Ratings39
Average rating3.9
A hundred years before Ender's Game, humans thought they were alone in the galaxy. Humanity was slowly making their way out from Earth to the planets and asteroids of the Solar System, exploring and mining and founding colonies. The mining ship El Cavador is far out from Earth, in the deeps of the Kuiper Belt, beyond Pluto. Other mining ships, and the families that live on them, are few and far between this far out. So when El Cavador's telescopes pick up a fast-moving object coming in-system, it's hard to know what to make of it. It's massive and moving at a significant fraction of the speed of light. But the ship has other problems. Their systems are old and failing. The family is getting too big. There are claim-jumping corporates bringing Asteroid Belt tactics to the Kuiper Belt. Worrying about a distant object that might or might not be an alien ship seems...not important. They're wrong. It's the most important thing that has happened to the human race in a million years. This is humanity's first contact with an alien race. The First Formic War is about to begin. Earth Unaware is the first novel in The First Formic War series by Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston. THE ENDER UNIVERSE Ender series Ender’s Game / Speaker for the Dead / Xenocide / Children of the Mind / Ender in Exile / Children of the Fleet Ender’s Shadow series Ender’s Shadow / Shadow of the Hegemon / Shadow Puppets / Shadow of the Giant / Shadows in Flight The First Formic War (with Aaron Johnston) Earth Unaware / Earth Afire / Earth Awakens The Second Formic War (with Aaron Johnston) The Swarm / The Hive Ender novellas A War of Gifts / First Meetings At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Reviews with the most likes.
This book introduces us to story lines that are involved in a first contact with aliens.
I very much wanted to give this novel 3.5 stars but goodreads doesn't allow it. A very enjoyable story where we get introduced to two very interesting characters. The writing is superb as it always is with Orson Scott Card (and Johnston in this case). However, this novel doesn't quite end. It's very clear that its just a set up for the next several novels in the series.
The main characters are mostly memorable. Victor is very likable and believable. Lem Jukes' insecurities and struggle to get out from under his father's shadow is very entertaining. We are also introduced to Mazer Rackham, but he doesn't get much ‘screen time' (he gets much more in book two).
Overall it was extremely enjoyable prequel to Ender's Game but doesn't get quite as personal as Ender's Game or nearly as philosophical as Speaker for the Dead.
Interesting read that moves along quickly while introducing a host of characters. It's clear this is a collaborated effort and not purely Orson Scott Card, but it's still a good book that's true to the Ender series.
Series
18 primary booksEnderverse: Publication Order is a 18-book series with 18 primary works first released in 1985 with contributions by Orson Scott Card, Orson Scott Card, and Aaron Johnston.
Series
16 primary books19 released booksThe Enderverse is a 18-book series with 16 primary works first released in 1985 with contributions by Orson Scott Card, Aaron Johnston, and Orson Scott Card.
Series
3 primary booksThe First Formic War is a 3-book series with 3 primary works first released in 2012 with contributions by Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston.