Ch 11 - 20 Characterization: Earth Afire by Orson Scott Card

In the latest installment of the book Earth Afire by Orson Scott Card, the earth is in a bit of a dilemma.they recently have been attacked by an unknown and hostile species. Three large landing ships have set down in china. And though the fight isn't completely uneven. It's steeped enough in the favor of the newly discovered Formics that it's more of a massacre than a war. While it's clear that the Chinese need help. They are unwilling to appear weak in asking for help. The leader of an elite unit of MOPs (mobile operations police) is stationed just outside of china is faced with the decision of helping or staying put. Traveling into china will most certainly lead to the end of his career. He'll not only anger the Chinese for violating international law, his own organization is likely to throw him from thier ranks for his disobedience and breach of  procedure. One question that comes up is when does it become acceptable to risk oneself for an end goal. When does it become your moral obligation to accept the possible repercussions of an action and follow through. In the book. Our protagonists decide it's worth the risk. Characters like mazer Rackham and Witt O'Toole  move into the war zone knowing that if they don't die, their careers will likely be ended for their actions. And even Bingwen. A ten year old boy risks his life going into a scorched and razed valley to carry out his wounded friends. Even though there isn't an alien ship attacking earth. The debate becomes; when does our adherence to the law undermine the reason laws were first created? And what is the best way to address those issues?

Click here for a link to my reflection on chapters 1-10

http://avreadingblog.blogspot.com/2013/09/earth-afire-by-orson-scott-card-ch-1-10.html

Analysis: The Alchemist by Michael Scott

In The Alchemist by Michael Scott you are dropped into the lives of the twins Josh and Sophie. living in San Francisco, CA they find that the owner of the bookshop where josh works is Nicolas Flamel. with this realization they are plunged into an adventure that spans several books. one of the things that makes this book so unique is the way it uses setting. it blends together figures from history and mythology, creating a whole new world within the one that we see everyday. the freedom that this allows the author to take means that he can take you from breathtaking landscapes to urban alleyways in an instant. the settings and people who appear in the book are carefully chosen and their historical reputation adds a extra element of foreshadowing to the story. 

Earth Afire by Orson Scott Card ch 1-10 theme and summary

I recently began reading the book Earth Afire by Orson Scott Card. its one in a series of books that accompanies his more publicized title, Ender's Game. one of the reason that i have thoroughly enjoyed Orson Scott Card's books is because he is able to understand the way that people think. the thoughts and actions of the people in his books raise many questions about life and reflect many of the problems that plauge the world today. this aspect of his writing is consistent throughout his books and continues in the first ten chapters of this book. We pick up in this most recent book exactly where we left of on the pervious books.
   
     Victor Delgado, a young Free miner* is stranded on the lunar colony in the Lunar Trade Department under prosecution for reprograming and hijacking an ore transport drone to the moon from the Kupier belt. and nobody believes his reason for coming, Aliens. they're headed straight for earth, and everyone he talks to seems to think he's crazy. except one person. with the help of one of the LTD officials Victor gets his message out, and they manage to convince the business tycoon Ukko Jukes. Ukko supports the boy in a bin for political fame, and then the world has eleven Days to prepare for their alien guests. submerged in their own political agendas, the great nations of earth do nothing.  When the ship arrives and with proof that the ship has already killed thousands,  the earth send up an ambassador in the hope that it will help. It Doesn't. and that concludes chapter ten.

     One of the big questions that is toyed with in the series is are we alone in the universe? and if we aren't what are the other species like? in this story the aliens function almost like ants in a colony. They communicate telepathically and have no outward form of communications. so how do you expect us to talk to them. even though we think of them as monsters. Violent, brutish, and ugly how do we know that the bloody wars that happen in the story aren't just the result of  misunderstanding? And what if the war between humans and this new race isn't the only problem caused by misunderstanding and difference? I could name quite a few.





        

*free miners= small, family owned mining operations out in the asteroid belts of our solar system.

Book Recommendation: Legend by Marie Lu

Over the summer I read the book Prodigy by Marie Lu. This book is the sequel to Legend. Having read the first of the series, I was very excited for the latest installment. Its a rare treat to read from authors who can write a story with a truly dynamic plot. But Its even more rare to find an author who can develop characters with the level of talent shown by Marie Lu. She had set the bar high with her first book, but I must say she has completely blown away the bar with her sequel. Set in a a future world this sci-fi, Hunger Games style tale is put together with an efectiveness that rivals and in many cases surpass all of its predecessors. I think this novel is an amazing story and will be keeping an eye out for this title in my local movie theater.

Rating: 10/10


Check out this book on the iBookstore:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/prodigy/id531445886?mt=11