Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Tor Books (1996), Edition: 1st, Hardcover, 349 pages
Description
Fiction. Science Fiction. HTML: The planet Lusitania is home to three sentient species: the Pequeninos, a large colony of humans, and the Hive Queen, who was brought there by Ender Wiggin. But now, once again, the human race has grown fearful; the Starways Congress has gathered a fleet to destroy Lusitania. Ender's oldest friend, Jane, an evolved computer intelligence, can save the three sentient species of Lusitania. She has learned how to move ships outside the universe, and then instantly back to a different world, abolishing the light-speed limit. But it takes all the processing power available to her, and the Starways Congress is shutting down the network of computers in which she lives, world by world. Soon Jane will not be able to move the ships. Ender's children must save her if they are to save themselves. Children of the Mind is the fourth book in Orson Scott Card's The Ender Saga..… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Daniel.Estes
I finally read the conclusion of the Ender Quartet several years after finishing Xenocide. This was about 15 years ago. Children of the Mind was so forgettable that I couldn't tell you much of what happened. The Lusitania Fleet harboring the M.D. Device finally arrived to carry out their intended
If someone recommends that you read the Ender books, just read the first two and stop after that.
Show More
destruction, but I can't recall what happened next. Or before. Or why it mattered. Lemme check...(checks Wikipedia)... Weird. What an unnecessary story. I can't say I understand it even now.If someone recommends that you read the Ender books, just read the first two and stop after that.
Show Less
LibraryThing member ragwaine
On disk 6 out of 11 I realized that I never read book 3 of this series (Xenocide). I noticed that there were some new characters and strange things had happened to them but I thought I just probably forgot or didn't understand the ending of -Speaker for the Dead-, since Card tends to get surreal at
I have mixed feelings. There really wasn't anything exciting in the first 3/4ths of the book. Then there was kind of a plot. There was a LOT of dialogue. But the good thing is that it was well written. Unfortunately there were some annoying characters and sometimes the arguments bugged me.
Anyways, no more Ender for me. Just not sure what the facination is....
Show More
the ends of his books. What's strange is that this book starts practically where -Speaker- left off. At the end of -Speaker- they were waiting for the fleet to arrive and trying to escape. At the begining of this book it's the same situation. So all I can deduce is that not much time passess in Xenocide. I have mixed feelings. There really wasn't anything exciting in the first 3/4ths of the book. Then there was kind of a plot. There was a LOT of dialogue. But the good thing is that it was well written. Unfortunately there were some annoying characters and sometimes the arguments bugged me.
Anyways, no more Ender for me. Just not sure what the facination is....
Show Less
LibraryThing member PatienceFortitude
Yes, this ties up all the loose ends left from Xenocide and Speaker For The Dead, but it is so clumsy, and so much like a plot-info-dump, rather than a real, elegant story.
I could write, on an index card or two, the salient plot points, and save you the trouble of reading this.
Oh, and lots of
I could write, on an index card or two, the salient plot points, and save you the trouble of reading this.
Oh, and lots of
Show More
predictable. All over the place. Show Less
LibraryThing member PatienceFortitude
Yes, this ties up all the loose ends left from Xenocide and Speaker For The Dead, but it is so clumsy, and so much like a plot-info-dump, rather than a real, elegant story.
I could write, on an index card or two, the salient plot points, and save you the trouble of reading this.
Oh, and lots of
I could write, on an index card or two, the salient plot points, and save you the trouble of reading this.
Oh, and lots of
Show More
predictable. All over the place. Show Less
LibraryThing member nicoletort
Last one in the series, great. I was still left wanting more, but as far as Ender goes I think I'll always be. Definately not the worst conclusion to a series I've ever read.
LibraryThing member Grumpus
This completes the series that focuses on Andrew "Ender" Wiggins as the primary character. It is really a continuation of Xenocide more than a stand alone story but that in no way diminishes the story. This is an excellent book and will no doubt stand out in the series as unique and as good as any
Show More
other in the series. If you liked any of the others, read this one too! Show Less
LibraryThing member klarusu
This is the conclusion to the tale of Ender Wiggin and is, in my opinion, the weakest of the four books. While it is satisfying to follow the saga to its eventual conclusion, the premise that this book is based on appears to be a weak structure conceived to take the characters to their eventual
Show More
conclusion. Ender's 'children' are neither characters that live nor did their conception seem to be anything more than a convenient vessel to tie up loose ends in what has become a rather convoluted plot line. All the same, this wasn't a particularly bad book and it was a quick read as I was spurred on to find out how the quartet resoved itself. I think it is more that some of the earlier books were so good that this was a disappointment in relation to them - more 'bog standard' sci-fi fodder than the earlier books which had a degree of originality and depth that this lacks. Show Less
LibraryThing member robinamelia
This is the last in the Ender quartet, though I am happy to learn that there are yet more in the series. Card manages to maintain a great deal of suspense, though I was pretty sure he wouldn't have things turn out badly for the three sentient species whose existence was at stake. He is amazingly
Show More
able to make intangible battles such as that between the auia or soul of an artificial intelligence and that of the body she wishes to share come to life. Bravo! Show Less
LibraryThing member Karlstar
This used to be the 'last' book in the Ender Saga, until Card started writing the books that filled in the gap between Ender's young life, and Speaker for the Dead. This book is a bit unusual for the Ender Saga in that it gets a bit mystical. It is worthwhile reading, but the ending may surprise.
LibraryThing member janemarieprice
The final chapter of the Ender collection is quite philosophical. It touches on the existence of the soul and artificial intelligence. Again the world building is great, characters are well developed, and action is nonstop.
LibraryThing member aarondesk
Card is a master story-teller, and he continues his legacy in this final book of the Ender saga. Most of the loose ends are tied up as the race to save Jane, Ender, and Lusitania comes to a close.
LibraryThing member topps
Not nearly as good as the first three in the trilogy. Seems to have been added on to tie up a lot of loose ends. Middle part really drags with a bit too much angst and soul searching by the characters. Not much in the way of new concepts. Picks up a bit towards the end and in fact gallops through
Show More
the wrapup quite quickly. Show Less
LibraryThing member Valleyguy
Not the super amazingness of the previous three books, but seriously, it can't be possible to write the best book ever written four times. So, I give him a break and enjoy learning what happens as things go further with the characters and see some of them off. As usual, I learned more about the
Show More
human race, myself, religion, and diplomacy from reading this. I know this isn't really a review, just blabber, but I'm tired and I'll edit this some other time. Show Less
LibraryThing member cbradley
And I didn’t think it could get much worse. In my reviews for the other books in this series I have mentioned an eager desire to find out what happens next. This book left me wondering if I could forget what happened next. Children of the Mind seems like a last ditch attempt to end a faltering
Show More
series. Like Xenocide, Children of the Mind is only redeemed because of its connection to the rest of the Ender series, failing that I would never have even given this book a second look. Show Less
LibraryThing member melydia
This final book in the Ender Quartet spends most of its time tying up loose ends from Xenocide than moving the story along. The fleet still threatens the planet Lusitania, Jane still faces imminent destruction, Miro is still angstful about his love life, and Ender's still going a bit mad.
Show More
Everything is tied up neatly at the end, but by and large these latter two novels - Xenocide and Children of the Mind - feel superfluous. I admire Card for his amazing SF ideas, especially the development of the Piggies, but there wasn't much point in putting all the aiua business in the Ender universe. But that's okay. Now I know how it ends, and if I care to reread the series in the future, I'll simply stop after Speaker for the Dead. Show Less
LibraryThing member Radaghast
Ender series still great but loses steam.
LibraryThing member RRHowell
Not one of Card's best IMHO, but still a decent read. Besides, it finishes out one of the Ender's Game series (the better one, in my opinon).
LibraryThing member JPWickwire
Written with Card's usual charm and wit, Children of the Mind was a fitting (if drawn out) end to the Ender's Game quartet. I have to agree with the other reviewers though, when I say that Ender's Game and Speaker for the Dead were much better than the latter two books in the series. Regardless,
Show More
this quartet is one of my favorite series of all time, and I think that everyone should give it a read. Four stars. Show Less
LibraryThing member HoriconLibrary
. A great ending of the enders series. Wonderful story fun to read loved the development of the characters.--SL
LibraryThing member jolerie
Children of the Mind is the final instalment of the original Ender's Game series. This fourth book chronicles the fate of the Lusitania colony has they make their final stand against the Starfleet Congress as well as the fate of those who play an integral part of the rebellion - Jane, Miro, Ender
The conclusion of the story and the resolution for all the characters is satisfying to say the least. There were certain parts of the story where the details of physics and science can seem a bit heavy and difficult to comprehend for those without a certain degree of knowledge of at least interest in the realm of science. In the end, I was sad to bid the characters of the Ender's series farewell as they all journey on in their respective stories.
Show More
and his family and a new host of characters.The conclusion of the story and the resolution for all the characters is satisfying to say the least. There were certain parts of the story where the details of physics and science can seem a bit heavy and difficult to comprehend for those without a certain degree of knowledge of at least interest in the realm of science. In the end, I was sad to bid the characters of the Ender's series farewell as they all journey on in their respective stories.
Show Less
LibraryThing member brainchild138
This book has excellent prose; like the books before it, it does an excellent job of making you feel things. However, I feel like this books wasn't actually very well written. The plot lines just feel very cheap. There is almost no real character development that didn't feel like it was just
I still enjoyed reading this, but it felt like it depended entirely on the books before and just quickly resolves everything.
Show More
carried over from the books before. The two main relationships of the book take the same boring path: two people working together initially deny having any feelings for each other, and then come to realize that they do like each other. Almost all of the plot is a challenge presenting itself that the characters then overcome. Almost never did anything feel like it was a true danger to anyone. The biggest shock of the book turns out to be a lie one paragraph later. I still enjoyed reading this, but it felt like it depended entirely on the books before and just quickly resolves everything.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Uffer
I bought this book, and read it, and put it in the place where all books go until I want to read them again. Due to the nature of this place, I then lost track of it. And moved. And some of my books are still in my mother's house waiting for me to come back for them.
So there I was in a bookshop
This should be a reasonable indication of just how much of an impact the book has. There's a couple of interesting suggestions about the nature of reality that let it keep the second star, but really I wouldn't bother if I were you.
So there I was in a bookshop
Show More
looking for something to read, and bought this book again. I had forgotten I ever had it, let alone read it.This should be a reasonable indication of just how much of an impact the book has. There's a couple of interesting suggestions about the nature of reality that let it keep the second star, but really I wouldn't bother if I were you.
Show Less
LibraryThing member buffalogr
Final book of a series, made me think a lot about its theme.
LibraryThing member heidilove
from kn0w1. i read this while in the Academy Room. perhaps that colors my sense of it totally.
LibraryThing member dbsovereign
Card runs out of steam on this one. In fact Card has lost it as far as I am concerned. Stop writing sexually frustrated novels Card!
Subjects
Original publication date
1996-08
Physical description
349 p.; 8.2 inches
ISBN
0312853955 / 9780312853952