Lost Boys

By: Orson Scott Card

Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki

Length: 16 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

Step Fletcher, his pregnant wife DeAnne, and their three children move to Steuben, North Carolina, with high hopes. But Step's new job with a software company turns out to be a snake pit, and 8-year-old Stevie's school is worse. As Stevie retreats into himself, focusing more and more on a mysterious computer game and a growing troop of imaginary friends, the Fletchers' concern turns to terror. Young boys, whose names match a list of Stevie's nonexistent friends, have mysteriously vanished from Steuben. And as evil strikes out from the most trusted corners, it's suddenly clear that Stevie is next on the list.

©1992 Orson Scott Card (P)2004 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

Audie Award Winner, Science-Fiction, 2005

"Card skillfully uses terror as a background to everyday family life. For Stephen King fans and those who like their suspense mixed with the supernatural." (Library Journal)

I loved it.

I have read a lot of his books including The Ender series and Homecoming series. Its great to see he can write something so touching that reaches a personal level, probably why some don't like it. Its not just a fun read but it is a really good one.

excellent.

this was a great story. a shocking surprise at the end. very touching. nearly brought me to tears.

Life changes when you are a parent

For everyone that is a parent, and understands how dramatically your perspective on life changed when you became one, I think this explains the 5 star ratings, and the zeroes. The content is as the other reviews describe it (Mormon, common life, etc) however, it struck such a chord with me, I struggled between being unable to turn it off, and it having it wreak havoc in my mind. It has to be one of the most powerful books I have ever read. I am not an emotional person, but tears were streaming down my face when it ended.

Rings so true, entertaining, and spooky

This book is a fictional account of a Mormon family moving to North Carolina. I've read it a while ago and don't remember the details / names, but the story sticks. It's very bittersweet, but overall rings very true. I could have done without the Mormon's side, but it's actually not uninteresting to see the inside of the church. However, what range best in this story for me is the relationship between the family members (father/mother and children). Being a young father myself, I could appreciate and really delighted in those passages where the author analyzes the relationships. I felt that most of the material had nothing to do with the religious convictions but merely with the author being a humanist. The part about the work at the company is also interesting, not just because I am also a computer scientist, but for its early 80s hacker's feeling. All of this has gone so corporate now, but a lot of the inner politics haven't changed so much...

About an hour before the book is over, and you wonder where all these things he's been weaving are going, is where the spooky part begins, and you don't (at least I didn't) really see it coming till the end. I must say that part was very well done. I enjoyed it immensely. Be prepared to be sad, and emotionally fragile, by that time, because the author (and the excellent narration) really takes you thru the full emotional spectrum. I have no problem putting this book in my library among my favorite titles, even though I probably won't read it again.

Just a great Story

Lost Boys is very different than Card's sci-fi works; it shows the breadth he has a a story teller. I thought the story was gripping because as a parent it was easy to identify with the characters and all they were going through as a family - then everything that was just kind of going on in the background of the story erupts and the ending hits like a ton of bricks. Great story.

No Enders Game

Big fan of Card’s Enders series and have been exploring his other works. So far this book ranks on the lower side.

Card dives into a lot of the Mormon belief system in this book. There was much more religion and family values than progression of the story itself.

Approach the book as more of following a Mormon family through their challenges, views of life and experiences, and how they manage their family throughout.

The book was interesting and the story kept me involved but left me feeling like something was missing and unresolved story lines.

Not one of my favorites for Card.

Not your typical Card novel

I am a dunce and did not look at the category labels for this book. I very much enjoy Card's other works like the Micropowers books, his tiny novel "A Town Called Christmas", and Ender's Game. This is not like any of those, it is a horror novel inspired by Stephen King's Pet Cemetary. I am a weenie and got so creeped out 3 hours in that I had to google the synopsis to see if I could continue and then noped out of the book. If you enjoy horror I would tell you go for it. If you are completely gutless when it comes to horror, like myself, save yourself the trouble of nightmares. What I found much more horrifying about this book is the relatability of this family, the parellels to my life and the lives of those I know, and that the "evil" surrounding the family wasn't so much a supernatural presence as it is sickeningly terrible people. There is a pedophile in this book and after listening to his conversation (not graphic, mostly implied) I had to take a shower it was so disgusting. Gave it a high review because it's a great book for it's intended audience/category and the narrator does a wonderful job on this book and other's of Card's.

A compelling read

Wow - what a range of comments on this book. Forget SciFi and what you know of Orson Scott Card.

This is far more than a mystery of a serial killer as 75% of the book isn't about that. But it is a compelling set of characterizations and how people deal with each other. Step and DeAnne are in the middle of it all.

Yes, we get deep in the Mormon faith and I found it interesting, especially all the people interactions. It also got deep into computers and computing programs - and employee/management interactions. And we got into parent-teacher. All I could do was root for the couple!

It drew me in. I stayed with it and then went quite for a ride at the end. Very satisfying

A new way... a new road...

I can’t begin to explain how much I enjoyed this book.

As a person who doesn’t believe in organized religion, I have to say that it didn’t bother me that it was such a strong element in this story. It is a part of the characters lives, it is just a part of who they are. Another detail in the story.

The character build up is a bit slow, but it makes you a part of the family in the long run.

I have to say that, after 5+ years of membership at Audible, this was one of the best.

The narrator is excellent and holds you to the story very well.

Not what I expected, but still good

I bought this thinking Sci Fi. If you are looking for a Sci Fi, this is not the book. But I quickly got caught up in the story. The characters in the book are Mormon in faith and this being a suspense/mystery book about faith, it include aspects of the Mormon faith. I am not a Mormon, and if you can get past that part of the book, this is a great book. The ending was a total shock and surprise. It is one of those books that make you think about it after you have finished reading it. This is a well written book.