Orson Scott Card strikes back again with a thrilling sequel, extending the life of Ender a couple hundred thousand years while keeping him a fit 30 year old man learning cultures, exposing truths, and seeking shelter one planet at a time. Card gives unique insights to anthropology and the treatment of species, especially sentient ones, and really challenges the meaning of humanity. The most heartless characters develop into beautiful creatures; I can't say I didn't cry at least once during the reading of this book (check the pages for water damage). This book can be read alone, as Card states in his preface, but I believe that the experience is definitely heightened emotionally if followed by Ender's Game. Nevertheless, I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the study of human culture, animal culture, space, ethical science, or anything, really.