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Shadows in Flight  By  cover art

Shadows in Flight

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

What listeners say about Shadows in Flight

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Disappointing

Would you try another book from Orson Scott Card and/or the narrators?

I've read most of orson scott card's work,
While I have enjoyed his stories this and ender in exile seem to be greater delivery devices for his right wing conservative view points and at times I felt like he was getting a bit preachy. Additionally this in particular felt a bit rushed towards the end and the use of plastid control of gene expression felt a bit deus ex machina, in part because it felt like card din't really get it himself so he hashed it in to solve a plot problem without actually making the effort to integrate anything into the story.

What was most disappointing about Orson Scott Card’s story?

rushed ending
preachy

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

ender

Did Shadows in Flight inspire you to do anything?

nope

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Halfway there (or less?)

Production is better than the earlier books. Story reaches a conclusion, but there is obviously much more story to tell. Shorter than I would like, but not as short as I feared. Note to the author: I don't want to save money on impulse purchases with books in an established storyline; I want a full, rich, engaging story with multiple arcs and the continuation or completion of plotlines yet left unfinished or foreshadowed from prior books. Note to the producers: Thank you for not having annoying poor music interludes.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Good but Disappointing

Would you listen to Shadows in Flight again? Why?

No, it was good the first time and brought me back to the character I really like reading about. But it was to short and it seemed like it did not have the same passion the other Shadow series had.

Would you be willing to try another book from Orson Scott Card? Why or why not?

I read Ender's Game but did not continue the Ender's series. I instead read all of the Shadows series. I fell in love with the series and read it religiously. But I heard mix reviews of his other works and could see my self buying any of his other works.

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

I like how it goes into the different perspective and it was well done. It keep to the other books in the Series

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Not really, It had a few lull parts and being a short book and having lulls is not good.

Any additional comments?

Pick it up if you read the Shadow Series

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A must read for Bean fans.

What did you love best about Shadows in Flight?

As a continuation of the Shadow series, this book provides some answers to what happens to the kids and Bean after leaving Earth. I loved the story telling, the anticipation and the insite into the children's characters.

I also loved how the author provides the pieces of the puzzle that answer questions about the Hive Queen and how the drones and workers are controlled and related.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Shadows in Flight?

My most memorable moment was the what learnt about the inter relationship of the workers, drones and the Hive Queen.

Which scene was your favorite?

The discovery of how the Ark was piloted.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

The final hope of a species.

Any additional comments?

Orson Scott Card does a great job of continuing the story of Bean and his children. This is a must read for those who are fans of the Shadow and Ender series. I was hoping for a satisfying book that would bring some insite into Bean and his children, and I was not disappointed.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Book #9

I began to feel the theory of diminishing marginal returns with this book. But, then I looked it up. This is #9 in the series of ~ 13 book series that began with Ender's Game.

This one is the story of Bean, one of the kids from battle school, all grown up. No spoilers, here.

I liked the book a lot more when I reflected upon it's meaning. Where is #10

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
  • D
  • 12-03-12

Final chapter in Bean's life story

What made the experience of listening to Shadows in Flight the most enjoyable?

The book closes the chapter on Bean's life, but again leaves the door open for his legacy, his children, to explore a brave new world and shape history for their new race, so the saga must continue....

What was one of the most memorable moments of Shadows in Flight?

There was no real eureka moment for me as in previous OSC books, rather a well thought out storyline that tied up loose ends from previous adventures and sets up the landscape for new ones. I liked the legacy angle and look forward to what the offspring might get up to in future.

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

All of the OSC books are well narrated by the same team, they feel like family by now.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Great way of escaping monotony for two hours of commuting every day.

Any additional comments?

Be warned, this book is shorter than normal, yet not a short story, but entertaining if you accept it for what it is. Probably more for OSC die hard fans like me.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A Sentinental Man

Any additional comments?

It is obvious that Orson Scott Card loves his characters, and what is not to love and respect about Bean? He grew up as a feral child and without his own abilities and the love of a few he would have died as an infant. While I loved Enders Game and the subsequent books in that series Enders Shadow was equal in the quality of story telling and the quality of the characters. Bean, Petra, Peter, and the others of Ender's tribe that are portrayed in the Shadow series are complex and interesting people. There is not always a happy ending,
no spoiler here with this book by the way. Ender has his struggles as does Bean, but this is life. I liked this book, it continued the story, a little short for sure. I love nothing more than a good 20 hour audible listen ! and I have bought enough of Card's books to realize that he is as prolific as they get. I think it is a combination of his obvious bottomless well of story's to tell mixed with some business. lets not forget Orson Scott Card's forerunners like Clarke, Asimov, Heinlein and the like cranked out some short books and some of dubious quality to pay the mortgage. So I took this as it was, a nice continuation of the Bean saga with interesting characters, a good solid story that lives in and expands the Ender universe. I will certainly buy the next book in this series which will apparently connect the two threads, that of the Ender's Game story line and the Ender's Shadow..

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

It's not Ender, but it is good

So, I first I thought Scott Card had run out of characters, Bean's kids seem to be Ender, Peter and Valentina all over again, but in the end they developed personalities of their own and then it was interesting.

Other than that, it is good to know what happened to Bean, because we love Bean, right? And like all Scott Card books this one is very worth reading.

Enjoy!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Definitely a novelette

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

I would recommend this to all who have been waiting for a "conclusion" to Bean's story.

What did you like best about this story?

It was an interesting concept. I do not want to ruin the plot for anyone. It had me wanting to listen continuously.

Have you listened to any of the narrators’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is on par with all other books produced by Blackstone Audio. I haven't heard one of their narrators I did not like.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Definitely... and with this book length I could.

Any additional comments?

I wish it was a full novel.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I thought I already loved Bean!

I have loved Bean's story from the start, and I was thrilled when Ender's Shadow started the Shadow series. I had felt left hanging for years at the end of Shadow of the Giant, when Bean and three of the kids took off for deep space. Petra and Peter got some wrap up but not Bean.

Here it is. Other reviewers have complained about the three kids comunication style. As a mother of three I felt that Mr. Card captured real sibling "stuff" that was authentic and believable. Of course it is anoying to listen to at times. That was part of the point.

With the shorter format Mr. Card used for this story there was not as much oportunity to be in Bean's head as he dealt with his briliant trio, but his love for them still came through loud and clear. It was absolutely clear the lengths he was willing to put himself through to stay alive long enough to know his kids would be okay. Yes, I was a sobbing mess at the end. I think that just demonstrates how well writen a story it was.

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