Book Review: Xenocide by Orson Scott Card

Xenocide by Orson Scott Card

REVIEW:

After thirty years, Valentine and her family arrived in Lusitania. But instead of expecting a happy reunion with her long-time-no-see brother, she gets a depressing reunion with a problem she once set aside.

The Lusitania hasn’t yet resolved the problem of killing descolada. It’s still undecided if it’s a raman or a varelse.

At the same time, the Lusitania fleet is coming and every species in Lusitania is preparing for it.

A planet has dwelled by people who are genetically altered by Starways Congress.

Among the problem rising, Ender should choose which he must resolve first regardless of the problem of imminent death of Jane.

The concept of the last two books was different from each other. Thus it is not shocking to know that this book has a different shift of aspect from the previous books. Unfortunately, Card wasn’t able to make up or to elevate what the two previous books have achieved. Ender’s Game and Speaker for the Dead won the Nebula and Hugo Award. Though this book has been nominated, yet the fact that it hadn’t won the title shows how this book declined from readers’ interest.

The story in Xenocide has been dominated by studies of DNA. If Card had just focused on DNA, this could have been better. But because this book is a sequel of a sci-fi book, the sci-fi-ty of the Ender’s Game and Speaker for the dead had been dragged into this book. And it caused complexity and complications into the stories. The science terms and theories that Card made up weren’t able to stand perfectly. Furthermore, it deepens into reasons that are hardly understandable. A perfect example of biopunk.

When Card introduced Lusitania in his Speaker, he did somehow give a sense on why should they be introduced. But when Card did the same introduction in this book with People of Path, the world becomes complex and confusing. A complete failure. It’s also undeniable that his characters in the last books were likable but reading this one, Card made sure that some characters here are meant to be dislikable. The reader may burst into tears but mostly erupts into anger.

The twist Card made at the near end was intended for the story to be more interesting. Unfortunately, it leaves the readers disgusted.

I rate this book not through how I feel on this book but how this book evoked my loath and disgust.