I loved the first two books in the series, and the actual storyline of this book was to an extent good. I also didn't have any real problems with the various accents used in narration either; there are many characters and storylines so distinct accents are helpful in keeping the story in context.

However, the author took side trips to nowhere that were really self indulgent for the author and pointless to the reader, and seemed more to want to convince the reader of his own view of the creation of the universe than to tell the continuing story of Ender and the circumstances in his life. In the end, I felt like I was listening to a recorded internal debate, not a fictional story. The author's personal ramblings went on and on until I literally found myself groaning out loud and begging for the diatribe to end.

If the author had simply stuck to the story telling and less to the lecturing on his own personal view of what "life is" this would have been an enjoyable listen, as it stands...it can only be described as good in places, painfully boring at times, and grating on the nerves at other times.

If it helps, Children of the Mind (the next in the series) has the same ramblings but not quite as bad.

I loved Ender's Game and Speaker (5 stars each) and I downloaded Xenocide and Children with great anticipation before I had even finished Speaker. Unfortunately, Xenocide is 5% plot and 95% philosophical ramblings on gods, servants, good, and evil. By the end, I found myself fast-forwarding through several passages, which I almost never do. Very disappointing!

I am tryinh not to sound trite, but Orson Scott Card truly is my favorite author. His best books are Enders Game and Speaker for the Dead. I say this after having read the vast majority of his works. Xenocide is a much deeper book then the first two, it goes more into philosophy and science. It is Very Good as I stated in the title, but do not expect it to be quite as good as the previous two in the series. I highly suggest to any reader to pick up any OSC book that interests to them, it will be a good book.

no

i do not think this is a book you can pick memorable moments with. this is a build up and continuation of a great epic story of Andrew Wiggin, Lusitania, the Pequeninos and all the other characters, plots and subplots in the series.

yes

Quara's vehemence that the Descolada is a sentient species and that it deserves understanding and preservation. I see so much parallel between the Ribeira family and the interaction of the virus. The idea that one of the children of Novinha, who lost her parents and subsequent father figure and lover to the Descolada, could defend it shows Card's understanding of family structures, and human behavior.

I really did enjoy this book. I think Card's handling of the philosophical, ethical, humanistic elements of this series was really well done. I agree with one of the other reviewers in that this series is something of a place to escape, and any one of the books can transport you immediately away and into the Enderverse.

Yes. It was an interesting read.

It started out with new characters (not in book 1 or 2) which quickly drew me into this part of the story. The reader for that part in particular was fantastic (complete with chinese accent).

There were multiple narrators and they all were well suited for their parts in the story.

A consistent complete follow up to the Ender sage.

YES - loved the Hive Queens conversations with Human

The various actos portraying characters made for more memorable experience

The Hive Queen

Yes

The readers are excellent.

The entire story.

They bring excitement and draws you into the story completely.

I could not stop listening!!!

Everyone should read the entire series of Ender's Game.

Xenocide is the continuation of Speaker for the dead and yet it's not. While Speaker for the dead was packed with well formulated and fascinating moral and philosophical questions weaved into an exciting and touching story of human destiny; Xenocide turns out to be just tedious and flat. The characters have all been reduced to hobbyist preachers where every opinion or trait is expressed through long passages of existential reasoning but lacking the relevance and cleverness of Speaker for the dead.

Of the four books included in the Ender Saga i strongly recommend reading only the first two; Enders War and Speaker for the dead leaving you with an intact and amazing reading experience.

It was a painful experience listening to this book. I would have stopped before I got to the end but I unfortunately also purchased Children of the Mind at the same time. There were long stretches of conversation which were so annoying that I wanted scream. Enjoy the first two books in the series and stop because you will ruin those stories if you listen to this.

I liked all the previous books in the series, but this one? zzzzzzzzz. Card was able to stretch this short story into a great novel and great series, but this one was a stretch too far.