Pastwatch

The Redemption of Christopher Columbus

By: Orson Scott Card

Narrated by: Scott Brick, Christopher Cazenove, Gabrielle de Cuir, Arte Johnson, Moira Quirk, Stefan Rudnicki, Orson Scott Card

Length: 13 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

In a not-too-distant future that is not quite ours, there has been a major scientific breakthrough. It is a way to open windows into the past, permitting historical researchers to view, but not participate, in the events of the past.

In one of the most powerful and thought-provoking novels of his remarkable career, Orson Scott Card interweaves a compelling portrait of Christopher Columbus with the story of a future scientist who believes she can alter human history from a tragedy of bloodshed and brutality to a world filled with hope and healing.

©1996 Orson Scott Card (P)2005 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A bold and compassionate alternative history filled with believable historical and fictional characters." ( Library Journal)

OSC Good one

I know i've said he's let me down before but i'm a sucker for a good, moderately reasonable time travel tale. This one is very interesting and actually hits on a smart moral point. Intention versus results.I kinda dug it. Especially nice was the more conciliatory look at the Spanish conquests as religiously driven from the point of view of they did think it was a positive move despite the greed, violence and intolerance... interesting.

Ponder this

This is an idea book, not a character book. Thoughtful and well-researched reflection on history. There is morality in it as well as clever and compassionate characters that make the book enjoyable. There's a plethora of characters and multiple jumps between the 22nd and 15th century that make it sometimes hard to follow. A ponderable book that's enjoyable. If you could change one moment in history to influence the current world, which would you choose? Would you do it?

Great Read

This book like all other booksd by card has one difficulty. He insists on choosing names for his characters which are very confusing and hard to follow until 15% into the book. Once you get past that and remember who everyone is and the names of the places, The book is 5 stars. I would read it again I liked it so much. PLEASE MR. CARD, name things a little simpler, just a little, lol.

one of the best ever

an incredible combination of alternate history, time travel and prescient reckoning with the devastation of the planet. beautiful prose, soulful relationships and important insights about the genocide of the Americas. too many of the aspects of the future Card imagined are eerily similar to the pandemic-laden, doomed environment we live in today. dozens of lessons that could make a difference if we take them to heart. the most important? history is not inevitable. the slightest push on a different domino would’ve changed everything we know

Better late than never.

Wow!!! Such an excellente story line. I have ways been a fan of OSC for the Ender's series... who knew I would love this book just as much. As for the Narrators, 👍👍. I am eager to listen to other stories too. This little gem of a book waited patiently for me to find it.

A Great, Free Audible Find!

A different story than Ender’s Game, more similar to its sequels Speaker for the Dead, Xenocide, and Children of the Mind. The story was surprising and inspiring. I was satisfied when I reached book’s end.

I wish I could read it again for the first time

I bought this book because OSC had written it and I enjoy most of his work. The description was not compelling to me, but I pressed play. What a wonderful tale! The blending of history and SCIFI is as smooth and seamless as I've ever experience. The possibility of a present vastly different from our own is very compelling. It is a bold and panoramic landscape rendered to the detail of sand grains. Read it.

Future Tense Historical Hand Wringing

I enjoyed the book, when I finally finished it.

There was a great deal of earnest ethical debating, much of which I found to be tedious. It's like there was 85% prologue debate and 15% story and action.

As I said I did end up appreciating the book and its redemption.

Nice characters, but...

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I like the point about slavery being better than human sacrifice. However, a population of hard working immigrants who valued freedom is what made America an innovative bastion of capitalism. Slavery couldn't have ended without capitalism to take its place. I doubt the immigrants would have come to America if they knew the land was occupied. Therefore Capitalism would have stalled and slavery would have returned.

an absolutely amazing story that is complete.

all the actions are natural and nothing is harm fostered in that doesn't feel like a natural progression.