Ender in Exile (edition 2008)

I was skeptical going into this - In fact, I only read it today because it has to go back to the library soon and I didn't want to return it unread. I kept thinking that it couldn't possibly be interesting since we already know what happens. Could it really be worth reading about events that were already discussed in other Ender books? Of course, I had the same type of reservations about Ender's Shadow and ended up being wowed by that one.

Ender in Exile isn't the same sort of homerun that Ender's Shadow was, but that didn't stop me from tearing through it in two sittings. Seeing Ender's thought process following the end of the Formic War was much more satisfying than reading about it as events that had already occurred, as we did in Speaker of the Dead and its sequels. I also really liked witnessing the creation of the colony program and seeing the seed that started the universe we meed in Speaker.

On the downside, I did get a little twitchy about Card retconning things for consistency. In his defense, his afterword explains his reasoning, and his reasoning mostly makes sense. I just worry he's veering into George Lucas territory when he has to start publishing new editions of his old books with changes.

Also, the subplot with Alessandra and her crazy mother seemed sort of tacked on - I couldn't really figure out what the purpose of it was, except to demonstrate Ender's brain power. I sort of wished they'd been done away with so that there was more time to focus on Ender's recovery and his removal from his family. One thing I wished the book had included was at least one response from Ender's parents to his first letter home. The text says that they continued to correspond, but we're not told any more than that. His letter packed a powerful punch, and it's a shame we didn't get to see what his parents had to say in return.

Although this is billed as a direct sequel to Ender's Game, it wouldn't make any sense without reading the Shadow books first. The loose threads in Shadow of the Giant are tied up here, and while they only take up a small portion of the book, I can't imagine they would make much sense (or have much impact, since it does lay down a short summary) without having read the previous books. ( )

Ender Wiggin’s eradication of the Buggers at the end of Ender’s Game cemented his reputation as the greatest military hero the world has ever seen. To avoid jeopardizing the peace agreement between all nations, the great hero has to leave Earth and become governor of a new colony on a now-vacant Formic planet. But why does Ender agree to leave? What convinces his sister Valentine to go with him? What happens on the colony ship, and how does Ender cope with the knowledge of all that he’s done and all he still needs to do? This is the story of Ender’s days between the end of the Formic Wars and the events of Speaker for the Dead.

Ender in Exile is hailed as a direct sequel to Ender’s Game, but there are many references to events detailed in the companion Shadow series. By necessity, this book has to achieve a very specific narrative arc to bridge the gap from the end of the first book to the beginning of the second, and as a result the plot is stiff and forced. Pacing bumps along over irrelevant characters and plot points; stronger editing would help this over-long novel. The writing is pedantic, laced with political and biological jargon, and pushes some of Card’s own socially-conservative agenda. This is an optional read at best. ( )

A non-stand-alone novel that slots into the end of [b:Ender's Game|375802|Ender's Game (Ender's Saga, Book 1)|Orson Scott Card|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1214413570s/375802.jpg|2422333], this is enjoyable enough for Ender fans and irrelevant for anyone else. At a structural level, I enjoy the idea that a whole novel can be hidden in the interstices of another. I appreciated the detail on Ender's missing years, especially because I got bored with following Bean in the "Shadow" series (another way to hide a novel in a novel: Retell events from a collateral perspective). For people who haven't read the "Shadow" books, there's enough clunky exposition to fill you in.

The emotional tone was flat for this series, and overall the book seemed a little perfunctory. However, it was still a pleasant diversion. ( )

Since it was written after all of the other books, it's not quite right to say it's book 1.5, even though chronologically (except for the many varied complications of space travel and time dilation) it does fall that way. However, some events are revealed that transpired in the Shadow books, so you will probably want to read those first unless you're a big fan of being spoiled.
Those who love Ender and yearn for more about him will love this additional insight into his character and the revelation of the intervening years between Ender's Game and Speaker for the Dead. ( )

Not as fresh as Ender's Game or even Ender's Shadow but it certainly was a worthy read. Given that I have not read any of the follow up books to Ender's Shadow (yet) I was not familiar with all the tie-ins.[return]Reading this book has got me reading some ender stuff again. ( )