Ender's Shadow
Parallel novel retelling Ender's Game from Bean's viewpoint.
Ender's Shadow (1999) is a parallel science fiction novel by American author Orson Scott Card. It depicts events from the novel Ender's Game from the perspective of Bean, a supporting character in the original work. The book was shortlisted for a Locus Award in 2000.
Quick Facts
- Author
- Orson Scott Card
- Cover artist
- Lisa Falkenstern
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Series
- Ender's Game series
- Genre
- Science fiction
- Publisher
- Tor Books
- Released
- September 1999
Facts from the source article.
Plot summary
Around 2170, Bean, a homeless child in Rotterdam, escapes an illegal genetic engineering lab as an infant and survives on the streets. Near starvation, he joins a band of homeless children led by nine-year-old Poke, offering her a strategy to recruit an older bully for protection. Poke chooses Achilles, a bully with a bad leg; Bean senses Achilles is dangerously intelligent but cannot change her decision. Achilles manipulates the group, gains trust, and eventually kills Poke.
Bean's exceptional intelligence and determination attract Sister Carlotta, a nun recruiting children for the International Fleet to fight the alien Buggers. Despite official resistance, she secures his admission to Battle School, where he is much younger and smaller than other recruits. Bean scores record highs on mental tests, prompting constant comparison to Ender Wiggin, a prodigy who preceded him. He uncovers secrets about the school while Sister Carlotta investigates his genetic origins.
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