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467th out of 561 books
—
458 voters
Earthfall (Homecoming Saga #4)
The Oversoul of the colony planet Harmony selected the family of Wetchik to carry it back to long-lost Earth. Now grown to a tribe in the years of their journey to Harmony's hidden starport, they are ready at last to take a ship to the stars. But from the beginning there has been bitter dispute between Nafai and Elemak, Wetchick's youngest son and his oldest.
On board the s...more
On board the s...more
Paperback, 370 pages
Published
January 15th 1996
by Tor Books
(first published 1955)
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In "Earthfall," the rather biblical-feeling, constantly bickering, occasionally even murderous clan of Rasa and The Wetchick finally makes it to Earth, 40 million years in our future when all humans are long gone and two new sentient species are trying to fill their ecological niche.
A few things stuck out to me as I read this second-to-last book in the series:
1) Card's books will never be made into movies. They don't deal with the right subject matter. Even in a plot where a couple of dozen so...more
A few things stuck out to me as I read this second-to-last book in the series:
1) Card's books will never be made into movies. They don't deal with the right subject matter. Even in a plot where a couple of dozen so...more
Originally published on my blog here in May 1998.
This is the fourth and final volume of Card's Homecoming series. The story of the series is that of one of earth's colonies, which has a satellite put up by the original, pacifist, colonisers to monitor the community and ensure that no technology capable of mass destruction is developed. It has the ability to influence the minds of the people on the world below it to ensure this happens. After forty million years, the satellite is beginning to wea...more
This is the fourth and final volume of Card's Homecoming series. The story of the series is that of one of earth's colonies, which has a satellite put up by the original, pacifist, colonisers to monitor the community and ensure that no technology capable of mass destruction is developed. It has the ability to influence the minds of the people on the world below it to ensure this happens. After forty million years, the satellite is beginning to wea...more
I was a bit disappointed after finishing the 3rd book in this series, The Ships of Earth, as I felt I was really reading a story that was turning into just a complex family drama rather than a science fiction saga which is what it seemed to have been billed as. A handful of characters had been added to the story for reasons I couldn't really understand other than to just expand the family dynamic.
However, with this book my opinion of the story changed, and I ended up really enjoying the ride on...more
However, with this book my opinion of the story changed, and I ended up really enjoying the ride on...more
This volume remains enjoyable and the action picks up within the first couple of chapters. The Oversoul has commanded Nafai and those who follow him to set the cryogenic units in the starship to awaken them during the 100 year voyage to Earth so that the children who follow the Oversoul's will be adults by the time they reach their destination. Nafai, despite reservations about the morality of putting his family and children so far in advance of the rebellious group led by Elemak, chooses to ob...more
May 15, 2011
Darlene
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Sci-fi buffs
Recommended to Darlene by:
Tom Smith, Yvensong
This is interesting, but not my favorite. I expected, by it being part of Ender's quartet, to see more of Ender. I am sad that I haven't seen any of the characters set up in the first couple of books. Where'd they go? Even still I am anxious to start the next book. We'll see how long I can hold off. I do have a mountain of reads waiting for me.
Oh, for those who get this on Kindle, there are a lot of typos. I don't know if it is that way in the paper or hardbacks. VERY distracting!
***
When I had a...more
Oh, for those who get this on Kindle, there are a lot of typos. I don't know if it is that way in the paper or hardbacks. VERY distracting!
***
When I had a...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This book reminds me of the speaker for the dead/xenocide/children of the mind trilogy much more than the previous 3 books. I admit I thoroughly enjoyed not only the book, but seeing how Card made the multiple themes weave together.
Other reviewers have complained that Card "copies" the Book of Mormon. While I see the similarities, it is less in the story than in the underlying relationships with individuals. Card's best books are written in layers, and this is the book where the deeper layers re...more
Other reviewers have complained that Card "copies" the Book of Mormon. While I see the similarities, it is less in the story than in the underlying relationships with individuals. Card's best books are written in layers, and this is the book where the deeper layers re...more
I just. I love the moments in this book that pierce to my little moral heart. In one chapter Card had me crying, angry, hateful and then resolved me to forgiving, pity and a ironic chuckle. This is a great example of a story that moves you instead of manipulating you.
I love the way Card takes animals that society shuns and makes them into Fellow Men we grow to love.
Pg: 178
"Better to have the trust of the people than their respect. With trust, their respect could be earned later; without it, res...more
I love the way Card takes animals that society shuns and makes them into Fellow Men we grow to love.
Pg: 178
"Better to have the trust of the people than their respect. With trust, their respect could be earned later; without it, res...more
Spoilers ahead!
I'm crushed!! i've loved reading this series. I've grown really attached to the characters and couldn't wait to see how things would resolve for a lot of them. Especially the decades old resentment between the 2 brothers. but then just as everything is coming to a head and really getting intense. BAM!! nice tidy wrap up that barely takes a full page and were giving NO resolve or even a hint as to what happens with everyone. I know theres a 5th book and I know Shedya is the only re...more
I'm crushed!! i've loved reading this series. I've grown really attached to the characters and couldn't wait to see how things would resolve for a lot of them. Especially the decades old resentment between the 2 brothers. but then just as everything is coming to a head and really getting intense. BAM!! nice tidy wrap up that barely takes a full page and were giving NO resolve or even a hint as to what happens with everyone. I know theres a 5th book and I know Shedya is the only re...more
Ok this was better than book 3 in the series. Upbeat & kept my interest all the way through. I didn't think it was possible to like Elemak any less but he proves himself more evil than before. I started to lose a little respect for Nafai during this story, maybe because he refuses to stand up to Elemak no matter what he does. I struggled with that but alas, a new hero is arising: keep your eye on Oykib. Unfortunately, a new evil blossoms as well, Elemak's son: surprise, surprise. Good stuff!...more
Dec 15, 2010
Geoff
added it
This book was better than The Ships of Earth, but again I feel as if five books was a bit much for this story. It could easily have been split into two separate trilogies, but it wasn’t so we get the somewhat disjointed story through the first four novels and what appears to be a fifth book which may be completely unrelated.
Roughly half of this novel takes place on the spaceship Basillica, named after their abandoned town, and Nefai and Luet have proceeded to follow the Overlord’s plans and have...more
Roughly half of this novel takes place on the spaceship Basillica, named after their abandoned town, and Nefai and Luet have proceeded to follow the Overlord’s plans and have...more
Nov 18, 2008
Nola
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Card fans
Recommended to Nola by:
Card
Shelves:
fiction-science-fiction,
to-buy-list
For some reason, this is the only book in the Homecoming series I don't own, so I'm finally getting around to reading it. If you're LDS, you'll know the story - family on a ship headed to promised land, older bro gets mad and ties up younger bro, chaos of a "storm" until older bro relents. A little more science fiction than the story we know and love, but very enjoyable.
This is the first time we get to see the animals from the Keeper of the Earth's dreams, and I'm sorry, but they bug me. I know...more
This is the first time we get to see the animals from the Keeper of the Earth's dreams, and I'm sorry, but they bug me. I know...more
Sep 20, 2008
Parthena
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone who liked the rest of the "Homecoming" series novels
Although many reviews have said that this entire series is sort of a different way of exploring the Book of Mormon, I know very little about Mormon parables or beliefs so I had nothing to compare these books to in that regard.
My primary thoughts on this: I think Book 4, Earthfall, was the most interesting book of the whole series so far. I was disappointed that the primary antagonist was not punished in some way for being so murderous and sneaky, but then I guess there wouldn't have been a stor...more
My primary thoughts on this: I think Book 4, Earthfall, was the most interesting book of the whole series so far. I was disappointed that the primary antagonist was not punished in some way for being so murderous and sneaky, but then I guess there wouldn't have been a stor...more
Wonderful Wonderful Wonderful!
I absolutely adore this series. After I'd read it several times (and loved every second) I found out that there are strong storyline ties to the Book of Mormon. Even so, it's a great story, great characters, great plot... great everything! It really makes you think about what we value in this world. My favorite quote is when one of the characters is talking about killing another sentient species. The patriarch, Volemak, tells him he should not go hunting them. The...more
I absolutely adore this series. After I'd read it several times (and loved every second) I found out that there are strong storyline ties to the Book of Mormon. Even so, it's a great story, great characters, great plot... great everything! It really makes you think about what we value in this world. My favorite quote is when one of the characters is talking about killing another sentient species. The patriarch, Volemak, tells him he should not go hunting them. The...more
This book is split into two parts: the Journey to Earth and the first years on Earth.
Both parts have their merits and some sections that are suspenseful to read while others are droning along. What got on my nerves was a) endless discussions about the nature of the Keeper of the Earth and b) Elemak does horrible things, Elemak gets "punished", Elemak does horrible things again and again and again. (We need him to survive, I love him) If they didn't need his genes in the gene pool, they would hav...more
Both parts have their merits and some sections that are suspenseful to read while others are droning along. What got on my nerves was a) endless discussions about the nature of the Keeper of the Earth and b) Elemak does horrible things, Elemak gets "punished", Elemak does horrible things again and again and again. (We need him to survive, I love him) If they didn't need his genes in the gene pool, they would hav...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
There were things I really liked about this book, but I got extremely tired of having to read over and over Nafai's whining about how unworthy he was and how much he wanted his brother Elemak to love him back. Also, the fact that people were still saying Nafai was so young even when he obviously wasn't was asinine. I enjoyed the first three much more and hope that the last one isn't such a disappointment.
This book focused mainly on the introduction of two new species -- the diggers and the angels. Apparently they are 40,000,000 year evolutions of 'rats' and 'bats'. Interesting concept ... and I found myself enjoying this book for a number of reasons.
That said ... I also think that the series has basically run its course. It is hard to believe that the author can write a 5th book in this series.
That said ... I also think that the series has basically run its course. It is hard to believe that the author can write a 5th book in this series.
Only bad thing I can say is, I didn't like the very last page of this book. Besides that: the most eventful book of the series so far. The other books have been building up to this one and it did not disappoint. Still, this book is just a mere stepping stone to the 5th book which looks like it will hit the ground running. Can’t wait to see what happens.
I found this book was very unique and entertaining to read. While I am not a huge fan of Science Fiction I must admit this book kept me coming back for more. I highly recommend reading this book if you want a unique experience. I found it easy to read and you never know what will happen next in this book.
Mar 13, 2011
Peter
added it
great: about a group of 16 people wha have had many children and are now traviling back to the planet that there ancestors came from 40 million years ago, Earth. There are a great number of quarlles for the leadership. The entire groups is split up. Masterfuly done. Highly recomended.
I loved this series as a kid, though now that I know Orson Scott Card is a nasty LDS homophobe, and that this series is, essentially, a re-telling of the Book of Mormon, I'm much less interested/impressed.
The third book started off great, but by the time I was knee deep in the book it was getting repetitive, and not branching out to knew obstacles. I was a little disappointed after reading the other books.
Ah, Card, with your deft handling of human psychology and your imaginative alien societies with rich politics and strange social structures of their own, you continue to fascinate me.
This series is loosely based on the Book of Mormon. Interesting read, but more sexual in content than I expected. Not a book for children.
good until 4/5 through blatantly borrowing, qnd switching from character to escalating plot to bring a conclusion.
It seemed like Card was in a hurry. It's not that he didn't have a good plot and great characters. It's more like he just didn't bother to take the detail to portray both to its greatest potential. Therefore, it is the stories of the previous books in the series that carry this story through.
The 4th book leads us to Earth. We learn of the conflict between the angels and the diggers and how their lives are symbiotic.
The two tribes of Earth become firmly divided between Nafai and Elemak.
The two tribes of Earth become firmly divided between Nafai and Elemak.
I'm glad I read it, not sure I will read the next one. I was disappointed with the ending as I wanted to know specifically what happened to each character. Oh well.
It was alright, interesting to see how he develops the story line. Ending wasn't as good as 2nd and 3rd book. Hopefully he will pull it all together for the 5th book.
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Orson Scott Card is the author of the novels Ender's Game, Ender's Shadow, and Speaker for the Dead, which are widely read by adults and younger readers, and are increasingly used in schools.
Besides these and other science fiction novels, Card writes contemporary fantasy (Magic Street, Enchantment, Lost Boys), biblical novels (Stone Tables, Rachel and Leah), the American frontier fantasy series Th...more
More about Orson Scott Card...
Besides these and other science fiction novels, Card writes contemporary fantasy (Magic Street, Enchantment, Lost Boys), biblical novels (Stone Tables, Rachel and Leah), the American frontier fantasy series Th...more
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“Which of them, then, was more detestable? The one who was loathsome by nature, or the one who wanted to be loathsome but hadn't enough ambition to excel at it>”
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“Wishful thinking gives false gods to people who hunger for gods, but those who yearn for a world with no gods are no less likely to fall victim to their own wishful thinking.”
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May 04, 2012 08:49am