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kareilaLike most geeks, I've read Ender's Game, although for me it's been at least 20 years. I really enjoyed it and always meant to come back to it and read the sequels... except at some point there was a spinoff series, or two, or more? I couldn't keep track. I found this book on the "new SF" shelf at the library, and realized it was a prequel, so I thought I'd give it a spin. Unfortunately it ends on a cliffhanger and is apparently tied into a series of graphic novels. *headdesk*
Most of this novel centers around the crews of two different spaceships mining asteroids in the Kuiper Belt. They are the first to witness the coming of the aliens that Ender will fight a generation or two later. We also get occasional glimpses into the training of a special ops force on Earth that I guess we are to assume will be pivotal to Earth's defense in a later installment. We aren't allowed to get too comfortable with any one character as the story jumps around.
The main theme of the part of the story that's set in space is the conflict between wanting to protect your own family/crew and feeling a greater responsibility toward the whole human race, which is the kind of conflict I can really get behind. One thing the Ender universe got right from the start was the portrayal of the alien species as truly alien, not just humans with weird faces. It's especially interesting to watch the humans realize what they think is a alien weapon might not even be a weapon, even though it is killing them.
I'm not about to go knock over bookstores looking for the next installment, but it was an entertaining read.
Most of this novel centers around the crews of two different spaceships mining asteroids in the Kuiper Belt. They are the first to witness the coming of the aliens that Ender will fight a generation or two later. We also get occasional glimpses into the training of a special ops force on Earth that I guess we are to assume will be pivotal to Earth's defense in a later installment. We aren't allowed to get too comfortable with any one character as the story jumps around.
The main theme of the part of the story that's set in space is the conflict between wanting to protect your own family/crew and feeling a greater responsibility toward the whole human race, which is the kind of conflict I can really get behind. One thing the Ender universe got right from the start was the portrayal of the alien species as truly alien, not just humans with weird faces. It's especially interesting to watch the humans realize what they think is a alien weapon might not even be a weapon, even though it is killing them.
I'm not about to go knock over bookstores looking for the next installment, but it was an entertaining read.
