Earth Awakens

The First Formic War, Book 3

By: Aaron Johnston, Orson Scott Card

Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki, Stephen Hoye, Arthur Morey, Vikas Adam, Roxanne Hernandez, Emily Rankin

Length: 14 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

The story of The First Formic War continues in Earth Awakens.

Nearly 100 years before the events of Orson Scott Card's bestselling novel Ender's Game, humans were just beginning to step off Earth and out into the Solar System. A thin web of ships in both asteroid belts; a few stations; a corporate settlement on Luna. No one had seen any sign of other space-faring races; everyone expected that First Contact, if it came, would happen in the future, in the empty reaches between the stars. Then a young navigator on a distant mining ship saw something moving too fast, heading directly for our sun.

When the alien ship screamed through the solar system, it disrupted communications between the far-flung human mining ships and supply stations, and between them and Earth. So Earth and Luna were unaware that they had been invaded until the ship pulled into Earth orbit, and began landing terra-forming crews in China. Politics and pride slowed the response on Earth, and on Luna, corporate power struggles seemed more urgent than distant deaths. But there are a few men and women who see that if Earth doesn't wake up and pull together, the planet could be lost.

THE ENDER UNIVERSE

Ender series

Ender’s Game

Speaker for the Dead

Xenocide

Children of the Mind

Ender in Exile

Children of the Fleet

Ender’s Shadow series

Ender’s Shadow

Shadow of the Hegemon

Shadow Puppets

Shadow of the Giant

Shadows in Flight

The First Formic War (with Aaron Johnston)

Earth Unaware

Earth Afire

Earth Awakens

The Second Formic War (with Aaron Johnston)

The Swarm

The Hive

Ender novellas

A War of Gifts

First Meetings

©2014 Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston (P)2014 Macmillan Audio

love it.

good book. love the voice actor's. wish it was longer to help my long workday go by.

Gripping from beginning to end!!

On a recommendation from a friend I started this series on Sunday the 18th. I finished on Friday the 22nd. it was gripping, thrilling, mind blowing, absolutely fantastic. I cannot wait to listen to my next Orson Scott Card book. I know I will not come away wanting for action.

Don't you dare say "Rena" again

While I'm sure the pronunciation of the name "Rena" was correct... I listen to Stefan Rudnicki narrated books because they help me sleep.

There is nothing more jarring in any book I have ever listened to, than the word Rena said loud and clear with a rolling tongue.

I had to skip every chapter about Rena because her name is said every few seconds the whole way through. I seriously wanted to punch someone each time I heard "Rena"

Very disappointing because I really enjoyed the story and all the other narrators -I wish I knew what happned

All aboard the continuum of great storytelling

I'm loving it! I read Ender's Game when I was 19 years old. Now at 52 I get to rediscover the excitement, fun, romance and all the other emotions of my favorite Sci Fi journey. For me this is better than the Foundation (which I love). You MUST read this work! Mr Card (and crew) have done it again!

Great Prequel series, just a small problem

I decided to read these books as a prequel. starting with the expanded; Enders Game & the following. Then back to the Shadow series and Beans perspective. I discovered Ender in Exile after & it fit well at this stage in the storyline. The books, then, telling of the earlier Formic Wars have thus far been quite good. I just have one issue with the narrator who does the Corporate & Victor story... No spoilers! So the Kuiper Belt, named for Gerard Kuiper, is pronounced " K-eye per Belt" not "Koi Purr Belt" it's only an issue as the name is said at least 100 times. At first I ignored it, then I started picturing Koi Fish in place way out there orbiting our sun. It didn't take long to imagine how Koi Fish would purr like cats in such a large & magnificent place. I get artistic license and saying a word a certain way. But a name, is a name, is a name... I fear I will look back on this & remember the brave & amazing fish at the far reaches of our solar system & may lose the story as intended... I'm off to finish up w/ the Swarm & the Hive. If the above gets a patch, I would be forever grateful.

There are some real continuity problems, but...

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

If you're a fan of later Card works, and you've read the first two books, you'll want to finish this off.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

There is one truly glaring continuity error that is mindboggling. In the original Ender's Game series (Speaker, Xenocide, CoTM) as well as Ender's Game & all the Ender Shadow series, it is established that the formics are turned back from inland China because a moribund America awakes with technology to bring it out of it's closed door policy and comes to China's aid. In fact, this key and critical point comes up several points in as to why the Hegemony came to be. However, in this series that isn't what happened at all. Instead, the chief technology comes from a private investment company out of Finland, and has nothing to do with the dormant military power of America, as is referenced in those books. This will be a minor point for people.. but it is the kind of error that I'm not used to from Card, who in his earlier works had a real attention for continuity detail that would prevent an error of this magnitude from happening. Now, since this is told 'in the event', it changes whether or not everyone in prior books was just wrong or poorly educated :)

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

One thing I will say for all of the books done by Card.. the narration and audio read of these books is fantastic. Truly fantastic.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No. This isn't really that kind of book. If you cry or laugh over this book, then you might be going through something else. I did chuckle once I think.

Any additional comments?

The continuity problem is a big one. I'm sure a lot of casual readers won't mind, and the dialogue is OK. But these books seem to be less in Card's style. The way that characters talk just doesn't esem like Card's earlier works. I wondered as I finished how much was actually written by OSC, and how much by an author trying to mimic his style. Because it just felt to me.. not right.

Good finish, overall solid trilogy.

Semi-spoiler alert here... but I think it will actually HELP you enjoy this book. There will most likely be another series of books that will get us from where this one ends to where I and probably a lot of other people expected this series to end. If you know Mazer's story from Ender's Game, then you know what I'm talking about. Contrary to what I thought going in, this series does NOT end with the events told in that story. That's actually a good thing though because Card has left a lot more room for additional content and more Ender's content is always a good thing.
Despite being somewhat baffled all the way through this book at how they were going to get from Point A to where I KNEW Point B had to be, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the series as a whole. Card did an amazing job with the plot and the narrators did a great job too.

Builds a good foundation

What made the experience of listening to Earth Awakens the most enjoyable?

Learning the history of a world I have become emotionally invested in.

Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favorite?

Victor

Any additional comments?

I felt like I was being raked over the coals with each purchase. None of these books stand alone and the cost (credits or cash) is unreasonable. G.R.R. Martin has no problem waiting until a book is FINISHED before releasing it. I don't know why Card has to cash in like this. It is a joke and should be combined into one book and charged as one credit. Leaves a bad taste in your mouth when you are finished.

Great commentary on human naturr

Great performance s by readers Orson Scott Card is a great story teller. Worth the read.

awesome ending to a geeat story

Not much to say...love the Ender Universe - excellent story. The perfect ending to the First Formic War.