Ender's Game - Sequel Showdown--Ender vs. Bean

[J-Lynn Van Pelt]

The Ender saga and Bean saga are very different types of series. While they share characters and commonalities, Ender's leans more toward the philosophical while Bean's is rooted in global politics. If the two sagas were in a throwdown, which would you want to win?

Ender's Saga:
Ender's Game
Speaker for the Dead
Xenocide
Children of the Mind
Ender's Exile (possibly planned, but unconfirmed)

Bean's Saga:
Ender's Shadow
Shadow of the Hegemon
Shadow Puppets
Shadow of the Giant
Shadow's in Flight (possibly planned, but unconfirmed)

[This Is Not The Michael You're Looking For]

I don't think it's much of a comparison. Ender's Game is individually better than all of the other books, but Xenocide and Children of the Mind are poor. Bean's Saga is more intermediate; nowhere as good as Ender's Game, but nowhere as bad as the rest. Can a "series" be carried by a single book or is the average what is important?

[J-Lynn Van Pelt]

Michael,
Can a series be carried by a single book? Or once it's a series (and we have read the whole series) should we judge it by the combined story and where it took us?

When I think of the Bean saga--I don't remember where one book ended and another one began--I just remember Bean's story.

[KristenR]

:(

I feel like I'm at a serious disadvantage in the discussion of this book because everyone seems to have already read it and the sequels. This is my first time reading Ender's Game.

Oh well...I guess I've simply got to go to the library and get the other books and get caught up ;)

[J-Lynn Van Pelt]

Kristen,

Don't feel left out! This sci fi series is definitely a phenomenon, so I wanted to add discussion threads about the sequels for the devoted cult following. But, more threads will be going up about Ender's Game, so hang in! But, I definitely recommend reading beyond the first book.

[Sarah]

I'm not sure the two series can be compared, as they are very divergent stories and I enjoyed each set of books for different reasons. Ender's series made me think on a philosophical level and endeared me to very different characters unlike any I had read before. On the other hand, Bean's series gave me much to think about regarding global politics in today's world and the world of the future as well as the way in which one voice can make such a substantial difference while sticking to a cast of characters that we were largely familiar with from Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow. I think both series are equally worth the effort, but they offer entirely separate perspectives on humanity.

[Angie]

I am surprised to find out that one series follows Ender and the other Follows Bean! I didn't know that and it makes me more curious to read the whole series. Also, Sarah I grew up in Wichita Falls!

[Sarah]

LOL, Angie. I have only been here for two years as part of my assignment for the Air Force, and I'll be moving on very soon. It's been an interesting introduction to Texas! And you should definitely read the sequels, starting with Ender's Shadow first. All of the stories are very thought provoking.

[Bill]

I enjoyed Ender and Bean, all of the books, though I would agree Ender's Game is a masterpiece.

But Ender and Bean, Valentine and Peter are people I strongly identify with. They represent aspects of me. I can never get enough of their stories, even the more trivial ones. Flinx and Miles and Pug and Lessa and Vanyel ... are like this too. But, like me all good things must end. But, unlike me, I can re-read the books and see how I have changed.

Bill B.

[Judy]

I loved them all, but I'll go with the Ender series.