I originally read Enders Game just after it s release many years ago. I plan to re-read it and the sequels in the next few months. What would be the best order to read the books? I am most interested in following the story chronologically, rather than the order in which the books were released. All suggestions will be appreciated.
Posted by Blayne Bradley (Member # 8565) on :
Depends.
Chronologically you would read the Shadow series of books first after Ender's Game and then the series beginning with Speaker of the Dead.
Posted by dantesparadigm (Member # 8756) on :
You're probably just as well off to follow the Ender quartet before starting on the Shadow series. Even though they don't come next chronologically, the Shadow series has a completely different story line and tone than the Ender series, and should really be read separately, though your mileage may vary.
By the way, welcome to Hatrack.
Posted by Dan_Frank (Member # 8488) on :
Actually, chronologically you should read Ender's Shadow, then Ender's Game]/i], then the rest of the [i]Shadow series followed by the remainder Ender quartet. This is because Ender's Shadow begins at a chronologically earlier point than Ender's Game and ends chronologically earlier than the end of Ender's Game. Though really you should read the beginning of Ender's Shadow, then flip back and forth between the first two on a chapter by chapter basis, lining up the similar scenes (and noting the occasionally different dialogue).
Oooor... you could read the Ender quartet, and then the Shadow series. Which works pretty well, in my opinion, despite being utterly un-chronological.
Posted by TL (Member # 8124) on :
Welcome to hatrack.
Posted by BlueWizard (Member # 9389) on :
Actually, I think Ender's Game should be first since it is the story told from the central characters point of view. Next Ender's Shadow because that is the same story told from an alternate character's point of view. Also, Ender was already in Battle School when Bean arrived, so I think Ender's Game is chronologically first.
Then, having read those two, chronologically, the rest of the Shadow series is next. I takes place in the approximately 1 to 5 years following the end of the Bugger War.
Then finish the rest of the Ender series which takes place roughly 3,000 years in the future. As you already know, Ender and Valentine have survive for 3,000 years by being in near constant near-light-speed space flight, causing a time dilation effect. In a sense, they have hidden themselves in time.
Also, be sure to read the book First Meetings in which we get the incredible backstory on Mr. John Paul Wiggin and Mrs. Theresa Brown-Wiggen; Ender's parents. Very good story. Further, the story of Ender meeting Jane and how Ender became a 'Speaker for the Dead' can be found in Investment Counselor. I especially love this particular story.
That should round out the whole tale very nicely.
Steve/BlueWizard
Posted by Saephon (Member # 9623) on :
Am I the only one here who thinks the story fits just perfectly if you read the Ender quartet, then the Shadow quartet?
I mean, I know it's not chronological, but the writing just seems to progress very fluidly and I like ending the Enderverse with Shadow of the Giant's last chapter. Maybe it's just me Posted by BlueWizard (Member # 9389) on :
Actually, I agree with Saephon. Read the first two books (Ender then Shadow/Bean), then read the rest of which ever series appeals to you at the moment. The Ender and Bean stories after the first books completely diverge and are unrelated, so their is no real advantage to reading them as chronological series.
But the original poster asked for the proper chronology, and I gave it to him to the best of my knowledge.
Steve/BlueWizard
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
I'm a big fan of reading series in the order written.
Posted by Lupus (Member # 6516) on :
I did things really strangely.
First I read Xenocide, then I read the Alvin maker series.
Once I finished that, I picked up ender's game...along with all OCS's other books.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)