Shadows in Flight

By: Orson Scott Card

Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki, Emily Janice Card, Scott Brick, Orson Scott Card, Kirby Heyborne

Length: 6 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

Ender's Shadow explores the stars in this all-new novel...

At the end of Shadow of the Giant, Bean flees to the stars with three of his children—the three who share the engineered genes that gave him both hyper-intelligence and a short, cruel physical life. The time dilation granted by the speed of their travel gives Earth's scientists generations to seek a cure, to no avail. In time, they are forgotten—a fading ansible signal speaking of events lost to Earth's history. But the Delphikis are about to make a discovery that will let them save themselves, and perhaps all of humanity in days to come.

For there in space before them lies a derelict Formic colony ship. Aboard it, they will find both death and wonders—the life support that is failing on their own ship, room to grow, and labs in which to explore their own genetic anomaly and the mysterious disease that killed the ship's colony.

Shadows in Flight is the fifth novel in Orson Scott Card's Shadow Series.

©2011 Orson Scott Card (P)2012 Macmillan Audio

Repetitive Story, Great Narration

Any additional comments?

I should say that I'm a huge fan of the Ender and Shadow Sagas, they definitely rank highly in my list of favorite books. This novella, however, didn't quite do it for me.

The book focuses primarily on Bean's three children who share his genetic disease - Sergeant and Ender are practically complete opposites, while Carlotta tries to play for both teams. The similarities between Ender, Peter and Valentine are striking.

It also bears resemblance to The Worthing Saga, one of Card's earlier works. In both, humans who are slightly evolved go out in search of their own world to colonize.

I did however enjoy the new information on the Formics - which got me a little excited about Earth Unaware, and should make for some interesting conflict in Shadows Alive.

In short, if you're a fan of the series - read it. If you're not a huge fan, you could probably take it or leave it.

Scott Brick and Stefan Rudnicki continue to be two of my favorite audiobook narrators, and Emily Janice Card did amazing as well. 5*s for performance

Card brought back that old Ender Magic

Would you listen to Shadows in Flight again? Why?

This book really reminded me of the original Ender series. I enjoyed the Shadow series, but they were never as cerebral and great as the originals. This book was full of that punchy back and forth dialogue that was in Xenocide and Speaker for the Dead. Also, it filled in some critical answers to the Ender Universe.

If you have read the others, then you will, of course, read this one. If you haven't, do not start here.

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

Card has said that he writes these as if they are performances. The different voices and actors really make this great. It is totally an innovation for audiobooks. I love it.

Any additional comments?

I really like Card's comments at the end of the book. I appreciate being let in on the development of the books and what is coming up in the future.

Love BEAN

Have enjoyed the story of Bean and liked the extra time added to the family.

The continuum continues flawlessly

What can you say. The same old same old.....
Great book, always to short. This one shorter than most by design. Dead on to the point, not one sentence longer than needed. He always leave just enough left undone, unfinished and unsaid to make us want more .. Dam is he good!!!!
I have never liked the hive queen agenda and he continues to build that. No offense to dogs but he just can't let them lay..
Now it seems we need yet another volume on the life and times of the "legum-inites" before "alive " how do they fair for 2500 years before they catch up to Peter and new Val/ Jane?
And speaking of "Dear Jane" she needs a book of her own now that her day has come to come out of the shadows.
My issue is of the time line, 2500 yrs is a bit long to be left undocumented .
The book, the book is fantastic, the book is OSC to the core and inadvertently extends the Ender-verse just a bit more ... I am sure everyone is sighing a heart felt sigh of relieve the he is back to his old tricks...
We all continue to apologize for our insistence that OSC continue this 10-iligy I am sure he is sick if it but we crave for more, a true sign of a great writer, writing a great story ..
Much love and blessing , yet we are the ones truly blessed ..

Bean deserved more

Any additional comments?

For such an important conclusion to beans trials this book seems premature What happen between all the characters left on earth the trials of Bean raising his children Mr Card in an attempt to write a shorter book has skipped all the detail we looked for In his books

Bean's progeny

If you could sum up Shadows in Flight in three words, what would they be?

surprising reconciliation adversaries

What other book might you compare Shadows in Flight to and why?

Tale equally satisfying as previous Ender and Bean stories, although much shorter

Which scene was your favorite?

mind meld with males

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

satisfaction with Bean's last moments

Any additional comments?

wonderful, satisfying yarn

Good but short

Where does Shadows in Flight rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Middle

Who was your favorite character and why?

Bean, I love his perspective.

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

The ability to read/listen while driving to work; otherwise lost time.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The catharsis between the children and Bean.

Any additional comments?

Card made it short on purpose, I prefer longer novels, much longer.

Loved what was there

I hate to give an OSC work less than 5 stars, but I couldn't muster it for this one. The work is top flight, as usual, but it's only 1/2 a book. Mr Card admitted it was designed differently for economic purposes, and I suppose I knew it would be less than when I bought it, but once involved, it was different. There were so many questions left hanging, hints to future storylines laid out like a tease...it was frustrating. I am happy to have the story continue (and where, BTW, are the stories of Ender's journeys as SFOD?), but it ended too soon. [Sad face emoticon.]

I heart Bean

Any additional comments?

This book reveals Bean's true legacy King Lear style. I only wish it were longer.

Good, but too short

As I started listening it felt like a homecoming with familiar characters and familiar narrators continuing a story I had listened too years ago. When I finished, I wasn't fully satisfied--I wanted to spend more time with this book.