Book Description
“POIGNANT . . . FUNNY . . . THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST IS ONE OF HER BEST. . . . [TYLER] HAS NEVER BEEN STRONGER.”
–The New York Times
Macon Leary is a travel writer who hates both travel and anything out of the ordinary. He is grounded by loneliness and an unwillingness to compromise his creature comforts when he meets Muriel, a deliciously peculiar dog-obedience trainer who up-ends Macon’s insular world–and thrusts him headlong into a remarkable engagement with life.
“BITTERSWEET . . . EVOCATIVE . . . It’s easy to forget this is the warm lull of fiction; you half-expect to run into her characters at the dry cleaners . . . Tyler [is] a writer of great compassion.”
–The Boston Globe
“Tyler has given us an endlessly diverting book whose strength gathers gradually to become a genuinely thrilling one.”
–Los Angeles Times
“A DELIGHT . . . A GRACEFUL COMIC NOVEL ABOUT GETTING THROUGH LIFE.”
–The Wall Street Journal
Customer Reviews:
A Very Enjoyable book.......2007-08-21
I thought this was very enjoyable book. The characters are truly believable, which for me makes for a great read. The author describes her characters in detail and ensures that their personalities are developed and before I knew it just seemed like I had met Macon, Muriel, or Sarah at sometime in my life. The story is an easy read, and would make a great beach read.
A bad trip.......2007-08-06
A stodgy fuddy-duddy tries to make sense of life outside his comfort zone, a common theme in Tyler's novels, in this story about love, loss, change, and moving on. Main character Macon, a methodical, reserved, business travel guide author, and his siblings are an odd lot. He finds safety and comfort at the home of one of them, his spinster sister (his brothers either live or spend way too much time there), after a post-marriage-falling-apart injury forces his temporary use of crutches. Among his wife's complaints: his method of grieving over their son's death (it seems there is a right way and a wrong way). Left with the son's unruly dog, Macon encounters a young, desperate-seeming divorcée dog trainer. Although he initially tries to ward off her advances, made uncomfortable by her unconventional personality and lifestyle, eventually he finds the same traits endearing. Of course, his siblings and acquaintances think he's gone off his rocker when they learn of the relationship. Eventually, he is forced to choose between comfortably ordinary and uncomfortably extraordinary. The Accidental Tourist is a cute, easy read, nothing more. Better: Breathing Lessons.
My favorite book ever.......2007-06-22
This is my favorite book ever. Every time I read it (and I have done this dozens of times)I fell at peace with life. I don't have to add much: everybody, by now, knows the story of Macon Leary, his funny family, brave Muriel - and, of course, Edward the dog! Buy this book. Give it a chance. You won't regret; it's like making friends for life.
Read the book, see the movie, hear the soudtrack.
Well-Written and Memorable Modern Classic.......2006-12-29
I had first heard of this book from Robert J. Ray's book "The Weekend Novelist", which serves as a sort of workbook to help someone produce a finished novel in 52 weekends. Ray's book uses "The Accidental Tourist" as a model to help guide the reader towards a better, more interesting style of writing. I decided to read Anne Tyler's book as a part of this 52-week course, and was rather impressed with how good it actually was.
"The Accidental Tourist" opens with a dramatic scene in which a travel-guide writer, Macon Leary, and his wife, Sarah are driving in their car and Sarah tells Macon that she wants a divorce. Tension has been building between the two of them since their 12-year-old son Ethan was shot during a burglary at a restaurant. Sarah agrees to let Macon keep their house and she moves out. When Macon has an accidental fall, he moves in with his sister, Rose, and brothers, Porter and Charles, to recover. Macon encounters a dog trainer, Muriel Pritchett, who he hires to train his stubborn, rambunctious dog Edward. Muriel has a personality that's in sharp contrast with Macon's behavior. While he is very systematic and organized, Muriel is eccentric (and also rather different from Sarah). Macon and Muriel gradually fall in love with each other, and Macon must make a choice between the two women, as Sarah delays the finalization of their divorce.
After reading "The Accidental Tourist", it makes sense to me why it would be chosen as a model for observing incredible skill in novel-writing. Anne Tyler's style is almost flawless...the characters develop and respond in situations realistically, the dialogue and description of scenery are also spot-on, but...there is one problem!
Though Anne Tyler is such a skilled novelist, her choice of subject matter strikes me as a bit commonplace, and even boring at times. Often, when I read a book, I usually hope for some unique, fantastic, and exciting plot line to draw me in. With "The Accidental Tourist", I don't believe that is the case at all. Instead of the actual story-line keeping me interested, it is rather Tyler's style of writing that makes the otherwise drab story colorful and interesting.
Fabulous Tale! .......2006-12-17
This is one of my all-time favorite reads, so I am definitely biased. The story (65 reviews previous to mine have probably established all this just fine) is about Macon Leary, Baltimore native, travel writer, and grieving 40-something father. He has recently separated from his wife of many years, Sarah, and is in a bewildering no-man's land where nothing makes sense any longer. In steps Muriel Pritchett, a young, eccentric dog trainer he hires to train Edward, his obstinate little dog. Who likes to bite people. A lot.
This is a wonderful book. Tyler's writing is faultless, and Macon Leary is, IMHO, one of the greatest characters in contemporary literature. Those who like their books more intellectually precious and pretentious (sometimes they do seem to go together) will disagree, but frankly he's just great. Macon is a man who is afraid to live, afraid to leave his identity of, you guessed it, the "accidental tourist". His guidebooks are written for people who are afraid to travel and who want to feel like they're stil at home even when they're not. Muriel is Macon's polar opposite, and he is both attracted to her and horrified by her at the same time.
I love this book's humor, depth of characterization, poignancy, and love for the people in it as well as for the city of Baltimore itself. I have read this book many times, and see myself in Macon more than I care to admit!
Recommended with no hesitation whatsoever!
Book Description
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Term paper due tomorrow? Need to bone up for a test? Or just looking for the best information about a favorite literary work?
Turn to "Novels for Students" to get your research done in record time. Brought to you by the Gale Group--the world's leading source of literary criticism and analysis--this e-doc contains: plot summary; character analysis; author biography; an overview of the novel's themes, style, and historical context; a compendium of in-depth critical material; study questions; suggestions for further reading; and much more.
Why choose "Novels For Students"? Because no other source offers so much in such a compact package. Trust the experts: The Gale Group--and "Novels for Students."
Book Description
Hot movie star Zoe Tarleton gets piles of money but no respect because she always plays a beautiful bombshell. When she gets the chance to play a geeky chemist working on a formula to combine weight loss, sexual potency, and anti-aging in one powerful pill, she is determined that this role will open up her career. Zoe may be too hot to understand her character, but she has a plan: her ultimate nerd lawyer Flynn Granger can teach her the ropes. Flynn agrees to help Zoe out, but he's strictly business about it--his girlfriend is a Harvard professor and he plans to propose the next weekend. But when he sees Zoe in an outfit she considers nerdy, he realizes he's taken on an impossible task--she's just too cool to change. As they rehearse scenes in a secluded California cabin, they'll have to embrace their alter egos and fight the growing attraction between them. And they'll have to dodge an increasingly unstable stalker who wants to end their relationship....and Zoe's life. Gone WIth the Nerd is Vicki Lewis Thompson at her fun, sexy best.
Customer Reviews:
Nerd Served Hot & Spicy.......2007-05-14
I absolutely adore Vicki Lewis Thompson's NERD Series. As a woman married to a man who would, in all likelihood, be described as a nerd, I know first-hand how hot these guys can be! Ms. Thompson has served up another steamy slice of nerdiness in GONE WITH THE NERD.
Zoe Tarleton is a movie star known far and wide for one thing-- playing the bombshell. With her beauty and first-class body, she's made plenty of films--but she's tired of being known as nothing more than a pretty face. Then the chance of a lifetime falls into her lap--the chance to audition for the role of Vera in an action-adventure movie, a part that could, if played right, earn her a Golden Globe. The only problem is that Vera, a chemist working on a miracle drug, is a flat-chested, bland, nerdy woman. To turn her bombshell into a dud, Zoe needs to learn how to be a nerd, and she knows the perfect person to help guide her--entertainment attorney Flynn Granger. She's spent plenty of time with Flynn over the past few years, working out contracts, and she knows he's just the man for the job.
Flynn has always been attracted to Zoe in an off-hand, it-could-never-happen sort of way. After all, she's Zoe Tarleton and he's, well, a nerdy accountant with glasses, a monochrome wardrobe, and a Honda Civic. So when Zoe suggests spending the weekend in Long Shaft, California, home of the Sasquatch, for him to advise her in nerdiness, Flynn agrees, on the condition that he can tell his almost-fiancee, Kristen, what they're up to. The only problem is, even before they reach Long Shaft, Flynn's realizing that being in close proximity with Zoe--dowdy or not--is a real danger to his libido.
GONE WITH THE NERD is an absolute riot, and Zoe and Flynn are adorable characters. The steam these two generate is enough to erupt a volcano, and the suspense and paranormal aspects thrown into the story add an exciting mix. I love how Zoe realizes that there's more to life than fame and fortune, and how Flynn comes to understand that blending into the background of life isn't necessarily the best way to go.
You won't go wrong with this nerdy tale, and I for one am eagerly anticipating the next one, Talk Nerdy to Me (The Nerd Series), coming out in February 2006.
These books are Awesome!.......2006-10-23
This was the first one in this series I read. And I now have a new favorite author.
'Nuff said!
Not My Kind of Nerd.......2006-03-22
I've been following this series and I've pretty much loved every one of the books, "Nerd in Shining Armor" and "The Nerd Who Loved Me" are both firmly tied for first place. I just don't think "Gone with the Nerd" really measures up to the rest. What really killed this book for me was Flynn. He's just not nerd enough for me. That and, I'm sorry, the fact that he's on the verge of proposing to his girlfriend yet can't hardly keep it in his pants after a scant few hours alone in a cabin with Zoe, just irks me. It's a major flaw in his character that pretty well puts me off. I don't find myself rooting for this relationship to work out because, despite the fact that he realizes he's not really in love with his girlfriend, he's basically become a cheating jerk in my eyes.
I gave it 3 stars because the writing was still there, the ending was sweet, and I kind of enjoyed the Bigfoot thing. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for "Nerds like It Hot".
From a student.......2006-03-18
I would say that I very much enjoyed this love story, Gone with the Nerd. Although this book is not short it is a nice light read. The care-free and comical topic of a movie star and class-A nerd caught up in a romance keeps this book funny and interesting. The author does a good job of making the characters seem real. Her in depth description and individual personality for each character makes them very relatable. I felt as though they were now a part of my circle of friends. Although this is not the typical romance novel it still has the appeal of one with sexy dialogue and heartwarming story line. You will find yourself laughing out loud and wanting to catch a glimpse of Flynn Granger in action, and that sparkling smile of Zoey Tarleton. Along with her blue eyes that always seem to keep Flynn guessing.
Even though I liked this book a lot there were some slight flaws. While reading, it seemed as though the beginning of the book kind of dragged on, and the ending came with some abruptness. Having said this, the main portion of the story I found very hard to put down. It has the feeling of a sexy new drama you would see on day-time T.V.
This is a great book to pick up and read in the hot days of summer with its fun and frisky tale of discovery between two people.
Could Be "Nerdier".......2005-12-30
In this installment of Vicky Lewis Thompson's "Nerd" series, a movie star-Zoe Tarleton-is paired up with token nerd, Flynn Granger, a Hollywood contract attorney.
Zoe spirits Flynn to a small town to give her nerd lessons for a role she hopes to land. When they arrive in a Bigfoot-crazed area, strange things happen. Is a blueberry cobbler supposed to foam up in the garbage disposal? And what about killer bees and crashing trees? This story promises hot romance with a thrilling hint of danger.
Promises and hints only take a reader so far. "Gone with the Nerd" gets high marks for premise, but low marks for believability. The two main characters in this book are fraught with contradictions. Zoe acts the selfish diva one minute, and is suffused with morals the next. Even in a fast-paced romance, it's hard for me to believe she falls hard for her attorney after mere hours, despite knowing him five years; and vice-versa with Flynn.
Flynn, the nerd, isn't as nerdy as one might expect. Wearing glasses does not a nerd make. As a woman married to a true nerd, I can attest that Flynn barely qualifies, especially after the book concludes. Flynn's motivations for being with Zoe are understandable for any hot-blooded male, but a nerd wouldn't handle it nearly so well. My husband agrees that Flynn would not be accepted into Club Nerd.
A reader may also be put off by how Zoe and Flynn deal with their morals considering his impending engagement to his girlfriend. Romance readers like their heroes and heroines to be heroic, but these two come up short, even if these issues are "resolved" at the end (which a romance reader expects). And if they are not behaving as they normally would outside of this weekend adventure, how can they really expect to be ready to get married after two days?
In the end, if you enjoy steamy romps that end happy, it's a decent read. However, if you are distracted by double standards and inconsistent behavior, there are many other reading choices available. C.W.
Product Description
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Gone with the Nerd
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0739457071 |
Average customer rating:
- Riveting, entertaining, suspenseful book.
- Ender series full review-one of the best-Great book for strategy
- When will Ender end?
- and that's the rest of the story
- Why didn't somebody warn me?
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Shadow of the Hegemon (Ender, Book 6)
Orson Scott Card
Manufacturer: Tor Books
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ASIN: 0812565959 |
Amazon.com
Orson Scott Card finally explores what happened on earth after the war with the Buggers in the sixth book of his Ender series, Shadow of the Hegemon. This novel is the continuation of the story of Bean, which began with Ender's Shadow, a parallel novel to Card's Hugo and Nebula Award-winning Ender's Game.
While Ender heads off to a faraway planet, Bean and the other brilliant children who helped Ender save the earth from alien invaders have become war heroes and have finally been sent home to live with their parents. While the children try to fit back in with the family and friends they haven't known for nearly a decade, someone's worried about their safety. Peter Wiggins, Ender's brother, has foreseen that the talented children are in danger of being killed or kidnapped. His fears are quickly realized, and only Bean manages to escape. Bean knows he must save the others and protect humanity from a new evil that has arisen, an evil from his past. But just as he played second to Ender during the Bugger war, Bean must again step into the shadow of another, the one who will be Hegemon.
In Shadow of the Hegemon, Card can't help but fall back into old patterns. But while the theme is the same as in previous books--brilliant, tragic children with the fate of the human race resting on their shoulders--Shadow of the Hegemon does a wonderful job of continuing Bean's tale against a backdrop of the politics and intrigue of a fragile earth. While the novel is accessible, new readers to the series would be wise to begin with Ender's Game or Ender's Shadow. --Kathie Huddleston
Book Description
The War is over, won by Ender Wiggin and his team of brilliant child-warriors. The enemy is destroyed, the human race is saved. Ender himself refuses to return to the planet, but his crew has gone home to their families, scattered across the globe. The battle school is no more.But with the external threat gone, the Earth has become a battlefield once more. The children of the Battle School are more than heros; they are potential weapons that can bring power to the countries that control them. One by one, all of Ender's Dragon Army are kidnapped. Only Bean escapes; and he turns for help to Ender's brother Peter.Peter Wiggin, Ender's older brother, has already been manipulating the politics of Earth from behind the scenes. With Bean's help, he will eventually rule the world.
Download Description
This is the direct sequel to ENDER'S SHADOW; it tells of Bean's life after the Battle School. Peter Wiggin, Ender's older brother, recruits Bean as his own right-hand-man, and together they are able to take control of one of the warring factions on Earth. Peter becomes the absolute ruler of Earth, the Hegemon.
Customer Reviews:
Riveting, entertaining, suspenseful book........2007-03-24
I bought this for Christmas for my 32 yr. old daughter. She loved it.
Ender series full review-one of the best-Great book for strategy.......2007-02-28
I have read the whole ender series, but with a strange sequence which may have affected the way I view the different books in the series. The first book I have read was the Shadow of the Hegemon, thanks to a tourist that had left it in the library of a hotel in Skiathos island. This book got me hooked, but it confused me also as I didn't know if I should start reading the next books or the previous ones.
The general pattern in the whole series is:
The beginning book is Ender's Game. Then we have two subcategories, one the Shadow series (which, with the exception of the first book, take place on earth and are more within military strategy) and one the Ender series (which take place in space and are more into new sci-fi ideas). Shadow series probably can be read from everyone, while I guess that the Ender series (especially from Speaker for the Dead onwards) would be read mainly from sci-fi fans.
Below are my comments for the books of the series, in the order I have read them and a marking (10 is the highest mark):
Shadow of the Hegemon: The first book I have read, and which I could not leave from my hands. I finished it in 2 days. It was fast paced action, very smart plot and after reading it I believed that Orson Scot Card (OSC) has invented/re-invented a new genre of literature. That of military strategy and adventure combined with brilliance/mind games and hidden portions of romance. Such books always existed but this seemed to be THE book. It was like the way Dan Brown re-invented books with trivials and puzzles, together with fast paced adventure. I strongly recommend it to everybody that likes such type of books. (mark: 10)
Shadow puppets: The sequel to the above. I found it interesting but somehow boring as the above story developed little and the focus was on the characters (maybe too much focus so that it seemed to me that it was slightly mumbling jumbling. Strategy, brilliance and adventure seemed to be very low here. I would not recommend it for anybody to read it in isolate, unfortunately you have to read it if you want to go to the next book. I really believe that OSC made a mistake here (deliberately or not) as this book should have been told in 50-60 pages and be included in the previous or the next book. (mark: 6 but you will read it because you will want to read Shadow of the Giant)
Shadow of the Giant: (see below)
Ender's game: A really great book to read, probably the best of the series, however, as I had read its sequels first, when I reached the 80% of this book, I had predicted the end. However, it's at the highest standards of sci-fi, military strategy, adventure, brilliant mind games and very good depth in the human aspect of the characters. In comparison to the shadow series, it is more "space" sci-fi, while shadow series have much lesser sci-fi elements and are more down to earth. (mark: 10)
Speaker for the dead: Another great book, but different style. Less adventure, more human aspect, more maturity. Brilliance yes, but not military, sci-fi yes (some great ideas) but not spaceship style. (Mark: 9)
Xenocide: A good sequel of the previous novel. In certain points more brilliant, in other sections more boring, however is again a very good sci-fi book. The only flaw in these series (Speker for the dead, Xenocide, Children of the mind) is the idea behind one of the alien species described which I found outrageously extreme, however if you ignore it becomes first class reading. (Mark: 9)
Children of the mind: I think that OSC has wrapped up his case pretty badly in that one. It's a fair book except the fact that I felt that OSC mumbles jumbles for one third of the novel not having decided how to end it. In other critiques I have found it described as nice approach to moral dilemmas, however, moral dilemma is when you describe it once and make your choice, while here the dilemma is repeated and repeated... I felt like I was watching a movie worth 10 oscars and the end did not worth to be included even in a cheap video movie. And again, many open ends at the end (for possible sequels). (Mark: 7 but you will read it as you will be hooked from the previous ones).
Ender's shadow: Having read Enders Game and Shadow of the Hegemon, I found this book probably the best of the series, which of course is my subjective preference. I could characterize it as probably the best book I have read ever! Not to repeat myself, it has all that Shadow of the Hegemon and Ender's Game have, and even more...(Mark: the absolute 10).
Shadow of the Giant: When I read shadow puppets, I said, "that's it, OSC has lost either his talent or his appetite for good writing...", so I was pretty unwilling to read it. Fortunately I decided to, as it proved to be a good one, were I believe that OSC has nicely wrapped up his story, with two small flaws.
* The one is described below (its end needed to be slightly more complete) and,
* The other is the fact that although he describes certain smart battles, he does not focus enough on them as it seems that he is in a hurry to wrap all things up. It had all elements to become a masterpiece but it ended up being a good to read book (Mark: 9)
In general, both series have three categories of good stuff:
1) Some great sci-fi ideas (battle room, battle games, fantasy game, ansible, aia, Jane, in/out travel, raman varelse etc)
2) Great military strategy, mind games etc combined with adventure
3) In certain books, depth of characters, moral dilemmas etc
And two main bad stuff:
1) Mumbling jumbling in certain books which was completely unnecessary (either OSC wanted just to produce and sell another title - see shadow puppets- or he could not decide how the story will continue-see last book of Ender series).
2) One of the alien species described in the Ender series was so too outrageous even for sci-fi that made it look ridiculous. The idea behind it was brilliant in sci-fi terms, but he could try a different living organism...
Finally, OSC has left open ends in both series (probably for next sequels), however I believe that there are two things missing. a) the story of the Hive Queen and the Hegemon, told in a metaphorical manner so it means much for humanity. b) In ancient theatre, a story should end in a way that brings "katharsis" to the story, and the souls of the readers. I believe that the end of the shadow of the giant may be smart for commercial purposes but it was very unfair to the reader as it did not bring full "katharsis".
When will Ender end?.......2007-01-06
Although I love the way Orson Scott Card writes, I feel that the subject matter in the latter Ender books appeals to a different audience than the original Ender book.
and that's the rest of the story.......2006-11-10
This book continues Card's great storytelling, dealing with many of the untouched aspects of the original story. It's great to see how Card works the problems of post-bugger Earth.
Why didn't somebody warn me?.......2006-06-29
You loved Ender's Game, right?
And even though the next couple of Ender-related books were more confusing and not of the same quality as Ender's Game, at last came Ender's Shadow, the parallel story of Bean. Terrific.
Then came Shadow of the Hegemon.
It is, literally, a shadow of the original talent and quality of the first five books. The dialogue is tedious, the story line pencil thin, and the plot has a huge Achilles' heel (pun intended).
This is another example of a book out by an author (in this case Orson Scott Card) who must have been pressured to produce, because this baby needs more cooking.
It will make no sense if you haven't read Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow. It hardly makes any sense at all. Beware!
Average customer rating:
- repeat reader
- THE best series of books EVER written!
- Sci-fi classic
- A higher level for writing and si-fi
- One of the best series ever!!!!
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Ender's Game Boxed Set: Ender's Game, Ender's Shadow, Shadow of the Hegemon
Orson Scott Card
Manufacturer: Tor Books
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ASIN: 0765344955
Release Date: 2002-08-29 |
Book Description
Boxed Set contains Mass Market Editions of Ender's Game, Ender's Shadow, and Shadow of the Hegemon
Ender's Game
Winner of the Hugo and Nebula Awards
In order to develop a secure defense against a hostile alien race's next attack, government agencies breed child geniuses and train them as soldiers. A brilliant young boy, Andrew "Ender" Wiggin lives with his kind but distant parents, his sadistic brother Peter, and the person he loves more than anyone else, his sister Valentine. Peter and Valentine were candidates for the soldier-training program but didn't make the cut—young Ender is the Wiggin drafted to the orbiting Battle School for rigorous military training.
Ender's skills make him a leader in school and respected in the Battle Room, where children play at mock battles in zero gravity. Yet growing up in an artificial community of young soldiers Ender suffers greatly from isolation, rivalry from his peers, pressure from the adult teachers, and an unsettling fear of the alien invaders. His psychological battles include loneliness, fear that he is becoming like the cruel brother he remembers, and fanning the flames of devotion to his beloved sister.
Is Ender the general Earth needs? But Ender is not the only result of the genetic experiments. The war with the Buggers has been raging for a hundred years, and the quest for the perfect general has been underway for almost as long. Ender's two older siblings are every bit as unusual as he is, but in very different ways. Between the three of them lie the abilities to remake a world. If, that is, the world survives.
Ender's Shadow
Orson Scott Card brings us back to the very beginning of his brilliant Ender Quartet, with a novel that allows us to reenter that world anew.
With all the power of his original creation, Card has created a parallel volume to Ender's Game, a book that expands and compliments the first, enhancing its power, illuminating its events and its powerful conclusion.
The human race is at War with the "Buggers", an insect-like alien race. The first battles went badly, and now as Earth prepares to defend itself against the imminent threat of total destruction at the hands of an inscrutable alien enemy, all focus is on the development and training of military geniuses who can fight such a war, and win.
The long distances of interstellar space have given hope to the defenders of Earth--they have time to train these future commanders up from childhood, forging then into an irresisible force in the high orbital facility called the Battle School.
Andrew "Ender" Wiggin was not the only child in the Battle School; he was just the best of the best. In this new book, card tells the story of another of those precocious generals, the one they called Bean--the one who became Ender's right hand, part of his team, in the final battle against the Buggers.
Bean's past was a battle just to survive. He first appeared on the streets of Rotterdam, a tiny child with a mind leagues beyond anyone else's. He knew he could not survive through strength; he used his tactical genius to gain acceptance into a children's gang, and then to help make that gang a template for success for all the others. He civilized them, and lived to grow older.
Bean's desperate struggle to live, and his success, brought him to the attention of the Battle School's recruiters, those people scouring the planet for leaders, tacticians, and generals to save Earth from the threat of alien invasion. Bean was sent into orbit, to the Battle School. And there he met Ender....
Shadow of the Hegemon
The War is over, won by Ender Wiggin and his team of brilliant child-warriors. The enemy is destroyed, the human race is saved. Ender himself refuses to return to the planet, but his crew has gone home to their families, scattered across the globe. The battle school is no more.
But with the external threat gone, the Earth has become a battlefield once more. The children of the Battle School are more than heros; they are potential weapons that can bring power to the countries that control them. One by one, all of Ender's Dragon Army are kidnapped. Only Bean escapes; and he turns for help to Ender's brother Peter.
Peter Wiggin, Ender's older brother, has already been manipulating the politics of Earth from behind the scenes. With Bean's help, he will eventually rule the world.
Customer Reviews:
repeat reader.......2007-08-10
Finding this book listed on my granddaughter's summer reading list, I was reminded of the pleasure it brought many years ago, so have now read it again and was entertained as much as I had hoped. The pace is sustained throughout "Ender's Game" and the ending is extremely pleasing, with lose ends tied up nicely. "Ender's Shadow" is surprisingly enjoyable at the same level of suspense despite a similar setting, while "Shadow of the Hegemon" was enjoyable, but not quite of the same quality as the first two books. The author has made a quite plausible and imaginative story, incorporating the idea of using problems that confront us to help build character, while being sensitive to the loneliness of the leadership role.
THE best series of books EVER written!.......2007-04-22
I have read this series countless times because it has everything I look for in a story. I have read in excess of 6000 scifi novels over 30 years of life and have NEVER found a story I would call the equal of Ender's Game. I did not like the Speaker for the Dead or Children of the Mind but; Ender's Shadow, Shadow of the Hedgmon, Shadow Puppets, and Shadow of the Giant are all excellent. The king however is Ender's Game. Simply a MUST HAVE for any serious scifi reader. (Not to be confused with Fantasy readers which are a separate group! Why they mix that junk with real fiction I'll never understand.)Ender's Game Boxed Set: Ender's Game, Ender's Shadow, Shadow of the HegemonEnder's Game (Ender, Book 1)
Sci-fi classic.......2007-04-11
To me, Ender's Saga is a must-read for every sci-fi fan. The first and second books (Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow) are great since they are parallel stories in an incredible environment. Although the third book doesn't go too far into fiction, i like how the author shaped the world and the fact that genius children are running the show. The writing style is simple and the books are very easy to read. It didn't feel like a children's book, but I believe they could also read it. I think it's a shame I didn't find out about those books earlier.
I believe everyone should at least read Ender's Game, the first book. And anyway, you'll be so hooked after that so why not buy the Saga?
A higher level for writing and si-fi.......2007-02-16
Orson Scott Card became one of my favourite qriters becauso of these books. A couple of months ago, I read Ender's Game, and foud it to be an involving well-developed sci-fi book, specially for the psycological depth given to the characters. Quick-paced and enticing, I couldn't stop reading until I was so sleepy at night tahat I HAD to (and, even so, I wasn't so eager to do it!).
Ender's Shadow i mainly the same script, but from the view of Bean, and is certainly as good as Ender's Shadow (both of them, combined, becomes an even more interesting novel). The differing points of view and the alucidation of several unknown events really add to the main story.
Shadow of the Hegemon keeps the quick development and the psycological aspects I was so found of, but addresses a few different questions - not only Earth-based war stategies, but also (and mostly) politics, and religion. Not that the other books didn't address them - they did it alright -, but here they're the main theme, I'd say.
Awesome books. I can't wait to acquire the other Shadow books and then the original Ender series books. I'm a fan now! Try it, and yo won't be dissapointed!
One of the best series ever!!!!.......2007-02-03
I love this series if you like a good story this is the one . Follow the lives of thes childern see them save the world. These books are great for all ages I bought this set for two of my brothers and there wifes. All have enjoyed them emensly.
Average customer rating:
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Shadow of the Hegemon (Shadow Saga)
Orson Scott Card
Manufacturer: Orbit
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Science Fiction
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| Alternate History
| Anthologies
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| Graphic Novels
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| History & Criticism
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General
| Card, Orson Scott
| ( C )
| Authors, A-Z
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
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Paperback
| Card, Orson Scott
| ( C )
| Authors, A-Z
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
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Similar Items:
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Shadow Puppets
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Shadow of the Giant (Ender, Book 8) (Ender's Shadow)
ASIN: 1841490660 |
Average customer rating:
- Great Sequels to the Greatest Book
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Orson Scott Card's "Ender's Shadow" Three-Book Set (Ender's Shadow, Shadow of the Hegemon, and Shadow Puppets)
Orson Scott Card
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
| Adventure
| Alternate History
| Anthologies
| General
| Graphic Novels
| High Tech
| History & Criticism
| Series
| Short Stories
| Space Opera
General
| Card, Orson Scott
| ( C )
| Authors, A-Z
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
Paperback
| Card, Orson Scott
| ( C )
| Authors, A-Z
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0765349981 |
Book Description
Orson Scott Card's "Ender's Shadow" Three-Book Set (Ender's Shadow, Shadow of the Hegemon, and Shadow Puppets)
For a limited time get three of the books in Orson Scott Card's popular "Ender's Shadow" series, including the bestseller, Ender's Shadow.
Customer Reviews:
Great Sequels to the Greatest Book.......2004-06-10
Personally, Ender's Game is my favorite book. I loved the Speaker trilogy. As soon as I finished that, I moved on to these. Though the lack the philosophy of the Speaker trilogy, they are still fascinating, thouroughly engrossing tales that represent Card's skill perfectly. I am reading Card's Homecoming set, but it just doesn't compare to these books. Really just brilliant pieces of storytelling.
Average customer rating:
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Orson Scott Card Shadow Two-Book Set: Ender's Shadow, Shadow of the Hegemon
Orson Scott Card
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
| Adventure
| Alternate History
| Anthologies
| General
| Graphic Novels
| High Tech
| History & Criticism
| Series
| Short Stories
| Space Opera
General
| Card, Orson Scott
| ( C )
| Authors, A-Z
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
Paperback
| Card, Orson Scott
| ( C )
| Authors, A-Z
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0765347059 |
Customer Reviews:
Good and Good.......2002-10-21
I read Ender's Shadow immediatley after Ender's Game. It was extremely well done and though I was disgusted with the beginning, I soon discovered that the further I got that I couldn't stop. It gave me a perspective of another person to the story. Now I'm half way through Shadow of the Hegemon, which is also very good. Both books show what Ender did not know and after he was all happy what happened on Earth and why he couldn't come home.
Product Description
hardbacks
Product Description
All 9 books in the Ender Wiggin saga. In chronological order as published, they are: Ender's Game; Speaker for the Dead; Xenocide; Children of the Mind; Ender's Shadow; Shadow of the Hegemon; Shadow Puppets; Shadow of the Giant; First Meetings
Product Description
Set of 7 Novels. Ender Wiggins Quartet Volumes 1-4 + Shadow Saga Volumes 1-3 By Orson Scott Card - Ender's Game, Speaker for the Dead, Xenocide, Children of the Mind, Ender's Shadow, Shadow of the Hegemon, Shadow Puppets.
Book Description
Umbrella, light, landscape, sky–
There is no language of the holy.
The sacred lies in the ordinary.
This treasury of life–enhancing daily readings turns a wise Taoist light on every facet of life. Each daily entry with a one–word title and its Chinese character in elegant calligraphy.
A brief, poetic aphorism provides the theme, followed by a clear, insightful mediation on the day's Taoist principle.
Customer Reviews:
A Worthy Daily Meditation Guide.......2007-10-11
I have the first edition, first printing of this book and have read through it randomly several times. This year starting on January 1st, I decided to read it straight through on a daily basis, as Deng Ming-Dao no doubt intended it to be read. I have delighted in some of the insightful, inspiring verse and meditations on common every day situations; some of these have seemed deeply profound while simply stated. Meditation #82, July 1st, entitled "Flow" begins with, "If the boulders are moved,//Even a river will change its flow." And continues, "So it is with the flow of our lives.... The freedom to choose and to change belongs to us." However, there are other meditations or ideas that have left me cold. Today's meditation, in fact, completely turned me off when he stated that you cannot find the Tao if you live in an urban environment. That cities "stink," literally, and they are too noisy for anyone to become "fully realized." That cannot be true. The Tao, or enlightenment, may be experienced in any time or place as it has nothing to do with time and place. But Mr. Ming-Dao is entitled to his opinion as this is his understanding of the Tao philosophy. Overall, the work is worthy of daily or random reading. That this work has had more than 30 print runs over the last 15 years speaks to its enduring wisdom.
365 Tao Daily Meditations.......2007-08-31
There is a problem concerning the age of the edition. The book advertized is not the book shipped.
Customer service was not able to correct the problem. Apparently the ISBN number is
the same but the book received is from a 1992 printing. The book advertized was printed around 2002.
The book is excellent. The translation of Tao is very easy to understand.
Superb introduction to the Tao.......2007-01-04
This small book has a commentary on Tao for each day of the year, an guide to application to life. It avoids both abstruse explanation and sermonizing, merely suggesting guides along the Way. Highly recommended as a means to understanding just what Tao is about, but, of course, never trying to define it. A worthy addition to my shelf of handy books.
A must-buy!.......2006-04-03
I've only read the first 49 so far (about 1/7th the total) and I'm blown away. My original thought was to read one at a time, reflect on it and then move on. I do that but all are so good I keep reading. The format makes it easy to read a little here and there and each page is both accessible and profound. Just buy it.
Balance.......2006-01-16
This is the best daily source of balance I have found. It is a ready dip into sanity and a constant reminder that there is a still point to which one might repair from time to time.
Books:
- The Art of Mending: A Novel
- The Artist's Problem Solver: Practical Solutions from 10 Professional Artists for Painting in Watercolors, Oils, Pastels and Acrylics
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- The Cat Who Knew a Cardinal (Cat Who...)
- The Civil War Trilogy: Gods and Generals / The Killer Angels / The Last Full Measure
- The Comics Journal Library Vol. 7: Harvey Kurtzman (Comics Journal Library)
- The Complete Western Stories of Elmore Leonard CD
- The Cotton Queen
- The Enigma of Arrival: A Novel
- The Ethics Of Ambiguity
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