Mark

Awesome Addition to the Enderverse!

Revisado: 03-16-10

Another of Orson Scott Card's Enderverse books, Shadow of the Hegemon chronicles the strategic nation warring and politicking after the Formic War (Formics are an insectoid alien species).

The book picks up after the Battle School children return to Earth, having successfully and ruthlessly defended our planet from the invasion of the Formics. Now that Earth's common enemy has been exterminated (documented in Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow), Earth's nations begin to carve up the world in a great battle for complete human hegemony.

About three quarters of the way through the book I said to myself, "This book reads like one long, involved game of Risk." I chuckled aloud when Card said in the audiobook's postlude that his love for Risk games influenced his interest in international strategic politics as a child - and eventually his decision to write this book.

The mechanics of the audiobook were very good, if you can forgive the transition music (a mix between Thomas the Tank Engine and an 80's-era MIDI video game soundtrack). There were several different readers, giving distinction to the character's voices and personalities. I didn't like Petra's actor so much, but I'm nitpicking at this point. In the postlude, Card stated that he writes his books to be read aloud - in fact, he wished all his readers could hear his books before or in place of reading them.

I listened to it at normal speed, and never had the desire to speed it up. In fact, I found myself sitting in the car listening to it after I had arrived home on multiple occasions. I've decided I'll eventually listen to/read all of the Enderverse books and short stories.

The Enderverse just... entertains, and Shadow of the Hegemon is no exception.

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An Honest Examination, Some Beautiful Conclusions

Revisado: 03-16-10

I would have given the book 4.5 stars, because I do think it has its flaws, but I rounded up to 5 because it honestly was worth every penny I spent to listen to it.

As a person searching for God without sacrificing reason, my belief in the power of observation and the scientific method, or my honesty, I found Hagerty's book incredibly insightful. She surveys spiritual experience across many religions and through many people, emerging with some common denominators as to what mysticism may all be about.

The book has its slow chapters, and sometimes I got impatient with what I saw as repetitious points, but this is really nitpicking.

Overall, it was a fantastic book that changed my perception of spiritual experience - and God.

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