Shadow Puppets: Shadow Saga V3

Orson Scott Card's award-winning Ender series is a genuine classic of science fiction. In SHADOW PUPPETS, the third book in the new series following ENDER'S SHADOW and SHADOW OF THE HEGEMON, he follows the fates of Ender's fellow pupils from Battle School - now facing terrible new challenges, both personal and political. Manoeuvring through international politics and war, Peter Wiggin and Achilles are each determined to defeat the other and become Hegemon. When cloned embryos carrying Bean's brilliant intelligence fall into the hands of Achilles' people, the race to protect the world has only just begun ...Look out for more information on this and other books on the Orbit website at www.orbitbooks.co.ukIn Shadow Puppets, Orson Scott Card continues the storyline of Shadow of the Hegemon, following the exploits of the Battle School children, prodigies who have returned to an Earth thrown into chaos after the unifying force of the alien invasion they stopped in Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow has dissipated.

Foremost among these whiz kids is the brilliant Bean who, in Shadow of the Hegemon, rescued his comrades from his nemesis--the dastardly Achilles. Now, the down-but-not-out evil genius is again scheming towards global domination and vengeance against the irrepressible Bean. It's up to Bean and his newfound love, Petra, to outwit the young psychopath and save the world. Meanwhile, the other Battle School children are called to serve again as an expansionist China threatens the stability of post-Bugger War Earth.

Shadow Puppets is, for better or worse, exactly what readers have come to expect from Card. There are thought-provoking musings on geopolitics, war, courage, arrogance, good versus evil, and the concept of children wise beyond their years dealing with grave responsibility. Unfortunately, many of these furnishings are looking a little frayed around the edges, but fans will enjoy an exciting, fast-paced plot and a suspense-filled conclusion. --Jeremy Pugh