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307th out of 2,944 books
—
12,416 voters
The Worthing Saga (Worthing #1-3)
Gathering every story about Jason Worthing, this volume includes "The Worthing Chronicle," as well as all of the other stories set on Capitol and later on Jason's colonized planet.
It was a miracle of science that permitted human beings to live, if not forever, then for a long, long time. Some people, anyway. The rich, the powerful--they lived their lives at the rate of one...more
It was a miracle of science that permitted human beings to live, if not forever, then for a long, long time. Some people, anyway. The rich, the powerful--they lived their lives at the rate of one...more
Paperback, Omnibus, 463 pages
Published
December 15th 1992
by Tor Books
(first published 1978)
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I love so many things about this book, its hard to know where to start. The basic premise is a bit complicated, however while reading it, everything makes perfect sense. Instead of trying to type up a plot summary, I'll discuss some of the wonderful themes and devices used in the book.
Since The Worthing Saga is a compilation of a few different stories tied together, it actually describes two different dystopias and their eventual collapses. I find that many people tend to overlook the dystopic...more
Since The Worthing Saga is a compilation of a few different stories tied together, it actually describes two different dystopias and their eventual collapses. I find that many people tend to overlook the dystopic...more
I have to say I am really enjoying Orson Scott Card. A big fan of the Ender series, particularly the first book Ender's Game (masterpiece), I never read much more of his stuff. Recently been reading the Alvin Maker series and stumbled on this book. Just a wonderful writer.
That said, this book does not get 5 stars. This is one of Card's early novels. It started as a handful of short stories set in the world of Capitol. The stories had the same backdrop and explored similar issues, but they weren'...more
That said, this book does not get 5 stars. This is one of Card's early novels. It started as a handful of short stories set in the world of Capitol. The stories had the same backdrop and explored similar issues, but they weren'...more
Possibly one of the greatest books I have ever read. A collection of linked short stories, set in two different time zones and places, yet with a thread that connects them both.
What makes this book so special to me is that it attempts to answer the riddle of Joy and Pain, by exploring what life might be without pain, and whether it would even be worth living.
The feeling that without pain we have something precious taken away from us, a certain loss of our own claim to humanity, but really only b...more
What makes this book so special to me is that it attempts to answer the riddle of Joy and Pain, by exploring what life might be without pain, and whether it would even be worth living.
The feeling that without pain we have something precious taken away from us, a certain loss of our own claim to humanity, but really only b...more
This book needs it’s own blog post, or two. As a writer – just reading this book you learn so much abut the writing process and how to see other characters through one character’s eyes. You can also learn how to weave, I think it was 20,000 years of history into a story, and literally thousands of characters as well, and the story still makes perfect sense. Not only that, he also picked a current time, and wove the telling of the ancient story within the current storyline in an excellent manner....more
The Worthing Saga reaches further back than you might imagine, the blurb on the back suggests the scope of time, but does nothing to describe the moral scope of the novel. Reading reviews, after reading the book, I have to agree, that for long stretches you forget this is a sci-fi story, and focus on the oh-so-human element Card brings forward.
I've only begun reading Card this past year, and the strength of his stories amazes me. This story in particular, rings with truth. The story is rife wit...more
I've only begun reading Card this past year, and the strength of his stories amazes me. This story in particular, rings with truth. The story is rife wit...more
Quite good. At first I was confused because two of the later stories did not match the earlier narrative, but the author afterward explained that. I'm a sucker for author afterwards.
It should be known that I love a good world-build. I revel in details, schedules, genealogies, histories, maps, etc. This book had that (except the maps, but it was an audiobook). However things to the sleeping drugs that allow people to "skip across time" it also had a cohesive narrative flow through a handful of ch...more
It should be known that I love a good world-build. I revel in details, schedules, genealogies, histories, maps, etc. This book had that (except the maps, but it was an audiobook). However things to the sleeping drugs that allow people to "skip across time" it also had a cohesive narrative flow through a handful of ch...more
Dec 31, 2012
Brandon
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
completed-books-brandon
This is clearly one of Card's earlier novels based on the writing (and not just the history of it). It has been revised and unified into a complete story, but it still doesn't quite mesh into a whole. But despite those shortcomings, The Worthing Saga has some brilliant ideas about human nature and society and is quite deep. The ideas were so powerful and unique that my only wish is that they were written by Card today rather than when he first conceived of them.
As for the appended short stories,...more
As for the appended short stories,...more
Card goes back to some of his first science fiction writing and melds the early tales into a compelling saga. Jason Worthing, blue-eyed mind reader, is sent from Capitol on a colony ship. His ship is attacked and his colonists memories are erased. He has to raise them as children in adult bodies. He creates a 'utopian' society. This book collects stories of Jason's childhood and Jason's children both before they leave Capitol and after, as well as a time far, far into the future when Jason retur...more
The Worthing Saga is a comilation of short stories and so I feel like there are parts of this book that are 4-star worthy. There are three sections to this book. The Worthing Saga, which is about Jason Worthing's tale. And there are excerpts from Card's original book, Capitol. Lastly there are some shorts dealing with the Forest of Waters characters.
The Worthing Saga is typical Card. What I enjoy best about Card is his questioning (and supposition) of what makes humans human. In this story, we g...more
The Worthing Saga is typical Card. What I enjoy best about Card is his questioning (and supposition) of what makes humans human. In this story, we g...more
This was an interesting book about a group of people who kind of like in The Giver, don't quite know what pain is. Two people then come down to their village and are able to telepathically communicate with one of it's members. The more I think of it, it is kind of a lot like The Giver in a sense but completely of it's own making. I really enjoyed it and there's a few more short after the main one, but I lost interest half way through. One of my favorite things in this book is how Jason is able t...more
This is a book about Jason Worthing, the world he came from, and his descendants, told in three parts (a compilation of previously published work by Card and a few previously unpublished stories). The first part, The Worthing Chronicle, is a novel by itself - and I found it interesting but a little hard to trudge through (it took me a week to read 280 pages). I really enjoyed the second part, Tales From the Capitol, which explores the backgrounds of some characters met in The Worthing Chronicle...more
The main story in the book, that of Jason Worthing, is five-star good. It shares many elements with Ender's Game--an extraordinarily gifted individual is forced into making crucial, species-altering decisions, and lives out his life across the millennia, popping in and out of normal time.
I'm a big fan of Card's Ender series, so I was intrigued to see his earlier work. This has all the same hallmarks: thoughtful, well-crafted science fiction with a heavy dose of ethical quandary. Card constantly...more
I'm a big fan of Card's Ender series, so I was intrigued to see his earlier work. This has all the same hallmarks: thoughtful, well-crafted science fiction with a heavy dose of ethical quandary. Card constantly...more
The first half or so of this book is a novella about the life of Jason Worthing, a telepath born thousands of years before. Jason's world revolves around Somec, a drug that basically puts people into suspended animation and is distributed out based on merit, not money, to preserve the "most valuable" individuals for future generations. The greater the value of the person, the greater the ratio of time asleep to time awake, with the Empress at the highest Somec levels: awake one day for every fiv...more
One of my favorite things about Orson Scott Card's books is that they make me think. This book was no different. I didn't enjoy it as much as Ender's Game, but it was still thought provoking and I wanted to see where the story would take me.
I found myself wondering if this story tied in with others I have read of his. I read Pathfinder a while back and it seems like there is a tie in here, but I am unsure.
I actually listened to this one as an audiobook (I tend to like Card's books on audio) an...more
I found myself wondering if this story tied in with others I have read of his. I read Pathfinder a while back and it seems like there is a tie in here, but I am unsure.
I actually listened to this one as an audiobook (I tend to like Card's books on audio) an...more
A book about near immortality and its consequences. Ideas somewhat reminiscent of Asimov's Naked Sun, but explored in a way that only Card could pull off. Excellent!
I know this will surprise you, but I thought The Worthing Saga was even better than Ender's Game (and I loved Ender's Game)! I don't have time for a real review, but here are my quickest, most concise thoughts on this collection of stories:
1. What does it mean to be a God? To me, this was the central theme of the main story in the book.
2. Though there are certainly sci-fi elements to the book, it did not feel very sci-fi to me (I loved it anyway).
3. How I understand and interpret mythology, pain...more
1. What does it mean to be a God? To me, this was the central theme of the main story in the book.
2. Though there are certainly sci-fi elements to the book, it did not feel very sci-fi to me (I loved it anyway).
3. How I understand and interpret mythology, pain...more
Card does a fairly good job of weaving an interesting story with musings on big philosophical/theological topics. The issues in this book have to do with the need for adversity for individuals and society to progress and, relatedly, how vastly extending individuals' natural life-spans (essentially creating a type of immortality) creates stagnation and decay in society. Of course, these are essentially the very issues the author(s) of Genesis addressed in the biblical Fall. Card's tale shows the...more
I found this book fairly disappointing. Although the writing is better than the earlier version, Hot Sleep, "The Worthing Chronicle" is more closely focused on the less interesting portion of that story: Jason Worthing.
Here's the thing. There are plenty of stories about survivors of an old, fallen, civilization, making their way to a new land and building a new civilization, from the Aeneid to Card's science-fictionalized telling of the Book of Mormon, the "Homecoming" series. There's just nothi...more
Here's the thing. There are plenty of stories about survivors of an old, fallen, civilization, making their way to a new land and building a new civilization, from the Aeneid to Card's science-fictionalized telling of the Book of Mormon, the "Homecoming" series. There's just nothi...more
This book seemed to start off *super* slow. I didn't really get into the book until very far in when you learn more about Jason Worthing and then things got much more interesting. The beginning of the book was hard to understand as the people just start experiencing pain all of a sudden. I had a hard time following some of that until I got to the end of the book which explained a lot. The real meat though as I said is in the middle where you read about Jason Worthing and his colonization effort....more
I had to give up on this one about half way though the first book. It's well written. I don't suppose an author as popular as Card writes bad prose even when the book doesn't pan out. But I think, maybe, he was trying to work something religious out in this book. The problem of pain, perhaps. It's got a lot of pain in it at any rate. Because of that the plot takes a real pounding and I eventually decided I just didn't care enough about the hook from the beginning of the book to continue to read...more
Feb 21, 2011
Deana
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
people who like books that make you think.
I finally got around to reading this book, which I purchased many years ago after reading Ender's Game. And I'm glad I did. If I could give it 4.5 stars, I would!
The chapters in this book began as short stories all about the same universe, where the invention of Somec allowed people a strange type of immortality -- Somec is a drug that would put people, those who "deserved" it for being rich or famous, into a sleep state for many years in which they would not age a day. The more famous you are,...more
The chapters in this book began as short stories all about the same universe, where the invention of Somec allowed people a strange type of immortality -- Somec is a drug that would put people, those who "deserved" it for being rich or famous, into a sleep state for many years in which they would not age a day. The more famous you are,...more
Apr 04, 2013
Eric
rated it
1 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Personally, I wouldn't recommend this to anyone, but the book's rating tells a different story
Recommended to Eric by:
Nick Bozenko
I am filled with reader's rage. No preamble for this review:
Problem 1: Just because Somec, a drug/technology where people could sleep for years without aging, exists, doesn't mean everyone would agree to take it -- which is exactly what happens on Capitol. Everyone in society is okay with skipping through years and decades of life and watching their peers and families grow old while they age unnaturally simply because either a) it is good for society or b) it is an honor to be given Somec. And t...more
Problem 1: Just because Somec, a drug/technology where people could sleep for years without aging, exists, doesn't mean everyone would agree to take it -- which is exactly what happens on Capitol. Everyone in society is okay with skipping through years and decades of life and watching their peers and families grow old while they age unnaturally simply because either a) it is good for society or b) it is an honor to be given Somec. And t...more
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Resources for Adults Sci-Fi Selection
After my first sci-fi pick turned out to be less-than-ideal, I chose a more classically sci-fi option: The Worthing Saga, by Orson Scott Card.
I’ve read (and enjoyed) several other works by Card, so this was a relatively safe selection. Because I listened to the audio book and did not examine the chapter structure of the physical book, I did not realize until after I’d finished that The Worthing Saga is actually an omnibus collection of a novel, The Worthing...more
After my first sci-fi pick turned out to be less-than-ideal, I chose a more classically sci-fi option: The Worthing Saga, by Orson Scott Card.
I’ve read (and enjoyed) several other works by Card, so this was a relatively safe selection. Because I listened to the audio book and did not examine the chapter structure of the physical book, I did not realize until after I’d finished that The Worthing Saga is actually an omnibus collection of a novel, The Worthing...more
The book is actually 3 parts:
- The Worthing Chronicle: Originally named Hot Sleep, his first novel. This is about half the book, and contains the best elements I describe below.
- Tales from Capital: A handful of short stories set in the same universe. They aren't as deep as the novel, but they fill out the back story, and give a better feel for the setting (or, at least one aspect of the setting). Still very enjoyable.
- Tales from the Forest of Waters: Two of Card's earliest short stories, th...more
- The Worthing Chronicle: Originally named Hot Sleep, his first novel. This is about half the book, and contains the best elements I describe below.
- Tales from Capital: A handful of short stories set in the same universe. They aren't as deep as the novel, but they fill out the back story, and give a better feel for the setting (or, at least one aspect of the setting). Still very enjoyable.
- Tales from the Forest of Waters: Two of Card's earliest short stories, th...more
Note: My audiobook review is at the end of this review.
Orson Scott Card never ceases to amaze me in the questions he tackles in his writing.
In The Worthing Chronicle, Jason Worthing comes to a small village where Lared resides and asks him to write his story. As Lared writes we learn of two worlds - Capitol and Worthing. It is through Jason's story that Card explores the reasons why a god would leave their children unprotected when they have the power to provide lives full of happiness and devo...more
Orson Scott Card never ceases to amaze me in the questions he tackles in his writing.
In The Worthing Chronicle, Jason Worthing comes to a small village where Lared resides and asks him to write his story. As Lared writes we learn of two worlds - Capitol and Worthing. It is through Jason's story that Card explores the reasons why a god would leave their children unprotected when they have the power to provide lives full of happiness and devo...more
Nov 28, 2008
H.J. Swinford
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommended to H.J. by:
close friend and co-worker
Shelves:
read-in-2008
I really found this book interesting. I've decided that I liked it, found it thought provoking certainly, but I wouldn't say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. Some parts were difficult to read simply because the actions of the characters were so terrible that it hurt my heart. I loved the character Justice the most probably. She and Sala were wonderful. I liked Jason as well, but I saw some things in his character and the symbol of it that I thought could be improved. The book itself was well writte...more
This book has so many intricacies in it, so many complexities. I read this book wondering what one thing had to do with another and when I got to the end, it all tied up, it all made complete sense and fit so well together and left me with a very satisfied and amazed feeling. There were so many issues in this book and it left my mind swirling in thoughts.
I loved the distinct, different societies in this book. From the society that looks like it came straight from "Little House on the Prairie" to...more
I loved the distinct, different societies in this book. From the society that looks like it came straight from "Little House on the Prairie" to...more
I just finished re-reading this book, and I enjoyed it much more this time around. I began thinking about this book because of the opening chapter, "The Day of Pain". People often say "How can a loving God allow good people to suffer?" Or the more cynical version when people say, "I do not believe God exists, because if he did, there would not be so much suffering in this world."
Card does an excellent job of describing what a world might look like if people were not allowed to suffer. No pain, n...more
Card does an excellent job of describing what a world might look like if people were not allowed to suffer. No pain, n...more
The first half of the book is primarily the story of Jason Worthing and his descendants - and how they use (and do not use) their psychic powers. The main story is told in a series of "flashbacks" - actually dreams sent to Lared, a young man living on a pioneer colony planet many, many years after Jason and Abner Doon overthrew the Empire and started a new civilization. The remainder of the book; "Tales of Capitol" and "Tales of the Forest of Waters" cover some of the same events from a differen...more
Would you be willing to part with the memory of your most painful experience? Why not? And why doesn't a supposedly benevolent God prevent tragedies and protect us from pain? With this thought-provoking novel, Card explores how our capacity for joy and goodness only exists when we also confront sorrow and evil. The narrative thread holding together these several tales is a young man named Lared who is given visions spanning the long sweep of civilization. He comes to understand that the "gods" w...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What's The Name o...: sci fi called the w---saga [s] | 8 | 70 | Apr 01, 2013 09:29am | |
| Torn about reading | 5 | 11 | Mar 26, 2013 07:29am | |
| On the cliffs | 2 | 22 | May 12, 2011 07:42am |
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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Jun 28, 2008 08:52am