Xenocide (Ender Quartet, #3)
Summary:
The war for survival of the planet Lusitania will be fought in the hearts of a child named Gloriously Bright.
On Lusitania, Ender found a world where humans and pequininos and the Hive Queen could all live together; where three very different intelligent species could find common ground at last. Or so he thought.
Lusitania also harbors the descolada, a virus that kills all humans it infects, but which the pequininos require in order to become adults. The Starways Congress so fears the effects of the descolada, should it escape from Lusitania, that they have ordered the destruction of the entire planet, and all who live there. The Fleet is on its way, and a second xenocide seems inevitable. (summary and book cover courtesy of goodreads.com)
Review:
“Xenocide” begs the very relevant question of ‘Is humanity doomed to repeat itself?’ Is it possible for cultures that appear completely at odds to find a way to peacefully coexist? And in order to find a way to coexist, do the participants have to give up everything that makes them who they are? Of the books, this is the one I found the most captivating as the reader fully discerns all the contributing factors in Lusitania’s fate.
It is up to a small group of dedicated individuals to attempt to save everything they hold dear: Valentine, Ender, Jane and the Ribeira family. In this book more than ever, Ender and his adopted family are shown as individuals as well as the political symbol they became. Additionally, this book begins to explore the place of Lusitania within the Starways Congress setting up the finale of the series.
Warning: Violence
Rating: 4 stars!
Who Should Read It? Anyone looking to continue the "Ender's Game" series. As mentioned before, the later books are less focused on war and would have an appeal to a greater audience.
Considering the whole series? See my reviews of other books in the series by following the links below:
Ender's Game (Ender Quartet #1) - Orson Scott Card
Speaker for the Dead (Ender Quartet #2) - Orson Scott Card
Children of the Mind (Ender Quartet #4) - Orson Scott Card