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The First Formic War #2
Earth Afire
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Science Fiction (2013)One hundred years before Ender's Game the aliens arrived on Earth with fire and death. This is the story of the First Formic War. Victor beat the alien ship to Earth, but just barely. But it wasn't enough to convince skeptical governments that there was a threat.
399 pages, Hardcover
First published June 4, 2013
435 people are currently reading
11008 people want to read
About the author
Orson Scott Card
891 books20.7k followersOrson Scott Card is an American writer known best for his science fiction works. He is (as of 2023) the only person to have won a Hugo Award and a Nebula Award in consecutive years, winning both awards for his novel Ender's Game (1985) and its sequel Speaker for the Dead (1986). A feature film adaptation of Ender's Game, which Card co-produced, was released in 2013. Card also wrote the Locus Fantasy Award-winning series The Tales of Alvin Maker (1987–2003).
Card's fiction often features characters with exceptional gifts who make difficult choices with high stakes. Card has also written political, religious, and social commentary in his columns and other writing; his opposition to homosexuality has provoked public criticism.
Card, who is a great-great-grandson of Brigham Young, was born in Richland, Washington, and grew up in Utah and California. While he was a student at Brigham Young University (BYU), his plays were performed on stage. He served in Brazil as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and headed a community theater for two summers. Card had 27 short stories published between 1978 and 1979, and he won the John W. Campbell Award for best new writer in 1978. He earned a master's degree in English from the University of Utah in 1981 and wrote novels in science fiction, fantasy, non-fiction, and historical fiction genres starting in 1979. Card continued to write prolifically, and he has published over 50 novels and 45 short stories.
Card teaches English at Southern Virginia University; he has written two books on creative writing and serves as a judge in the Writers of the Future contest. He has taught many successful writers at his "literary boot camps". He remains a practicing member of the LDS Church and Mormon fiction writers Stephenie Meyer, Brandon Sanderson, and Dave Wolverton have cited his works as a major influence.
Card's fiction often features characters with exceptional gifts who make difficult choices with high stakes. Card has also written political, religious, and social commentary in his columns and other writing; his opposition to homosexuality has provoked public criticism.
Card, who is a great-great-grandson of Brigham Young, was born in Richland, Washington, and grew up in Utah and California. While he was a student at Brigham Young University (BYU), his plays were performed on stage. He served in Brazil as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and headed a community theater for two summers. Card had 27 short stories published between 1978 and 1979, and he won the John W. Campbell Award for best new writer in 1978. He earned a master's degree in English from the University of Utah in 1981 and wrote novels in science fiction, fantasy, non-fiction, and historical fiction genres starting in 1979. Card continued to write prolifically, and he has published over 50 novels and 45 short stories.
Card teaches English at Southern Virginia University; he has written two books on creative writing and serves as a judge in the Writers of the Future contest. He has taught many successful writers at his "literary boot camps". He remains a practicing member of the LDS Church and Mormon fiction writers Stephenie Meyer, Brandon Sanderson, and Dave Wolverton have cited his works as a major influence.
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June 16, 2019
Earth Afire
By Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston
A Review by Eric Allen
In my review of Earth Unaware, the first book in this prequel series, I stated that I have waited more than twenty years to get the story of the First Bugger Invasion from Ender’s Game. It was a part of the backstory that highly intrigued me. I was rather disappointed that the first book, with the subtitle “The First Formic War” was not that book. It was a great book, and highly entertaining in its own way, but it was not the book it promised to be. HOWEVER, Earth Afire is. It is the book I have waited the majority of my life to read, and it was everything I could ever have hoped it would be.
Leaving a trail of destruction in its wake, the Formic ship plows through the Solar System toward Earth, disrupting communications so that little word can be sent ahead of it to warn the people of Earth of the danger. With little effort, the Formics shrug off every attack thrown against them upon reaching Earth and send down landers to southern China, where they begin killing everything in sight and stripping the land bare.
Disobeying orders, Mazer Rackham, future hero of the Second Invasion races to one of the landing sites to help with the evacuation and finds himself alone, behind enemy lines, unarmed, against an entire army of aliens, whilst special forces try to sneak into China against the wishes of the Chinese government to help.
Meanwhile Victor has a plan to take out the Formic Mothership in orbit, and must ally himself with the man who murdered his uncle in order to accomplish it.
The Good? The characters are all very likeable, and well written. Card understands how people think, act and interact with one another. He’s always been very good at creating relatable, realistic characters with real moral dilemmas that pull you in and are every bit as exciting as his action scenes.
There are a lot of nods to books that happen later in the Enderverse timeline that fans of the series will likely find highly enjoyable. Normally such things are rather distracting, but Card was able to incorporate subtle winks at his readers throughout the book without it being oppressive or distracting.
Card has really captured the horror of invasion by an utterly alien species that has no understanding of humanity, or care for it. The way the Buggers, a.k.a. Formics, act is consistent with their behavior in later books, and believably alien. Their motivations make sense once the characters sit down and think about them, but on the surface they’re completely nonsensical and utterly alien. This is something that Science Fiction writers rarely get right. Aliens are usually either beasts, or so close to human in behavior that they might as well be human. Card realizes that an alien race is going to be alien and does a very good job of conveying it.
The Bad? In Ender’s Game, the First Invasion is portrayed as a primarily space based conflict, with a few mentions of landers in China. In this book, it’s pretty much the other way around. It’s just a nitpick, but it doesn’t fit with pre-established continuity. Nor does Mazer Rackham’s role in this book. He was the hero of the Second Invasion, an unspecified number of years after the First Invasion, but the implication in Ender’s Game is that it was several decades later, especially with the advancements in technology as described in Ender’s Game when talking about the Second Invasion, which was definitively a space conflict. There’s just a lot of continuity issues with the original source material. It’s nothing that anyone but the most avid of fans will really notice or care about, and it probably won’t take away from anyone’s enjoyment. But, while I was reading it, I was constantly thinking about how a lot of things didn’t fit with pre-established continuity.
The Chinese are not portrayed very well. I believe that Card was going for showing how proud a people they are. However, it does come off as subtly racist. I'll leave you to decide for yourself whether he's calling China as he sees it, or whether he's being quietly racist. It's a pretty fine line to walk.
In conclusion, this book was pretty enjoyable. It does have some continuity issues with later books in the Ender Saga, but they don’t really detract too much from enjoyment. The characters are well written and interesting, and the aliens are sufficiently alien. The horrors of war are very well described, and things come to a very good climax, followed by an excellent lead-in to the next book.
Check out my other reviews.
***Edit*** Removed rant about Card from the review. I felt that it was too political, and have actually received several death threats over it. At the time that I wrote this review I was working for a local newspaper as an editor and columnist. I wrote the review to be published in that paper, and word came down from above that I was to include a condemnation of Card's views in the review, as the paper had taken the opposite stance as Card on the issue, and I shared their views on the matter. Looking back, I feel that it was somewhat inappropriate to repost here on Goodreads, and have removed all traces of it from the review. I apologize to anyone who may have been offended by what I had to say, but at the time that I said it, I felt that it was something that needed to be said. The wonderful thing about mistakes, though, is that, even though you can't always remove them with a few clicks, you can always strive never to make the same mistake again in the future. I have also wiped the comments section, as there was some rather heated, and not very civil discussion on the matter.
By Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston
A Review by Eric Allen
In my review of Earth Unaware, the first book in this prequel series, I stated that I have waited more than twenty years to get the story of the First Bugger Invasion from Ender’s Game. It was a part of the backstory that highly intrigued me. I was rather disappointed that the first book, with the subtitle “The First Formic War” was not that book. It was a great book, and highly entertaining in its own way, but it was not the book it promised to be. HOWEVER, Earth Afire is. It is the book I have waited the majority of my life to read, and it was everything I could ever have hoped it would be.
Leaving a trail of destruction in its wake, the Formic ship plows through the Solar System toward Earth, disrupting communications so that little word can be sent ahead of it to warn the people of Earth of the danger. With little effort, the Formics shrug off every attack thrown against them upon reaching Earth and send down landers to southern China, where they begin killing everything in sight and stripping the land bare.
Disobeying orders, Mazer Rackham, future hero of the Second Invasion races to one of the landing sites to help with the evacuation and finds himself alone, behind enemy lines, unarmed, against an entire army of aliens, whilst special forces try to sneak into China against the wishes of the Chinese government to help.
Meanwhile Victor has a plan to take out the Formic Mothership in orbit, and must ally himself with the man who murdered his uncle in order to accomplish it.
The Good? The characters are all very likeable, and well written. Card understands how people think, act and interact with one another. He’s always been very good at creating relatable, realistic characters with real moral dilemmas that pull you in and are every bit as exciting as his action scenes.
There are a lot of nods to books that happen later in the Enderverse timeline that fans of the series will likely find highly enjoyable. Normally such things are rather distracting, but Card was able to incorporate subtle winks at his readers throughout the book without it being oppressive or distracting.
Card has really captured the horror of invasion by an utterly alien species that has no understanding of humanity, or care for it. The way the Buggers, a.k.a. Formics, act is consistent with their behavior in later books, and believably alien. Their motivations make sense once the characters sit down and think about them, but on the surface they’re completely nonsensical and utterly alien. This is something that Science Fiction writers rarely get right. Aliens are usually either beasts, or so close to human in behavior that they might as well be human. Card realizes that an alien race is going to be alien and does a very good job of conveying it.
The Bad? In Ender’s Game, the First Invasion is portrayed as a primarily space based conflict, with a few mentions of landers in China. In this book, it’s pretty much the other way around. It’s just a nitpick, but it doesn’t fit with pre-established continuity. Nor does Mazer Rackham’s role in this book. He was the hero of the Second Invasion, an unspecified number of years after the First Invasion, but the implication in Ender’s Game is that it was several decades later, especially with the advancements in technology as described in Ender’s Game when talking about the Second Invasion, which was definitively a space conflict. There’s just a lot of continuity issues with the original source material. It’s nothing that anyone but the most avid of fans will really notice or care about, and it probably won’t take away from anyone’s enjoyment. But, while I was reading it, I was constantly thinking about how a lot of things didn’t fit with pre-established continuity.
The Chinese are not portrayed very well. I believe that Card was going for showing how proud a people they are. However, it does come off as subtly racist. I'll leave you to decide for yourself whether he's calling China as he sees it, or whether he's being quietly racist. It's a pretty fine line to walk.
In conclusion, this book was pretty enjoyable. It does have some continuity issues with later books in the Ender Saga, but they don’t really detract too much from enjoyment. The characters are well written and interesting, and the aliens are sufficiently alien. The horrors of war are very well described, and things come to a very good climax, followed by an excellent lead-in to the next book.
Check out my other reviews.
***Edit*** Removed rant about Card from the review. I felt that it was too political, and have actually received several death threats over it. At the time that I wrote this review I was working for a local newspaper as an editor and columnist. I wrote the review to be published in that paper, and word came down from above that I was to include a condemnation of Card's views in the review, as the paper had taken the opposite stance as Card on the issue, and I shared their views on the matter. Looking back, I feel that it was somewhat inappropriate to repost here on Goodreads, and have removed all traces of it from the review. I apologize to anyone who may have been offended by what I had to say, but at the time that I said it, I felt that it was something that needed to be said. The wonderful thing about mistakes, though, is that, even though you can't always remove them with a few clicks, you can always strive never to make the same mistake again in the future. I have also wiped the comments section, as there was some rather heated, and not very civil discussion on the matter.
December 23, 2014
Added this note a good bit later: I was in a really bad mood when I wrote this review, but the ending really ticked me off. I stand by what I said about not reading it unless you can go directly into the 3rd book (which I still haven't read.) I still think it's not up to the standard I expect from OSC, but it's probably not as bad as the 1 star rating I originally gave it. I'm willing to update that to 2, maybe 2.5. My comments on the audiobook stand! Except that it wasn't Stephen Rudnecki I disliked so much.
Mow here's the original review.....
STOP! Before you read this book....
(NOTE: this is really a review of the audiobook -- I am vision-impaired and do most of my "reading" aurally.)
I got this because of the author, without having listened to Earth Unaware -- not a problem. I had no trouble understanding what was going on.
I was going to give it 3 stars until the last sentence. DO NOT read/listen to this book until the series is complete. It stops right in the middle of a crucial scene, then....."to be continued." Boo. Hisssss. Note to authors: it IS possible to do a series in which each book wraps up at least part of the action and still leaves the reader hungry for the next installment. See Ender's Game for an example of how it is done.
I'm a big Orson Scott Card fan, but this is not one of his best. (Collaborations should raise suspicions.) It took me awhile to get into it, but I eventually got interested in the characters. I really liked the military types, the strategies, etc. The aliens are enigmatic and creepy, nicely done. (Knowing what's going to happen in the Ender series does sort of change your reactions. I think it's best to suspend foreknowledge and accept the point of view of the characters, who DON'T know how it's going to turn out.) I don't mean to be totally negative: I enjoyed a lot of it, and I'll consider getting the next book in the series, if only to see what happens in the scene that was left hanging.
Now for the narration: some of the narration rates 1 star, if that much, while some of it is quite good. I almost qquit listening about 10 minutes in: there is a young boy whose voice is the second most grating one I've ever heard on an audiobook; unfortunately, the little girl in the same scene is worse. The narrator who does the parts about Victor (I think it's Stefan Rudnicki) sounds like he's doing a bad imiatation of a person doing a eulogy for someone he never met, trying really hard to sound mournful.
Like I said, wait until the 3rd book in the trilogy comes out. Then, go ahead and give it a listen if you have time on your hands and an extra credit. Better, avoid the cheesy narration and read it, if that's an option for you and you like OSC.
Mow here's the original review.....
STOP! Before you read this book....
(NOTE: this is really a review of the audiobook -- I am vision-impaired and do most of my "reading" aurally.)
I got this because of the author, without having listened to Earth Unaware -- not a problem. I had no trouble understanding what was going on.
I was going to give it 3 stars until the last sentence. DO NOT read/listen to this book until the series is complete. It stops right in the middle of a crucial scene, then....."to be continued." Boo. Hisssss. Note to authors: it IS possible to do a series in which each book wraps up at least part of the action and still leaves the reader hungry for the next installment. See Ender's Game for an example of how it is done.
I'm a big Orson Scott Card fan, but this is not one of his best. (Collaborations should raise suspicions.) It took me awhile to get into it, but I eventually got interested in the characters. I really liked the military types, the strategies, etc. The aliens are enigmatic and creepy, nicely done. (Knowing what's going to happen in the Ender series does sort of change your reactions. I think it's best to suspend foreknowledge and accept the point of view of the characters, who DON'T know how it's going to turn out.) I don't mean to be totally negative: I enjoyed a lot of it, and I'll consider getting the next book in the series, if only to see what happens in the scene that was left hanging.
Now for the narration: some of the narration rates 1 star, if that much, while some of it is quite good. I almost qquit listening about 10 minutes in: there is a young boy whose voice is the second most grating one I've ever heard on an audiobook; unfortunately, the little girl in the same scene is worse. The narrator who does the parts about Victor (I think it's Stefan Rudnicki) sounds like he's doing a bad imiatation of a person doing a eulogy for someone he never met, trying really hard to sound mournful.
Like I said, wait until the 3rd book in the trilogy comes out. Then, go ahead and give it a listen if you have time on your hands and an extra credit. Better, avoid the cheesy narration and read it, if that's an option for you and you like OSC.
June 26, 2013
Ugh. Probably the worst book I've read of Card's. I'd like to think that it is all the fault of the coauthor, because this book has none of the insights and humanity displayed by everything else I've read from Card. The characters are all one note voices. They have one way to react to everything and they never change. The dialog is contrived and completely unbelievable--especially when it is children talking.
There was nothing clever anywhere in the book. There were a lot of really smart characters, but they never did anything particularly smart. In fact, any time the plot require a not so smart move, the smart characters would have a brain fart and do it. it makes the writer's job easier, but as a reader it is very annoying.
Finally, they couldn't even finish the story. There are two plot lines going simultaneously, both approaching the climax. One succeeds (in a totally predictable ways that I saw coming 200 pages earlier) and the other is about 5 pages from a conclusion when the book ends. Very bad form!
I'd recommend against reading the book, but I know you will because it is by Card and is set in the Ender universe.
2.5 stars.
There was nothing clever anywhere in the book. There were a lot of really smart characters, but they never did anything particularly smart. In fact, any time the plot require a not so smart move, the smart characters would have a brain fart and do it. it makes the writer's job easier, but as a reader it is very annoying.
Finally, they couldn't even finish the story. There are two plot lines going simultaneously, both approaching the climax. One succeeds (in a totally predictable ways that I saw coming 200 pages earlier) and the other is about 5 pages from a conclusion when the book ends. Very bad form!
I'd recommend against reading the book, but I know you will because it is by Card and is set in the Ender universe.
2.5 stars.
October 1, 2022
“When adults became defiant in public, no amount of evidence, however irrefutable, would make them change their minds.”
I enjoyed the first book in this series (Earth Unaware). So, I decided to read the second. All I can say is that it’s much better than the first. However, that might be because I was already familiar with the world-building, characters, and everything else. Thinking about it, the first book was definitely more of a set-up for this one.
Anyway, the action is well-paced and I enjoyed most of it. Will definitely be reading the third sometime, followed by a re-read of Enders Game (since this is the prequel series). As some of you will know, I’m a sucker for books with aliens. Earth Afire was awesome. It was also very amusing - with lots of government corruption and people unwilling to take ownership for their mistakes.
Yes, I’m aware of the controversial statements the author has made. But I’m trying to separate the art from the artist and judge the book objectively. It’s a decent read and you should definitely check out Earth Afire if you enjoy science fiction.
Four stars.
I enjoyed the first book in this series (Earth Unaware). So, I decided to read the second. All I can say is that it’s much better than the first. However, that might be because I was already familiar with the world-building, characters, and everything else. Thinking about it, the first book was definitely more of a set-up for this one.
Anyway, the action is well-paced and I enjoyed most of it. Will definitely be reading the third sometime, followed by a re-read of Enders Game (since this is the prequel series). As some of you will know, I’m a sucker for books with aliens. Earth Afire was awesome. It was also very amusing - with lots of government corruption and people unwilling to take ownership for their mistakes.
Yes, I’m aware of the controversial statements the author has made. But I’m trying to separate the art from the artist and judge the book objectively. It’s a decent read and you should definitely check out Earth Afire if you enjoy science fiction.
Four stars.
June 1, 2013
This novel is why I'm a huge fan of Orson Scott Card - but woe to be the second book of a trilogy. I'm begging for the final installment already!
In this instance, the reader should really read "Earth Unaware" - the first in the Formic Wars series. Several references are made in this novel that would make more sense having read the first book.
Weaving in four plot lines is a dauntless task, but Aaron Johnston and Card do a marvelous job of bringing it all together by the end. Follow the story of an alien attack on earth and the courageous but flawed heroes who are working to save humankind.
Just know that readers who loved Ender's Game will lose sleep as these books cannot be put down!
In this instance, the reader should really read "Earth Unaware" - the first in the Formic Wars series. Several references are made in this novel that would make more sense having read the first book.
Weaving in four plot lines is a dauntless task, but Aaron Johnston and Card do a marvelous job of bringing it all together by the end. Follow the story of an alien attack on earth and the courageous but flawed heroes who are working to save humankind.
Just know that readers who loved Ender's Game will lose sleep as these books cannot be put down!
November 20, 2013
The mile a minute thrilling second book in the Formic War series. A pre-trilogy to the "Ender's Game" saga. And just as I was helpless to put down 'Ender's Game' as well as the first book to this series "Earth Unaware."
My only suggestion is that these are so good you don't want to stop, therefore wait for book 3 to come out!!
My only suggestion is that these are so good you don't want to stop, therefore wait for book 3 to come out!!
July 7, 2014
I would again like to take this opportunity to mention that I would love if Goodreads had a 1-10 rating system. If so I would give this book 2 out of 10 stars.
This is the second book in the First Formic War trilogy. If you are expecting any sort of greatness, I would restrain myself. Ender's Game this is not. No grand ideas on philosophy and morals are explored here. Once again, the characters are sidelined for the all too predictable story. An exploration of Mazer Rackham's character is barely begun in the first book and not explored in this book either.
All in all, I can only recommend this book to diehard Ender's Game series fans. It seemed to me that Orson Scott Card had very little to do with the writing of this book but perhaps simply gave his name to be used by the other author Aaron Johnston. These books already exist as a series of Marvel produced graphic-novels and was then adapted into these books.
Very poor execution, poor writing, poor characters and progression. The entire book is an exercise in money-making, with OSC's name on it and it being part of the Enderverse will assure its success.
This is the second book in the First Formic War trilogy. If you are expecting any sort of greatness, I would restrain myself. Ender's Game this is not. No grand ideas on philosophy and morals are explored here. Once again, the characters are sidelined for the all too predictable story. An exploration of Mazer Rackham's character is barely begun in the first book and not explored in this book either.
All in all, I can only recommend this book to diehard Ender's Game series fans. It seemed to me that Orson Scott Card had very little to do with the writing of this book but perhaps simply gave his name to be used by the other author Aaron Johnston. These books already exist as a series of Marvel produced graphic-novels and was then adapted into these books.
Very poor execution, poor writing, poor characters and progression. The entire book is an exercise in money-making, with OSC's name on it and it being part of the Enderverse will assure its success.
January 21, 2014
Loved it. Would read it again. Would recommend to a friend. I'm a huge fan of the universe and enjoyed the story. There are some nit picky things that bothered me, but didn't stop me from enjoying it at all.
May 29, 2013
Good added characters and I liked reading about Mazer. The book suffers the most from the cliffhanger ending for me. If not for that I'd have given it 4.
April 17, 2016
This is the middle book in the First Formic War trilogy, the prequel to Ender's Game. I read the first book, Earth Unaware, when it was first published, almost four years ago. It was good - lots of excitement - but it left us hanging for the second book. Now that I've finished the second book, I see that this is really a very long novel divided into three parts. If you read it, I recommend that you read all three in fairly close succession. I've immediately started the third book. It continues exactly where the second left off, without a pause.
There are a number of concurrent stories, some continued from the first book and some of which have converged. I expect that the still separate story tracks probably will converge in the third book.
From Ender's Game, we know that New Zealand pilot Mazur Rackham saved humanity. He was introduced in the first book. His story continues in the second as he repeatedly narrowly escapes from certain death. He hasn't defeated the formics yet, so I guess that's coming in the third book. One of the heroes, Mazur's young companion, is an 8 year old boy. Card continues his fascination with exceptional young children, like Ender and his cohorts.
There are a number of concurrent stories, some continued from the first book and some of which have converged. I expect that the still separate story tracks probably will converge in the third book.
From Ender's Game, we know that New Zealand pilot Mazur Rackham saved humanity. He was introduced in the first book. His story continues in the second as he repeatedly narrowly escapes from certain death. He hasn't defeated the formics yet, so I guess that's coming in the third book. One of the heroes, Mazur's young companion, is an 8 year old boy. Card continues his fascination with exceptional young children, like Ender and his cohorts.
June 8, 2014
Earth Afire begins immediately after Earth Unaware, Victor is on the Moon trying to convince the world of their impending doom, Rem is out in space continuing to struggle to define himself from within his father's 'long shadow' and a few other characters its hard to care about do some stuff in space.
Afire offers far in terms of futuristic earth, insight into corporate culture, politics and importantly what earthlings think of 'space-born' While I appreciated the effort to create a believable world for the future, I felt like the novel was essentially anti-China in its politicking. While some of the international relations portrayed seemed to have some level authenticity, the level of belligerence of China in the face of alien invasion is hard to swallow.
On the positive side the level of action is high and there was little boredom to be experienced within the chapters of this book. Like many middle children, one fells like this book is a 'conclusion-tease.' Looking forward to the next installment
Afire offers far in terms of futuristic earth, insight into corporate culture, politics and importantly what earthlings think of 'space-born' While I appreciated the effort to create a believable world for the future, I felt like the novel was essentially anti-China in its politicking. While some of the international relations portrayed seemed to have some level authenticity, the level of belligerence of China in the face of alien invasion is hard to swallow.
On the positive side the level of action is high and there was little boredom to be experienced within the chapters of this book. Like many middle children, one fells like this book is a 'conclusion-tease.' Looking forward to the next installment
October 19, 2016
In love with Lem
July 15, 2020
Vaht, vaht, vaht, intriig, viha, draama, tegevus, draama, draama, vaht, viha, tegevus, tegevus, tegevus.
January 26, 2020
In general I really love some of the books in the Enderverse, and I REALLY love the overarching story, but man I think this one is just objectively bad.
The lazy character development and dialogue weighs down the whole book. Corporate villains are villains because they’re corporates, the hero is a reckless egalitarian, Chinese villager dialogue is predictably limited to blanket concepts of honor/dishonor. You could definitely argue that Orson Scott Card has a history with some cringey Chinese characters (Xenoxide, Children of the Mind) but at least they’re complex, like-able, and have meaningful character arcs.
I do not know how you go from writing characters as complex and thoughtful as Novinha, Bean, or Peter, and then write someone as bland as Victor? Or “Chubs”(????)
Honestly wished they all died.
The lazy character development and dialogue weighs down the whole book. Corporate villains are villains because they’re corporates, the hero is a reckless egalitarian, Chinese villager dialogue is predictably limited to blanket concepts of honor/dishonor. You could definitely argue that Orson Scott Card has a history with some cringey Chinese characters (Xenoxide, Children of the Mind) but at least they’re complex, like-able, and have meaningful character arcs.
I do not know how you go from writing characters as complex and thoughtful as Novinha, Bean, or Peter, and then write someone as bland as Victor? Or “Chubs”(????)
Honestly wished they all died.
April 11, 2014
This one keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The Formics arrive at Earth and bad things happen. Great characters and 3 different story lines are going on: Victor tries to warn of the impending arrival of the aliens; Mazer Rackham locates to China on a peacetime training mission when the Formics arrive nearby; and the free space miner wives and children who survived the battle of the asteroid belt join up with some space scavengers to survive. I only take a star away because we already know Mazer Rackham will survive this battle...takes away from the excitement of his adventures in China. 4 Stars
May 8, 2016
Y paso lo que siempre pasa cuando se lee una saga de la cual se sabe no se podrá leer pronto el siguiente libro, final abierto y el siguiente libro no está en castellano... No es la mejor saga del mundo de Ender pero como entretiene, se dejan a un lado las confusas historias filosóficas y enredos mentales de libros pasados y pasan a contar sin más como es el encuentro y lucha contra los Formicos. Debo aprender ingles ya para por fin leer toda esa lista de libros que no he terminado por no traducirlos a lo poco que entiendo de mi idioma,
August 4, 2025
Un alucine de estrategias, ignorancia y encuentros (in)esperados.
En definitiva, con mucha más acción y trajine que el libro anterior, me alegró bastante que Mazer tomara más protagonismo en este libro. Ya era hora.
Ahora sólo me queda empezar a leer el siguiente porqué te deja en un punto de MUCHO suspenso.
En definitiva, con mucha más acción y trajine que el libro anterior, me alegró bastante que Mazer tomara más protagonismo en este libro. Ya era hora.
Ahora sólo me queda empezar a leer el siguiente porqué te deja en un punto de MUCHO suspenso.
June 17, 2018
It was difficult to become engaged in the book. The book has six different parallel storylines going on simultaneously, and every time one storyline becomes interesting it shifts to another. The disjointed narrative requires constant work on the reader's part to stay engaged. I didn't notice this so much in volume 1 of the trilogy, so maybe it won't be a problem in the final volume.
May 29, 2023
Not as awful as the first in series. Things actually do happen in this, but they happen slowly.
There is a 8 year old kid who behaves as if he's 25, and a 18 year old kid who talks like he's 40. One POV female character, lots of males, and other reviewers' mention of sexism are not inaccurate. They shoot up some aliens. They bicker in their personal lives. Bickering is not conflict or drama, which young Mr (whoever it is that wrote this; it clearly isn't Card's writing) has not yet learned.
If you want to read this series, SKIP BOOK 1!! Nothing happens in it. I can't tell you about book 3, because I'm not sure I'm so interested that I'll listen to it. (shrug.) Thinking "no" at this point.
There is a 8 year old kid who behaves as if he's 25, and a 18 year old kid who talks like he's 40. One POV female character, lots of males, and other reviewers' mention of sexism are not inaccurate. They shoot up some aliens. They bicker in their personal lives. Bickering is not conflict or drama, which young Mr (whoever it is that wrote this; it clearly isn't Card's writing) has not yet learned.
If you want to read this series, SKIP BOOK 1!! Nothing happens in it. I can't tell you about book 3, because I'm not sure I'm so interested that I'll listen to it. (shrug.) Thinking "no" at this point.
December 9, 2024
No character development, and very little creative science fiction. Somewhat entertaining, but this series probably could've been one book.
August 9, 2013
While I enjoyed much of Card's continuation of The First Formic War prequel, I found that a lot of it was centered around China being attacked first. The characters in Card's China just didn't come as alive for me, as an Asian-American, partly because of Card's generalizations for how Chinese men would react/how Bingwen and his grandfather would react. I also wonder if Card had previously thought out the plot line with China being the first to get attacked, or if recent events had nudged him to put that as the main point in the plotline. It just seems a bit too coincidental for me.
However, the stance of STASA and the United Nations (and the reactions of the US, China, Russia, and GB) to me seems a bit more realistic, and really brought forward the idea that this is still a future society, but one that we can relate to.
I also found the military depictions of Mazer Rackham's time in China a bit too technical, although I was able to understand the dialogue that was going through between Rackham and the other characters, the descriptions of events, although realistic, didn't really appeal to me.
However, I did enjoy the depictions of the MOPS/Stratego forces as they made their way into China, Lem Jukes' conflicts as he struggled with a changing view of his father, the conflict with the Formics, and the struggle he faces as he prepares to take over Jukes Lmtd. I enjoyed reading the struggle that Victor has in confronting and then accepting the help that Lem has to offer, as well as confronting an Earth that doesn't believe him.
While Card's depictions of the military were meant to be a bit more technical, as to make them realistic enough, I did find that the personal struggles, emotional responses/struggling between a relationship to the human race vs to individual nation states, and emotional growth in some of the characters really made this book more worth reading than for the actual beginning action scenes. In the end, I cannot wait to see how Card wraps up the prequel series of books about the First Formic Wars.
However, the stance of STASA and the United Nations (and the reactions of the US, China, Russia, and GB) to me seems a bit more realistic, and really brought forward the idea that this is still a future society, but one that we can relate to.
I also found the military depictions of Mazer Rackham's time in China a bit too technical, although I was able to understand the dialogue that was going through between Rackham and the other characters, the descriptions of events, although realistic, didn't really appeal to me.
However, I did enjoy the depictions of the MOPS/Stratego forces as they made their way into China, Lem Jukes' conflicts as he struggled with a changing view of his father, the conflict with the Formics, and the struggle he faces as he prepares to take over Jukes Lmtd. I enjoyed reading the struggle that Victor has in confronting and then accepting the help that Lem has to offer, as well as confronting an Earth that doesn't believe him.
While Card's depictions of the military were meant to be a bit more technical, as to make them realistic enough, I did find that the personal struggles, emotional responses/struggling between a relationship to the human race vs to individual nation states, and emotional growth in some of the characters really made this book more worth reading than for the actual beginning action scenes. In the end, I cannot wait to see how Card wraps up the prequel series of books about the First Formic Wars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 24, 2020
Una segunda parte muy segunda parte.
Ha pasado tanto tiempo (relativamente) desde que me leí la primera entrega de esta trilogía que, tengo que reconocerlo, hay muchos detalles que no recordaba; aunque, afortunadamente, estoy lo suficientemente familiarizada con el mundo de Ender y los fórmicos, y con la escritura de Card en general, como para que todo se me antojase muy familiar muy rápidamente.
Como buena novela de Card, "La Tierra en Llamas" cuenta con un amplio elenco de personajes atractivos y con los que resulta fácil empatizar, pues no se trata de héroes de cartón-piedra, sino de verdaderos arquetipos humanos.
Una vez más, los niños tienen un protagonisto relevante en la trama y, de hecho, parece que Card y Johnston hacen repetidas referencias muy intencionadas al papel que los niños pueden jugar en la guerra... anticipando el futuro.
La acción es trepidante en ocasiones, sin dar nunca demasiada tregua, lo cual hace que la lectura sea rápida, entretenida y muy inmersiva.
Sin embargo (y, por supuesto, tenía que haber un pero), esta segunda novela se cierra con un 'cliffhanger' más que importante, y hay ciertos ámbitos en los que la acción no avanza tanto como pudiera, y el lector quisiera. Claro que, al fin y al cabo, el propio título lo dice: aquí la protagonista es la Tierra, y de ahí que la trama espacial quede, en cierta forma, en un segundo plano.
En cualquier caso, decente segunda parte, y decente precuela... un tanto 'blockbuster', pero diversión de la buena.
Ha pasado tanto tiempo (relativamente) desde que me leí la primera entrega de esta trilogía que, tengo que reconocerlo, hay muchos detalles que no recordaba; aunque, afortunadamente, estoy lo suficientemente familiarizada con el mundo de Ender y los fórmicos, y con la escritura de Card en general, como para que todo se me antojase muy familiar muy rápidamente.
Como buena novela de Card, "La Tierra en Llamas" cuenta con un amplio elenco de personajes atractivos y con los que resulta fácil empatizar, pues no se trata de héroes de cartón-piedra, sino de verdaderos arquetipos humanos.
Una vez más, los niños tienen un protagonisto relevante en la trama y, de hecho, parece que Card y Johnston hacen repetidas referencias muy intencionadas al papel que los niños pueden jugar en la guerra... anticipando el futuro.
La acción es trepidante en ocasiones, sin dar nunca demasiada tregua, lo cual hace que la lectura sea rápida, entretenida y muy inmersiva.
Sin embargo (y, por supuesto, tenía que haber un pero), esta segunda novela se cierra con un 'cliffhanger' más que importante, y hay ciertos ámbitos en los que la acción no avanza tanto como pudiera, y el lector quisiera. Claro que, al fin y al cabo, el propio título lo dice: aquí la protagonista es la Tierra, y de ahí que la trama espacial quede, en cierta forma, en un segundo plano.
En cualquier caso, decente segunda parte, y decente precuela... un tanto 'blockbuster', pero diversión de la buena.
June 18, 2013
Not until after I finished did I realize I read book 2 of a 3 part mini series. Doh! Being an Ender's Game slut, I will of course read the other two now. This was a good book, but not to the quality of the original Ender books nor the Shadow series.
SPOILER'S BELOW.
The book's main failure was the unrealistic nature of most of the characters. It just wasn't believable to me that they would all be so petty in light of the Earth being attacked by aliens.
I thought the book was worth reading for two reasons:
1) Getting the background stories of Mazor Rackham as well as the formics/buggers. The book was interesting in that once you see how ruthless the formics were in action, you look at Speaker for the Dead a little differently. Ender understandably felt bad about wiping out the formics, but perhaps had he known what they were really like, he wouldn't have been so contrite.
2) The science fiction technology. I really enjoyed getting a glimpse of what will reasonably be the future of computing. Seeing how far voice recognition and data analysis has come in the last 10 years makes me think the computer technology shown in Earth Afire will be achieved in our lifetime.
SPOILER'S BELOW.
The book's main failure was the unrealistic nature of most of the characters. It just wasn't believable to me that they would all be so petty in light of the Earth being attacked by aliens.
I thought the book was worth reading for two reasons:
1) Getting the background stories of Mazor Rackham as well as the formics/buggers. The book was interesting in that once you see how ruthless the formics were in action, you look at Speaker for the Dead a little differently. Ender understandably felt bad about wiping out the formics, but perhaps had he known what they were really like, he wouldn't have been so contrite.
2) The science fiction technology. I really enjoyed getting a glimpse of what will reasonably be the future of computing. Seeing how far voice recognition and data analysis has come in the last 10 years makes me think the computer technology shown in Earth Afire will be achieved in our lifetime.
March 31, 2020
So, yeah...this isn't the best of the Enderverse novels. It does pick up the store from Earth Unaware and carry it along. It's just not got the snap of the original stories. I'm sure there's a continuing audience for filling in the history that led up to the action in Ender's game, but there's just not a lot of excellent stuff here. It really picks up at the end, or it probably would have rated only 3 stars. And there is more Mazer Rackham in this one. That was one of my complaints about "Unaware". He was there, but really neglected. Oh well. One more to go in the series. I should finish it off, but I'm not sure that I need to fill more of these in. My suspicion is that Card may have done plotting, but much of this is actually Aaron Johnston's writing. That could be the missing "spark".
May 27, 2019
Good golly, this is quite a read! I was so emotionally invested in these characters.
I felt Victor’s frustration and hopelessness. Bing Wen (please excuse the spelling, that’s what I got from the audiobook) and Mazer Rackham are fantastic. I very much enjoyed the flashes between Earth, the Moon and the Belt. The characters are easy to get drawn into, even Lem, who’s a piece of work.
I highly recommend this to fans of sci fi, particularly fans of Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Saga.
I borrowed the audiobook from the library. Excellent continuity in narration from the first book, same actors. Each perspective has its voice, which definitely helps in a book that follows several stories on a greater stage.
I felt Victor’s frustration and hopelessness. Bing Wen (please excuse the spelling, that’s what I got from the audiobook) and Mazer Rackham are fantastic. I very much enjoyed the flashes between Earth, the Moon and the Belt. The characters are easy to get drawn into, even Lem, who’s a piece of work.
I highly recommend this to fans of sci fi, particularly fans of Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Saga.
I borrowed the audiobook from the library. Excellent continuity in narration from the first book, same actors. Each perspective has its voice, which definitely helps in a book that follows several stories on a greater stage.
June 6, 2013
This book is excellent all the way through. I've been waiting for this release after reading the Ender's books, the Shadow series books, and the book before this one "Earth Unaware". It's really interesting to experience the events leading up to Ender's Game and to delve further into the backstories of characters like Mazer Rackim. I also really loved the way the author always paints a picture of the world politics surrounding an event such as an alien invasion. OSC always weaves an amazing tapestry out of plot, character development, and social environments all laced with action. Can't wait for the next one!
March 19, 2015
One of the better Sci-Fi book written this year, and considering it's also a one of those dreaded Young Adult stories it was actually pretty good. It stands head and shoulders above other young adult books I've read.
January 21, 2018
Reseña
Esta es la continuación de la saga de la Primera Guerra Fórmica, donde de hecho llega la nave de los Fórmicos (o insectores, como prefieran llamarlos), a la Tierra. Como bien decía el título del primer libro, los seres humanos prefirieron no creer en la hostilidad de estos seres y estaban completamente desprevenidos para lo que hicieron ellos al llegar. De hecho, hubo reacciones desesperadas y los planes más inteligentes de contraataque fueron llevados a cabo por pequeñísimos grupos de personas.
Seguiremos con distintos puntos de vista: el del minero libre en misión de avisar a la
Tierra, Víctor Delgado; el del hijo de la persona más rica del planeta, Lem Jukes; el del brillante niño chino, Bingwen; y el de nuestro conocido guerrero maorí, Mazer Rackham.
Crítica
Esta es una trepidante novela donde la acción ocurre muy rápido desde cierta parte del libro en adelante. Además, conoceremos ciertas tecnologías como el Med Assist, que bien quisiéramos tener en nuestra época.
Me gustó mucho el libro, refleja la burocracia, las normas estúpidas y la separación que hay entre los distintos países de la Tierra, tanto así que ni siquiera pueden acordar unirse para hacer frente a un enemigo en común.
5 / 5 estrellas
Esta es la continuación de la saga de la Primera Guerra Fórmica, donde de hecho llega la nave de los Fórmicos (o insectores, como prefieran llamarlos), a la Tierra. Como bien decía el título del primer libro, los seres humanos prefirieron no creer en la hostilidad de estos seres y estaban completamente desprevenidos para lo que hicieron ellos al llegar. De hecho, hubo reacciones desesperadas y los planes más inteligentes de contraataque fueron llevados a cabo por pequeñísimos grupos de personas.
Seguiremos con distintos puntos de vista: el del minero libre en misión de avisar a la
Tierra, Víctor Delgado; el del hijo de la persona más rica del planeta, Lem Jukes; el del brillante niño chino, Bingwen; y el de nuestro conocido guerrero maorí, Mazer Rackham.
Crítica
Esta es una trepidante novela donde la acción ocurre muy rápido desde cierta parte del libro en adelante. Además, conoceremos ciertas tecnologías como el Med Assist, que bien quisiéramos tener en nuestra época.
Me gustó mucho el libro, refleja la burocracia, las normas estúpidas y la separación que hay entre los distintos países de la Tierra, tanto así que ni siquiera pueden acordar unirse para hacer frente a un enemigo en común.
5 / 5 estrellas
January 27, 2018
An interesting pulling together of the different narrative threads that were depicted in the first novel. The descriptions of the formic invasion are well done indeed to send shivers down your spine. Characters are interestingly developing with a selection of very human, very real set-ups.
Whereas the first novel in the series is completely based on setting up the story for the formics, this novel starts with the formics reaching earth and follows their landing. The focus shifts from the Chinese ground level to soldiers both with the MOPs and New Zealand Special Ops on the Chinese land... with or without permission. Then you have Victor and his efforts to make himself useful now his task of warning Earth is done and the women of his family, doing their best to survive with no ship and no men.
Card intersperses an action filled narrative with wry commentary on human nature and the political power plays that occur in all worldwide crisis’. Individuals find their actions curtailed by these international politics or they go off grid and work without the approval of superiors... making difficult tasks even more tricky.
Whereas the first novel in the series is completely based on setting up the story for the formics, this novel starts with the formics reaching earth and follows their landing. The focus shifts from the Chinese ground level to soldiers both with the MOPs and New Zealand Special Ops on the Chinese land... with or without permission. Then you have Victor and his efforts to make himself useful now his task of warning Earth is done and the women of his family, doing their best to survive with no ship and no men.
Card intersperses an action filled narrative with wry commentary on human nature and the political power plays that occur in all worldwide crisis’. Individuals find their actions curtailed by these international politics or they go off grid and work without the approval of superiors... making difficult tasks even more tricky.
April 24, 2017
El inicio un poco lento pero pff, ¡es maravilloso!
Lo que más me gusta de Orson Scott Card son sus personajes; son tan profundos y bien hechos. Y la mancuerna que hace con Aaron Johnston es un acierto tremendo.
Todo en este libro es espectacular, con cada página que vas avanzado la tensión va creciendo.
Sin duda este libro se lo llevan Mazer y Bingwen aunque Lem y Víctor no se quedan atrás.
Las precuelas de "El juego de Ender" se equiparan q la grandeza del original (incluso pueden llegar a gustar más).
Sin duda estoy muriéndome por leer la tercera parte, espero pronto la traduzcan al español.
Lo que más me gusta de Orson Scott Card son sus personajes; son tan profundos y bien hechos. Y la mancuerna que hace con Aaron Johnston es un acierto tremendo.
Todo en este libro es espectacular, con cada página que vas avanzado la tensión va creciendo.
Sin duda este libro se lo llevan Mazer y Bingwen aunque Lem y Víctor no se quedan atrás.
Las precuelas de "El juego de Ender" se equiparan q la grandeza del original (incluso pueden llegar a gustar más).
Sin duda estoy muriéndome por leer la tercera parte, espero pronto la traduzcan al español.
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