The Ships of Earth
Third book of the Homecoming Saga, a fictionalized Book of Mormon.
The Ships of Earth, published in 1994, is a science fiction novel by American author Orson Scott Card. It serves as the third installment in the Homecoming Saga, a series that reimagines the early centuries described in the Book of Mormon.
The story follows the struggles of a group of pioneers as they attempt to build a new social order after leaving the city of Basilica. This new society is the inverse of the one they left behind: it is male-dominated rather than female-dominated, and it enforces monogamous, lifelong marriages instead of the yearly contracts that were customary in Basilica.
The central conflict pits Nafai and Elemak, two sons of Volemak, against each other. Nafai leads those who trust in the Oversoul, while Elemak heads the faction that longs to return to the doomed civilization of Basilica. Both groups are nominally under Volemak’s authority, not Rasa’s, as they had been in the city.
After years of travel, the settlers reach an ancient, lost land that holds the secret of the Oversoul. Many children are born along the way, all being prepared for the ultimate journey to Earth. The novel provides a rationale for the social structures found among the Hebrew tribes in Genesis, even as the once-powerful female characters gradually accept their new roles as "men" and "wives." Only Shedemei, a brilliant geneticist, reflects on this shift.
The narrative focuses on the group dynamics of this new tribe as it follows the Oversoul’s guidance. Prophetic dreams are common, often featuring giant rats and bats called "diggers" and "angels." The Oversoul eventually discovers its own nature.
Quick Facts
- Author
- Orson Scott Card
- Cover Artist
- Keith Parkinson
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Series
- Homecoming Saga
- Genre
- Science fiction
- Publisher
- Tor Books
- Media Type
- Print (Hardcover & Paperback)
- Pages
- 382
- Isbn
- 0-312-85659-8
- Dewey
- 813/.54 20
- Congress
- PS3553.A655 S54 1994
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The novel focuses on the struggles between pioneers to establish a new social order after leaving Basilica. The new society is opposite to that of previous societies—male dominated instead of female dominated, with monogamous and lifelong marriages instead of yearly contracts. The struggles between characters ultimately come down to those between Nafai and Elemak, two sons of Volemak. Nafai leads the faction with faith in the Oversoul, while Elemak leads the faction wanting to return to doomed Basilica. Both are ostensibly under the leadership of Volemak, not Rasa as they had been in the city.
Reader's Guide
The Ships of Earth offers an interesting justification of the social structures of the Hebrew tribes in Genesis, while originally powerful female characters gradually succumb to the new hierarchy of 'men' and 'wives.' Only one character—Shedemei, the brilliant geneticist—thinks about this problem. The focus is on group dynamics of the new tribe as they journey where the Oversoul guides them. Prophetic dreams abound, mostly involving giant rats and bats ('diggers' and 'angels'). The Oversoul discovers itself. After years of traveling, the settlers finally arrive in a land lost in ancient times which holds the secret of the Oversoul, and many children are born in preparation for the ultimate journey to Earth.
Did You Know?
- The novel is the third book of the Homecoming Saga.
- The new society is male dominated with monogamous lifelong marriages, opposite to Basilica's female-dominated yearly contracts.
- Only the geneticist Shedemei questions the new hierarchy of 'men' and 'wives.'
- Prophetic dreams in the novel involve giant rats and bats called 'diggers' and 'angels.'
More in Novels by Orson Scott Card 1-24
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