The Call of Earth

Homecoming: Volume 2

By: Orson Scott Card

Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki

Length: 10 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

For millennia, the planet Harmony has been protected by the Oversoul, an artificial intelligence programmed to prevent thoughts of war and conquest from threatening the fragile remnant of Earth's peoples. But as the Oversoul's systems have begun to fail, a great warrior has arisen to challenge its bans. Using forbidden technology, the ambitious and ruthless General Moozh has won control of an army and is aiming it at the city of Basilica.

Basilica remains in turmoil. Wetchik and his sons are not strong enough to stop an army. As Lady Rasa, through whom the Oversoul speaks, attempts to defeat Moozh through intrigue, Nafai and his family prepare to voyage to the stars in search of the planet called Earth.

©1993 Orson Scott Card (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Superb." ( Publishers Weekly)

Enjoyed

This novel had a slow start but it was well worth reading. The storyline reminded me of bible stories I have read, but this is not preachy type book. Loved the strong female characters and there is a great reveal at the end.

<3

lovelovelovelovelove lovelovelovelovelove lovelovelove lovelovelovelovelove lovelovelove lovelovelove love love love love love love love love love love so so so much I love this book

Brilliant conclusion

Lots of detail along the way At times I did wonder how it was all going to come together and had to keep reading to find out

No spoilers You'll have to read it for yourself

Really like the characters too and the wonderful narrator

Wonderfully amazing

So much depth and emotion in these characters. The story takes you away and is fascinating

good enough sequel

not as captivating as the first one , and there were some very annoying characters whose chapters I just wanted to skip. However, I like where the plot is going so I will keep reading !

Who edited this thing?

It took me awhile to get into this story. The Narrator's voice is a little.. odd for this kind of book, but by the end of book 1 I was fully hooked, and looking forward to picking up book 2.

The story is still good - but the editing on book 2 is HORRIBLE. The reading stops and re-starts. You can hear where the narrator coughs, or his voice gives out a bit and he restarts reading.. at one point, he even laughs "Er.. I assume that's trees.. treas.." and then starts re-reading the sentence again.

Wow.

Great story, horrible recording. Someone was sleeping at the wheel here.

Recording Issues

I repeat what the other reviewer wrote. The book is good, but there are numerous times when the reader repeats a phrase - five of them so far halfway through the book - and one time he clears his throat and says, "Excuse me". Normally Blackstone Audio does such professional production, I'm surprised by this.

Gripping story

Gripping story, I hung on every word. The narrator's voice went well with the story. I will definitely be listening to more by same author.

Meh

I was looking forward to the book ending. It was just boring enough that I didn’t quit but not exciting enough that I was eager to continue

Slow story with steady build up, but still stuck

The second book of Orson Scott Card's Homecoming series lingers like the first on the theme of exodus to a promised land... in this case a planet. In the story biblical themes are quite prominent. While the Over-Soul (God) is just a mighty computer, we have the theme of tension between brothers - the eldest that is is cheated out of his inheritance, the theme a dictator that doesn't want a group of people (Njafai and his mother) to go from the city of Basilica (kingdom) etc. These themes also resonates with the Book of Mormon. It seems Card is really drawing from his religious background. Yet the story progresses very slow. While Rudnicki again gives a solid performance, I am not sure how much patience is needed for the story to go somewhere. (Even Song of Ice and Fire seems to move quicker at times.) But I am not giving up, maybe the next volume will have some action.