The Ships of Earth: Homecoming: Volume 3 (Homecoming Saga) (Mass Market Paperback)

~ (Author) "Shedemei was a scientist, not a desert traveler..." (more)
Key Phrases: camel cheese, sleeping cliffs, desert law, Lady Rasa, Keeper of Earth, Aunt Rasa (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The third volume of Card's Homecoming Saga continues the epic tale begun in The Memory of Earth . After 40 million years, the artificially intelligent guardian computer (the "Oversoul") of the planet Harmony--created to keep the human colonists at a relatively low technological level so they don't repeat the devastations wrought on Earth--has begun to fail. In order to repair itself and avert disaster, it has gathered a group from the city of Basilica, hoping to guide them through the desert to the place where the ancient starships wait, eventually to return to Earth. From the start, however, the band has been riven by internal conflicts. Some, such as Nafai and his wife Luet, can hear the Oversoul's voice in their minds clearly and follow its plans willingly, while others, such as Nafai's older brother Elemak and his followers Mebbekew and Obring, are not so cooperative and seek a way to return to the comforts of civilization. At times the conflicts even erupt into violence, but gradually each obstacle is overcome, though the participants are left with emotional scars. Throughout, Card weaves thoughts on such matters as religion, tradition and the needs of the community versus those of the individual, using Biblical allusions to drive home his points. Though the text is at times a bit preachy, Card posits no simplistic answers, and the series continues to be interesting and provocative.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

The third book of Card's Homecoming Saga takes the prophet Nafai and his oddly assorted band of pilgrims across the deserts of Harmony as they flee from ruined Basilica and its conquerors. Fumbling their way toward workable social arrangements for their new existence as they go, they are guided by the Oversoul and its vision of the need to return to Earth. There seems to be a bit of fumbling, or at any rate a good deal of talk, in Card's handling of this philosophical journey, but in its final stages, the book rises to great power as the little band of prophets approaches its goal. Even as good a writer as Card--one of the genuinely towering talents working in science fiction today--is not immune to middle-book-slump syndrome, but overall, this volume carries forward a superior story. Roland Green --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Tor Science Fiction; 1st edition (January 15, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812532635
• ISBN-13: 978-0812532630
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #58,969 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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• This is item 3 in The Homecoming Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nafai finally has his day of recknoning with Ellemak, April 19, 2003

By	Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

"The Ships of Earth" concludes the Harmony trilogy that is the first part of this five-book series. As the title indicates, Nafai and his family, following the advice of the Oversoul, the computer than has been watching over humanity for 40 million years after the supposed destruction of Earth, are approaching the object of their search through the desert: the craft that can take the Oversoul back to the legendary planet of origin for repair. However, the future of humanity becomes a secondary consideration in "The Ships of Earth" because the day of reckoning is finally coming between Nafai and his jealous, older half-brothers Ellemak and Mebbekew. This confrontation is long overdue and Orson Scott Card's way of resolving the issue is certainly insightful (which means he did not give in to the bloodlust that the story was inspiring in me).

Because the Oversoul is losing power, the planet Harmony is descending into chaos. The city of Basilica is now controlled by the forces of General Moozh, and the family of Wetchik (Nafai's father) has been cast into the desert. Whether they accept the will of the Oversoul or not, the family has to band together to survive. Meanwhile, the young Nafai pushes them towards their intended goal, no matter how fantastic and improbable it sounds. But the endless days in the desert allow Ellemak and Mebbekew to plot to end both their interminable quest and Nafai's power over the family.

Despite the science fiction aspects that drive this story, these first three novels resonate with elements straight out of the Old Testament. Nafai and his family are the "chosen people" of the Oversoul. The problem is that some of those people do not want to be chosen and they are quite jealous that a young brother has been placed over them. We are talking the exodus mixed with elements of the story of Joseph, albeit with brothers applying for the role of Cain. In light of such obvious parallels between these novels and the Bible, it seems strange that some would indict this series as Card passing off a thinly disguised version of the Book of Mormon.

This is not a great series from Card, but it is interesting and plays to his strength of creating characters and having them interact while living through interesting times. After "The Ships of Earth" the remaining two volumes almost seem anticlimactic; indeed, the final volume is almost an extended epilogue of sorts. Ironically, on the one hand I would have preferred to see the three Harmony volumes as a single work (I have them collected in a single volume), while on the other the Homecoming part of the series could have been expanded a lot more by Card.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars If you liked the other two Homecoming books, you'll love it!, July 22, 1995

By A Customer

Although it might not work as well as a stand-alone novel, this book continues the saga of the Wetchik clan as they follow the Oversoul through the desert to the place where humans first set foot on Harmony 40 million years perviously. The series is quite strong and I enjoyed this book much more because I was already familiar with the characters from the previous two. Card's writing focuses on character more than on the pure science-fiction of his tales and it makes them quite readable. All in all another well-crafted release from one of my favorite authors

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The pressure is mounting, and the tide is turning., April 18, 2001

By	Jason Moll (Reading, PA United States) - See all my reviews

Hatred, jealousy, envy, and conspiracy to murder are found in this novel......and the problem is that everybody involved is family!! This novel represents the third novel in the Homecoming series. And this novel turns the heat up in the brewing family feud.

Card does an excellent job in this novel of creating a strenous situation in Nafai's family. By the end of the novel, the blows will fall, and one person will be the victor. Card's ability to create complex characters is evident in this novel and thought provoking.

Another great part of this story is the history we learn when an individual finds the spaceships to earth. Now that they are almost going to Earth, pressure mounts, and a leader is needed. Who will it be?

On the downside of this, a lot of time has passed in this novel. Due to the time difference, it is hard to keep straight which parents have which children. I kept refering to the front pages to see who sired whom.

Overall, this book is a great addition to the series. It is well written, and has some great character development. Pressure is mounting in the family, and the ending is awesome. I would recommened this novle to anyone.