So a while back I read Ender's game, and I really liked it, and now I want to start working on the rest of the series, but I am conflicted as to how to go about it. I have gotten a copy of both "Ender's Shadow" and "Speaker for the Dead", which would be the next books if I were to read it chronologically or by publication date, respectively.
So here are the choices (as far as I am concerned): (I'm not counting the book of short stories because idk why)
Chronological:
Ender's Game Ender's Shadow Shadow of the Hegemon Shadow Puppets Shadow of the Giant Ender in Exile Speaker for the Dead Xenocide Children of the Mind
By publication date:
Ender's Game Speaker for the Dead Xenocide Children of the Mind Ender's Shadow Shadow of the Hegemon Shadow Puppets Shadow of the Giant Ender in Exile
So basically, those of you that have read a significant portion of the series, how did you go about it? And how do you suggest that I go about it?
Please no spoilers.
And by 'please no spoilers' I mean that if you spoil even a little bit I will dispatch Shallow[BaY] to your house to kill you in some sort of Canadian military way that would both impress and arouse you. (but it would also destroy you)
Not putting a poll because I am more interested in your reasons for saying your order.
Basically the book splits off into 2 series, one about Ender and his sister doing whatever in space, and the other about the aftermath of Ender's Game.
Personally, I love strategy and war and what not, so the Bean's series was much more enjoyable for me as it picked up where it left off.
I didnt even bother reading the Ender's series, but that is just my bias.
Ender's Game Speaker for the Dead Xenocide Children of the Mind Ender's Game Ender's Shadow Shadow of the Hegemon Shadow Puppets Shadow of the Giant Ender's Game Ender in Exile
why that way? because that's how I purchased them, and there was a long enough time frame between books that I needed to reread the original.
I read it straight up by date of publication. It's a bit like Star Wars, and just like with Star Wars, I think it should be watched in the order they were released in rather than in chronological order. The way I see it, the books are actually more entertaining if you read the by release date, because you follow the larger storyline in Ender's series, before having the details filled in by the Shadow and newer Ender books.
I dunno, it's a bit like watching Memento chronologically rather than in the order the film is presented, Chronologically it might make more sense, but in the order it is presented in, it's better paced and the new information is more surprising and interesting.
And as it has been said, remember that the Ender's series is much slower than the Shadow series, so some people didn't enjoy it. I think it is quite good
I've never read Ender in Exile so I don't know how it fits in with the other books, but the Ender sequels and the Bean books have absolutely no overlap (besides Ender's Game/Shadow of course). Therefore, if you plan to read them all anyway, which series you read first isn't important. You might be pretty fed up with Orson Scott Card after reading Xenocide and Children of the Mind though. The Bean series is very good, the Ender sequels not so much (Speaker for the Dead is all right).
I've never read these books (I want to though!) but for most everything else, reading/watching something by how it was released/published/broadcasted is more enjoyable than doing it chronologically. If you're really really into series, then read/watch it again in chronological order just to pick up nuances, details, etc. But the first time should be in order of release.
IMO, the branching storyline really means it does not matter. Same universe, same characters. Completely different story arc. It just starts from the same place.
use the publication date order. when you read something in the order it was published you can "get off the ship" if the series starts to go south, or when it seems like the author is cranking them out for money. it's also harder to miss gems this way, since usually the inspiration for a universe dries up long before demand for that series dries up.
also you get to read speaker for the dead sooner, and it's rad.
Wow everybody either loves shadow and hates speaker or loves speaker and hates shadow. In this thread and in irc. I'm probably going to do publication date, but if I don't like speaker I might read shadow right after it and just kinda wing it from there.
I only read Enders Game and Speaker For The Dead. I loved both of them. [edit] I think Card said he always wanted to write Speaker For The Dead and had the idea in his mind for a long time. Enders Game was just the prelude.
i never read ender in exile because i checked out the summary and it looked dumb. Ive listened to all the others on audio book and I enjoyed it just going through the ender series first and then the bean series. Seemed nice to me. Infact it seemed like it would be better reading all of the Ender's series first because then you kind of know what will be going on in the Bean series = )
On February 12 2010 18:25 ShadowDrgn wrote: I've never read Ender in Exile so I don't know how it fits in with the other books, but the Ender sequels and the Bean books have absolutely no overlap (besides Ender's Game/Shadow of course). Therefore, if you plan to read them all anyway, which series you read first isn't important. You might be pretty fed up with Orson Scott Card after reading Xenocide and Children of the Mind though. The Bean series is very good, the Ender sequels not so much (Speaker for the Dead is all right).
This is true. I hated that bitch from Path. Han Qing-Jao. God she pissed me off SOOOOOOOO MUCH. Messing with Jane was irritating - _-
Xenocide and Children of the Mind I actually enjoyed, but they're very different from the other books. I'd say give Xenocide a shot, and if you don't like it don't get Children of the Mind.
Ender in Exile I very recently read, and found that it too was different. All three of the mentioned books were seriously philosophical, and personally I felt that Card matured as an author. I'm still in love with every single book, so I may be delusional, but I still recommend them.
On February 12 2010 22:24 majesty.k)seRapH wrote: Xenocide and Children of the Mind I actually enjoyed, but they're very different from the other books. I'd say give Xenocide a shot, and if you don't like it don't get Children of the Mind.
Ender in Exile I very recently read, and found that it too was different. All three of the mentioned books were seriously philosophical, and personally I felt that Card matured as an author. I'm still in love with every single book, so I may be delusional, but I still recommend them.
how about when(its only a minor character so it might not even be spoiler worthy) + Show Spoiler +
orson scott card lets his religion influence his writing when the guy who helps petra and bean find the man who created bean in the lab turns out to be gay, but the guy lets bean and petra know the purpose of life is procreation so hes able to supress his homosexual urges and is now happy with a wife and child. That was the only part of his philosophy that bothered me, but it was a joke imo
Like a lot of posters said. Only read up to Speaker for the Dead in the Ender series. I've only read Ender's Shadow in Bean's series though. Xenocide isn't worth reading imo. Wanted to finish Ender's series but Children of the Mind is meh.
I read Ender's Game+Ender's Shadow and the rest of the Shadow series in high school. For some reason I didn't even think of reading Speaker for the Dead/Xenocide/Children of the Mind until later, and when I did I never ended up finishing Children of the Mind. After that I read A War of Gifts, but not Ender in Exile. so: Ender's Game Ender's Shadow Shadow of the Hegemon Shadow Puppets Shadow of the Giant Speaker for the Dead Xenocide A War of Gifts (does this one even count?) edit: I guess War of Gifts shouldn't count. It sucked.
I've read everything aside from Ender in Exile, but found everything past Game and Shadow to be mediocre for the most part. Personally, I'd say that your time is better spent reading some other series instead.
Anyone find it kinda stupid that this series has dragged on this long? It's so diluted nowadays and makes me feel a lot less about OSC's original Ender's Game which until a few years ago was my fav book. Apparently a movie was in the works for awhile but never came to fruition.
On February 13 2010 02:13 lac29 wrote: Anyone find it kinda stupid that this series has dragged on this long? It's so diluted nowadays and makes me feel a lot less about OSC's original Ender's Game which until a few years ago was my fav book. Apparently a movie was in the works for awhile but never came to fruition.
i think eneders game is the worst book out of all of them tbh. Enders shadow is better. Enders game is depressing and ender is pretty emo + the ending felt rushed.
On February 13 2010 02:13 lac29 wrote: Anyone find it kinda stupid that this series has dragged on this long? It's so diluted nowadays and makes me feel a lot less about OSC's original Ender's Game which until a few years ago was my fav book. Apparently a movie was in the works for awhile but never came to fruition.
Orscon Scott Card's book was supposed to be put into a movie multiple times, and the rights to make a movie has been sold and resold multiple times. The only reason it hasn't become a movie is because Orson Scott Card himself doesn't like it. Also he is very very picky as to who can play the roles of the people. A year ago the rights were sold again, and OSC is liking it at the moment, and is helping tremendously with who can act the certain roles. But don't get too excited, this pattern has been going on for like 20 years...
Ender's Game Speaker for the Dead Xenocide Children of the Mind Ender's Shadow
I had trouble getting through the beginning of Speaker for the Dead the first time, but I gave it a break, came back to it and ended up loving the final 3 books. Definitely read the entire series if you go past Ender's Game.
I agree with the idea of reading by publication date. Personally I enjoyed Speaker for the Dead the most out of all of the books, and found Shadow of the Hegemon and Xenocide the least interesting.
Hmm, I haven't read the Bean series yet... so I suppose Ender's game Speaker for the Dead Xenocide Children of the Mind Bean series. I personally loved all the ones I've read. :p It was very interesting, especially the + Show Spoiler +
whole thing about the extra universe where things just ARE. That was cool, and how jane could use that to travel beyond light speed. It was lulzy, but awesome.
I'm glad you made this thread. I've read Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow (several years ago though) but I'd like to revisit the series. I remember I read them so fast... I just had to know what happened.
On February 13 2010 10:15 Jonoman92 wrote: I'm glad you made this thread. I've read Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow (several years ago though) but I'd like to revisit the series. I remember I read them so fast... I just had to know what happened.
you should listen to the audio books they are pretty well done.
On February 13 2010 02:13 lac29 wrote: Anyone find it kinda stupid that this series has dragged on this long? It's so diluted nowadays and makes me feel a lot less about OSC's original Ender's Game which until a few years ago was my fav book. Apparently a movie was in the works for awhile but never came to fruition.
i think eneders game is the worst book out of all of them tbh. Enders shadow is better. Enders game is depressing and ender is pretty emo + the ending felt rushed.
i think he rewrote the ending to make it flow into speaker for the dead, which kind of explains why it doesnt feel right.
edit: I love Ender's Game though, except for the very very end. I agree that it does feel rushed and out of place; probably to fit better with his idea for Speaker for the Dead (which I have not read).
On February 12 2010 20:58 Konni wrote: I only read Enders Game and Speaker For The Dead. I loved both of them. [edit] I think Card said he always wanted to write Speaker For The Dead and had the idea in his mind for a long time. Enders Game was just the prelude.
I don't know when Card had the idea to write Speaker, but Ender's Game was an expanded short story of his.
On February 13 2010 02:13 lac29 wrote: Anyone find it kinda stupid that this series has dragged on this long? It's so diluted nowadays and makes me feel a lot less about OSC's original Ender's Game which until a few years ago was my fav book. Apparently a movie was in the works for awhile but never came to fruition.
i think eneders game is the worst book out of all of them tbh. Enders shadow is better. Enders game is depressing and ender is pretty emo + the ending felt rushed.
i think he rewrote the ending to make it flow into speaker for the dead, which kind of explains why it doesnt feel right.
that makes sense. It seemed way too rushed. Id say Children of the mind KIND OF felt that way but not nearly as much as enders game. I think the bean books are written better tbh. Speaker for the Dead is probably my favorite book out of all of them though.
After loving the original ender's game I was really disappointed by Speaker for the Dead and Xenocide.
Apart from being less exciting and having weaker ideas, his writing style becomes noticeably poor - lots of really clumsy sentences. Essentially he starts to hammer you in the face with his underlying themes, in case you had somehow failed to notice them. Like one person will say or do something, then another character will psycho-analyse them (for ages). It's pretty painful.
The really frustrating thing is there are still some really good ideas and moments. So you want to read...
My suggestion would be to only read Ender's game, maybe Ender's shadow if you really want. The bean line isn't that bad, but imo everything past Ender's Game just ruins the purity of the true classic
I liked all of the books too, don't think i finished the last one. will probably have to rebuy the books bc i don't know where i put them! it's been years haha
Well i'm in the same boat as the original poster (Although I'm sure he's go on and read them all by now!)
I'm just finishing up Ender's game (A little late to the game) and have really enjoyed it. I'm by no means a big sci-fi fan, but I found Ender's game a very good read. After skimming all the posts (avoiding spoilers) Its clear that everyone has their own opinions. Some say don't read anything past Enders Game. Others say Shadow is the way to go and Ender just lacks. All the while other people are pro Ender and con against Bean.
The answer that stood out most was to read them in publication order, which I plan to do. It'd be interesting if Scott rewrote some of the stories into a large book. The reading order on these books is very confusing!
EPT
The Bean series is very good, the Ender sequels not so much (Speaker for the Dead is all right).
![[image loading]](http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/nighttime_stories.jpg)
