Ender's Shadow: Scholar

Ok, so we're on week three, and along with Bean's social struggles at Battle School, we're hearing a lot back on earth about Sister Carlotta's search for his parentage. Bean is continuing to be a snoop, he's not playing the mind game, and he's planning to climb through the vents, and he's worrying his teachers, who are desperate enough to call the nun for help. What do you guys think of what Bean finds about the school and what Carlotta finds about Bean? What are your thoughts on the mind game? And what are your thoughts on the fact that Sister Carlotta is so insistent on finding out where Bean came from, and her findings? Once Bean learns of the teachers' mistrust and sets out to be a model student, we find how closely tied he really is to Ender's army and it's success, both as a soldier and as the one who chose his soldiers. Now Bean and Ender's worlds are about to mesh closely for the first time. Has Bean changed yet in his social skills as he strives to emulate Ender? What do you think of Bean's perception of Ender?

For next week, next section: Soldier.

Ender's Shadow: Launchy

Here we are on the second section, and now that Bean is in the same situation Ender once was, so that we can begin to compare and contrast more directly. How does Bean handle being singled out, how does he respond to all the new environments and experiences of the Battle School, and how does he respond to the other children? Most importantly, how does he respond to being compared to Ender, who has already set the stage for brilliance? Personally I find Bean much more engaging than Ender just because he's not quite so malleable and easy to manipulate. Bean stays a step ahead because, naturally, after the way he had to survive on the streets, he finds it difficult to trust anyone, especially adults. In fact, especially when it comes to the desks, he is several steps ahead even of Ender, and he's not afraid of getting in trouble or of being pressed into following the rules to find out what he wants to know. As always, anything anyone wants to mention outside this realm of discussion (I've found some inconsistencies between this and Ender's Game, which is unsurprising, given that there was a ten year gap between them that I like to niggle at) are welcome.

For next week, next section.

Ender's Shadow: Urchin

In the first section of Ender's Shadow, we are introduced to the street life of Rotterdam, the gangs of kids who band together for survival, and most importantly to little Bean, who remarkably has survived, and sees a way to make things better for everyone. We also learn of a very real division between children and adults in this world, the adults who know what's going on, that there are orphans running the streets, fighting for survival, dying, and how few of them, most notably people like the cops, who do so little about it. The prominent figures in Bean's life at the earliest point in the story will continue to affect him as it progresses, so I'd love to hear thoughts on Poke, Achilles, and especially Sister Carlotta. In comparison to Ender, what sort of skills does Bean learn, and how is he affected by events, that you think will contribute to his time in Battle School? And how do you feel thus far about what you've seen of Bean's incredible intellect and memory, how he acted to save his life, and how he views the world thus far? As always, any other thoughts and observations are welcome.

Section 2: Launchy, for next week, and please let me know if the schedule is too demanding for anyone, and we can space out the discussions a bit more.