Comment

Jan 14, 2015danielestes rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
In Card's last book, Ender's Shadow, Bean was born into such abject poverty and then subsequently rose up out of it against all odds to be one of Ender's most trusted companions that you forgave all of his brainy standoffishness. In Shadow of the Hegemon, our sympathies for Bean's have waned so now he just comes across as a condescending know-it-all. I didn't hate Bean. No, nothing that harsh. But he was so adept at seeing all the hidden sides of problems that the story too often annoyed me. Same with the other too-smart-for-their own-good Battle School graduates. It was like playing Trivial Pursuit and your partner reasons out all the answers before you even get the chance to struggle for the solution just a little bit. I'll admit there was the slightest enjoyment at watching Bean's mind work, but having him be right 99.99% of the time, and about EVERYTHING, feels like amateurish storytelling. Overall, the story was still fun despite Bean being a smart-ass and who doesn't miss the thrills of the zero-g battle room. Shadow of the Hegemon is classic Orson Scott Card at its core. I can picture him writing this novel like he was playing in a sandbox—imaginative play of military strategy, politics and the consequences of nations going to war with one another.