ikon_biotin_jungle_lumen's review
(Review covers the entire series)
Homecoming is unique among sci-fi series—I've never encountered another work in this genre that comes close to its philosophical scope or depth. Some few may be unaware that OSC is part of the LDS (Mormon) church, and therefore will miss the intentional parallelism between Homecoming and Joseph Smith's Book of Mormon. Others will notice numerous Biblical correlations and references, which are for the most part secondary references through the BoM.
From a fiction standpoint, this series is sometimes tedious and often aggravating (occasionally to the degree of nausea). However, as I have read most of OSC's fiction, I know that he is a master of his craft, and the uncomfortable texture of this series is deliberate. You are meant to be brought to wrath by the morally bankrupt culture of Harmony, to feel disgust at every betrayal. This is a world where people do what is right in their own eyes, their destructive impulses limited only by the mental compulsion of an implacable satellite.
This may be the most apologetic (theologically speaking) and allegorical of OSC's works. As a fundamental Christian, many of Card's beliefs and points resonate with me. However, some of them are incredibly repellant. The physical explication of divinity is a primary point of controversy between Christians and LDS. The same can be said of the transcendency of saints (belief that morally superior individuals can become gods).
I would commend this series to highly theology-conscious readers. Homecoming challenged me to think critically and to defend my own beliefs chapter by chapter. I would not recommend this series as science fiction due to its tedious and fairly subversive nature, but that is no inundation of merit. According to my lights, I would reclassify this series as Theological Fiction. Let's hope there's a little room left on that particular shelf.
Homecoming is unique among sci-fi series—I've never encountered another work in this genre that comes close to its philosophical scope or depth. Some few may be unaware that OSC is part of the LDS (Mormon) church, and therefore will miss the intentional parallelism between Homecoming and Joseph Smith's Book of Mormon. Others will notice numerous Biblical correlations and references, which are for the most part secondary references through the BoM.
From a fiction standpoint, this series is sometimes tedious and often aggravating (occasionally to the degree of nausea). However, as I have read most of OSC's fiction, I know that he is a master of his craft, and the uncomfortable texture of this series is deliberate. You are meant to be brought to wrath by the morally bankrupt culture of Harmony, to feel disgust at every betrayal. This is a world where people do what is right in their own eyes, their destructive impulses limited only by the mental compulsion of an implacable satellite.
This may be the most apologetic (theologically speaking) and allegorical of OSC's works. As a fundamental Christian, many of Card's beliefs and points resonate with me. However, some of them are incredibly repellant. The physical explication of divinity is a primary point of controversy between Christians and LDS. The same can be said of the transcendency of saints (belief that morally superior individuals can become gods).
I would commend this series to highly theology-conscious readers. Homecoming challenged me to think critically and to defend my own beliefs chapter by chapter. I would not recommend this series as science fiction due to its tedious and fairly subversive nature, but that is no inundation of merit. According to my lights, I would reclassify this series as Theological Fiction. Let's hope there's a little room left on that particular shelf.
bluescalpelinthefall's review against another edition
4.0
Me sorprendió, una vez más, la maestría que posee Card para construir mundos únicos, para manejar una larga lista de temas que se interconectan y que estriban desde el ámbito sociológico, político, psicológico. Este libro revela una nueva reinterpretación de la tierra de las pulsiones que llevan al hombre a convertirse en humano. Las relaciones humanas. Los cambios que experimenta la sociedad, las influencias entre personas, el sacrificio, la espiritualidad, el progreso, el amor. Y la lista sigue. Todo esto acompañado de una prosa ágil e inmersiva. Desde luego con ganas de leerme el resto de la saga y de todas las cosas que haya escrito este hombre.
chill08's review
3.0
A fictionalized version of the story of lehi in a future setting. interesting read, although i would've disliked it if i couldn't relate to the Book of Mormon. Definitely not doctrine, but still retained my interest long enough to finish
zeydejd's review
2.0
Interesting beginning to this series. Card's books are always fast for me because they're just those sort of books - they're interesting, somewhat thrilling, Card knows how to write - that's for sure. What bothered me here though was that I found sooooo many typos. Not necessarily Card's fault, more of the editor's, but still. Also, it seemed that Card made things almost too easy. There would be a problem and Card would create some outrageous solution to fix it. The magnitude of the Oversoul's power seems absolutely ridiculous at times. It is just able to give the characters - especially Nafai - visions, answers for anything and everything. Also, the control of Basilica by women is odd in this novel. Not that women being in power is weird or anything, but the way it's portrayed almost seems... satirical. Only women have the vote. Only women can hold property in Basilica. Only they have the power to renew marriage contracts? Their powers are absurd and sexist. I was interested enough in the series to go on to the next book, but overall the novel was just okay.
spinnerroweok's review
2.0
Zzzzzzzz....I wish I had double speed when I listened to this one. There's how many more books in this series? No thank you.
craftingrama's review against another edition
4.0
Its not as good as Ender but its not bad, a bit strange in some stuff but I did enjoy it and the narrator was good too
iggnaseous's review
4.0
Card touches on a lot of the same themes and narrative elements that feature in his other novels. For example, there's adolescent nudity, nascent sexuality, extreme violence/murder at the hand of the victimized protagonist, sibling rivalries, etc. The protagonist is, like in Ender's Game, a young boy with the potential to save humanity. But this is no Ender’s Game. While the overall idea is very compelling, the pacing is somehow off and falls a bit flat in comparison that great story. Still, it’s an entertaining story that raises questions about the nature of humanity, our capacity for violence, and how society ought to be organized to minimize our most violent tendencies (i.e., to keep from destroying ourselves).
levininja's review
5.0
An unveiled allegory of being guided by God. In this case, God is a super AI who has been setup to watch over mankind and can communicate into their minds via means not spelled out. It’s computing power comes from satellites in the sky which have been slowly falling out of the sky for millions of years. As it loses computing power, it loses its ability to keep the planet, Harmony, in stasis forever. And so it needs to act, and this is the story of what it does, and the story mostly of a particular family that it decides to use.
The story is really about the theme of hearing from God, and exploring that in many nuances as the main character struggles with the concept in many ways. So there’s ideas about what is free will, what is freedom, how do I hear correctly and get myself out of the way, how do I not lose my own sense of agency and self, etc. And the twist is, since this Oversoul (that’s what it is called) is actually a really powerful AI, but is not actually God...there are some interesting ethical questions that come up from that.
If you enjoy asking these questions and exploring them you’ll probably really enjoy this. However if you are firmly atheistic then this would have very little appeal. I could see people making the argument that most of his plot is often driven through Deus Ex Machina events, that the plot is moved forward by the Oversoul (God) stepping in and doing what would otherwise be impossible. However, if you see the Oversoul as a character with real limitations (which are described in general terms and stuck to throughout the book), then it doesn’t really feel like Deus Ex Machina. At least that was my experience.
I also enjoyed the world building of different cultures on this planet, and especially of the “holy” city it is mostly set in, the warring factions and the interesting way that families are structured.
The book has a solid pace, a solid ending, and definitely makes you want to read the next one. It’s not for everyone, but for many I would heartily recommend it.
The story is really about the theme of hearing from God, and exploring that in many nuances as the main character struggles with the concept in many ways. So there’s ideas about what is free will, what is freedom, how do I hear correctly and get myself out of the way, how do I not lose my own sense of agency and self, etc. And the twist is, since this Oversoul (that’s what it is called) is actually a really powerful AI, but is not actually God...there are some interesting ethical questions that come up from that.
If you enjoy asking these questions and exploring them you’ll probably really enjoy this. However if you are firmly atheistic then this would have very little appeal. I could see people making the argument that most of his plot is often driven through Deus Ex Machina events, that the plot is moved forward by the Oversoul (God) stepping in and doing what would otherwise be impossible. However, if you see the Oversoul as a character with real limitations (which are described in general terms and stuck to throughout the book), then it doesn’t really feel like Deus Ex Machina. At least that was my experience.
I also enjoyed the world building of different cultures on this planet, and especially of the “holy” city it is mostly set in, the warring factions and the interesting way that families are structured.
The book has a solid pace, a solid ending, and definitely makes you want to read the next one. It’s not for everyone, but for many I would heartily recommend it.
kdferrin's review
4.0
This series is okay but seemed to loose some steam. It is interesting to hear the plot of the Book of Mormon turned sci-fi.