.

Good, but just not worth it
Yes, I saw there was a new Ender book out, and seeing as I've read all the ender, shadow and speaker books, I wanted it. I got it for christmas, and after some waiting, it finally arrived. I was very dissapointed. It was a thin little pocket book with pages that seemed to have been ripped off, rather than cut off (nothing bad about OSC there, only the publishers). So I started reading, and as usual I got interested in the story and the characters. After reading for twenty minutes two nights in a row I had read more than half. The book centers around the isolation and home-sickness of the kids in the orbiting Battle School. At the school, any religious activities are absolutely prohibited. In military training, there's no place for religion. One day, a kid gives another kid a christmas gift, and the conflict is a fact. It also centers around the genious of Ender Wiggin. This half-novel quickly gets started, has a less brief middle part, and ends abruptly. As if mr Scott Card realised he would miss the bus if he didn't finish it up quickly. Sure, it's written in the usual great story-telling way of OSC, but it really doesn't do anything for me. It's just a little short which I skimmed through in three days. I suggest you wait until a full-length novel shows up, this isn't worth your money, I'm afraid.

Unending Ender
I bought this for my grown son who has read everything OSC has written. I had a chance to read it - one sitting. Card's writing is smooth and his stories - while having complexities and very much things one should/needs/wants to think about - does it without a lengthy approach.

While the Ender stories sit in some hypothetical setting in our near(?) future, there are always applicable lessons to be taken away for our world and lives.

Cute, Quaint
And utterly forgettable.

An unremarkable short story (novella?) about the suppression of religion during Ender's time at the battle school.

Aside from the opening chapters about Zeck and his zealot upbringing, this book is best served for killing 45 minutes or for use as a coaster.

Disappointing
I was very disappointed with A War of Gifts. I thought the characters and nuances of Battle School were inconsistent with other Ender stories. Card is such an excellent author, I felt like this book was rushed and not up to his standard. ... Read more

Book Description
Meet Andrew "Ender" Wiggin, the unforgettable boy-hero of Ender's Game-winner of the Hugo Award and the Nebula Award for Best Novel--and enter his Universe through this collection of stories."The Polish Boy" is John Paul Wiggin, the future father of Ender. In the years between the first two Bugger Wars, the Hegemony is desperate to recruit brilliant military commanders to repel the alien invasion. They may have found their man--or boy--in John Paul Wiggin......In "Teacher's Pest"-a novella written especially for this collection--a brilliant but arrogant John Paul Wiggin, now a university student, matches wits with an equally brilliant graduate student. "The Investment Counselor" is set after the end of the Bugger Wars. Banished from Earth and slandered as a mass murderer, twenty-year-old Andrew Wiggin wanders incognito from planet to planet as a fugitive--until a blackmailing tax inspector compromises his identity and threatens to expose Ender the Xeoncide. Also reprinted here is the original award-winning novella, "Ender's Game," which first appeared in 1977. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (43)

John Paul
1. The Hegemon policy is two children.However, many countries have families with more than 5 children; but only two can attend church and the children must remain in hiding like the Jewish children during Nazi occupation.

2.The Hegemon was established to fight the buggers.Ender destroys the hive queen (Islam governing body) only to learn that the buggers are not a true enemy.Ender uses his pension to help the bugger hive relocate and establish a new colony.Ender changes his name to Andrew and writes a book called "Hive Queen" with the author name, Speaker from the dead.

3.John Paul and Theresa Brown reason that the two child policy central policy will cause the Hegemon to be short lived. Theresa PHd thesis explorers the triggers that cause advanced civilizations to degress into tribalism.

4.Graft believes John Paul may become the commander to save humanity from the buggers.However, Graft long term plan is too recruit John Paul's descendants to Battle School. That child would be Ender. In return John Paul family moves too America; John Paul is a student at the University when he meets Theresa;Theresa tells John Paul that "Universities are market places for rich privileged individuals to find brains and occassionally two people with brains meet and when that happens, watch out"; John Paul reflects on the possiblity that he may be part of a Eugenics project, but decides to follow his heart and marry Theresa believing he was in love with her.

5. Mazer Rakin defeats the buggers in the first war.Graft says Rakin bearly out maneuvered the buggers and they need to find young commanders that have not peaked in capability to find the buggers in the second round.

6. Mazer and Graft put the very best children soldiers on Ender and Beans team.Ender tells Bean this fact and assigns Bean to be a part of a special team that will train after dinner. The team will plan for unexpected tests by Mazer and Graft.Ender skill as a commander seems to be the ability to see the potential human behaviors and causes like his father. Ender can read people and Bean can plot strategy.Therefore, the buggers must have a human like behavior pattern: feelings, needs, fears, and drives.

7.Interestingly, Peter will eventually promote and establish the hegemon into an office of power and prestige.Theresa ideal of civilization acted out by her son, Peter; all the tribes united with the exception of the US and no more wars. Once the nations choose the Hegemon, they military present enforces their membership and participation.

Expands on Unanswered Questions
Card's other books on writing science fiction talk about how authors never get the chance to tell all the background they hold in their heads for their characters. Here is a glimpse into what Card had in mind for Ender, his parents and Jane--things that would have been out of place in the books but is awesome for the fans of the series.

The short stories give a great depth to Ender's parents; first in a story about a young Polish boy (Ender's dad) and how, in an Ender-esque style, he manipulates the government at a tender age to better himself and his family despite the family's struggle with religious intolerance. We meet Graff, a young government official, and bein to see the patterns of government interference and brilliant children outwitting them that run throughout the Wiggin family. Second, the tender story of Ender's parents' meeting show further government manipulation but a couple that genuinely is interested and excited by and loves each other. Finally the story of Jane's introduction to Ender is a smart and humorous start to Jane's sassy personality.

Good if you're a fan of the series
This is a slightly expanded version of the First Meetings edition that was published a few years earlier, featuring four (rather than three) tales of Orson Scott Card's "Enderverse." All four stories are pretty good, particularly if you haven't read the three stories which had been published previously.

The stories are presented in chronological order of events, rather than the order that they were written, and as such, some of the earlier stories explain away things that play a part in some of the other, full-length books, but not so much in this one. This collection begins with "The Polish Boy," the story of a young genius who is trying to find a way to outsmart the Interstellar Fleet that wants to send him to Battle School. This is followed by "Teacher's Pest" (the new story in this collection), featuring the child as a young man who encounters a graduate student who challenges his intellect in a way that nobody has before. Even if it wasn't spelled out. In the past, the expansion of Ender's universe has mostly gone forwards, showing what happened to his comrade Bean after the war with the Formics or the distant future, showing Ender's life as an adult hundreds of years beyond the war. These two stories go in the other direction, fleshing out the two people who would become Ender's parents in very satisfying fashion. Frankly, I'd never given John Paul and Theresa Wiggin much thought before, and these stories succeeded in making them both as engaging a pair of characters as their children would one day be.

Next is the original 1977 version of "Ender's Game," the short story Card would later expand into the classic novel. People who have read the novel will find that virtually everything in this short story did make it into the full version of the story, but there are a wealth of subplots and characters missing. The story works quite well on its own, fortunately. It does, however, pose a slight problem for the final story in the collection, "Investment Counselor." This story flashes forward to a time when Ender -- subjectively 20 years old, but hundreds of years past the War -- visits a new world where a bizarre computer program begins to give him advice about the fortune that has accrued during his years of interstellar travel, and tries to protect him from an unscrupulous tax collector. This, again, is a really good story, but it's missing something in this book. This is the tale of how Ender first encountered his computer companion, Jane, who evolved from a computer game he played as a child. The game subplot is vital to the Ender's Game (The Ender Saga) novel, but was absent from the original short story, so people who read this book without having read the novel are missing a vital piece of the puzzle.

Overall, this is a strong collection of short stories, but I recommend it more for people who have read the other Ender books (or at least Ender's Game), so they'll have the proper context in which to view these tales.

Impressive
This book's four stories have been my introduction to Orson Scott Card, and I'm pleased that I finally gave his work a try. I'm told that each tale is meant to provide backstory to the universe depicted in a series of Card novels featuring Andrew "Ender" Wiggin, a brilliant young man who as a child nearly wiped out an alien species. Although he did this as a result of adult manipulation, and at the time it made him a hero because the "Buggers" were humanity's most feared enemies, Ender as an adult regrets his actions. Thanks to books he has written, his fellow humans no longer see him as a hero. Instead, they see him as the perpetrator of genocide. All in all, Ender Wiggin's a facinating mixture of hero and anti-hero; and beginning to read about him by reading his father's stories first ("The Polish Boy" and "Teacher's Pest") made the 1977 novella that started it all, "Ender's Game," all the more interesting when I came to it. The book's fourth story, "Investment Counselor," I found a bit puzzling. A bit of research about the series has let me know that this tale's purpose is to explain how Jane, a computer program that becomes one of the Enderverse's major characters, came into Ender's life.

I hope the Ender novels are even half as good as these four bits of backstory, because now I expect I will have to start reading them.

Good, but needs tightening up
As a general principle, I agree with and applaud Card's embellishment of the Enderverse.The characters he creates in Ender's Game are worthy of examination.In First Meetings Card takes the concept to the next level by creating mini-prequels of Ender's Game with "The Polish Boy" for Ender's father, "Teacher's Pest" for Ender's mother and "Investment Counselor" for Ender's first encounter with Jane.The other novella is a reprint from Card's submission to Analog lo these many years ago, that started it all.

Please take my criticisms in the spirit of an enthusiastic fan of OSC in general and the Enderverse in particular.

First, I thought that the book was too short.Card certainly has the capability (and, if you believe his autobiographical materials, the compulsion) of writing more intricate, complicated and just plain longer material.The first two novellas could have easily been a full-length novel.

Second, when you backfill an extant fictional universe like Card does here, you've got to make sure everything fits.I got the feeling in Ender's Shadow that Card was shoehorning Bean's actions in to fit in with Ender's Game, but I couldn't pin down any specific contradiction between the two books.That's not the case with the short story "Investment Counselor" in First Meetings and Speaker For the Dead.I remember the first time I read Speaker that it seemed odd and unrealistic that Valentine would not know about Jane, since Valentine and Ender had for years been inseparable.Why could Ender, and *how* would Ender, keep his relationship with Jane a secret from Valentine?In chapter 18 of Speaker, the following conversation via ansible takes places between Ender and Valentine:

Valentine: "There's apparently some kind of resistance movement that's helping us -- someone named Jane has jimmied the computers to cover our tracks."

Andrew: "I know Jane."

Valentine: "So you do have an organization there!"

Yet, Card has Valentine grumbling in "Investment Counselor": "I can't promise I won't get jealous though.Am I about to lose my brother to a piece of software?"Ender replies: "Jane is nothing but a software program." ... Read more

Book Description