Earthborn

Like Orson Scott Card, I am a Mormon, and my favorite story from the Book of Mormon has always been the story of Alma the Younger (Akma). In literature my favorite characters are always the ones who go through a profound change of heart or repentence process (Edmund and Eustace in Narnia, Jean Valjean in Les Miserables, Paul in the Bible). I was already familiar with Alma's later life and achievements as a great teacher, leader, and prophet, so it was great to be able to see Card's extrapolations about Akma's early life in captivity, the development of his hatred and anti-religious philosophies, his friendship with the four sons of king Motiak (Mosiah), romance with their sister, and finally his conversion. I cried as I read his conversion experience (directly derived from Alma 36) during his three days of unconsciousness. My biggest regret is that there's no sequel planned! I would love to read about Motiak's decision to establish Darakemba as a democracy, Akma as chief judge and high priest (and his experiences with war and dealing with apostate break-off groups), and about Mon and his brothers teaching the Elemaki!

I found this one of the best religion books written. I have it on my bookcase next to The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. To be honest I found the earlier books in the series only moderately interesting, mostly for amusement value since they parallel the Book of Mormon. This book also does, but examines issues of what it means to sin, and responsiblity for ones actions. I personally found it a very moving book. Perhaps it fails as his best science fiction, but it succeeds for me as one of his best religion books.

I felt that this series was wonderful, and I think that I enjoyed 5 the most (partially for the same reasons as the "reader from Texas"). I read them all in less than two weeks. I am also a Mormon and so I had a wonderful time "guessing" the outcome of the books because I already knew what would happen from the Book of Mormon. The Keeper of Earth is obviously God. The magma, etc. is only one of the tools he uses. To refute those who are angry at Orson Scott Card for discontinuing the story of Naifi and his brothers, that is where the story leaves off in the Book of Mormon, also. I'm sure he didn't write more about them because that's all we know about the lives of the real Nephi and his brothers. I believe that they were people that actually lived, as does he, and I understand that he didn't want to write more about them because obviously that's all there was that was important because that's all that Nephi wrote about his own life. Life is not always wrapped up in a neat package. Nephi and his brothers, Laman and Lemuel never came to terms, so neither did Naifi, Elemak, and Mebbekew. I felt that he did a very good job bridging the gap between books 4 and 5. Many reviewers said they didn't like the "moralizing" and the anti-climactic resolution of the story. They said that Akma was "obviously a metaphor for an atheist." Akma was not a metaphor for anything! Orson Scott Card was simply writing the story of Alma the Younger as it is found in the Book of Mormon. Akma's story actually happened! And if you don't believe that, please respect Orson Scott Card's beliefs anyway. I would recommend this book to anyone, and especially to members of the LDS church. For those who hunger to learn more about the peoples in the Homecoming Series, read the Book of Mormon! It adds to Card's stories of Nephi (Nafai), and tells much more about Alma (Akma) and how he became chief judge over the people.

I couldn't believe that it was all over after I finished Earthborn. After feeling so close to the original characters from the previous four novels, I was so saddened to see that all but one were gone. It was so dissapointing that I almost never read Earthborn, but that is Card's style to twist things like that. (I replaced that book with Ender's Game and found that this was his style. After realizing this I later returned to Earthborn). I am so glad that I did. The conclusion to this story is so beautiful, while your reading you'll remember the past novels and feel like those memories are really your experiences, another of Card's styles. When it was over, I became attached to the new characters, and wanted more. Thank you Mr. Card for creating such an amazing story and characters. For the first time while reading did I truely feel like your creations were from my heart. Homecoming is genius and should always be treated as such.

Card's Earthborn is a masterpiece that illustrates to every reader the idea that all human are imperfect. The characters are all human and none are completely perfect, or completely evil, allowing the reader to see heros and enemies that more closely reflect the adventures that we face everyday.