Status
Available
Collection
Publication
Tor Books (2001), Edition: 1st, 451 pages
Description
Fiction. Science Fiction. HTML: 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 heroes; 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. Shadow of the Hegemon is the second novel in Orson Scott Card's Shadow Series..… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Kstammerjohn
(307/365)
"Shadow of the Hegemon" is another great book in the Ender universe. It is set shortly after the first book, telling the story of what happened to Ender's team, or "Jeesh" after he left earth to colonize one of the many empty Bugger worlds. The story focuses mainly on a character named
I found "Shadow of the Hegemon" to be a very intracte book. It is full of crazy schemes and brilliant plans that really make you think. There is also a military aspect of it that is very intriguing. Overall, it is a great book that anyone who likes to read should check out.
"Shadow of the Hegemon" is another great book in the Ender universe. It is set shortly after the first book, telling the story of what happened to Ender's team, or "Jeesh" after he left earth to colonize one of the many empty Bugger worlds. The story focuses mainly on a character named
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Bean, who is one of Ender's best friends. In the previous books he had been in the lifelong training program of Battle School, and after he was released, he found his long lost family. Through out "Shadow of the Hegemon" Bean is in constant battle with his greatest enemy, an orphan boy named Achilles. Bean and Achilles were orphans and lived together with a band of other orphans in the streets of a city in Greece. They were once friends but then became bitter enemies, pitting their brilliant minds against each other. As nations fall under the Achilles sway, Bean must work to ensure that the world does not fall under control of this physcopath.I found "Shadow of the Hegemon" to be a very intracte book. It is full of crazy schemes and brilliant plans that really make you think. There is also a military aspect of it that is very intriguing. Overall, it is a great book that anyone who likes to read should check out.
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LibraryThing member dandelionroots
I opted to skip the three novels that follow Ender on his journey after the battle against the alien invaders and to instead pursue Bean's story on Earth (because I heard Ender's storyline contained mostly theology, which I'm not interested in). I forgot, however, that Valentine accompanied Ender
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and since she's my favorite character, I may have to give this other offshoot a try. This novel, though, involves the political and military manipulations of Bean that lead him to team up with Peter Wiggin to destroy Achilles who has taken Petra (and other Battle School graduates) captive in an attempt at world domination. It is definitely a different kind of story than Ender's Game or Shadow, but still fairly interesting. The author's speculations on the standings and alliances/enmities of countries a couple centuries from now is insightful. Love that America has lost actual power and that its lack of honorable leaders and populace are to blame. Show Less
LibraryThing member Grumpus
This book is a continuation of the time just after the Bugger Wars on Earth. Brilliant and thought provoking as well as nothing like Ender's Game. It is a great read.
LibraryThing member kmass
I didn't think it was possible before I read it, but this is even better than Ender's Game.
LibraryThing member terrybain
Very fine, intense, headspace work. I'm reading it aloud to my son (9 years old) and he doesn't even flinch at the political discussion.
LibraryThing member janemarieprice
This is not as good as the first of the Bean series but Card is a masterful writer and it is extremely interesting. Whether the characters are discussing religion, politics, war, or childhood it is quite brilliant and the action is lightning fast.
LibraryThing member comfypants
Even though you know how this story has to end if you've read Ender's Game (although you don't necessarily know how many books it will take to get there), it still sucks you in and is hard to put down. It's a fairly enjoyable read, but there are a lot of problems. It's not science fiction. It
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happens to take place in the future, but there are no sci-fi elements whatsoever; that's just an excuse for Card to make up whatever he feels like regarding world politics. And those politics are simplified to a level of a game of Risk. Characters can predict the future of world events based on a handful of pieces of information, which is especially unbelievable since Peter Wiggin, the supposed political genius, comes across as a complete twit in this book. And he and two other of the four main characters are insufferable smart asses. Even Bean comes across that way sometimes. The dialog is often terrible. Sometimes it's just awkward and unnatural. Sometimes Card uses it to frame things he wants to say to the audience, which is the most unfortunate aspect of this book. As great a storyteller as Card usually is, he's kind of a d**k, and as soon as I feel like I'm hearing his opinions rather than his characters' opinions, the book loses a lot for me. Show Less
LibraryThing member fiverivers
Unfortunately, like so many authors who write endless series, Card should have known when to stop. Not one of his best works, Shadow of the Hegemon is filled with cookie cutter characters who are clones of one another to some degree; utterly nonsensical political stratagems that tend to a big yawn;
All of this is very disappointing coming from Card, because when he has his literary act together he is so very, very good. It would seem, however, that when he's bad, he's very, very bad.
Ultimately this is a forgettable novel.
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utterly implausible premise of very young adolescents being the political geniuses and power-mongers of the world.All of this is very disappointing coming from Card, because when he has his literary act together he is so very, very good. It would seem, however, that when he's bad, he's very, very bad.
Ultimately this is a forgettable novel.
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LibraryThing member Karlstar
The second novel about Bean, Ender's friend and fellow Battle School graduate. By this point Ender is gone and Bean is left on Earth to both survive and try to fend off the schemes of Ender's brother, Peter. In this novel we start to find out what happened on Earth after Ender left. While that
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turns out to be good material for a novel, it still feels a bit like going over old material, even if this is almost entirely new. Bean is still an engaging character, and the events of the book are plausible and interesting. Show Less
LibraryThing member melydia
The League Wars are over, but the struggle continues between various world powers. Someone kidnaps all the Battle School kids who served under Ender during the Bugger War. Bean alone escapes this fate. Though he must go into hiding, he seeks out the only person who can help him free the others:
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Peter Wiggin. Most of the story revolves around Bean and Petra, but I didn't feel like I got to know her any better than I did in Ender's Game. Of course, I've noticed Card's difficulty with writing realistic female characters before. The continuation of Achilles's tale was kind of interesting but not especially believable. I hear the series improves as you go along. Not that this is such a bad book - it just didn't do much for me. Show Less
LibraryThing member ImBookingIt
I'd read this book before, but listened to the audio to get me back into the world.I had a hard time rating it, because although the characters were fascinating and the story compelling, there were aspects that drove me nuts at times!
LibraryThing member Neale
A good follow up to Ender's Shadow. Very detailed in its coverage of the characters motivations. If you liked the others in the series you'll like this one.
LibraryThing member nicoletort
When I picked up the sequel to Ender's Shadow I was not expecting the poltical thriller that is this book. Nevertheless, it is a good read.
LibraryThing member ametralladoras
Pales in comparison to Ender's Shadow. This book shouldn't even be considered Science Fiction but more Military Strategy fiction...and I am obviously not a fan. The characters are dull (except for a few moments with Petra) and the plot is anticlimactic.
LibraryThing member RachelPenso
This is the sequel to Ender's Shadow. I definitely enjoyed Ender's Shadow more, as there were more politics in this book, which I find dull. The story continues to follow Bean, now back on Earth. All the members of the Dragon army are kidnapped (with the exception of Ender, since he is not on
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earth) and Bean teams together with Peter Wiggin to find them. Show Less
LibraryThing member AsTr1102
Another book with a slow beginning but picks up speed. Kind of boring compared to the rest of the stories in the series.
LibraryThing member buffalogr
Great parallel drawn between the way children and nations act.
LibraryThing member satyridae
Audio, unabridged. This one was a little too dry for me in its repeated analysis of various imaginary political scenarios, and the principal villain seemed less real in this book than the last.
LibraryThing member EmScape
The Battle School children have returned to earth and must adjust to life as children again. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), they are soon kidnapped by megalomaniac psychopath Achilles, who is bent on taking over the world and also (still) on destroying Bean.
The
A satisfying bridge book between Ender's Shadow and Shadow Puppets.
The
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book at times feels like a novelization of a game of Risk, but is saved from being boring by the presence of both familiar and new Battle School graduates, as well as Ender's brother, Peter. A satisfying bridge book between Ender's Shadow and Shadow Puppets.
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LibraryThing member Daniel.Estes
In the last book, Ender's Shadow, Bean came from such abject poverty and then rose up against all odds to be one of Ender's most trusted companions that you forgave his brainy standoffishness. In Shadow of the Hegemon, our sympathies for Bean's helplessness are waning so now he just comes across as
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a condescending know-it-all. Show Less
LibraryThing member dbsovereign
By the time you get to this book in the series, the whole idea of Ender has sort of gone out the window. Plus I just don't like Card on principal - he's a homophobe and hypocrite.
LibraryThing member Daumari
Apparently I *have* read this. Will have to reread since it's been >10 years since I did so....
LibraryThing member lkbm
Hegemon leaves the confines of Battle School to enter a world of international politics, and as much as I love international politics, I was glad Card didn't abandon the characters and character-level plot. Bean grows, Petra grows, Peter grows (though he's relatively ancillary--he's neither
Over all, this book is similar in style to the previous two and added an aspect I very much enjoy (high-level politics, not just individuals bickering and seeking power), but I didn't enjoy it quite as much. Achilles did not interest me, and the genius of Bean, Peter, etc. occasionally felt unbelievable to me when applied to human behavior rather than strategy. There's a point where Bean insists Achilles would have at least three back-ups--why at least three? I don't care how smart Achilles is or how well Bean knows him. Humans make decisions far too arbitrarily and options are far too varied to be predicted with that degree of specificity. Attempts to display the intelligence of the characters ranged from really good to kind of terrible.
Though not as good as Ender's Game or Ender's Shadow, this is definitely worth reading if you loved the previous two in this thread.
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protagonist nor antagonist), Achilles...doesn't really grow. In Ender's Shadow, for a few paragraphs, we actually saw into Achilles' mind. In this book, we see him act and others' evaluations of his behavior, but they add nothing new to his personality--in fact they fail to draw on the peak we got in the previous book.Over all, this book is similar in style to the previous two and added an aspect I very much enjoy (high-level politics, not just individuals bickering and seeking power), but I didn't enjoy it quite as much. Achilles did not interest me, and the genius of Bean, Peter, etc. occasionally felt unbelievable to me when applied to human behavior rather than strategy. There's a point where Bean insists Achilles would have at least three back-ups--why at least three? I don't care how smart Achilles is or how well Bean knows him. Humans make decisions far too arbitrarily and options are far too varied to be predicted with that degree of specificity. Attempts to display the intelligence of the characters ranged from really good to kind of terrible.
Though not as good as Ender's Game or Ender's Shadow, this is definitely worth reading if you loved the previous two in this thread.
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LibraryThing member nosborm
Shmeh. Ender's Shadow was a refreshing visit back to Ender's Game. This was not.
LibraryThing member librisissimo
Substance: Intricate political plotting, utilizing religious, philosophical, and military theory. Although having the protagonists and their opponents all be military prodigies sets a high bar for the author's own intelligence, Card meets the challenge.
Style: Too much preachy narrative. As usual
Style: Too much preachy narrative. As usual
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with Card's later works, all the actors sound alike, and all the family dialogues sound like commercials. Introduces lots of "Battle Room Slang" that I don't remember from "Ender's Game"; possibly used in "Ender's Shadow." As an attempt to make the characters part of a unique community, it only makes them sound childish, especially since there are no referents for any of the terms and some are used too infrequently to give a good context to their meaning. They are just nonsense syllables. Show Less
Subjects
Awards
Locus Recommended Reading (2001)
Best Fiction for Young Adults (Selection — 2002)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2001-01
Physical description
1.11 inches
ISBN
0812565959 / 9780812565959