What an incredible book! Orson Scott Card really elevated the story in this second entry in the series, adding excellent religious, political, and romantic themes to the narrative. All of it is written as an intriguing sci-fi retelling of the Book of Mormon. I absolutely loved the political themes in The Call of Earth. Seeing the planet Harmony slowly devolve under the control of these warlords, and watching the city of Basilica fall prey to such villainy, is genuinely fascinating. I also loved ...

The Call of Earth is the second installment of the five book series called Homecoming. The planet Harmony is inhabited by humans who are the descendants of people who fled a ruined earth a long time ago, and which is monitored by an orbiting satellite called the Oversoul. Somehow, all the people of Harmony are genetically altered so that the Oversoul can speak to their minds and influence their thoughts and actions. This was all set up by original settlers so that the Oversoul could maintain pea...

In many ways, The Call of Earth by Orson Scott Card is a far superior book to its predecessor, The Memory of Earth. The big villain, Moozh, is a wonderful character, and honestly, he’s the real hero of the entire story. He is deliciously complex, brilliant, and ruthless, yet so human that you can’t help but understand him and even find yourself rooting for him a little. This is especially true when you consider how rotten to the core Basilica is. The sequence involving the two sisters and their ...

A slow start that builds to a fantastic finish. The Call of Earth by Orson Scott Card is, at its core, another deep dive into character, philosophy, and theology, with just enough narrative momentum to keep you hooked and intrigued.There was one particular conversation that really stopped me in my tracks, offering a thought-provoking look at the nature of belief in God. It breaks down faith into four distinct categories:A) Just a choice: based on preference rather than evidence.B) An undeniable ...

As the second book in the series, I was honestly worried it wouldn't live up to the first. Fortunately, my bias was completely wrong! In The Call of Earth by Orson Scott Card, the characters are developed even further, with complex layers of both good and evil present in every single one of them. If you are looking for a must-read sci-fi book review, this sequel is definitely worth your time.

This second installment in the series picks up right where the journey continues. Nafai and his brothers are tasked with returning to their former city to secure wives for the long voyage ahead. Ultimately, their mission leads them toward Earth—the cradle of humanity—to start life anew. If you are looking for a compelling sci-fi book review, this sequel is a fascinating read. In many ways, I found The Call of Earth to be a stronger novel than its predecessor. Orson Scott Card relies less on the...

I picked up The Call of Earth by Orson Scott Card because a person I mentor was reading it, and I felt I needed to keep up with them to have a discussion. I definitely WILL NOT be reading any more. I am thoroughly disgusted with how this author handles a story from scripture with such vulgarity.I talked with my mentee about why I won’t be continuing with this series. It actually turned into a great conversation about the importance of choosing quality classics over popular books that might not a...

Orson Scott Card has managed to do what Robert Jordan could not: he develops a world, characters, history, and politics, blending it all together so seamlessly that you completely forget it’s just a story.Much like in Robert Jordan’s epics, the cast has expanded and the world has grown more intricate in its politics and deeper in its culture. But unlike Jordan, Card actually pulls it all together. As a writer, I’m left shaking my head in total awe—how did he do it?In The Call of Earth, the Overs...

I read the first installment in this series many years ago, and I’ve had this one in reserve on my hard drive for years, savoring and anticipating what I was sure would be a great experience. I came away largely disappointed and questioning whether I want to continue with the series.This is a hard review to write. This entire Homecoming series is loosely based on the First Book of Nephi, which is one of 15 books that comprise The Book of Mormon. I cannot stress hard enough the importance of the ...

3.5 starsThat didn't end up going at all where I thought it was going. It was a good read, but not great.General Moozh was my favourite character for being so different from all the others, but perhaps he wasn't so different after all. There was a definite ending to some of the storylines, but I can see how others will continue in the next book, and I'm not sure I'll find it as enjoyable, but we shall see! Honestly these 300 pages could have been 100 - in the sense of it reading very quickly, an...