Ender in Exile

First off, I pretty much read anything by OSC from books, essays, etc. The Ender & Shadow Series have always been my favorites.

"Ender in Exile" covers from the ending of the formic wars, all through the Shadows Series books (to date) and comes to a completion prior to "Speaker for the Dead". While the book has many underlying themes such as "How Ender deals with the knowledge that he killed the formics" the book feels more like collection of short stories than one cohesive narrative. Many of OSC books are written this way (Folk of the Fringe) and are made all the better for it. This is not neccesarily a bad thing. Though it can leave you wanting more if you expected one specific storyline.

The book expounds on many of the details left at the end of Ender's Game. Details as to how the actual decision to send him away from earth comes about and his actions after arriving at Shakespear Colony. It even completes some storylines from the Shadow Series. On these merits alone, anyone who is a fan of Ender or Shadow Series should read this book.

In my humble opinion, here is my one issue with the book. At the end of Ender's Game details are not given and a lot of information is left for the reader to imagine on their own. In my case it was how ender and valentine once again cultivate a brother and sister relationship. I'm sure it will be different for each reader, but "Ender in Exile" gives those details so the way you expected things to happen may be challenged by this book. I wouldn't call this a shortcoming but does call for a change of perspective at times.

All in all, I enjoyed this and would recommend it to all Ender fans. I would suggest that you read throught the Shadow Series before starting this book.

Note: There are some chronological problems between this book and the other books in the series. OSC discusses and resovles this in the Author's Note.

This book really seemed to me to almost be too much of a 'tying up of loose ends' in the ender series rather than some of the more stellar (pun intended) writing that Mr. Card has done. I believe that what seemed lacking most to me was much of the wonderful character development that I have come to expect from each new OSC Novel. In brief if you enjoy the Ender series and have read everything else in it then this is a must read as it does shed more light on some parts of the Enderverse. This is NOT a good book for someone reading into this story for the first time.

Of course the book is predictable. Any book inserted into an extablished series where the beginning and end is known would be predictable. If that logic held true they would never put 'new' rides in amusement parks because hardly anyone would use them. This was predictable, but as pleasantly enjoyable and convoluted a ride as the others in the Orson Scott Card theme park.

Having cut my eyeteeth on 50's and 60's SF, I tend to hold all science fiction up to those standards. Audible has given me the opportunity to relive old favorites and expand my base of new ones. Ender's Game and its progeny hit the mark. A whole lot of Hugo and Nebula winners did not - I have had to flog myself into finishing quite a few. Even though I see the shortfalls some of the more critical reviewers see in Ender in Exile, I have to say I couldn't wait to get back in my car to immerse myself in Enderverse once again throughout the story. This would be a poor choice for a first entry into this series - but with a little background on the story, I think it's a fine effort. There is something captivating and comforting in living inside Ender's ever-infallible head once again. Aside from plot, characterization and pace, my idea of a good book is one that I don't want to put down. This book passes the test. Give yourself a treat and sit down once again with your old pals Ender, Valentine, and Colonel Graff.

This book is the last of the Ender books. That is a fact and it means you are expected to remember the other books. After you read the book you figure out that it is an implied fact; being the last book, that you have read the other books before, if you have not you will be largely lost during the points where the allusions and nuances come into play.

Great book for about 10 hours then it starts to slow down some, overall an excellent read with the same type of reading that you have become familiar with. Stephan Rudnicki really does make this book as the voice of another actor comes into play later on and totally spoils enders persona in my opinion.

The only downside to this book is that it marks the end of Enders adventures, his line of thought, and insightful reality that is the Enderverse.

This book is suppose to elaborate the space between Ender's game and Speaker for the Dead and also tie the Ender books to the Shadow saga.
The book has a few interesting themes but suffers from slow pacing an and a lack of major events occurring. There are also awkward moments of logic and plot progression as the story attempts to tie three very different books together. Orson Scott Card is simply too fettered by his consistency obligations to the other books and the story suffers terribly because of it.
Ultimately this book never transcends what it is: a filler for hardcore Enderverse fans.
I would not recommend this book to anyone who has yet to read and enjoyed the other Ender and Shadow saga books.

I know this book is suppose to be about Ender brooding after what happens in Ender's Game, BUT...

This book seems to be more about what OSC wanted to write, then what I think we wanted to read. I really don't need an Ender book that lacks plot, drags somewhat, and doesn't really give us enough of the thinking/doing of the best thinker in the universe! Why do I want to read about Ender eating lunch, going to bed, reading books, etc. I'm exaggerating, but you get my point. Only a couple times we get the "great thinking" of Ender.

Card himself said that he originally planned for this book to be mostly about what happens after EG, but in the end, about 3/4 of it overlapped with EG. And unfortunately, the last 1/4 seemed hurried.

I wish he would have stuck with his original plan.

And one last point, I really don't think this book can stand on it's own, as Card tends to think. Sure, on some level it could, but if I didn't already care about Ender, I would have hated this book.

I don't rate 5 stars lightly - If you liked any of the other Ender audiobooks produced by Stefan Rudnicki, then this is a must listen. It features a full cast (the usual) of narrators, and thankfully, they don't overdo the accents for this one (see Xenocide). There is also a nice afterward from O.S.C. Enjoy!

I have mixed feelings about this book. It ties up some loose ends and it was a fun listen which I guess is reason enough to buy it if you are already familiar with the first book, Ender's Game. But as a stand alone novel I found the themes repetitious and the plot weaker than I expected from this gifted writer. Overall, worth a credit but 4 stars instead of 5.

One of my favorite writers and he didn't dissapoint again. The enderverse is so interesting that I'm looking forward to every new book that comes out. Narrators truly understand the book and I am enjoying listen even more because of them. If you haven't listen to Enders game, Enders shadow and all the others you should start and you won't be sorry