I Finally Read Ender's Game!!!!!

VLSmooth · Post by **VLSmooth** » Tue Dec 02, 2003 1:17 am

In ~2.5 days over Thanksgiving no less while fixing the occasional computer. Now I've been given Ender's Shadow, Shadow of the Hegemon, and Shadow Puppets. Whee!

Jason · Post by **Jason** » Tue Dec 02, 2003 1:31 am

you should finish ender's story before you start on the shadow series. it makes the shadow series make more sense and also you see the transition that card goes through as he writes. I don't want to bias your views so I won't get into it.

VLSmooth · Post by **VLSmooth** » Tue Dec 02, 2003 1:35 am

I'm also a tad bit miffed that the "complete version" of Ender's Game I read had two teaser chapters from Shadows of the Hegemon, just for me to find out there's a book in between... I'm tempted to skip to that immediately.

As for Ender's story, is that the name of a book in the series since it doesn't seem to be listed? (note: I've only read Ender's Game)

Alan · Post by **Alan** » Tue Dec 02, 2003 3:40 am

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/st ... 58-6736110

Ender's Game
Speaker for the Dead
Xenocide
Children of the Mind
Ender's Shadow
Shadow of the Hegemon
Shadow Puppets

I've yet to read the last one, saw it in stores but that was back when it was only in hardcover so I wanted to wait for it to come out in paperback. Then I forgot about it. Heh.

quantus · Post by **quantus** » Tue Dec 02, 2003 11:29 pm

I've read through shadow puppets. The Shaddow series is more main stream while the rest of the Ender series is more philosophy. Both are worth reading. I'd agree with Alan that you should read them in order if you can.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Tue Dec 02, 2003 11:39 pm

Ender is Bean!

VLSmooth · Post by **VLSmooth** » Tue Dec 02, 2003 11:53 pm

ief si di/yag

you bastid >_<

Jason · Post by **Jason** » Tue Dec 02, 2003 11:59 pm

I'm pretty sure I read shadow puppets. It was definitely more main stream and I actually didn't like the emotional characterizations he had for the characters. They seemed much more simplistic than his previous works. I did like how his writing style became more coherent and together as he wrote the books. He had more of a focus.

Vinny, you should definitely read the books in order, it really sucks if you read them out of order. This series was the first time where I thought anything approximating a prequel, in this case a storyline happening at the same time, was really well done.

quantus · Post by **quantus** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 12:34 am

Jason wrote:storyline happening at the same time

This isn't quite true because of relativistic effects. (Note: I'm only pointing this out because I'm being annoying.)

VLSmooth · Post by **VLSmooth** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 1:06 am

Jason wrote:Vinny, you should definitely read the books in order, it really sucks if you read them out of order. This series was the first time where I thought anything approximating a prequel, in this case a storyline happening at the same time, was really well done.

But what IS the order? So far I've gathered the following:

Ender's Shadow focuses on Bean and occurs simultaneously with Ender's Game
Shadow of the Hegemon focuses on the commanders on Earth
Shadow Puppets occurs immediately after Shadow of the Hegemon
Speaker for the Dead occurs after Ender leaves for the colony (ie. should be after 1-3)
Xenocide and Children of the Mind follow Speaker for the Dead in order.

I think that's the chronological order (ie. the order I should read them in), however the books weren't written in that order. What IS the proper order then?

Post by **Jonathan** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 1:16 am

Jason wrote:you should finish ender's story before you start on the shadow series. it makes the shadow series make more sense and also you see the transition that card goes through as he writes. I don't want to bias your views so I won't get into it.

This means Jason recommends reading Speaker for the Dead, Xenocide, and Children of the Mind before reading the Shadow books.

Jason · Post by **Jason** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 1:16 am

Geez vinny. Alan already wrote what the order is. It's the order that it was written in obviously.

VLSmooth · Post by **VLSmooth** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 1:25 am

So just ignore chronological order entirely. gotcha...

quantus · Post by **quantus** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 2:14 am

Chronological order is technically as follows:

1. Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow happen simultaneously
2. Shadow of the Hegemon
3. Shadow Puppets
4. Speaker for the Dead
5. Xenocide/Children of the Mind (originally meant to be as one book, but publisher split it since it would've been really long)

quantus · Post by **quantus** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 2:17 am

Shadow Puppets is kinda interesting since it discusses unifying the middle east and mobilizing india as a world power.

Post by **Jonathan** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 2:29 am

South Azn Pride!

Alan · Post by **Alan** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 4:29 am

Yeah, definitely read it in the order I gave. Chronological order doesn't matter.