The True Story of Peter Wiggins
Book review.
Orson Scott Card’s Shadow of the Hegemon is the fourth book in the Ender’s Saga series. If, so far, we’ve been able to see Andrew Wiggins’ destiny, to get a glimpse in the future of all the alien species mankind has encountered, and to meet and root for Bean, the hyper intelligent boy on which everything depended at one time, well, it’s time now to witness the making and fall of Peter Wiggins, Andrew’s evil brother.
In Orson Scott Card’s Shadow of the Hegemon, all of the graduates of the Battle School, except, of course, Ender, return to Earth after the victory against the Buggers. Why didn’t Ender return to Earth? Because his brother, under the pseudonym Locke, arranges for him to be exiled on another planet, never to return home. You see, Peter was afraid of Ender’s power. As soon as Ender’s lieutenants return home, they’re kidnapped by various military forces, to be used as generals of their armies. All but Bean, of course, who is permitted to get back to his family. All the kidnappings are Achilles’ work, the extreme sociopath that swore revenge on Bean and is trying to rule the world. Bean and his family seek refuge at Sister Carlotta. Then Bean retaliates by helping Peter become Hegemon, the ruler of the world.
I won’t give you any more details, as this book is one of the greatest in Ender’s Saga. You’ll have to buy it and enjoy it, as I did.
Orson Scott Card’s Shadow of the Hegemon is one of the most political books he has ever written. This dark future is as possible as ever, in our current world politics situation, except for the hyper intelligent children – generals, and the alien menace, of course. Orson Scott Card has an objective yet visionary view on world politics, and all the facts he describes in the book are done so with finesse and extraordinarily word smithing.
I fully recommend this book to all passionate about both politics and science fiction. This is one of the best of its genre, a true masterpiece.
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