This book is what made me read all the REST of the books. Every single one of them. If it had only been Ender's Game I would not have thought it anything special. But then Speaker For the Dead came... and I become totally hooked on this series. Much like his Alvin Maker series, Card makes it very hard NOT to care about the protagonists.
I watched this yesterday and just didn't have a moment to comment. This was fantastic, Josh! I did read Ender's Game on a very surface level and didn't deeply consider the theme of empathy, but it makes sense that it's there. I've come to like when books have a different focus or structure in a sequel, but it can be very helpful knowing to expect that going in. I've also noticed that if a book is intending to be character-focused, it really bothers me when secondary characters are indistinct. So I think I'd probably be split about this sequel!
Thanks, Johanna! The first time I read Ender's Game, I was the same way: I read it more as a straight-forward sci-fi adventure tale, and it wasn't until the reread this year that I really thought about the themes, and was frankly blown away. And you're right about this one - I am definitely split in my thoughts. Really liked it overall, but it certainly has it's flaws.
It's impossible to talk about Enders Game and Speaker For the Dead without using the word empathy several times. I definitely liked this book more than you did, but I very much appreciate this great review. Speaker For the Dead, for me, is an absolutely amazing book.
I did appreciate Speaker for the Dead a lot more after reading Xenocide and Children of the Mind. I hated the major plot turn at the end of Xenocide - it ruined so much of the series for me. But Ender's Game remains a top 3 work in the genre without a doubt.
@@RedFuryBooks cool. I have xenocide as a 5 star read and will re read that again soon too. Like Speaker, it's been 30yrs, so I'll be curious to see what I think of your remark...once u have re read. There was one part inarticulate that stuck with me for 30yrs...a character tracing Grains on wood floor...
Amazing review. When I read Speaker for the Dead, I had the luxury of people close to me who loved the series very much and prepared me for the change in pace/tone from Ender’s Game. In a lot of ways I think this one raised the stakes of the series and explored more complex themes, but I also agree with your critiques, thanks for the review!
@@RedFuryBooks totally agree. I read Xenocide and thought it was okay, and then DNF'd Children of the Mind. It felt like OSC didn't really know how to continue the series but felt like he had to.
It's been years since I read these (just the first two) but this one has stuck with me much much more than the original book. I can see why people would be disappointed after book 1, but I love the exploration of a pretty strange culture. I don't know if it'd hold up when/if I get back to Card, but I definitely appreciate I found this one at the time I did.
Yes, this one is VERY different from anything else in the series, but I still liked it overall. Xenocide on the other hand... well, my review will be out in the next week. :(
Zan, I just read Ender and Speaker For the 2nd time after 30 yrs... Speaker is even better the 2nd time around and I'd recommend going back to it, because I think you'll love the experience
You had issues with the characters? That’s interesting. Never had that. And you have Shogun???? Great series, man!!! Noble House. Loved it from being 16 years old so long ago. But again, expecting things. You are a fantasy reader, aren’t you? As u said: hard sci-fi. These books are like this. Themes make you think.
Yeah, my only issue with the characters is that I felt they were very two-dimensional and indistinct. And, yes, Shogun is one of my favorites! I haven't gotten to Noble House yet, but will probably next year. I read Tai-Pan earlier this year and will be picking up Gai-Jin next!
I was very disappointed. I did not care for this story. In fact it felt preachy. I prefer Ender's Shadow and it's sequels. And you are quite right about the secondary characters.
It's definitely it's own thing! I just started Xenocide last night and it's VERY different so far. But I agree - Ender's Shadow is the second best book of them all, and my first time through I enjoyed the Shadow series more than the Ender books. That's not likely to change at this point.
Its a great book, but somewhat jarring in terms of its differences to Enders Game. Still very good, but I think could have been written without Enders Game.
Speaker for the dead is miles ahead of enders game. That book had no fat at all! While the political trolling that happens in enders game drags quite a bit.
This book is what made me read all the REST of the books.
Every single one of them.
If it had only been Ender's Game I would not have thought it anything special.
But then Speaker For the Dead came... and I become totally hooked on this series.
Much like his Alvin Maker series, Card makes it very hard NOT to care about the protagonists.
I watched this yesterday and just didn't have a moment to comment. This was fantastic, Josh! I did read Ender's Game on a very surface level and didn't deeply consider the theme of empathy, but it makes sense that it's there. I've come to like when books have a different focus or structure in a sequel, but it can be very helpful knowing to expect that going in. I've also noticed that if a book is intending to be character-focused, it really bothers me when secondary characters are indistinct. So I think I'd probably be split about this sequel!
Thanks, Johanna! The first time I read Ender's Game, I was the same way: I read it more as a straight-forward sci-fi adventure tale, and it wasn't until the reread this year that I really thought about the themes, and was frankly blown away. And you're right about this one - I am definitely split in my thoughts. Really liked it overall, but it certainly has it's flaws.
Yes.
It's impossible to talk about Enders Game and Speaker For the Dead without using the word empathy several times. I definitely liked this book more than you did, but I very much appreciate this great review. Speaker For the Dead, for me, is an absolutely amazing book.
I did appreciate Speaker for the Dead a lot more after reading Xenocide and Children of the Mind. I hated the major plot turn at the end of Xenocide - it ruined so much of the series for me. But Ender's Game remains a top 3 work in the genre without a doubt.
@@RedFuryBooks cool. I have xenocide as a 5 star read and will re read that again soon too. Like Speaker, it's been 30yrs, so I'll be curious to see what I think of your remark...once u have re read. There was one part inarticulate that stuck with me for 30yrs...a character tracing Grains on wood floor...
Amazing review. When I read Speaker for the Dead, I had the luxury of people close to me who loved the series very much and prepared me for the change in pace/tone from Ender’s Game. In a lot of ways I think this one raised the stakes of the series and explored more complex themes, but I also agree with your critiques, thanks for the review!
Glad you liked the review! I wish the series had continued in this manner, though, as I wasn't enamored with Xenocide or Children of the Mind.
@@RedFuryBooks totally agree. I read Xenocide and thought it was okay, and then DNF'd Children of the Mind. It felt like OSC didn't really know how to continue the series but felt like he had to.
@@Wanderwilderreading I wanted to DNF Children of the Mind but pushed through. It took me 8 days to finish it! (Review coming soon)
Hey Josh. Thanks for recommending The Library Ladder channel. Those videos are great!
Glad you enjoy Bridger's channel! He's really great.
It's been years since I read these (just the first two) but this one has stuck with me much much more than the original book. I can see why people would be disappointed after book 1, but I love the exploration of a pretty strange culture. I don't know if it'd hold up when/if I get back to Card, but I definitely appreciate I found this one at the time I did.
Yes, this one is VERY different from anything else in the series, but I still liked it overall. Xenocide on the other hand... well, my review will be out in the next week. :(
Zan, I just read Ender and Speaker For the 2nd time after 30 yrs... Speaker is even better the 2nd time around and I'd recommend going back to it, because I think you'll love the experience
You had issues with the characters? That’s interesting. Never had that. And you have Shogun???? Great series, man!!! Noble House. Loved it from being 16 years old so long ago. But again, expecting things. You are a fantasy reader, aren’t you? As u said: hard sci-fi. These books are like this. Themes make you think.
Yeah, my only issue with the characters is that I felt they were very two-dimensional and indistinct. And, yes, Shogun is one of my favorites! I haven't gotten to Noble House yet, but will probably next year. I read Tai-Pan earlier this year and will be picking up Gai-Jin next!
There was definitely some character soup in this
Never heard that term, but... yep!
One of my favorite books of all time, even if it’s a dissenting opinion
I can see why some would love it and some wouldn't. Glad you love it!
It holds up even better on re read
I absolutely ADORE this book!
I was very disappointed. I did not care for this story. In fact it felt preachy. I prefer Ender's Shadow and it's sequels.
And you are quite right about the secondary characters.
It's definitely it's own thing! I just started Xenocide last night and it's VERY different so far. But I agree - Ender's Shadow is the second best book of them all, and my first time through I enjoyed the Shadow series more than the Ender books. That's not likely to change at this point.
Its a great book, but somewhat jarring in terms of its differences to Enders Game. Still very good, but I think could have been written without Enders Game.
Agreed - definitely a different concept and kind of book.
Speaker for the dead is miles ahead of enders game. That book had no fat at all! While the political trolling that happens in enders game drags quite a bit.
Ok I'll come back. Lol
Who there the characters you got confused by and throught they were a different gender? Was it one of the kids or the leaders?
Yeah, a couple of the kids I struggled to remember. I think it was the Portuguese names, which I hadn't had any experience with prior to the book.