97. Shadow of the Hegemon by Orson Scott Card (Science fiction) 442 p.

This is yet another winner from Orson Scott Card. I found it less plausible than some of his other novels, but the story was so good and so well-written that I didn’t care.

In this sequel to Ender’s Shadow, the war with the Formics is over, and the nations of Earth are ready to go back to fighting each other. The students from Battle School become a valuable resource ripe for exploitation by any nation or power able to control them, so it’s no surprise when ten of the eleven children who were Ender’s lieutenants are kidnapped by an unknown power. Bean does what he can to secure the release of the others, but he needs help from Peter Wiggin, who wants something from him in return–help with his plan to take over the world.

Shadow of the Hegemon is a fun book, without a dull moment in it. Watching all the Battle School kids plot and manipulate world affairs was great. One of the things I’ve always liked about Card’s writing is that his characters come from many different racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds, from many different countries, and that’s especially true in the Enderverse. It’s very refreshing to read a science fiction writer who doesn’t seem to make everyone a white American by default, throwing in a token minority when the plot demands it.

The plot of this book also gives Card a chance to show off his knowledge of global politics, history, and geography. I can’t comment on the accuracy or plausibility of most of it, but some of the things he says in his afterword make it clear that he’s researched the topic, and given it a great deal of thought.

So far, I’m enjoying this series as much, or even more, than than the Ender series. I hope the last two books are as good as the first two!

Rating: 10 out of 10

Pages read: 28,740

Tags: 50 Book Challenge 2008, Bean quartet, Cardathon Challenge Redux, Enderverse, Orson Scott Card