Shadow of the Giant

Plot summary

In China, now under occupation, many people begin to believe their government no longer holds the Mandate of Heaven. Han Tzu receives a blow dart pen from Mazer Rackham, who calls it the Mandate of Heaven. Han Tzu later confronts the emperor, Snow Tiger, but a guard kills Snow Tiger, allowing Han to overthrow the government and become emperor. Meanwhile, Hegemon Peter Wiggin and Petra Arkanian visit Caliph Alai of the Muslim League.

They help him see he is essentially a prisoner, with others ruling Islam for him. After discovering a conspiracy, Alai decides to take real control and secure human rights for his people. Peter works to build a peaceful world government through his Free People of Earth alliance. Alai and Virlomi, now worshipped as a goddess in India, resist him.

At the same time, Julian Delphiki, known as Bean, grows uncontrollably fast because of Anton's Key and has little time left before his heart fails. He desperately searches for his and Petra's missing children. Graff helps locate the surrogate mothers. While waiting, Graff invites the rest of Ender's Jeesh to leave Earth and govern colonies, telling Bean to back Peter's FPE.

The FPE starts with twenty-two countries, including Brazil, Rwanda, and the Netherlands. Its first challenge comes when it recognizes the Nubian, Quechua, and Aymara peoples as independent nations. Peru and Sudan attack these rebel groups, but Peter defends them with Bean and Suriyawong leading Rwandan and Thai troops, proving that attacking one FPE member means war with all. The alliance's victories and brilliant commanders attract support, and countries begin voting freely to join.