Alright Sci-fi fanatics, here’s one for the wishlist! Honestly, I had some trouble getting into The Worthing Saga at first. The structure of it is a little bit different and for some reason I’ve been picking OSC books with a bizzare structure lately. But it’s good once you adjust to it. It’s actually sort of three books combined into one – three prior works that he perfected into one work.
It’s a complex tale, but a very well told tale. It opens with the “day of pain” on a planet that has never known pain or sorrow. A civilization that has never grieved suddenly grieves the death of loved ones, suddenly feels physical pain and they don’t know why. It’s soon made clear why to a young boy named Lared when two strangers arrive on his planet named Jason Worthing and Justice. They appear to be walking on water and have eyes that are of an intense blue color. And they speak directly into his mind. We soon learn that Jason has come to Lared’s planet so that Lared can record Jason’s story, The Worthing Saga.
Jason comes from a planet named Capitol and has lived for centuries due to a drug called SOMEC. Capitol was once a beautiful land like any other but now has no green space and is covered in steel. SOMEC allows a person to live seemingly forever by causing a drug induced hibernation for years where one doesn’t age and then you’ll be awake for a few days or a few years depending on your level in society.
Card adds to the mix a character named Abner Doon who is a powerful man who sends Jason on a mission to colonize a new planet during his youthful years and as he tells Lared his story we see the uprising of a new civilization from it’s roots. Card works his typical magic in these sections creating some amazing character interactions and some intensely emotional scenes that are heart pounding and heart wrenching.
The second and third parts of the book are short stories that take place in different parts of the novel….things that are alluded to in the novel but are further explained in the short stories. Like I said, very different structure, but it worked out really well and it was a really neat reading experience.
I really enjoyed this one and it’s yet another excellent Card book to add to the library. Highly recommended!
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I am never surprised but always happy when you enjoy whatever you are reading. (the surprise is when you DONT enjoy it!)
I see you are reading Far World now! I read it and wrote my review and tucked it away for August.. also have my interview questions answered and tucked away lol..
Hope you are having a great weekend!
You need to quit tempting me to read more and more OSC books!
(I’m kidding…don’t quit
)
So glad to hear it comes “highly recommended!”
I was worried there for a few days that you wouldn’t like it at all since it started so sluggishly for you.
I just read my first Card a couple of weeks ago!! I really need to get on some of his more Sci-Fi stuff though. Enchantment was great, but I hear it’s not quite the norm.
Glad to see you weren’t disappointed!
I’ve got to get back to OSC. The last book of his that I tried to read was a bust, but my son said, “Hmm, sounds interesting,” and walked off with it. That’s always nice.
It sounds interesting. I certainly have enjoyed what I’ve read of Cards work so you don’t have to do much convincing for me. He has proven himself thus far to be well worth the time.
Hmm. Sounds very unusual. Don’t know if I’d like it or not, but I should definitely give it a try sometime. You know, in that copious spare time I’m hiding around here somewhere…
I cannot possibly add another book to my TBR list. Well, maybe I’ll make an exception for this one, since it’s written by the great OSC.
Hey, Chris, what’s the latest on Ender’s Game, the movie?
Oooh, this sounds like one I’d really, really enjoy. I really wanted to join on Becky’s book club and read this, but I’m always afraid I won’t be able to stick with timetables. I sure don’t seem to do well with challenge deadlines. Anyway, this is definitely, definitely, definitely going to the wish list…I think I see a point in your future.
ooh wow, this does sound interesting. the structure is really different and i can imagine it could be difficult to get into. but it sounds like it works!
That does sound different from the other books of his. But interesting!
I love OSC and have a bit of a hard time reading new authors so I’m glad you’ve suggested this! Thanks!