This past week I read 'Earth Unaware' 'Earth Afire' and 'Earth Awakens' by Orson Scott Card and really enjoyed them. An honest critique would be that Card's characters are most definitely not people, they are characters. I really don't begrudge him that, in the same way that I don't begrudge Ayn Rand's writing because really both her and Card are writing about ideas, not people, and their characters are vehicles for ideas, not people. The 'Earth' series is co-written by Aaron Johnston who was one of the producers of the Ender's Game movie (Trash. So close, but utter trash) so the books are written more for the movie audience than for the loyal fans of the Enderverse and it shows. It's not that they are BAD so much as transparent. Fun, easy reads that I'd recommend to anyone who wants the skinny on human's first contact with the Formics.

I was first given a copy of Ender's Game in 5th grade (Probably should have found it sooner but oh well) and as a child there were few books that held my attention more than that one. It's not uncommon for kids to feel like they and their possible contributions to their family/society are undervalued. Ender's Game (And all prequels/sequels) really bash you over the head with strong, smart, capable children who made a difference.

I also think that despite everything else wrong with the guy, Card's philosophy on violence is coherent and perfectly moral in my book. My quick summary would be 'Pursue peace for as long as possible, and when no other options exist, defeat your enemy so thoroughly and violently that they are incapable of prosecuting further violence.' and I think that's just lovely.

Starting on Volume 2 of Durant by audio today.