chammerdata's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
theiofthestorm's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
yvarg's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is the same type of writing as Ender's Game, but with a way deeper message.
storyorc's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
As with Dune: Messiah, you haven't done Ender justice until you've read his sequel. Speaker for the Dead differs in setting, cast, and pace, but it retains the human heart and takes its time to reckon with a version of humanity that survived - thrived, even, off spoils-of-war tech - at the cost of xenocide. The narrative doesn't pull punches or excuse Ender, despite how he was manipulated, but nor does it leave him to wriggle on the hook of his own guilt. This reckoning is mournful, but productive, much like the duties of a Speaker.
Over everything, Speaker is an ode to empathy. It stands unashamed in its endorsement of the Saturday morning cartoon friendship-is-magic style of empathy, but also extends and deepens that to acknowledge how painful and difficult it can be to reveal truth and still choose understanding over hatred. Perhaps not realistic, but optimistic enough to suggest it is. If nothing else, every chapter makes it more irreconcilable that this attitude of relentless, courageous kindness was penned by someone who campaigned against gay marriage.
The appetite for sci-fi is also well and truly filled by the mystery of a new alien species, the 'piggies', who kick off the plot with ritualistic murder of a human, putting humanity's lofty ideas of remorse for their xenocide to the test as well as calling into question how moral a Prime Directive-esque policy of non-intervention actually is. Card has obviously devoted great thought to their species and culture, and doles out hints as well as any murder-mystery author.
Of course, none of us are perfect. Orson Scott Card remains one of the worst namers in SFF, adding "piggy" and "ramen" aliens to a lexicon already burdened with "bugger".
Over everything, Speaker is an ode to empathy. It stands unashamed in its endorsement of the Saturday morning cartoon friendship-is-magic style of empathy, but also extends and deepens that to acknowledge how painful and difficult it can be to reveal truth and still choose understanding over hatred. Perhaps not realistic, but optimistic enough to suggest it is. If nothing else, every chapter makes it more irreconcilable that this attitude of relentless, courageous kindness was penned by someone who campaigned against gay marriage.
The appetite for sci-fi is also well and truly filled by the mystery of a new alien species, the 'piggies', who kick off the plot with ritualistic murder of a human, putting humanity's lofty ideas of remorse for their xenocide to the test as well as calling into question how moral a Prime Directive-esque policy of non-intervention actually is. Card has obviously devoted great thought to their species and culture, and doles out hints as well as any murder-mystery author.
Of course, none of us are perfect. Orson Scott Card remains one of the worst namers in SFF, adding "piggy" and "ramen" aliens to a lexicon already burdened with "bugger".
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Incest
Minor: Religious bigotry and Homophobia
Outside the general theme of love, Christian doctrine is very prevalent - the setting is a Catholic colony - and many Christians are shown to be wise or correct, but equally they have faults and there are upstanding atheists too. || At one point homosexuality is dismissed uncritically as ridiculous. || Plenty of strong women characters but also yet another classic sci-fi book where the females of the alien race arezombiesatestacey's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
aylasultana's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
It's slightly slower-placed than Ender's Game and decidedly less racist.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Bullying, Colonisation, Xenophobia, and Gore
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic and Domestic abuse
Minor: Terminal illness, Incest, and Genocide
minty's review against another edition
4.0
Where Ender's Game is a book of military strategy, Speaker for the Dead is a treatise on anthropology (thought they wouldn't call it that). I really enjoyed this book, and all the nuances raised; it reminded me of another book about an alien species, The Sparrow. I probably would rate this 4.5 stars if I could; it's not as good as Ender's Game but it's still very good.
themaggiemch's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This was a thoroughly enjoyable read, and I flew through it. I loved the characters, but I especially loved the piggies and their world. Card did a fantastic job world-building and characterizing the people.
jeannamarie's review against another edition
3.0
Speaker of the Dead started really boring after Ender’s Game. Then there was a twist, where I became immediately invested. Then it went into a slower pace and was a tad boring again. The ending picked up pretty well.
If you’re looking for an action type novel, similar to Ender’s Game, this probably will be difficult to get through; however, if you’re looking for a more cerebral story with deeper meaning, this is good. Sometimes I felt a bit lost in terms of where we were and the religious discussions felt unrelated to the troupes in Ender’s Game and a little preachy.
I did listen to the author’s note and that helped, but hearing that Speaker of the Dead was the original book and Ender’s Game was the secondary book felt off. Ender’s Game is so well known and more exciting and heartbreaking. It leaves an impression. This book does not for me. I will keep reading the series and am excited for what’s in store for some of the new and old characters, but semi let down about the overall quality.
If you’re looking for an action type novel, similar to Ender’s Game, this probably will be difficult to get through; however, if you’re looking for a more cerebral story with deeper meaning, this is good. Sometimes I felt a bit lost in terms of where we were and the religious discussions felt unrelated to the troupes in Ender’s Game and a little preachy.
I did listen to the author’s note and that helped, but hearing that Speaker of the Dead was the original book and Ender’s Game was the secondary book felt off. Ender’s Game is so well known and more exciting and heartbreaking. It leaves an impression. This book does not for me. I will keep reading the series and am excited for what’s in store for some of the new and old characters, but semi let down about the overall quality.
shua_too's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75