Earth Afire

By: Orson Scott Card, Aaron Johnston

Narrated by: Stephen Hoye, Arthur Morey, Stefan Rudnicki, Vikas Adam, Gabrielle de Cuir, Roxanne Hernandez, Emily Rankin

Length: 15 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's Summary

One hundred years before Ender's Game, the aliens arrived on Earth with fire and death. Earth Afire by Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston is the story of the First Formic War. Victor Delgado beat the alien ship to Earth, but just barely. Not soon enough to convince skeptical governments that there was a threat. They didn’t believe that until space stations and ships and colonies went up in sudden flame. And when that happened, only Mazer Rackham and the Mobile Operations Police could move fast enough to meet the threat.

©2013 Orson Scott Card (P)2013 Macmillan Audio

ARGH - performance was too irritating to listen to

What disappointed you about Earth Afire?

I have every Enders Game book, but should have checked the performance on this prior to purchase. Very irritating, screechy. I returned the book. Stefan Rudnicki is the only tried and true performer.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Baby talk, screeching and distracting at best.

This is a GREAT adventure Sci-Fi Book. Masterful!

I fell in love with Sci-Fi from reading "Ender's Game" many, many, years ago. Even great writers like Orson Scott Card can write mediocre stories -- but this one fits in the very top of the master's work and Sci-Fi as a whole! It kept me a gripped for hours. The narration was great. If you are a fan of Card you must read this one. Prequels are not always good, but this one is BEYOND good and would fit in the great category.

Wow

What did you love best about Earth Afire?

Fast paced and action packed

What did you like best about this story?

All the different angles, agendas and depth of the different characters, as usual from Mr. Card

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

I have listened to many of these narrator`s many times in other publications, and this one is right at the top. Great!!!

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

Be ready to experience the gambit of emotions. This one has it all.

Any additional comments?

I just have two words for Mr. Card. Write Faster.

Wow, that was disapointing.

This book did not work for me, it feels like one of those books written years later by the talentless sons of a great author, similar to the Dune books being put out by Brian Hubert.
Some of the plot points simply feel like a check list bring drawn from a list titles "Things that must happen for Ender's Game to make sense."
Instead of making a great book Card has made a book that simply "Fits" in the Ender's Universe.

A bit too hard to believe

Any additional comments?

The narration was good and the story kept my interest, but it seemed to be too much of a stretch. Bug like aliens that have to walk around with spray cans? Seems they would have developed a better delivery method. Then all the subordination of the troops - driven to fight the creatures against orders, because, of course, no-one-else on Earth can. I also thought it was a bit too early for Mazer Rackham. I thought he was the hero of the 2nd Formic war, not the 1st also.

Don't get me wrong, the story is well told, the characters (as always with OSC) are well developed; it just became too far-fetched I thought. If you can suspend disbelief then it actually is a very good story.

A fun listen, might not stand on its own

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

For devoted readers of the Ender books, this is a fun listen for the history of the first Formic attacks. In terms of a standalone book, it was good, but not quite as good as some of Cards other books. It felt like it was building the whole time, but didn't quite climax. I am looking forward to the next book, this one ends when it was just getting really good.

Any additional comments?

Another listener complained about the voice actors, I have no idea what they were talking about. The readers were terrific.

Wait for the next book!

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Lame! Just as much of a be continued as the last one, but this one is slow and totally predictable. Worst book in the whole Enderverse!

What could Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

A good story doesn't need to be a cliff hanger. Ender's Game was a complete story. The last two books have Not been!

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

Narration is fabulous as always.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

It never would be!

The Formics arrive

The Formic invasion has begun. They can pretty much do as they please, including "buggerforming" of Earth. However Victor Delgado in space and Mazer Rackham on the ground have something to say about that. Characters worth rooting for (or against in some cases) along with an intriguing storyline with action makes for a very entertaining middle section of a fantastic trilogy. I am now looking forward to the next book even more than I was for this one. Another pre-order when the third book is coming up looks to be in order.

This is why I enjoy Orson Scott Card's work

I gave a less than generous review for the previous book, but this action packed book with geopolitical themes is what makes Orson Scott Card shine. Highly recommended.

Chim-Chim, Spritle, and Ender Together At Last!

Another I'll keep brief.

I'm enjoying the Ender series, and with the movie coming out soon, I feel that this is a must for anyone that wants to get into the series, or plans to see the movie. I say this because I seriously doubt that a single movie can catch the scope of the first Ender audiobook. It's like that with so many great novels - It's often better read or listened to, to gather the depth and scope of the author's intent.

Mr. Card has once again captured my attention with his wonderful writing, despite the 70s anime' styled narration of a fair portion of this work. Don't get me wrong, anime' has it well-deserved place, but this was so over the top, that it got to be challenging at times to listen. This was SO over the top, that I expected to hear Chim-Chim and Spritle start squeaking and squawking in the background. Sorry, too much like watching Speed Racer at times.

But having declared my dislike for the narrators...

The meat of this work is great, and it really does draw you in, once you get past the narrators. If you're able to get by them, you'll be treated to a sweeping plot, rich and deep direction, and a worthy listen.

I don't DARE put anything here regarding the story, because it's so rife with juicy stuff for you Ender lovers, that I'd destroy the fun of discovery herein. Sorry, but if the roles were reversed, and YOU gave ME spoilers, I'd be upset. If I have to endure the narration, I'd better have a reward waiting for me. Frankly, you do.

So, forgive the Speed Racer narration, and go for the story. You'll be glad you did.