Speaker for the Dead

By: Orson Scott Card

Narrated by: David Birney, Stefan Rudnicki

Length: 14 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

In the aftermath of his terrible war, Ender Wiggin disappeared, and a powerful voice arose: the Speaker for the Dead, who told the true story of the Bugger War. Now, long years later, a second alien race has been discovered by Portuguese colonists on the planet Lusitania. But again the aliens' ways are strange and frightening...again, humans die. And it is only the Speaker for the Dead, who is also Ender Wiggin the Xenocide, who has the courage to confront the mystery...and the truth. Orson Scott Card infuses this tale with intellect by casting his characters in social, religious, and cultural contexts.

This, the author's definitive edition of the sequel to Ender's Game, also includes an original postscript written and recorded by the author himself, Orson Scott Card!.

Browse more titles in the Ender Wiggin series.

©1986, 1990 Orson Scott Card (P)2002 Fantastic Audio, an Imprint of Audio Literature

Critic reviews

• Hugo Award Winner, Best Novel, 1987
• Nebula Award Winner, Best Novel, 1986

"The most powerful work Card has produced. Speaker not only completes Ender's Game, it transcends it." (Fantasy Review)

Incredible book. Pretty good storytelling.

I’ve read this book, and I love it. So my experience listening to it was wonderful. There were moments however, when I felt the female voice was too slow and dramatic for my taste. She draws the words out in a very forced way, which chances the pace of the book in a way I didn’t appreciate. The other readers voice gave you a chance to get lost in the content of the book, which I enjoyed very much. The notes from the author at the end were also very enlightening. Definitely recommend Speaker for the Dead and all the other books in the series.

Fantastic book and reading

Enjoyed listening to this book on a couple long road trips. There are a few slower parts as compared to Enders Game, but it's also a more nuanced story.

Just Great!

I lobe the story and the voice acting with it!! it was no trouble at all to imagine and see what was happening, it had such depth and emotion that i wished i was there to experience the world myself

For the grown-up Enderverse fan

I jumped into Speaker for the Dead without any research or expectations for the book. I had read Ender's Game 3-4 times since I first read it as a 13 year old (I'm now 38) and with a longer work commute, decided to venture into the audio book format.
The author has traded a lot of the action from Ender's Game for more of a social and "idea" based novel. Having listened to this twice end-to-end, I can say it's an intriguing story and a creative bit of sci-fi. I prefer not to reveal too much about the plot.
If you've listened to the Ender's Game audio book, you'll hear some familiar voice performances. Overall I felt that perhaps there were too many voice actors and sometimes the conversations that take place sound a bit odd. The performances of the voice actors was definitely top notch but for some listeners it may take a bit to become accustomed to some of the voice inflections and accents.
I liked it enough to buy Xenocide and Children of the Mind, if that helps sway anyone teetering on the fence on whether to pick this up or not.

Fabulous.

Loved this book. Deeper and more menacing film than Enders Game. Just amazing. The performance was very good. I liked all the voices. My only complaint is that the many readers sort of jump in randomly at times. It’s more or less that the chapters change by POV...but there seemed to be some exceptions. It was a little weird that Ender voiced himself when the chapter was his but was voiced by another when they had the POV. Not enough to detract from the book. Just enough to be noteworthy.

Slow to start, ends well

So, other than Ender’s Shadow, none of these books have measured up to Ender’s Game, including this one. I was really struggling through the first part of the book becoming engaged, and then as time went on, I became more interested and engaged. It ended well, and I’m interested what happens in the next book, however a little disappointed that the books haven’t measured up yet.

Unbelievable enders game

This book is amazing highly recommend. It’s beautiful well written and capturing. I love it and would recommend it to everyone I meet story arc is amazing and the characters are amazing. You really feel what they’re going through because of the amazing where the story was written. Stunned. Absolutely love it cannot stress it enough read it you will thank me. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. It will change your perspective on life and everything you dreamed of. Sincerely a fan of this amazing book

Always great

Amazing story. Definitely does not disappoint. If you even liked Ender’s Game then this will be a story you love.

Better than Ender’s Game

Wasn’t expecting to say it, but I found this story much more exciting than the first book in the series, Ender’s Game.

Starts off a little rough and hard to follow, but really picks up soon after and doesn’t disappoint.

Great read, highly recommend!!!

more philosophy

enders game was a very powerful story about childhood, this one deals with death. it is worthwhile for its character and ideals