Ender's Jeesh discussion

I almost done with Ender's Game and was wondering if i should immediately read Speaker for the Dead right after? I usually like to take breaks between authors, but will I be losing anything by taking a break and read a book or two between Game and Speaker?

Thanks for any suggestions!

I did, but I couldn't get enough of Ender and the entire series. I guess it just depends wheter you enjoy and retain the reading.

I agree with Karina, you just can't get enough of the series. Of course, if you haven't yet read Ender in Exile, I would suggest that one before Speaker for the Dead. It's an in-between for those Ender lovers. It explains a little so you have more of an idea about the translation for the world but of course it also references the Shadow series as well. My suggestion to get the most out of the world the Card has built so well for us is to read it in an odd order.
Ender's Game
Ender's Shadow (it's parallel to Ender's Game but from Bean's perspective and great on its own)
Shadow of the Hegemon
Shadow Puppets
Shadow of the Giant
Ender in Exile
Investment Counselor (it's in the First Meetings in the Enderverse and explains the introduction to an important character)
Speaker for the Dead
Xenocide
Children of the Mind
I've heard that there's one more that is coming out (when, I don't know) to be read after all the others. The tentative title is Shadows in Flight.
I hope this list doesn't scare you, and feel free to read it in any order you like. I've simply found that this order maximizes the experience with Ender's world.
Happy reading. :)

I agree with the order Theresa suggested especially if you are recommending these books for youth or young adult readers. While Ender's Game was written for youth, Card said he wrote Speaker for the Dead (and the 2 afterwords) for an adult audience. The themes become increasingly complex as Ender gets older. A reader will both enjoy the series more and get more out of it if it is read in this order as the reader matures in their exploration of the Enderverse--- something to keep in mind.

so i should definitely read it in that order? I guess its ender's shadow next? thanks for the suggestions!

You don't have to read it in that order. That is just chronological in the Enderverse. I prefer to read them separately.

First, to answer your original question, I don't think you need to jump right into Speaker for the Dead if you don't want to. You will not lose anything by waiting. Other than the main characters being the same, there are not a lot of details that are required from Ender's Game to come across. Many people have started with Speaker for the Dead and enjoy it without reading Ender's Game first. It holds its own.

Second, I like reading the Ender books and the Shadow books separately. Each set follows the story of a different main character: the story of Ender and the story of Bean. The Shadow stories all take place before the Speaker of the Dead, thanks to interstellar travel taking so long and all. By the time Speaker takes place, Bean and all the Shadow stories are long over. Their stories have no impact on the rest of the Speaker books.

All that said, I can't stop a series once I start. I jump right into the next book and so on. I just finished reading Old Man's War and The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi. I am reading a different author now, but in the back of my head I am nagging myself to get/read The Last Colony.

I agree that the series have separate ideas but Ender's Game is the lightest read and Bean's perspective is influenced by Ender's so it would help with any confusion. Not only that, but it does progress into more adult content. (Thanks Annette for putting it so nicely!)
If you want to read more of the Enderverse, there are two prequels with Ender's parents. The first, Polish Boy, and second, Teacher's Pest. These are both also in the First Meetings in the Enderverse and happen before Ender's Game. Quick reads, if you're curious. They don't really affect much in the series but they're short and good for those who like a back history.
While Jason brings up a good point with the Shadow series not being directly affected with Speaker for the Dead, it is important to know if you want to read Ender in Exile, which is about Ender's time right after Ender's Game finishes, it references a lot of the Shadow ideas.
Read as you wish. I simply like the progression and wished that someone had told me (in my opinion) the best order timewise.

I actually like reading the separate stories Enders story (Enders Game, Speaker, Zeno and Child), Beans story (Enders Shadow, Hedgemon, Puppets, Giant) and then the Stories that seem to bring them back together (Ender in Exile and the projected Shadows in Flight).

so if i read the shadow series before Speaker, it will help explain what goes on back at earth with Peter, but Im guessing we dont get back to Val until Speaker?

If you're interested in Peter's history and want to know a bit more about what he did while Ender was in space, the Shadow series is a good idea to read. Of course, Val isn't much of a major character in the Shadow series, but she can't be in both. It wouldn't be fair to the other characters.
The Shadow series doesn't affect Speaker, not really. You can read Ender's series without Ender in Exile and miss nothing. The other series just opens up more sides of the world Card created, making it more complete. It seems that everyone prefers one side of the story more than the other though.

Mike, I made the mistake of reading the Ender's series starting with Ender's Game and straight to Ender in Exile before starting the Shadow series.
Since I did it in that order, there were a few spoilers while reading the Shadow series and a bit of confusion reading Ender in Exile.
What order did you read it in first?

I started the Shadow series after reading enders game and think I was better off for it. technically that would be the chronological order of occurrence.

I think that I read it in the Published order
Enders Game
Speaker
Zenocide
Children
Ender's Shadow
Shadow of the Hedgemon
Shadow Puppets
Shadow of the Giant
Ender in Exile



I also read the Enderverse short stories (I can't remember the name of the book but I did find it at all a dollar) and War of Gifts.

You will not lose anything reading it in that order (kind of like reading the chronicles of Narnia in Chronological vs. published order) you still get the same story.

My reaction to Speaker of the Dead
:o
Way too mature for my liking

I also suggest the published order. I would not read Exile before Speaker. Speaker was my favorite of the books and I think it should be read after Ender's Game.

First Meetings is a good collection of Ender short stories. That was published somewhere in the middle.