Earth Unaware

I have been completely drawn into the Enderverse and was starting to get into what was going on in this book when it all ended abruptly. I thought that perhaps my download ended at a very bad point when I get to the interview of Orson Scott Card. Obviously this is the setup to the next book, and I will get the next one when it comes out, but I just felt the story was ripped out from under me. If I knew this I could have waited and got the entire series all at once. (who am I kidding, I will get these as they come out and wait almost patiently until the next installment) Other than all that I am ready for what happens next. The Formics are on their way to Earth after deadly encounters with miners at the fringe of the solar system. Where is Mazer when you need him?

Earth Unaware is one of the better audio books that I have listen to. Orson Scott Card is a master writer and the audio book performance is brilliant. It utilizes multiple people to deliver an element of realism lacked often in audio books.

When I downloaded this audio book I did not know it was part of the “Ender” series. I just knew that Orson Scott Card wrote it and he has not disappointed me in the past. After about an hour into it I realized that it was a prequel to “Ender’s Game”. I recommend this audio book to both long time “Ender” fans and people who have never enjoyed the many works of Orson Scott Card. I believe this audio book will make a great gateway book for those wanting to explore Orson Scott Card’s universe. Reading the rest of the “Ender” series is not a prerequisite for this book.

Card has given us a view of the opening of the first Formic War by introducing compelling characters and telling a moving story. There was nothing shallow about the relationships between the members of the different ship crews, or the main point of view characters on each ship. The journey each character made from the beginning to the end of the book was rich and individual and authenticly human. It was great to see what may prove to be the origins of the DR Device that was so important in the end of Ender's Game. It was also great to explore the limitaions the absence of the Ancible placed on comunications abilities.

This was a wonderful story, masterfully told, and I believe absolutely properly named. The entire point of the multiple protagonists struggles were that these characters knew something that Earth did not. When one amazingly brave young man puts himself through a 7 month torturous journey to get the warning to Earth only to find himself arrested for breaching typical burocratic noncence, it is only right that the book end with the final act to let the planet know what is coming. Yes, there obviously MUST be a sequal. After all, this was the beginning of the First Formic War and Ender won the Third.

I listened to this in one sitting. I was deeply emotionally engaged, and as key point of view characters gave their last full measure I cried. I truely hope I can live up to the nobility of spirit portrayed in Mr. Card's world.

I love this series but this book was like a long intro. I agree with the other reviewer, I thought my download was messed up and there was another part to the book. I was rather disappointed due to the high quality that typically comes from Card. I honestly felt like I wasted 14hrs getting ready for a book that has yet to come. The book is like a typical "sequel book" where you know the next book is going to be great but you have to get through this one. I would wait before purchasing this book until the next one comes out. The title is extremely misleading because there is absolutely no war at all in this book. They spent an entire book trying to set up a plot for a book that doesn't exist yet. No climax or resolve in this book at all. It reminded me of the 2nd to last Harry Potter movie where all they did was wander around in the forest for a while - in watching it with the last movie it was good but as a stand alone bad. Have I mentioned how disappointed I am yet??

Actually have a book instead of just an intro.

The narrators were wonderful as usual.

I read several reviews which gave me the impression that this story was somehow unfinished, that there was an unexpected cliff-hanger and/ or that this story ended abruptly without fulfilling the listener's expectations. I would like to assure people reading these reviews in order to make a decision about buying this book, that this is not the case. The title of this book is "Earth Unaware" and that is the story about which this book is written.

Is this book a set-up for the next book to come? Yes. Of course. But it is also a story that can stand alone in many ways. There is a lot to know about what was going on when the Formics show up and this book is the starting point.

To keep this review short, I have to say that I really enjoyed this book. I have listened to all of the "Ender" and "Ender's Shadow" series and I liked this book more than some of those. The reading is fantastic, as usual. I am definitely looking forward to the next in the series.

The publishers summary was a bit misleading.so if you want a break down on what the book is about without any details here you go.
This is not a book about the first formic war. This is a book about people before the war. 99% of the book is about space miners. 1% is about military people on earth.



They should change the tittle to something else and add Book 1

Narration with character voices and accurate personalities

Fleshed out details of asteroid mining and realistic limitations on human space travel.

Unsure

Glimpses of humanity in the character flying the corporate ship.

Not very original story lines - corporate vs. the little guy, daddy war bucks manipulating the lives of his kid and underlings, resentment of the wealthy - but narration and technology details made it worth hearing.

I would definitely recommend this book to a friend. It is just as good as the books that it is meant to come before in the Ender series. It is very well written and with a very positive and I think realistic view of the human condition.

I loved the part where Wit whips the regular troops using only 9 of his MOPS. This combined with the fact that Wit has rejected the future hero of the Formic Wars, Mazer Rakem, to become a MOP.

The performance of the narrators is excellent throughout the book. They bring just the right emotions and flavor to the story to make things seem even more vibrant that when I read this on my own.

I enjoyed listening to this book a few minutes at a time. It allowed me to savor the experience.

I really enjoyed this book! I should start by stating that I am an Orson Scott Card fan and have reall ALL of his books. I read several reviews stating that this book ended abruptly...and I guess it kind of did, but it isn't like it ended in the middle of a sentence or anything. It was an intro book to a series and ended much like many of Orson Scott Card's series books do. As a fan of the enderverse I really liked reading (listening) to this book. You do not have to have read any of the other enderverse books to understand this one...but I think it would be more enjoyable if you had.

Regarding the book itself...just like all the others it has an allstar cast/performance with the character development that I have grown to love in Card's works. This book tells the story about the lead up to the first formic war. Mazor makes a small appearance but mainly as a namesake...forshadowing that he will play a bigger role in the following books. I for one liked the book and am anxiously anticipating the next one.

I always wanted to read about the beginning of the Formic war that takes place prior to Ender's Game. Orson Scott Card has delivered a wonderful account of the events leading up to the war here in Earth Unaware. As always Mr Card is able to create very believable characters that drive the story. The science is bit contrived and the technology described for the asteroid miners does not always hold together or even make sense (in one scene a space craft is "stopped" so repairs can be made then re-accelerated again). But overall I really enjoyed the story and I am looking forward to next book from Mr Card in this current series. Yes, Earth Unaware ends just when things are about to get very interesting for Earth.