Book Review: Shadow of the Giant

Reviewed By: Marisa Exter

Shadow of the Giant     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Orson Scott Card
Class/Genre:   Science Fiction
Series: Ender Wiggin # 8

This book picks up not long after Shadow Puppets and continues the history of the "Enderverse", with most of the battle school grads teetering on the edge of adulthood. Bean, Petra, and most of the other Jeesh members get some time in, and we see some further character development in Peter and several others not in the original Jeesh, which makes the story feel more believable in some ways.

The marked absence of Achilles is a welcome change from the last several books. As in most of the Ender books, world politics and intrigue play a roll, as does the psychology of child geniuses twisted by the events in "Ender's Game" and beyond. Card appears to be trying to wrap up quite a few loose ends to bring the world together, as promised in earlier books. I

n some places this leaves the politics and politicians with a bit less of the harsh reality seen in the other Ender books. His handling of various groups and interests seems more simplistic. The technology described in this book seems to have gone backwards since "Ender's Game" and there are a few other soft spots in the plot, but overall this was well worth the read, especially if you liked the other "Shadow" books. Definitely read them in order, though.

Marisa Exter

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Marisa Exter

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