Ender's Shadow: Leader and Victor

First off, guys, I'm really sorry, I had tons of stuff going on with the end of the school year and it seemed like no one was commenting, so I completely spaced getting the posts up, and now I've just been guilty of slacking. So let's just finish off the book, for those who were waiting, and move on.

Leader and Victor chronicle Bean finally learning something about human interaction in the face of becoming responsible for a group and having to put it together, feeling truly guilty and grieved when he is unable to protect Ender from Bonzo's assault in the bathroom, and ultimately winning the battle for Ender when Ender has decided he's finished. Bean becomes a toon leader, faces down his own nemesis, Achilles, and goes along with all the other chosen pupils to Tactical and finally to Command school, meanwhile dabbling in political epistolary as he writes to Peter and Valentine regarding his theories about the situation on Earth. He fights the battles of the Third Invasion, is given the chance to take full command from Ender, refuses it, and realizes what Ender knew that he has never understood, and why he could not destroy the Buggers as Ender could. The end, as Bean comes home to the family he never knew he had, knowing he left Ender behind, seems happy and sweet, but given the political situation he has studied while in space, we know there will be more to come.

Final thoughts on Ender and Bean as two protagonists viewed in parallel? Thoughts on the different take each story took, and the different information we were given throughout each one? Thoughts on how the boys handled the attempted manipulation by the teachers differently, and the differences in how they faced the potentially life-threatening challenges that Graff threw at them? Thoughts on Graff and Sister Carlotta, the two adults most present and most able to manipulate both boys' lives? Any other comments, of course, are welcome, and anyone who's willing can suggest the next book.

Ender's Shadow: Soldier

So I was waiting for folks to catch up and post, and then I completely spaced because it had been a while, and I figure I'll just put up the new discussion and people can post as they're ready or thinking about it. So, we've already seen all this from Ender's point of view, and now we get to see it from the other side, also knowing that Bean was the one who assembled this army to become what it was. Bean starts to feel resentful of Ender, and starts to realize how little he really knows about social skills and interaction, knowing so much about Ender only to realize that Ender knows nothing about him. He starts to become more sensitive to Nikolai's feelings, experiences real fear and nervousness, and gradually gains confidence in himself as a part of a group. Finally, having grown a bit as a soldier and as a friend, he gains what he desires: a leadership role in Ender's army.

Meanwhile, Sister Carlotta has learned a lot about Bean and who he is and where he came from, and the news foretells a grim future.

Since we saw a great deal of this from Ender's point of view, I'd love to hear what you guys think in terms of comparison and contrast, and the very slight changes, if you can find them, between the two writings of the scenes. Also, what are your thoughts on Bean and his true biological family, his relationship to Nikolai, and the future that he has before him?

For next time, next section: Leader.