Speaker for the Dead
Ratings582
Average rating4.1
3.5 stars, really - An enjoyable story, but because it centers around the same central idea as Ender's Game–compassion and knowing strangers–it didn't have quite the same effect. Both the human and piggy stories are engaging and interesting. Worth the read.
Ender is a tool. And all the female characters (even the AI) are insanely neurotic, the sort who go off to weep whenever anything starts happening or who freaking plan some convoluted horrible fake marriage instead of actually doing research to solve the initial problem. And no one can get set right without the help of magic Ender, who is more or less Dr. House without the charm or intelligence. Also, it's weird reading a book that goes on endless, preachy rants about pro-tolerance and anti-Catholicism when it's written by a homophobic Mormon who seems to be kinda ok with spousal abuse.
Stunning! Full review here: http://fantasybuchreviews.wordpress.com/2012/04/30/orson-scott-card-enders-game-2/
Very, very good, despite being completely different from the first in the series “Ender's Game”. It took me a while to get into it (I started it once, gave up as it was so very different from what I expected, then started it again) but once I set aside my expectations from the first book, I could hardly put Speaker down.
More philosophy then a fast paced space romp, I'd encourage everyone to read the series and to stick through the strange style changeover betwixt the first and second book. You'll be glad you read it!
Might currently be my favorite book (circa 2020).
Significantly better than Ender's Game; the ending of the first book was simply worthless.
Another excellent book. This one was conceived even before the first one, and its nearly as good as. Like the first, it's very easy to read and understand.
I didn't think it was possible, but this book was even more intriguing and amazing than Ender's Game. Yup, I said it...and I simply adored Ender's Game so that's a big deal.
The depth that this book have just amazes me. I was so invested in all the characters that I found myself getting angry when they made poor decisions. I wanted to jump into the book and yell at them. Or when they made hard decisions, I wanted to give them the companionship they were looking for. It takes a lot for a book to make me cry and only this and the Hunger Games have succeeded in that.
This book also has depth in what it addresses in terms of politics, religion and the like. I can see why others were disappointed. It is definitely not as action packed as the first book. However I think that is truly what makes this book so much more touching. It reaches in and wakes up parts of you that you aren't sure you were willing to deal with. I can see why older readers would get more from this than younger readers as well.
I am not sure what else to say, besides the fact that this is a great book. If you are a lover of Science Fiction, if you enjoy books that make you think about society, this is a book that you will fall in love with.
Orson Scott Card has my undying love now. I cannot wait to see what else he has in store for me.