Earthfall

by Orson Scott Card
350 pgs  (Homecoming series #4)

Earthfall is the fourth installment in OSC's Homecoming series, and it follows the small group of travelers assembled by the Oversoul from the planet of Harmony back to Earth, the planet humans had to abandon 40 million years ago. From the very beginning of the book, the conflict between Nafai and his brother Elemak has intensified, and soon after they board the ship that will take them back to earth, it becomes violent. If not for the powers given to Nafai by the Oversoul, he would have died.

Once they land on earth, they discover two sentient species, which have evolved since humans left the planet into two separate but warring races. And it quickly becomes vitally important the colonists are able to make peace with these two races, as well as with each other.

As I've mentioned in the reviews of the earlier books in the series, Card borrowed heavily from the first book of The Book of Mormon for inspiration in this story (the space travel and alien races are all his), and it's that connection to the source material that, up until now, has kept me interest in the story so far. But with this installment, I found myself finally getting sucked into Card's own story. He picked up the pace with this one, and when it was done, I was more excited to pick up the next, which is the last book in the series, than I have been so far.

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

The Ships of Earth

by Orson Scott Card
382 pgs  (Homecoming series #3)

The Ships of Earth is the third volume in Orson Scott Card's Homecoming series. Nafai, his wife, and the rest of the group the Oversoul led out of Basilica, are traveling through the desert to where the ancient starships were left 40 million years ago. If they can get to them without killing each other first, they can take the ships back to earth.

The story Card is telling is interesting, but mostly because I'm familiar with the source material he pulled from. I'm enjoying seeing how he's taken that original religious story and converted it into an epic science fiction tale. I'd enjoy discussing the book with someone who had no idea it wasn't 100% Card's and see what they thought of it.

★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

The Call of Earth

by Orson Scott Card
304 pgs  (Homecoming series #2)

The Call of Earth, book two in Orson Scott Card's Homecoming series, picks up right where The Memory of Earth left off. Nafai and the rest of Volemak's family, having been directed by the Oversoul through dreams to flee the city of Basilica, have begun their journey through the desert. General Moozh, using forbidden technology, has begun the systematic conquering of the surrounding cities in preparation for taking control of Basilica soon. All while many have begun having unsettling dreams. But these aren't sent by the Oversoul, these are sent by the Keeper of Earth, millions of light years away.

I enjoyed The Memory of Earth, but didn't think it was anything special, at least, not in comparison to Card's Ender series. I was pleased to find that The Call of Earth offered more promise than it did. It reinforced my decision to continue reading the series, and I'm looking forward to seeing where it goes from here.

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

The Memory of Earth

by Orson Scott Card
294 pgs  (Homecoming series #1)

Forty million years ago, humans left a dying earth and settled the planet they called Harmony. They created the Oversoul, an artificially e=intelligent computer, with the primary purpose ofensuring the same fate that befell earth could never befall Harmony. They gave the Oversoul the ability to communicate telepathically with people and to an extent, control their thoughts and behavior. For 40 million years, the Oversoul has fulfilled its purpose, preventing people from developing the technologies that led to the destruction of Earth But now, the Oversoul is finally breaking down, and it knows its only hope for survival is to send its core back to Earth, and to the Keeper of Lost Earth, in hopes that it can repair it.

To that end, the Oversoul selects a man named Wetchik and gives him a vision. In the vision, Wetchik sees the destruction of Harmony and realizes that the Oversoul, which was worshipped as  a god by many, but disregarded by most, was in fact real, and could still communicate with humans. Wetchik convinces his wife and four sons--the youngest of whom, Nafai also begins to receive messages from the Oversoul--that his vision was real and that they have been chosen for a very important purpose.

The Memory of Earth is the first of five books in Orson Scott Card's Homecoming series, written back in the 90s. By itself, it's not great, but it sets the stage for what I think could potentially be a pretty good series. For some, it will be obvious from where Card, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, took the inspiration for his story. Which for me, turned out to be a bit of a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it was interesting to see how closely Card mirrored his story, but on the other hand, most of the plot points were foregone conclusions.

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆