Treason

An epic tale combining mystery and fantasy, Treason more than meets expectations--I'd even go so far as to say that it's one of Card's best. Although the storylines are completely different, Card visits moral dilemmas familiar to readers of the Ender series: is genocide an acceptable tradeoff for the salvation of an entire planet? Is the sacrifice of one individual justifiable for the greater good of an entire race? In Ender's Game, Card creates a cold and oppressive cage known as Battle School to confine young Ender. In Treason, Card creates a lush and diverse world for his protagonist Lanik Mueller to explore in his exile. Whereas Ender's growth is largely internal and self-driven, Mueller picks up extraordinary powers while walking the earth, meeting new people and learning new skills. Lanik is frequently forced to ask himself deeper questions about life, sacrifice, and identity, all the while understanding that the more he learns, the more complex and difficult his choices become. He starts the novel alone and a freak; saving his own skin is almost more than he can manage. He ends the novel with terrible powers and the responsibility that comes with them, forced to choose the best way to save a planet hurtling towards destruction and death. Unlike Ender, he is fully aware of the choice he must make, making his decision all the more anguishing and tragic. Card takes many risks in creating a fantastic world that the reader must simply accept as is--this tale belongs more to the realm of fantasy than pure "science" fiction. Yet the risk pays off, making the reading experience all the more memorable. The reader is drawn in by the nature of the protagonist's grotesque transformation and the beauty of a world that stretches the imagination. The mystery and intrigue surrounding the planet's sudden power shifts keeps the plot moving nicely, and Card creates a strong and believable cast of characters to breathe life into the story, giving it a center and a soul. Finally, Card leaves the reader to ponder Lanik's decision in the face of a nearly impossible choice, in a world characterized not by black and white but by subtle shades of grey. Treason will probably never garner the attention of a book like Ender's Game, but nevertheless it is an excellent and thought-provoking story. This book is a hidden gem in the canon of modern SF and fantasy literature that will reward the reader who takes the time to unearth it.

I have read most of Card's works, but for some reason this gem had eluded me until recently. Once I started reading, I couldn't put the book down - I finished within a few hours. It was a great medley of adventure, mystery, sci-fi and fantasy. A terrific story that I would recommend for all mature readers (there is some graphic detail that younger or sensitive readers may find objectionable) and fans of Orson Scott Card. Right up there with "Ender's Game", "Enchantment" and the Alvin books.

Not since Ender's Game has a book so successfully denied me my much-needed rest. Treason took me two days to read -- only interrupted by two eight-hour shifts that I refused to call in for, and, even then, it stole my breaks. Now, while I would like to resent the work itself for exhausting me so, I could never bring myself to hate something so brilliantly constructed, so perfectly woven and so beautifully written. Card's outdone himself this time. A first-person shifting-milieu character piece -- only Card could pull that off. And pull it off, he did. It was, perhaps, the greatest reading experience of my life. Life, death, fear, discovery, perseverance, deception...all incorporated into a story that shakes the earth at will, makes the hours pass like minutes, and engages the reader's imagination so greatly -- so completely -- that he/she might well radically regenerate a second, maybe even third mind. This book was so damned good that I bought a second to lend to friends. I have no higher a recommendation. Satisfied?

Over 3000 years ago, the finest scientific minds revolted against their authoritarian rulers and were banished to the metal-starved world now called Treason in this amazing fantasy adventure. Through the person of Lanik Mueller, former heir to the throne of a powerful nation, but now exiled due to a debilitating genetic defect, Card takes his readers on a journeythrough the various states on Treason, each founded by a different would-be revolutionary, each facing unique geographical challenges, and each showing a remarkable resiliency in thriving despite the harshest of circumstances.Will Lanik ever be allowed to assume his rightful place as ruler of Mueller, or does some other fate await this unfortunate young man? Be prepared to be floored again and again as Card throws us one mind-blowing surprise after another. This is not exactly a science fiction novel, although Card does a fair job of making some of the wilder discoveries seem reasonable. After all, a lot can happen in 3000 years. The real focus isn't on the science, but on the diverse social and geographic settings, the breathtaking revelations, and on action that features a scorched-earth brutality seldom seen in this kind of book as our hero finds himself thrown into a series of ever-worsening situations. Warning: Mueller's society possesses genetic skills that allow Lanik to regenerate lost limbs and damaged organs, and Card includes plenty of distressingly gruesome scenes that call this into play, so this book is not recommended to the young or squeamish, especially since, while there are no sexual acts in the story, there are some sexually charged situations, (beginning when our young male hero grows breasts) that go far beyond standard prime-time sitcom innuendo. Don't let the easy reading and thrill-a-minute action fool you - this book is not for kids.But if you're not easily put off by graphic scenes of people being hacked up, and you aren't hung up on the whole plausibility thing, and you're up for a traumatic-shock-filled adventure, this book's the real deal.

My comparative literature professor turned me on to Card back in 1989, and since then I have read everything Card title I could get my hands on. This novel is one of his better stories, though some might find the tale a bit more "twisted" than his other offerings. Persoanlly, I think it would make a great action film. Treason is a rich fantasy where the inhabitants of the planet Treason have maximized their family skills and genetic traits, each struggling to survive and some to gain control of this tiny little resource-starved planet. The hero travels the land, an outcast of his own family because he cannot control his genetic abilities, and finds the secret behind the shifting of power. This is a spellbinding story - you will not be able to put this one down.Now that my nose is firmly placed on Mr. Card's posterior, I will return to my current reading project: Pastwatch - The Redemption of Christopher Columbus.