Earth Afire

by Orson Scott Card
Earth Afire cover
Good Books rating 3.87
Science Fiction (Sci-Fi)
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  • ID: 6403
  • Added: 2025-11-16
  • Updated: 2025-11-29
  • ISBN: 9780765367372
  • Publisher: Tor Science Fiction
  • Published: 2014-04-29
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

Earth Afire is set a hundred years before the events of Ender's Game, focusing on the First Formic War. The story begins with Victor Delgado's narrow escape from an alien ship, but his warnings fall on deaf ears until the aliens strike, destroying space stations and colonies. The only hope for humanity lies with Mazer Rackham and the Mobile Operations Police, who must act swiftly to counter the alien threat. /n/n This novel is part of the Ender Universe, specifically the First Formic War series, co-authored by Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston. It offers a gripping exploration of humanity's first encounter with an extraterrestrial force, blending action, strategy, and the political complexities of interstellar conflict.

Reviews
At Boundary's Edge · 2023-04-18
brilliant 4.50

The setup of the story is brilliant, especially as different families unite against an unstoppable alien warship. The narrative is engaging and well-paced.

The reviewer was captivated by the way the story brings together various families to fight against a formidable alien threat. They praised the setup as brilliant and found the narrative engaging and well-paced. The reviewer also appreciated the depth of the characters and the tension that builds throughout the story. Overall, they found the book to be a compelling read that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.

Quick quotes

    It was a brilliant setup, especially as disparate families were brought together to fight a single, seemingly unstoppable alien warship.

    So much of the story is engaging and well-paced, making it a compelling read.

    The narrative is gripping and keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.

Attack of the Books · 2016-08-29
harrowing 3.00

The second part of the First Formic War trilogy feels very hopeless with few victories, most of which are minor or pyrrhic.

The reviewer found the second part of the First Formic War trilogy to be quite bleak, with a sense of hopelessness permeating the story. They noted that there are few victories, and most of these are minor or come at a great cost. This sense of despair adds a layer of realism and tension to the narrative, making it a compelling read despite its somber tone. The reviewer appreciated the depth of the story and the way it portrays the struggles and sacrifices of the characters.

Quick quotes

    The second part of the First Formic War trilogy feels very hopeless.

    There are few victories and most of these are minor or pyrrhic.

    The sense of despair adds a layer of realism and tension to the narrative.

Goodreads · 2013-06-04
excellent 4.10

The characters are well-written and interesting, and the aliens are sufficiently alien. The horrors of war are vividly described.

The reviewer found the characters in the book to be well-written and interesting, which added depth to the story. They particularly appreciated how the aliens were portrayed as truly alien, making the conflict more engaging. The horrors of war were vividly described, adding a layer of realism and intensity to the narrative. Overall, the reviewer enjoyed the book for its compelling characters and realistic portrayal of war.

Quick quotes

    The characters are well written and interesting, and the aliens are sufficiently alien.

    The horrors of war are very well described, and things are not sugarcoated.

    The story is engaging and keeps the reader hooked until the very end.

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