Reviews

Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card

r3b3cc4v3's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring reflective tense fast-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

lexcraftahoy's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Even better than "Ender's Game," though it may not make sense if one has not read the first book in the series. Well-developed characters and a multi-layered mystery within a larger plot.

colormist's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

I still have no idea what the picture on the front cover is supposed to represent. The planet we spend a 95% of the time on looks nothing like this cover photo It kind of looks a bit like a Dalek.

The piggies made me cry. I'll admit it. They started talking about the definition of the future-tribe and I got all misty eyed. There's probably a scientific term for these type of things that make me cry. Thinking about the universe, the future of space travel, and hope for the future always make me cry.

Anyway, back to the book, it was okay. I didn't love it. It didn't have the awesome momentum that Ender's Game had, but the plot was just about as transparent. I was glad when Card finally explained the reproductive system--but I'm still not sure where the females come from and I can't quite discuss things here without spoilers, so I'll just suffer in silence.

jennievh's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

I liked this one so much that I cried while reading it. In talking to a total stranger at an airport about it, he admitted that he had cried, too. Another great Ender's Game book. Totally different setting than the first but still entrancing and fascinating. I loved the microbiology theories.

viewfromtheskye's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

i did not care much for the first half, but once Enders became involved i loved it.

pcasebeer's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

This book, while not as good as the first Ender’s Saga, was still good and I enjoyed it. I would give it more of a 3.5 star rating but I can’t so... :-)

Started a little slow since the story in the beginning has nothing to do with Ender, it fit with the previous book eventually and became so much better. The names were sometimes hard to keep up with as new ones and old ones and similar ones got mixed in but that’s more my issue than the book’s.

Still, a relevant story in today’s (and past) environment. Perspective and understanding means a lot.

bearcatbookworm's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Pretty sure this author is from the future.

chewedgum's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Rounded up from a 4.5 for the weird audio book narration. I'm not sure why so many readers were chosen. The specific selections of text that they read

I was completely shocked by how much I enjoyed this. I found myself identifying with a lot of the issues the xenologists/xenadors faced. There are so many ethical issues related to observation, as well as effects of the observer's paradox.

At any rate, I thought the book was incredibly well-written. I found myself laughing and crying at the plight of these well-rounded and interesting characters. I found the pequeninos completely delightful and enjoyed seeing Ender as an adult.

I liked it enough to reserve Xenocide.

alexangelas's review against another edition

Go to review page

1.0

Science fiction is not shaping up to be my genre of choice.

While I thought the first book was okay, at least it had a story that was interesting and easy to follow. I felt like this book was a completely different story that was supposed to have a deeper meaning...but it went totally over my head.

I should say that I'm not one for allegories. I'm not deep; I don't contemplate alternative meanings to things. I take things for face value and this was a hot mess of things that did not go with the first book. Maybe if I knew what it all meant on a deeper, it would be somewhat interesting, but it's still not enough to save this book in my opinion.

montysmith's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

Objectively, this is probably a better book than Ender's Game. The characters are more varied, the plot line is less obvious, and it's subject matter is more broadly philosophical. Unfortunately, it's just not very much fun. I can't say I didn't like it; it was good enough to keep my interest, and Ender is still a great character. But for me, it's not the page-turner that Ender's Game is.