Speaker for the Dead
(Ender #2)
by Orson Scott Card
science fiction
copyright 1986
part read in March 2021
rated 4/10: bad but could be read
Okay, if you're into philosophical smartarsery and pseudo-religious claptrap, read this book. If you can stay awake for nearly 400 pages.
There's an author's introduction which is interesting, to see how a novel may develop. Also interesting is his explanation of making two girls distinct characters so that the reader could distinguish them. Then he names three characters Pipo, Libo and Miro. I eventually learnt to distinguish two of these but I have no idea what role was played by the third. Totally forgettable.
So, to the plot.
A researcher discovers the secret of an alien race. What is it? he is asked. I won't explain, he says, then runs off to be killed for his knowledge. An absolutely rubbish way to hide information from the reader.
The one other person who has data which may allow others to discover the secret thinks, How can we use this new discovery but not be killed for it... Oh no, sorry. Having seen one death she destroys all hope of anyone else finding out. It killed one idiot, she thinks, therefore I shall hide the facts. What an idiot.
I then skipped over several hundred pages in order to see if the secret was finally revealed.
The star of the previous book, Ender, arrives. He quickly sorts out the secret, uses it to make peace and save the world... If only that woman had had half his brains, she could have saved herself a lifetime of misery.
And so it's all wrapped up by Ender. Except for the question of ever leaving the planet. Whoopie.
Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper
... Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved
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All we can do is what we can do... Leonard Barrens in The Forever Watch
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