Customer Reviews

Space Boy

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

For those who have read a story by Card called "Space Boy" in the Escape from Earth anthology, yes, this is the exact same story. I exchanged emails with the publisher and they confirmed this, letting me know that the reason there are more pages in this version is due to a difference in print size and the addition of illustrations; there are no changes to the text of the story. So, if you're looking for a nicely bound, illustrated, stand-alone copy of Card's story to add to your collection, this is the one to purchase. Otherwise, if you're only interested in stories that you haven't already read, and you've already read the Escape from Earth anthology, you can skip this one.

P.S. If you're looking for the Escape from Earth anthology, there are a bunch of used copies right here for less than $5. The anthology is edited by Jack Dann and Gardner Dozois, and the full title of the book is "Escape From Earth New Adventures in Space."

One of the down sides of being an author that has written some of the most beloved stories in a genre is the benchmark that you set for yourself. Is this another Seventh Son (Tales of Alvin Maker, Book 1)or ASIN:0765342294 Ender's Game]]? No it is not. It is a cute story, really YA sci-fi, is that a bad thing? No it is not. Another favorite author of mine, when asked how long a story should be replied, "As long as it needs to be". This is a good story that is exactly as long as it needs to be (I read it in about an hour).

I really liked this book and was surprised to find it signed by the author, because when I ordered it I was just excited to get a new OSC story. When I opened it I saw the price was for signed edition, and thought that was an extra plus. This is also a nicely bound edition making it a nice gift for any OSC fan.

This is a much lighter read than any other OSC I have read, it is just a fun little book, so enjoy!

This is a great little book with adventure, a little bit of sci-fi, heaps of clever dialogue and a family that relies on each other, especially when it counts. It makes an ideal story to read out loud, in particular to boys 10 and up (if not younger). Fantastic story that treats boys as intelligent creatures!

When I pick up an Orson Scott Card book, what I am usually expecting (and looking forward to) is thoroughly developed characters facing a complex (and probably morally ambiguous) situation . . . and probably some violence.

This story has just a touch of the last one and none at all of the first two. First off, this is substantially a short story and not a novel. It could easily be finished in an afternoon. My most significant problem with this book is that it has none of the exploration of character I've come to associate with Card. There's no hero I'd really like to meet nor villian who I find weirdly fascinating, despite disliking him. At its most basic level, this is really just a simple, adolescent adventure story.

This is not to say it's bad. As light entertainment for what libraries like to call "young adults" it works fine. But it's simply not the style of book most of Card's fans are used to.

It is short. It has pictures. It's a good gift for an 8 - 12 year
old boy. It's the kind of book that could start a lifelong interest
in reading. It's not badly written either.

A short book with a fun story of two worlds joined by a giant worm whose head is to be found in a young boy's closet. A case where the monsters really are in the closet eating things! This book was frequently amusing, a little poignant and suitably original although not very deep. A good diversion for the hour or so it takes to read. Occasionally a tad scatalogical.

Mt biggest criticism, as for other short works by this author, is the price. 120 pages - a one or two hour read for most people, and Amazon are pricing it like any full length novel - even higher at the time I was writing this. It is fun but its not worth that. Thank goodness for libraries.

It's an easy to read, short, fun fantasy story. I read the whole thing in less than two hours with distractions. I don't regret having read it--I was just looking for a bit of brief diversion.

That said, it's not five stars simply because the characters are very flat. With only 5 characters total and Card's writing ability, I should have cared about the characters. Only one character interested me--for his unusualness--and he's not the main character.

If Card were to take the basic premise of this book, including the fable character reference, and develop it into a full Card quality novel, I think it'd be a five star work for certain.

I love Orson Scott Card; always. I loved Space Boy too, and thought it was a wonderful story. However, it seemed to me that it was just that; a story. I don't think it was developed enough to call it a novel and was a bit disappointed by its length or lack thereof.