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Homecoming Saga #1
The Memory of Earth
High above the planet Harmony. the Oversoul watches Its task. programmed so many millennia ago. is to guard the human settlement on this planet-. -to protect this fragile remnant of Earth from all threats. To protect them. most of all. from themselves. The Oversoul has done its job well. There is no war on Harmony. There are no weapons of mass destruction. There is no technology that could lead to weapons of war. By control of the data banks. and subtle interference in the very thoughts of the people. the artificial intelligence has fulfilled its mission. But now there is a problem. In orbit. the Oversoul realizes that it has lost access to some of its memory banks. and some of its power systems are failing. And on the planet. men are beginning to think about power. wealth. and conquest.
332 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
238 people are currently reading
5618 people want to read
About the author
Orson Scott Card
883 books20.8k followersOrson Scott Card is an American writer known best for his science fiction works. He is (as of 2023) the only person to have won a Hugo Award and a Nebula Award in consecutive years, winning both awards for his novel Ender's Game (1985) and its sequel Speaker for the Dead (1986). A feature film adaptation of Ender's Game, which Card co-produced, was released in 2013. Card also wrote the Locus Fantasy Award-winning series The Tales of Alvin Maker (1987–2003).
Card's fiction often features characters with exceptional gifts who make difficult choices with high stakes. Card has also written political, religious, and social commentary in his columns and other writing; his opposition to homosexuality has provoked public criticism.
Card, who is a great-great-grandson of Brigham Young, was born in Richland, Washington, and grew up in Utah and California. While he was a student at Brigham Young University (BYU), his plays were performed on stage. He served in Brazil as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and headed a community theater for two summers. Card had 27 short stories published between 1978 and 1979, and he won the John W. Campbell Award for best new writer in 1978. He earned a master's degree in English from the University of Utah in 1981 and wrote novels in science fiction, fantasy, non-fiction, and historical fiction genres starting in 1979. Card continued to write prolifically, and he has published over 50 novels and 45 short stories.
Card teaches English at Southern Virginia University; he has written two books on creative writing and serves as a judge in the Writers of the Future contest. He has taught many successful writers at his "literary boot camps". He remains a practicing member of the LDS Church and Mormon fiction writers Stephenie Meyer, Brandon Sanderson, and Dave Wolverton have cited his works as a major influence.
Card's fiction often features characters with exceptional gifts who make difficult choices with high stakes. Card has also written political, religious, and social commentary in his columns and other writing; his opposition to homosexuality has provoked public criticism.
Card, who is a great-great-grandson of Brigham Young, was born in Richland, Washington, and grew up in Utah and California. While he was a student at Brigham Young University (BYU), his plays were performed on stage. He served in Brazil as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and headed a community theater for two summers. Card had 27 short stories published between 1978 and 1979, and he won the John W. Campbell Award for best new writer in 1978. He earned a master's degree in English from the University of Utah in 1981 and wrote novels in science fiction, fantasy, non-fiction, and historical fiction genres starting in 1979. Card continued to write prolifically, and he has published over 50 novels and 45 short stories.
Card teaches English at Southern Virginia University; he has written two books on creative writing and serves as a judge in the Writers of the Future contest. He has taught many successful writers at his "literary boot camps". He remains a practicing member of the LDS Church and Mormon fiction writers Stephenie Meyer, Brandon Sanderson, and Dave Wolverton have cited his works as a major influence.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 669 reviews
July 31, 2015
Here's the biggest problem with this book: Card's a terrible world-builder.
(Okay, the biggest problem might've been that whoever edited this book didn't feel comfortable telling Orson Scott Card that big chunks needed to be rewritten or scrapped, but I can't be too hard on our hypothetical editor: this book came out in 92, right when Card was big.)
Sure, he's fine when telling us about his world - this is a book about a matriarchy, a city ruled by women, a city where women hold power, and no man can spend even one night inside the city's walls if he doesn't spend that night in a woman's house.
Okay. Fair enough; a little ridiculous, but okay, I'll play Fantasy Matriarchy with you, Card. How do we play?
Oh, well, it's a matriarchy, but every guard mentioned in the narrative is a man.
Oh! Unmarried men cannot spend the night in the city unless they spend it in a woman's house...unless they're the men selling goods and services in the market, because those markets are open 24-7. Is there a curfew? Is there any way to enforce this particular rule, or are we on the honor system?
Spoiler: throughout the book, hahaha nope, we are on the honor system.
Oh! Uh, if we're talking construction, all of the construction workers are burly men, by the way.
Oh! If we're talking politics: the protagonist's mom has some sway, politically speaking, but every other named character with any influence in the politics of the city is a man. So in this matriarchy, Card gives us one (1) woman with a speaking role who's shown to have political power, and three (3) men with political ambitions and power.
Oh! Um, also every merchant selling goods or handling money is shown to be a man, and all the bankers and stewards mentioned in the book are men. (There's a couple of merchants explicitly identified as female who sell...poetry and history and pornography, but I trust I don't need to explain why this is Not the Matriarchy I'm looking for.)
How is this a matriarchy?
Good question! Men have 75% of the political power, and men are the guards and bankers and construction workers and explorers and tradesmen, and they can enter and leave the city with impunity, and women are singers and dancers and teachers and raise each other's kids, and a couple of them are scientists, and a couple of them are politicians, but mostly: they are actresses and teachers and homemakers.
This is not a Matriarchy, you're scowling. Where are the men crushed under the stiletto of oppression?
I knooooow, I tell you. Look, this is what Card thinks is a matriarchy: exactly the same as the US, circa mid 1980s, but only women are allowed to own residential property inside the city proper, there's a special religious lake that men aren't allowed to visit, and people sign marriage contracts with each other that only last one year.
(ONLY HETERO MARRIAGE. So basically: no-fault divorce is legal, but marriage is still only one man, one women, and gays are still icky, and there is DEFINITELY only two natural genders - which, by the way, is presumably why every man in the book spends 80% of his time panicking about whether he is Manning the Right Way, haha, lil sarcasm for you there - and no one is ever transgender.)
Oh oh! There are "wilders" - naked desert women who wander into Matriarchy City, where the women of Matriarchy City consider them holy and sacred, but ...it is so common for men to rape them in the street that there's slang phrases that have developed to describe the act.
Your Evil Oppressive Matriarchy, folks! Tremble at all of this sexy Male Oppression, y'know?
So there's that trainwreck.
Look, just...it needs an EDITOR so badly. Like all of Card's work, our protagonist is a boy whose one weakness is that he is Too Smart, right? So when we're in his head, it is generally acknowledged that his observations and perceptions are correct. There's a line in this book where the protagonist seriously considers who is "better," the "brutal but rational men, or the irrational but gentle women," when he's comparing their styles of worship.
SPOILERS: in this book, women worship by going down to their sacred lake, jumping in the water, and tripping balls. Their magic computer gives them hallucinations, but only in that lake.
In this book, men worship by going into a fountain and tearing themselves up with barbed rings. Everyone bleeds into the same water.
It is apparently considered pious to submerge your freshly-wounded body in this mix of god-knows-how-many-men's-blood and water*. Why? WHO THE FUCK KNOWS? The only rational explanation is "because otherwise how will you be SURE that everyone has the same amount of hep C and HIV?" but I don't...think that's what Card was going for.
But remember! Men: brutal, rational, (ALL INFECTED WITH EVERY SINGLE DISEASE). Women: gentle, irrational, (AND YET NOT THE ONES WHO ARE GOING TO WIPE OUT THE ENTIRE POPULATION WITH A HARDY STRAIN OF SYPHILIS.)
I could continue picking out the stupid bits - this is a city that doesn't have wagons because wheels are forbidden, and the city is not DIRECTLY on the coast, but somehow shark fights that take place in pools inside the side are big enough that they're a commonly accepted cultural practice.
(No, really. These people carry their goods in caravans on camelback. Explain in detail how you would transport a shark from the ocean to the shark pool without a wagon or wheeled conveyance of some fucking kind.)
The whole book is like this! Maddening, weird, nonsensical bits that don't fit with anything else that Card has told us about this world that he's building. It's a promising first draft from an aspiring writer who's not bad but needs a lot of technical guidance? But not really worth money, honestly.
*this practice is first seen through the eyes of the (probably?) fourteen-year-old protagonist, while he's naked, waist deep in a "swirling, thick mix" of other men's blood and water". there might be a way to interpret this that does not make you want to call Chris Hansen. good luck; i haven't found it.
(Okay, the biggest problem might've been that whoever edited this book didn't feel comfortable telling Orson Scott Card that big chunks needed to be rewritten or scrapped, but I can't be too hard on our hypothetical editor: this book came out in 92, right when Card was big.)
Sure, he's fine when telling us about his world - this is a book about a matriarchy, a city ruled by women, a city where women hold power, and no man can spend even one night inside the city's walls if he doesn't spend that night in a woman's house.
Okay. Fair enough; a little ridiculous, but okay, I'll play Fantasy Matriarchy with you, Card. How do we play?
Oh, well, it's a matriarchy, but every guard mentioned in the narrative is a man.
Oh! Unmarried men cannot spend the night in the city unless they spend it in a woman's house...unless they're the men selling goods and services in the market, because those markets are open 24-7. Is there a curfew? Is there any way to enforce this particular rule, or are we on the honor system?
Spoiler: throughout the book, hahaha nope, we are on the honor system.
Oh! Uh, if we're talking construction, all of the construction workers are burly men, by the way.
Oh! If we're talking politics: the protagonist's mom has some sway, politically speaking, but every other named character with any influence in the politics of the city is a man. So in this matriarchy, Card gives us one (1) woman with a speaking role who's shown to have political power, and three (3) men with political ambitions and power.
Oh! Um, also every merchant selling goods or handling money is shown to be a man, and all the bankers and stewards mentioned in the book are men. (There's a couple of merchants explicitly identified as female who sell...poetry and history and pornography, but I trust I don't need to explain why this is Not the Matriarchy I'm looking for.)
How is this a matriarchy?
Good question! Men have 75% of the political power, and men are the guards and bankers and construction workers and explorers and tradesmen, and they can enter and leave the city with impunity, and women are singers and dancers and teachers and raise each other's kids, and a couple of them are scientists, and a couple of them are politicians, but mostly: they are actresses and teachers and homemakers.
This is not a Matriarchy, you're scowling. Where are the men crushed under the stiletto of oppression?
I knooooow, I tell you. Look, this is what Card thinks is a matriarchy: exactly the same as the US, circa mid 1980s, but only women are allowed to own residential property inside the city proper, there's a special religious lake that men aren't allowed to visit, and people sign marriage contracts with each other that only last one year.
(ONLY HETERO MARRIAGE. So basically: no-fault divorce is legal, but marriage is still only one man, one women, and gays are still icky, and there is DEFINITELY only two natural genders - which, by the way, is presumably why every man in the book spends 80% of his time panicking about whether he is Manning the Right Way, haha, lil sarcasm for you there - and no one is ever transgender.)
Oh oh! There are "wilders" - naked desert women who wander into Matriarchy City, where the women of Matriarchy City consider them holy and sacred, but ...it is so common for men to rape them in the street that there's slang phrases that have developed to describe the act.
Your Evil Oppressive Matriarchy, folks! Tremble at all of this sexy Male Oppression, y'know?
So there's that trainwreck.
Look, just...it needs an EDITOR so badly. Like all of Card's work, our protagonist is a boy whose one weakness is that he is Too Smart, right? So when we're in his head, it is generally acknowledged that his observations and perceptions are correct. There's a line in this book where the protagonist seriously considers who is "better," the "brutal but rational men, or the irrational but gentle women," when he's comparing their styles of worship.
SPOILERS: in this book, women worship by going down to their sacred lake, jumping in the water, and tripping balls. Their magic computer gives them hallucinations, but only in that lake.
In this book, men worship by going into a fountain and tearing themselves up with barbed rings. Everyone bleeds into the same water.
It is apparently considered pious to submerge your freshly-wounded body in this mix of god-knows-how-many-men's-blood and water*. Why? WHO THE FUCK KNOWS? The only rational explanation is "because otherwise how will you be SURE that everyone has the same amount of hep C and HIV?" but I don't...think that's what Card was going for.
But remember! Men: brutal, rational, (ALL INFECTED WITH EVERY SINGLE DISEASE). Women: gentle, irrational, (AND YET NOT THE ONES WHO ARE GOING TO WIPE OUT THE ENTIRE POPULATION WITH A HARDY STRAIN OF SYPHILIS.)
I could continue picking out the stupid bits - this is a city that doesn't have wagons because wheels are forbidden, and the city is not DIRECTLY on the coast, but somehow shark fights that take place in pools inside the side are big enough that they're a commonly accepted cultural practice.
(No, really. These people carry their goods in caravans on camelback. Explain in detail how you would transport a shark from the ocean to the shark pool without a wagon or wheeled conveyance of some fucking kind.)
The whole book is like this! Maddening, weird, nonsensical bits that don't fit with anything else that Card has told us about this world that he's building. It's a promising first draft from an aspiring writer who's not bad but needs a lot of technical guidance? But not really worth money, honestly.
*this practice is first seen through the eyes of the (probably?) fourteen-year-old protagonist, while he's naked, waist deep in a "swirling, thick mix" of other men's blood and water". there might be a way to interpret this that does not make you want to call Chris Hansen. good luck; i haven't found it.
September 12, 2014
I haven't set aside a shelf titled "science-fantasy" but now and then there are books that should be called that. This is a slightly odd book in a couple of ways. It's firmly a fantasy but set in a science fiction universe with a science fiction set-up.
I found the book's opening interesting and was drawn into the story. Sadly it tends to lag badly in several places gets bogged down often. Aside from that the story itself is an interesting one and I think many will like it.
There is something I feel bound to mention here. If you know much about Mormon Theology I think a lot of it will jump out at you here. It's often about as subtle as a hammer to the side of the head. Still if you're not familiar with it I doubt you'll even notice it's there and you'll read this as just a "science fantasy" with some odd plot points.
In the end I give this a lukewarm 3 stars. I found much of it interesting, a lot of it slow and almost boring and some of it annoying. For example, for some reason (and this could harken back to what I mentioned earlier) Mr. Card a la Robert Jordan has built a pretty much pointless and (as noted) annoying battle of the sexes motif into the story. I found it a distraction from the book, but there you are.
So decide for yourself. I'm sure some will like this far more than I do and others will like this far less. To each.
-------------------------------------
I added a "Science-Fantasy" shelf.
I found the book's opening interesting and was drawn into the story. Sadly it tends to lag badly in several places gets bogged down often. Aside from that the story itself is an interesting one and I think many will like it.
There is something I feel bound to mention here. If you know much about Mormon Theology I think a lot of it will jump out at you here. It's often about as subtle as a hammer to the side of the head. Still if you're not familiar with it I doubt you'll even notice it's there and you'll read this as just a "science fantasy" with some odd plot points.
In the end I give this a lukewarm 3 stars. I found much of it interesting, a lot of it slow and almost boring and some of it annoying. For example, for some reason (and this could harken back to what I mentioned earlier) Mr. Card a la Robert Jordan has built a pretty much pointless and (as noted) annoying battle of the sexes motif into the story. I found it a distraction from the book, but there you are.
So decide for yourself. I'm sure some will like this far more than I do and others will like this far less. To each.
-------------------------------------
I added a "Science-Fantasy" shelf.
February 16, 2012
I'm not an Orson Scott Card hater and though I despise many of his politcal views I am a fan of a lot of his work, especially the Ender Game series which think is terrific. This one, I just didn't like. It wasn't horrible, but it is certainly nowhere near as good as the Ender series. Plus, all of the things that I don't like about Card (e.g., politics and moralizing) seemed to be front and center in this story. It was just too much and I didn't enjoy reading it.
April 24, 2023
I liked the character construction - real, with strengths and flaws. Even the negative ones are likeable (well, except Meb, i couldn't identify with him whatsoever).
Also, the inner thoughts inserted between the dialogue, to see what the character really thinks but doesn't say - I totally dig that :)
Also, the inner thoughts inserted between the dialogue, to see what the character really thinks but doesn't say - I totally dig that :)
January 24, 2026
Orson Scott Card really has everything in this book. Great characters, great story, great themes, and a great setting.
I picked up this book because of it's inspirations from the Book of Mormon, which I just find fascinating. I can definitely see some of them here, although I think they will play out even further in the next books of the series.
This book has some really interesting themes about faith, religion, about action vs inaction, and about trust. There are also themes about gender and politics as well. And yet, even though I don't agree with many of the themes, they are all asked in really interesting ways and perfectly fit into the story that Card is telling. It doesn't feel preachy at all.
The character names are what really makes this feel like Science Fiction. Even with the pronunciation guides I'm sure I'll pronounce most of these names incorrectly.
I really liked the AI concept here, and thought it was used just the right amount for the story. Making the AI an analogue for God was just fascinating here. Especially with how it affects the planet's religion.
Overall, I really loved this book. It's not standard issue Science Fiction, but it blends a lot of tropes and ideas of Fantasy and Science Fiction while adding it's own unique flavor. I'm very excited to see where Card takes the story in book 2. For now, I'll give this one a 9 out of 10! Well done Card!
I picked up this book because of it's inspirations from the Book of Mormon, which I just find fascinating. I can definitely see some of them here, although I think they will play out even further in the next books of the series.
This book has some really interesting themes about faith, religion, about action vs inaction, and about trust. There are also themes about gender and politics as well. And yet, even though I don't agree with many of the themes, they are all asked in really interesting ways and perfectly fit into the story that Card is telling. It doesn't feel preachy at all.
The character names are what really makes this feel like Science Fiction. Even with the pronunciation guides I'm sure I'll pronounce most of these names incorrectly.
I really liked the AI concept here, and thought it was used just the right amount for the story. Making the AI an analogue for God was just fascinating here. Especially with how it affects the planet's religion.
Overall, I really loved this book. It's not standard issue Science Fiction, but it blends a lot of tropes and ideas of Fantasy and Science Fiction while adding it's own unique flavor. I'm very excited to see where Card takes the story in book 2. For now, I'll give this one a 9 out of 10! Well done Card!
July 15, 2014
The first I realized right off the bat was that this book was a retelling of the "Book of Mormon." Not the entertaining (and not-so-accurate) musical, but the actual book. Instead of Nephi, the main character is called Nafai. His brothers Laman, Lemuel, and Sam become Elemak, Mebbekew, and Issib. And instead of God leading the way, it's the Oversoul, a supercomputer that watches over humanity on the planet Harmony over the past forty million years.
At first I thought this was pretty cool and a neat idea, but then as the story progressed, I came to realize that I knew exactly how the book was going to progress. This started to become annoying and distracting. You ever try to read a book when your friend told you how it's going to end?
Also, I think the actual book I read was a first edition. It had many errors such as bad punctuation, unclosed quotes, and misspelled/wrong words. (And it was published by Tor?) I'll just assume these got fixed in later editions. All this came together for me almost as if this were an early attempt at writing from my favorite author, and not a particularly good one--heavily relying on a religious text to guide the plot.
But then I noticed something else. In a way, it was commentary on what could possibly have gone through the heads of Nephi and his brothers as they did what they did in the "Book of Mormon." And when Card's book ended, it did feel like it was somewhat more than an imitation of scripture. I had enjoyed some parts of it even though I knew what was coming. After all, Orson Scott Card always finds a way to bring everything together with a satisfying conclusion.
Ultimately, I recommend reading this book, especially if you're an Orson Scott Card fan. This book tells the story about Nafai and his brothers. After forty million years of decay, the Oversoul computer realizes it's dying and losing influence on men. He/she/it calculates that the humans will destroy themselves. It chooses Nafai's family for reasons that become more apparent in the later books. Nafai's family must flee their extravagant lifestyle and prepare for whatever the Oversoul has in mind.
At first I thought this was pretty cool and a neat idea, but then as the story progressed, I came to realize that I knew exactly how the book was going to progress. This started to become annoying and distracting. You ever try to read a book when your friend told you how it's going to end?
Also, I think the actual book I read was a first edition. It had many errors such as bad punctuation, unclosed quotes, and misspelled/wrong words. (And it was published by Tor?) I'll just assume these got fixed in later editions. All this came together for me almost as if this were an early attempt at writing from my favorite author, and not a particularly good one--heavily relying on a religious text to guide the plot.
But then I noticed something else. In a way, it was commentary on what could possibly have gone through the heads of Nephi and his brothers as they did what they did in the "Book of Mormon." And when Card's book ended, it did feel like it was somewhat more than an imitation of scripture. I had enjoyed some parts of it even though I knew what was coming. After all, Orson Scott Card always finds a way to bring everything together with a satisfying conclusion.
Ultimately, I recommend reading this book, especially if you're an Orson Scott Card fan. This book tells the story about Nafai and his brothers. After forty million years of decay, the Oversoul computer realizes it's dying and losing influence on men. He/she/it calculates that the humans will destroy themselves. It chooses Nafai's family for reasons that become more apparent in the later books. Nafai's family must flee their extravagant lifestyle and prepare for whatever the Oversoul has in mind.
December 13, 2007
I liked this whole sci-fi series. I've heard that it has a lot of Mormon themes in it (the author is Mormon or lapsed Mormon or something like that) but to be honest, I didn't notice it at the time I was reading it and it didn't interfere with my enjoyment. Dramatic stories, fun characters, big mysterious computers...
March 11, 2026
Eerily similar to the set up Gene Wolfe’s Book of the Long Sun (and they came out right around the same time) Man these 90s scifi authors were on something!
Though it’s a good intro, it’s probably my least favorite Card novel out of the nine that I read lately. At its heart it’s a family drama that almost feels like a feud out of Genesis. I’m certainly interested to see how Card builds off of this foundation in the next four books.
Though it’s a good intro, it’s probably my least favorite Card novel out of the nine that I read lately. At its heart it’s a family drama that almost feels like a feud out of Genesis. I’m certainly interested to see how Card builds off of this foundation in the next four books.
December 29, 2011
This series had good potential, and I liked this novel, but once the series started getting "preachy" I dropped it like a hot potato. Card is a perfectly decent writer, though his style is pretty straightforward and lacking much flourish, but he let's his personal beliefs creep into most of his works. If it were just a couple of his novels that were thinly veiled Mormon mythologies it would be fine, but a large percentage of his later work is very colored by his religious beliefs. This novel and the subsequent novels in the series are basically a retelling of the Mormons move from the East coast to Utah with some space thrown in. It's lazy scifi and lazy religious allegory to me. If I don't think about Card's preachiness then I like this novel (solid 3 stars.)
February 16, 2012
I really enjoyed reading this book. I liked the descriptions of the cultural and political systems used in the setting as they are very different from any other kind I have known of. I have also gotten to like many of the characters, and even some of their strange names, though a few of them still bother me (such as "Luet").
The only reason that I gave this book four stars rather than five is that I would have liked for it to surprise me a bit more. Being very familiar with the story that it is based on (the first few chapters of the Book of Mormon), I knew what to expect every time. That made it interesting for a little while ("How is he going to incorporate this detail?"), but then I was disappointed that most of the suspense was lost. I always prefer to discover a story as I read it, and I wasn't able to do that to the degree that I wish I could. I would rather that, instead of simply being a retelling of parts of the Book of Mormon in a science-fiction setting, it took some main themes from the original story and incorporated them into a new story.
Despite that setback, I liked this book a lot and would have other people read it, and will be looking for its sequels next time I'm in a bookstore that has a higher likelihood of carrying more of Orson Scott Card's books that just his most famous ones.
The only reason that I gave this book four stars rather than five is that I would have liked for it to surprise me a bit more. Being very familiar with the story that it is based on (the first few chapters of the Book of Mormon), I knew what to expect every time. That made it interesting for a little while ("How is he going to incorporate this detail?"), but then I was disappointed that most of the suspense was lost. I always prefer to discover a story as I read it, and I wasn't able to do that to the degree that I wish I could. I would rather that, instead of simply being a retelling of parts of the Book of Mormon in a science-fiction setting, it took some main themes from the original story and incorporated them into a new story.
Despite that setback, I liked this book a lot and would have other people read it, and will be looking for its sequels next time I'm in a bookstore that has a higher likelihood of carrying more of Orson Scott Card's books that just his most famous ones.
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April 11, 2022What an interesting and odd book. I think it was a good idea that I found out in advance that this was a retelling of the Book of Mormon, because I was more understanding of what Card was doing in terms of describing a "chosen one" both in a fantasy sense but also as an apology for revelation in the real world.
But there's a central problem here. The entire premise hangs on the idea that the God of this universe is a computer created by people. That being the case, and especially since the characters all actually know this, how can they be confident in the revelations of a creation of their own hands?
If God is a contingent human creation, how can you possibly trust him? That question is humming in the background, but is never addressed. It's almost enough to ruin the whole experience.
Still, Card is at his world building best here, with a compelling main character and well-realized far future world.
I especially appreciate all the Slavic linguistic flourishes. Some of them are quite hilarious.
But there's a central problem here. The entire premise hangs on the idea that the God of this universe is a computer created by people. That being the case, and especially since the characters all actually know this, how can they be confident in the revelations of a creation of their own hands?
If God is a contingent human creation, how can you possibly trust him? That question is humming in the background, but is never addressed. It's almost enough to ruin the whole experience.
Still, Card is at his world building best here, with a compelling main character and well-realized far future world.
I especially appreciate all the Slavic linguistic flourishes. Some of them are quite hilarious.
August 6, 2017
The Memory of Earth has an INCREDIBLY compelling plot line with sub-par execution.
The central idea is that we (humans) destroy earth through our warmongering, destructive natures. Some escape earth and traverse space to set up shop on Harmony. Harmony is so named because that is the goal -- curb human ingenuity so that we can never develop super-civilizations (think: we live in a global economy now; everything is readily accessible; the North Koreans are developing missiles that would reach LA, etc.)
To ensure we don't self-destruct in a matter of a million or so years (as we did on Earth), this group of humans does two things: one, they develop The Oversoul, which is a computer that can subtly influence our minds (such as make our minds fuzzy when we think of things like "airplanes"); and two, they genetically modify humans to be able to "receive" these computer-generated influences.
And so, life on Harmony motors along splendidly for 40 million years, with no global catastrophes. Until the computer (Oversoul) starts to degrade (sidenote: give me a computer that lasts a fraction of that time, please and thanks).
And here is where our story begins. It sounds great, right? Yes! We get to explore the fun themes of technology without globalization, small agricultural societies with high-tech tools, and also the ethics of AI mind-control!
Except it read like a debut novel written by a high-schooler. (Not to offend high-schoolers, some of whom are excellent writers.)
Let's start with some basics. An early lesson in writing is "show, don't tell." Orson Scott Card (OSC) tried to "show" his readers -- but then he'd also tell us. And I found that what we were "shown" and "told" we're often incongruous at best, without using sarcasm or dramatic irony to justify the conflict in messages.
Also, let's talk about Deux Ex Machina. From Wikipedia, it is thus defined: "a plot device whereby a seemingly unsolvable problem is suddenly and abruptly resolved by the inspired and unexpected intervention of some new event, character, ability or object."
Or, in the case of The Memory of Earth, Deux Ex Machina can be defined as "the entire plot. Literally."
And I CANNOT, in good faith as a Feminist, skip over the atrocious attempt at female inclusion in this story. Because it was rather thoughtless, and honestly just condescending.
OSC centered his story around a city run by women (cue Beyonce's feminist anthem, Who Run The World (Girls)).
Women are the only ones who can own property in the city. They have exclusive access to the holy site in the city. They form marriage contracts with men, which they can either renew every year, or else release and form a contract with a different man (or no contract at all!)
"My persuasion can build a nation
Endless power, with our love we can devour."
The main character is a 14 year old boy. The Over Soul, which typically only speaks to women, chooses two men as his prophets. Three men are fighting for power in the city. All the guards and soldiers are men. Most of the merchants are men. There are TWO women who get any sort of depth in the story.
"Who run the world --"
*record scratch*
Cool. Thanks OSC for the nod to feminine power. It was a cute gesture. Better luck next time.
There are other issues I had with this novel. (See other reviews for thoughts on its parallels to the Book of Mormon).
I'm not going to say I'm sorry I read it, because it was short enough not to be a waste of my time.
But I'm also not going to read the sequels.
The central idea is that we (humans) destroy earth through our warmongering, destructive natures. Some escape earth and traverse space to set up shop on Harmony. Harmony is so named because that is the goal -- curb human ingenuity so that we can never develop super-civilizations (think: we live in a global economy now; everything is readily accessible; the North Koreans are developing missiles that would reach LA, etc.)
To ensure we don't self-destruct in a matter of a million or so years (as we did on Earth), this group of humans does two things: one, they develop The Oversoul, which is a computer that can subtly influence our minds (such as make our minds fuzzy when we think of things like "airplanes"); and two, they genetically modify humans to be able to "receive" these computer-generated influences.
And so, life on Harmony motors along splendidly for 40 million years, with no global catastrophes. Until the computer (Oversoul) starts to degrade (sidenote: give me a computer that lasts a fraction of that time, please and thanks).
And here is where our story begins. It sounds great, right? Yes! We get to explore the fun themes of technology without globalization, small agricultural societies with high-tech tools, and also the ethics of AI mind-control!
Except it read like a debut novel written by a high-schooler. (Not to offend high-schoolers, some of whom are excellent writers.)
Let's start with some basics. An early lesson in writing is "show, don't tell." Orson Scott Card (OSC) tried to "show" his readers -- but then he'd also tell us. And I found that what we were "shown" and "told" we're often incongruous at best, without using sarcasm or dramatic irony to justify the conflict in messages.
Also, let's talk about Deux Ex Machina. From Wikipedia, it is thus defined: "a plot device whereby a seemingly unsolvable problem is suddenly and abruptly resolved by the inspired and unexpected intervention of some new event, character, ability or object."
Or, in the case of The Memory of Earth, Deux Ex Machina can be defined as "the entire plot. Literally."
And I CANNOT, in good faith as a Feminist, skip over the atrocious attempt at female inclusion in this story. Because it was rather thoughtless, and honestly just condescending.
OSC centered his story around a city run by women (cue Beyonce's feminist anthem, Who Run The World (Girls)).
Women are the only ones who can own property in the city. They have exclusive access to the holy site in the city. They form marriage contracts with men, which they can either renew every year, or else release and form a contract with a different man (or no contract at all!)
"My persuasion can build a nation
Endless power, with our love we can devour."
The main character is a 14 year old boy. The Over Soul, which typically only speaks to women, chooses two men as his prophets. Three men are fighting for power in the city. All the guards and soldiers are men. Most of the merchants are men. There are TWO women who get any sort of depth in the story.
"Who run the world --"
*record scratch*
Cool. Thanks OSC for the nod to feminine power. It was a cute gesture. Better luck next time.
There are other issues I had with this novel. (See other reviews for thoughts on its parallels to the Book of Mormon).
I'm not going to say I'm sorry I read it, because it was short enough not to be a waste of my time.
But I'm also not going to read the sequels.
Read
March 1, 2026THIS SERIES IS A SCI FI RETELLING OF 1 NEPHI!!! Everyone within the sound of my voice please read it stat!!
The world building is compelling and the recasting of God as a supercomputer called The Oversoul raises some interesting theological questions.
The world building is compelling and the recasting of God as a supercomputer called The Oversoul raises some interesting theological questions.
March 22, 2014
MEMORY is one of those books you either love or you hate. Well, let me revise that. Love, like, or hate.
I liked this book. It reminded me a good deal about DUNE (which if you haven't read yet, you should). It has a strange culture, one that mixes old school tech--like horse-back riding and actually walking from place to place and swords and arrows--with cool new tech--clearly illustrated by the Oversoul's mental blocking and Issib's flotation devices.
Card draws up a fascinating group of people, throws them into a plan made by God (i.e., the Oversoul), and then proceeds to wreak merry havoc with their lives. Actually, now that I'm thinking about it, I can draw up a lot of parallels with DUNE. There's a messiah, swords, an assload of religious fanatics, and the sense throughout the book that shit is going down. There's even a desert, although Harmony is not a true desert planet.
MEMORY is a clear allusion to the Bible. Or, in Card's case, the Book of Mormon. (Yes, Orson Scott Card is, in fact, a Mormon.) There's a whole lot of religion in this book, enough so that it could very well make you want to put it down. But that's also were the book gets a lot of its shine. Much of the action is the play between two differing religions that are essentially praying to the same god in different ways.
But I digress.
On to the point of this review!
The book, as a whole, is decent. Certainly, it has its flaws: I don't love Card's dialogue (at times, it sounds too much like a lecture, or a sermon), and sometimes Card dips into dues ex machina just a tad too much.
But the dues ex machina can be explained by the Oversoul doing its thing, so I guess I can live with that. And the characters are very well-rounded. They're full, with strengths and weaknesses like we all have. They speak in bias. They're not perfect. Nafai--the central character of the book--is a young boy thrust into this world as much by the hand of the Oversoul as his own meddling. The plot is very well paced (something I think Card does very well, and is probably one of his greatest strengths as a writer), beautifully written, and masterfully done. It wraps up the episode storyline, while leaving enough tension in the end to make us want to read more.
All in all, I think that Ender has overshadowed most of Card's other work, and this is truly a good series. It's not perfect, just like his characters, but that's where a lot of the joy comes from. Besides, what series is ever perfect? No book series--fantasy or otherwise--perfectly wraps up everything so that the readers are completely satisfied. Or at least all the readers.
I would warn you, though, that if you can't stand a story with extreme religious undertones, don't read this.
I liked this book. It reminded me a good deal about DUNE (which if you haven't read yet, you should). It has a strange culture, one that mixes old school tech--like horse-back riding and actually walking from place to place and swords and arrows--with cool new tech--clearly illustrated by the Oversoul's mental blocking and Issib's flotation devices.
Card draws up a fascinating group of people, throws them into a plan made by God (i.e., the Oversoul), and then proceeds to wreak merry havoc with their lives. Actually, now that I'm thinking about it, I can draw up a lot of parallels with DUNE. There's a messiah, swords, an assload of religious fanatics, and the sense throughout the book that shit is going down. There's even a desert, although Harmony is not a true desert planet.
MEMORY is a clear allusion to the Bible. Or, in Card's case, the Book of Mormon. (Yes, Orson Scott Card is, in fact, a Mormon.) There's a whole lot of religion in this book, enough so that it could very well make you want to put it down. But that's also were the book gets a lot of its shine. Much of the action is the play between two differing religions that are essentially praying to the same god in different ways.
But I digress.
On to the point of this review!
The book, as a whole, is decent. Certainly, it has its flaws: I don't love Card's dialogue (at times, it sounds too much like a lecture, or a sermon), and sometimes Card dips into dues ex machina just a tad too much.
But the dues ex machina can be explained by the Oversoul doing its thing, so I guess I can live with that. And the characters are very well-rounded. They're full, with strengths and weaknesses like we all have. They speak in bias. They're not perfect. Nafai--the central character of the book--is a young boy thrust into this world as much by the hand of the Oversoul as his own meddling. The plot is very well paced (something I think Card does very well, and is probably one of his greatest strengths as a writer), beautifully written, and masterfully done. It wraps up the episode storyline, while leaving enough tension in the end to make us want to read more.
All in all, I think that Ender has overshadowed most of Card's other work, and this is truly a good series. It's not perfect, just like his characters, but that's where a lot of the joy comes from. Besides, what series is ever perfect? No book series--fantasy or otherwise--perfectly wraps up everything so that the readers are completely satisfied. Or at least all the readers.
I would warn you, though, that if you can't stand a story with extreme religious undertones, don't read this.
January 6, 2019
Rating
Review
*** This review originally appeared on Out of this World Reviews. ***
So I'd never read anything by Orson Scott Card before. Of course I had heard of him and seen his books all over, but he was just one of those authors I never quite got around to reading. While that misstep has now been corrected, I had to put down The Memory of Earth.
I fully intended to read the book front to back, but something had been nagging me almost since the beginning. Given that I was a newcomer to Card's work, I was keeping an open mind and had no idea what to expect except that he's a prolific author so his stuff must be good, right? The thing is, the book isn't bad, it's just not good. It's a great idea--benevolent supercomputer controls peoples' minds, keeping them from destroying each other like they did literally 30 or so million years ago on Earth. Except that the computer starts to break down and needs help, so it starts to send certain individuals visions (that's how it communicates) saying more or less that it needs help. Sounds good, right?
Except the book really lacks two things: (1) execution and (2) complexity. What I basically mean by #1 is that not enough happens, and, when something does happen, I often thought, "oh, that's nice". Not nearly enough suspense and the characters really aren't engaging enough. #2 has to do with the author's style. It's too simplistic. He tells me that this character is angry, and this one is sad instead of showing it, or something happens where its painfully obvious what's going on, but Card has to come along and throw in an explanatory sentence just in case you didn't get it. It was annoying to say the least.
One of these days I'll take a look at Ender's Game, if only because it's considered the author's seminal work. For now, though, Card fades to the background on my reading list.
Review
*** This review originally appeared on Out of this World Reviews. ***
So I'd never read anything by Orson Scott Card before. Of course I had heard of him and seen his books all over, but he was just one of those authors I never quite got around to reading. While that misstep has now been corrected, I had to put down The Memory of Earth.
I fully intended to read the book front to back, but something had been nagging me almost since the beginning. Given that I was a newcomer to Card's work, I was keeping an open mind and had no idea what to expect except that he's a prolific author so his stuff must be good, right? The thing is, the book isn't bad, it's just not good. It's a great idea--benevolent supercomputer controls peoples' minds, keeping them from destroying each other like they did literally 30 or so million years ago on Earth. Except that the computer starts to break down and needs help, so it starts to send certain individuals visions (that's how it communicates) saying more or less that it needs help. Sounds good, right?
Except the book really lacks two things: (1) execution and (2) complexity. What I basically mean by #1 is that not enough happens, and, when something does happen, I often thought, "oh, that's nice". Not nearly enough suspense and the characters really aren't engaging enough. #2 has to do with the author's style. It's too simplistic. He tells me that this character is angry, and this one is sad instead of showing it, or something happens where its painfully obvious what's going on, but Card has to come along and throw in an explanatory sentence just in case you didn't get it. It was annoying to say the least.
One of these days I'll take a look at Ender's Game, if only because it's considered the author's seminal work. For now, though, Card fades to the background on my reading list.
November 21, 2020
An unveiled allegory of being guided by God. In this case, God is a super AI who has been setup to watch over mankind and can communicate into their minds via means not spelled out. It’s computing power comes from satellites in the sky which have been slowly falling out of the sky for millions of years. As it loses computing power, it loses its ability to keep the planet, Harmony, in stasis forever. And so it needs to act, and this is the story of what it does, and the story mostly of a particular family that it decides to use.
The story is really about the theme of hearing from God, and exploring that in many nuances as the main character struggles with the concept in many ways. So there’s ideas about what is free will, what is freedom, how do I hear correctly and get myself out of the way, how do I not lose my own sense of agency and self, etc. And the twist is, since this Oversoul (that’s what it is called) is actually a really powerful AI, but is not actually God...there are some interesting ethical questions that come up from that.
If you enjoy asking these questions and exploring them you’ll probably really enjoy this. However if you are firmly atheistic then this would have very little appeal. I could see people making the argument that most of his plot is often driven through Deus Ex Machina events, that the plot is moved forward by the Oversoul (God) stepping in and doing what would otherwise be impossible. However, if you see the Oversoul as a character with real limitations (which are described in general terms and stuck to throughout the book), then it doesn’t really feel like Deus Ex Machina. At least that was my experience.
I also enjoyed the world building of different cultures on this planet, and especially of the “holy” city it is mostly set in, the warring factions and the interesting way that families are structured.
The book has a solid pace, a solid ending, and definitely makes you want to read the next one. It’s not for everyone, but for many I would heartily recommend it.
The story is really about the theme of hearing from God, and exploring that in many nuances as the main character struggles with the concept in many ways. So there’s ideas about what is free will, what is freedom, how do I hear correctly and get myself out of the way, how do I not lose my own sense of agency and self, etc. And the twist is, since this Oversoul (that’s what it is called) is actually a really powerful AI, but is not actually God...there are some interesting ethical questions that come up from that.
If you enjoy asking these questions and exploring them you’ll probably really enjoy this. However if you are firmly atheistic then this would have very little appeal. I could see people making the argument that most of his plot is often driven through Deus Ex Machina events, that the plot is moved forward by the Oversoul (God) stepping in and doing what would otherwise be impossible. However, if you see the Oversoul as a character with real limitations (which are described in general terms and stuck to throughout the book), then it doesn’t really feel like Deus Ex Machina. At least that was my experience.
I also enjoyed the world building of different cultures on this planet, and especially of the “holy” city it is mostly set in, the warring factions and the interesting way that families are structured.
The book has a solid pace, a solid ending, and definitely makes you want to read the next one. It’s not for everyone, but for many I would heartily recommend it.
June 12, 2007
This was the first Orson Scott Card novel I read and I liked it a lot. If I remember correctly I went through the five books in this saga (Homecoming Saga) in about two weeks. Several years later I found out that the series is loosely based on the Book of Mormon (Orson Scott Card is mormon). Go figure.
January 18, 2025
This book gets 5 ***** because I'm a rabid Orson Scott Card fan. On a shelf of his work, this book fits closer to the Alvin Maker books than the Enderverse. It is science fiction... technically... but it reads a lot more like Book of Mormon inspired fantasy.
I picked the audiobook up from the library because, in addition to loving Orson Scott Card, I would listen to Stefan Rudniki read literally anything. He could sit and read chat on a random livestream, and I'd listen just because I like his voice. ....And I still listened to the book, but I had to go grab a physical copy for the geneology charts. The society in the main city has developed a very open family system, so there are a lot of half brothers. Keeping everyone straight took some effort... and it was mainly this feature that made me track down book immediately so I can read it all before I forget who is related to who. This is not a book to pick if you're looking for a standalone. It ends with no resolution, with the main character preparing for his big quest after a major betrayal/loss. A huge portion of the book is fairly slow world building, which didn't bother me as I already knew this was just the intro to a larger story.
The basic idea is that there's an 18 year old boy and his family on a planet where a massive computer called the Oversoul has prevented the development of certain technology for millions of years to protect humans from themselves by preventing them from being able to organize themselves to fight large scale wars. They have computers for commerce, but not wagons for trade. The computer is interrupting their ability to think. There's a robust religion based on contact with the Oversoul. The language has evolved strangely so that they have words for things that no longer exist but also words for things that supposedly never existed, which is something that the main character struggles with. The main quest/ cause for action is the Oversoul starting to fail, which causes it to need to reach back out to Earth after millions of years. The family system is well developed. There's a lot of intrigue with different family members having opposing motives, and a biblical style brotherly-jealousy angle that gets introduced towards the end (and that I've heard will be a part of book 2).
I picked the audiobook up from the library because, in addition to loving Orson Scott Card, I would listen to Stefan Rudniki read literally anything. He could sit and read chat on a random livestream, and I'd listen just because I like his voice. ....And I still listened to the book, but I had to go grab a physical copy for the geneology charts. The society in the main city has developed a very open family system, so there are a lot of half brothers. Keeping everyone straight took some effort... and it was mainly this feature that made me track down book immediately so I can read it all before I forget who is related to who. This is not a book to pick if you're looking for a standalone. It ends with no resolution, with the main character preparing for his big quest after a major betrayal/loss. A huge portion of the book is fairly slow world building, which didn't bother me as I already knew this was just the intro to a larger story.
The basic idea is that there's an 18 year old boy and his family on a planet where a massive computer called the Oversoul has prevented the development of certain technology for millions of years to protect humans from themselves by preventing them from being able to organize themselves to fight large scale wars. They have computers for commerce, but not wagons for trade. The computer is interrupting their ability to think. There's a robust religion based on contact with the Oversoul. The language has evolved strangely so that they have words for things that no longer exist but also words for things that supposedly never existed, which is something that the main character struggles with. The main quest/ cause for action is the Oversoul starting to fail, which causes it to need to reach back out to Earth after millions of years. The family system is well developed. There's a lot of intrigue with different family members having opposing motives, and a biblical style brotherly-jealousy angle that gets introduced towards the end (and that I've heard will be a part of book 2).
November 6, 2024
I judged a book by its beautiful cover and sure enough it was a bit disappointing. Great premise, though unfortunately book one only begins to approach that premise in the last few chapters. In fact, this first book sort of seems redundant, it could have been a handful of chapters to open up the next book. The world-building is poor so the place is not interesting and doesn’t make any sense, e.g. why is Nafai’s father a travelling plant merchant but also possesses significant political power and a monstrous fortune? Not explained. This “matriarchy” and the marriage contracts just don’t make any sense, amongst many other things. Not to mention a considerable amount of typos.
If they made a movie of it, I’d probably watch it. If I come across the second book some day, I might get it, as I’m slightly curious about where it’s going. All in all, it was okay, but a lot better in theory than in execution.
If they made a movie of it, I’d probably watch it. If I come across the second book some day, I might get it, as I’m slightly curious about where it’s going. All in all, it was okay, but a lot better in theory than in execution.
July 18, 2023
It's Card, so first we must balance some of the author's unpleasant personal opinions against his talent. Check -- he's decent at plotting, world building and character creation. He's a bit wordy at times. No real signs here of racism, sexism, or other issues (the setting is somewhat neutral, 40 million years in the future and on a different planet). Some light gender issues are explored, as the state religion(s) are celebrated differently between men and women, with established government, property, and power within the city exclusive to women. So the plot and themes are somewhat ordinary and mostly harmless.
Young Nafai is coming of age in the city of Basilica on the planet Harmony. The son of an apolitical clan leader father and renowned mother, he starts the story unaware of the tides of history about to engulf his life. By the end of this installment, he is the conduit between the ever more dormant Oversoul computer which has forestalled dangerous developments on Harmony for millions of years.
Young Nafai is coming of age in the city of Basilica on the planet Harmony. The son of an apolitical clan leader father and renowned mother, he starts the story unaware of the tides of history about to engulf his life. By the end of this installment, he is the conduit between the ever more dormant Oversoul computer which has forestalled dangerous developments on Harmony for millions of years.
May 18, 2020
I admire how the author creates complex characters with plenty of pathos (except the villain - he's one dimensional), but the plot doesn't quite come together. It is the first in a series and interesting. The author is good at his craft. The book, Scythe, by Neal Shusterman has a similar premise that does come together.
August 26, 2011
Fans of ENDER'S GAME--BEWARE! This is not on par with that novel in any way. Personally, I can't believe how many of the novels within this series I've read when I realize I should have ended with this one. To me, this novel felt like it was one of Card's many forgotten manuscripts, written while he was a writer honing his craft, left at the bottom of a desks drawer in a beat up manila folder to gather dust. Then, when the Ender novels garnered much appraisal & awards, Card's publisher must have asked: "What else you got?" & lo, we have this novel.
It's not a good novel, nor is it the worst. It has a lot to be desired & even though it is the first in a series, its main flaw is failing to make the reader want to continue--to take the journey through so many other books to reach a conclusion. Even by writing that last sentence within this review makes me realize how mediocre this book is. I'd continue with a synopsis but the one Goodreads provides is good enough as an overview. I don't see much point in expounding upon it.
I will say this: There are a lot of blatant Mormon undertones (Card is from Utah &, if I remember correctly, an excommunicated Mormon) & the reverse polygamy within the novel is not at all shocking--Women on the planet Harmony can chose more than one male to mate with & it's encouraged--hell, it's contracted! It provides an interesting look at family values within the planet's society & is played out within the main character's family through the interaction between the siblings. Also, the idea that the satellite orbiting the planet, Oversoul, has the ability to block certain ideas that may form within the populations' minds, resulting in no technological advances & weapons, shows how freewill is stunted & human growth with it. Could this be a statement by Card on how religion does the same--by placing blind faith within a god can lead to the hijacking of one's liberties, whether it be vocal or thought? Or is he merely rewriting The Book of Mormon? To emphasize my point: The realization by certain people on the planet Harmony that Earth is something to be sought out again makes me think of the Mormons pilgrimage to their land of Zion. Plus, the Index of the Oversoul is plainly a metaphor for The Book of Mormon & the main character whom the Oversoul mentally communicates with is clearly the society's John Smith.
All these concepts are interesting but are played out within what I believe to be a very weak novel masked in science fiction. They need a stronger structure & a better cast of characters who are far more interesting than the ones presented in THE MEMORY OF EARTH. I wanted to like this novel--I really did--but I think it reveals more of a sermon by Card than an sci-fi epic. I believe he intended to make a great series but there's a reason why certain stories should remain at the bottom of a desk drawer--a reason why they were put there in the first place. It's exactly like what I've said about people who pull "lost" recordings of John Lennon out of the vaults: There's a reason why they're still in the vaults & why they're "lost".
So after reading this one, why do I have two other titles in the series on my list? They're there because I borrowed the audio books from the library when I was driving on a long trip & I wanted to see if the story got any better. It didn't.
It's not a good novel, nor is it the worst. It has a lot to be desired & even though it is the first in a series, its main flaw is failing to make the reader want to continue--to take the journey through so many other books to reach a conclusion. Even by writing that last sentence within this review makes me realize how mediocre this book is. I'd continue with a synopsis but the one Goodreads provides is good enough as an overview. I don't see much point in expounding upon it.
I will say this: There are a lot of blatant Mormon undertones (Card is from Utah &, if I remember correctly, an excommunicated Mormon) & the reverse polygamy within the novel is not at all shocking--Women on the planet Harmony can chose more than one male to mate with & it's encouraged--hell, it's contracted! It provides an interesting look at family values within the planet's society & is played out within the main character's family through the interaction between the siblings. Also, the idea that the satellite orbiting the planet, Oversoul, has the ability to block certain ideas that may form within the populations' minds, resulting in no technological advances & weapons, shows how freewill is stunted & human growth with it. Could this be a statement by Card on how religion does the same--by placing blind faith within a god can lead to the hijacking of one's liberties, whether it be vocal or thought? Or is he merely rewriting The Book of Mormon? To emphasize my point: The realization by certain people on the planet Harmony that Earth is something to be sought out again makes me think of the Mormons pilgrimage to their land of Zion. Plus, the Index of the Oversoul is plainly a metaphor for The Book of Mormon & the main character whom the Oversoul mentally communicates with is clearly the society's John Smith.
All these concepts are interesting but are played out within what I believe to be a very weak novel masked in science fiction. They need a stronger structure & a better cast of characters who are far more interesting than the ones presented in THE MEMORY OF EARTH. I wanted to like this novel--I really did--but I think it reveals more of a sermon by Card than an sci-fi epic. I believe he intended to make a great series but there's a reason why certain stories should remain at the bottom of a desk drawer--a reason why they were put there in the first place. It's exactly like what I've said about people who pull "lost" recordings of John Lennon out of the vaults: There's a reason why they're still in the vaults & why they're "lost".
So after reading this one, why do I have two other titles in the series on my list? They're there because I borrowed the audio books from the library when I was driving on a long trip & I wanted to see if the story got any better. It didn't.
March 17, 2016
Once upon a time, I was a huge fan of Orson Scott Card. I eagerly devoured his short stories, and read his series with high anticipation.. and was never disappointed. Back in those days, his moral messages were heavy, but struck a note that was universal.
I don't know what happened, but I know exactly WHEN it happened.. it was in the middle of the Ender's series.. suddenly the book got preachy, complete with bible quotes and a cast of characters so moralizing that I was barely able to stomach them. And it has only gone downhill from there.
I've tried to listen to this one at least twice... and just... well... no. I don't like the world. I don't like the characters. I don't like the storyline. I don't like the highly sexist feel to the thing, although I couldn't tell you WHY it feels sexist.. it just does.
And I'll confess that this book turns me off (eh-he) early on... Have you ever had a conversation with someone who clearly needed to 'get some'? Yeah.. this book. On and on about who is sleeping with whom, what the contracts are, blah blah blah. Listen: I like sex as much as the next person, and I understand the author thinks 14yo boys think of nothing else (I have a 14yo boy.. I'd argue that point) but.. really. I'm uninterested in a society built entirely on sex. And considering this is supposed to be the Utopia part (before it all goes to hell in a handbasket) well... it already lost me. And this, just.. no way I'm buying it: No matter why I'm supposed to believe that, it is just too far of a stretch for me.
I won't pretend my opinion is the majority. And you, reader of my review, may very well love this tale. There is no denying that Mr. Card writes a complex story with a complex plot line. His characters always (well, not this one, imho) feel like well-visioned people. From an entirely literal standpoint, his books are 5 stars, and he is obviously a master storyteller. But this is my final try with this particular one, and to even give it an 'ok' rating is saying I liked it more than I really did. On to something else!
(Just a note: I'm not LDS, so any correlations between The Book of Mormon and this are entirely lost on me. I noticed other reviewers who took offense to this as a retelling as that story, but that did not factor into my own read. I disliked this book entirely based on my own preferences.)
I don't know what happened, but I know exactly WHEN it happened.. it was in the middle of the Ender's series.. suddenly the book got preachy, complete with bible quotes and a cast of characters so moralizing that I was barely able to stomach them. And it has only gone downhill from there.
I've tried to listen to this one at least twice... and just... well... no. I don't like the world. I don't like the characters. I don't like the storyline. I don't like the highly sexist feel to the thing, although I couldn't tell you WHY it feels sexist.. it just does.
And I'll confess that this book turns me off (eh-he) early on... Have you ever had a conversation with someone who clearly needed to 'get some'? Yeah.. this book. On and on about who is sleeping with whom, what the contracts are, blah blah blah. Listen: I like sex as much as the next person, and I understand the author thinks 14yo boys think of nothing else (I have a 14yo boy.. I'd argue that point) but.. really. I'm uninterested in a society built entirely on sex. And considering this is supposed to be the Utopia part (before it all goes to hell in a handbasket) well... it already lost me. And this, just.. no way I'm buying it: No matter why I'm supposed to believe that, it is just too far of a stretch for me.
I won't pretend my opinion is the majority. And you, reader of my review, may very well love this tale. There is no denying that Mr. Card writes a complex story with a complex plot line. His characters always (well, not this one, imho) feel like well-visioned people. From an entirely literal standpoint, his books are 5 stars, and he is obviously a master storyteller. But this is my final try with this particular one, and to even give it an 'ok' rating is saying I liked it more than I really did. On to something else!
(Just a note: I'm not LDS, so any correlations between The Book of Mormon and this are entirely lost on me. I noticed other reviewers who took offense to this as a retelling as that story, but that did not factor into my own read. I disliked this book entirely based on my own preferences.)
January 4, 2014
The Memory of Earth left me wondering if it is blasphemous for a Mormon to compare God to a computer? The re-telling of the Book of Mormon as science fiction works to create a sense of familiarity, which anyone who knows the Old Testament (let alone the Book of Mormon) will feel as they read the book. The most interesting aspect of this book for me, wasn't the story or the characters, but musing throughout on archetypal story-lines and the moral questions raised and answered by scripture/fiction. Probably the most jarring aspect of the book was the modern sense of morality that was imposed on a clearly tribal and backwards community. I just couldn't buy the Oversoul controlling people's thoughts. Also, the gender wars in the book also seemed to be more of a commentary on modern marriage practices of divorce and step-families, than a futuristic society, but then again, I guess that is the point of science fiction.
January 2, 2013
This had shades of Asimov's Foundation series, mainly the parts that I liked without the parts I didn't. I felt connected to characters and sucked in to the interesting culture, loved the bits about how there were archaic sayings that had lost meaning and technology that had been lost this far out into humanity's future. Also getting a bit of a sense of the Biblical story of Joseph and his visions and having brothers who resent him. Definitely looking forward to reading more and have not felt let down by any Card book yet.
November 5, 2007
Orson Scott Card is a very creative science fiction and fantasy writer! This book (series) is a great look into the philosophy of life on other planets and the possibility of higher intelligences. The last books in the series introduce new characters that are not a likeable as the earlier books and the storyline suffers because of it.
January 31, 2019
Aunque no es una saga (saga del Retorno) muy valorada del autor, a mí los 5 libros que la componen me gustaron mucho. 8/10 todos y cada uno de ellos. Yo sí la recomiendo de pleno.
October 5, 2021
I first read O. S. Card a few years ago, the Ender series, before I used goodreads, but at least 2015 or later. I went to the condo's fitness center the other day to see if they actually got someone to do routine maintenance on the Apollo 5 machine. Well, they had and the machine was like new instead of a worrisome trap. I don't really exercise, but I don't like it when a machine falls into disrepair. Still, in between repetitions, I found a small shelf with some books and games. One of the books was this one, so I borrowed it. Finally yesterday I started reading a physical book for the first time in like five years. Not much different than kindle, but I needed light, not a charged battery! Ans, my fingers (left hand) got strained holding the pages near the end. It's a paperback, but oddly the covers are stiff.
After that introduction, I almost forgot to mention the story. It was good and even though published in 1992, it seemed old school, like '50s or '60s. Yet, it is a modern series I suppose, authors have to make a living. Now I am interested in the follow on story because this one did not end. It did come to a reasonable stopping point. I am most interested in how several of the characters will rejoin with the protagonist and his family. I don't want to give away too much, so I'll stop writing now.
After that introduction, I almost forgot to mention the story. It was good and even though published in 1992, it seemed old school, like '50s or '60s. Yet, it is a modern series I suppose, authors have to make a living. Now I am interested in the follow on story because this one did not end. It did come to a reasonable stopping point. I am most interested in how several of the characters will rejoin with the protagonist and his family. I don't want to give away too much, so I'll stop writing now.
October 3, 2021
What a fascinating little story - like some of his other work, it has biblical overtones, but it is set in the far distant future. The planet Harmony is guarded by an AI called the Oversoul that keeps peace by shaping the minds of its people to avoid advanced technology. Its people can hear the Oversoul, if they listen carefully, so the story has themes about prayer and faith, but the Oversoul clearly isn't God, so there are complexities about how much to trust the machine and whether the machine can really do what humanity needs it to do. I found myself a little skeptical: a story about faith that is almost faith could be deceptive. But the four brothers have a charming Brothers K thing going on, and I think I'll end up reading the whole trilogy.
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