logo

58 pages 1 hour read

Speaker for the Dead

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1986

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Book Brief

logo
Orson Scott Card

Speaker for the Dead

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1986
Book Details
Pages

382

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Lusitania • Far Future

Publication Year

1986

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

16+ years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

Set 3,000 years after Ender’s Game, Speaker for the Dead follows Andrew "Ender" Wiggin, who is called to the colony planet Lusitania to speak for the deceased xenologer Pipo. As Ender integrates into the Ribeira family, he uncovers complex truths about the intelligent native species, the pequeninos, their unique biology, and a deadly virus called the Descolada, while grappling with tensions involving the Starways Congress. The text includes depictions of domestic violence, incest, and suicidal ideation.

Contemplative

Emotional

Mysterious

Melancholic

Hopeful

Reviews & Readership

4.3

273,389 ratings

78%

Loved it

17%

Mixed feelings

5%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Orson Scott Card's Speaker for the Dead is praised for its profound exploration of empathy and intercultural understanding, building on the depth of character from its predecessor, Ender's Game. Some criticism points to a slower plot compared to its action-packed prequel. Overall, a richly thematic sequel that stands on its own merits.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Speaker for the Dead?

Readers who would enjoy Orson Scott Card's Speaker for the Dead often appreciate profound moral and philosophical questions explored within a science fiction context. Fans of Isaac Asimov's Foundation series or Arthur C. Clarke's Rendezvous with Rama will likely find similar intellectual and imaginative satisfaction.

4.3

273,389 ratings

78%

Loved it

17%

Mixed feelings

5%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

382

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Lusitania • Far Future

Publication Year

1986

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

16+ years

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.