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Cover of Speaker for the Dead
Science Fiction· United States

Speaker for the Dead

by Orson Scott Card
Aggregate Editorial Score80/100
★Hugo Award★Nebula Award
Published 1987415 pagesEnglish
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About This Book

Few works of science fiction have earned the sustained critical attention that Speaker for the Dead (1987) by Orson Scott Card continues to receive. Three thousand years after Ender Wiggin's destruction of the Bugger home world, he travels to a planet where humans and an alien species are in dangerous conflict, to speak for a murdered scientist. Card's Hugo and Nebula Award winner—the sequel to Ender's Game—is a profound meditation on empathy, loss, and the possibility of understanding the Other. Themes of empathy, alien species, guilt run through the work. The book has received recognition from Hugo Award 1987 and Nebula Award 1987.

Book Details

AuthorOrson Scott Card
Published1987
Country of Origin🇺🇸 United States
LanguageEnglish
Pages415
Category🚀 Science Fiction
ISBN9780812550757
Editorial Score80/100
About the Category

🚀 Science Fiction

Speculative fiction exploring technology, space, the future, and society.

Explore all Science Fiction books →
Country of Origin

🇺🇸 United States

This book is part of United States's rich literary tradition.

Explore books from United States →

Editorial Assessment

Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card sits within the tradition of science fiction that treats language as seriously as plot. Published in 1987 in United States, it engages with empathy, alien species, guilt, communication in ways that have earned it lasting critical attention. Critics and institutions have consistently placed Speaker for the Dead among the notable works of its period. Among its recognitions: Hugo Award 1987; Nebula Award 1987. Our aggregate score of 80/100 is compiled from 2 editorial sources that range from Nobel and Booker committees to leading literary journals. Readers coming to Speaker for the Dead for the first time will find a work that rewards patience. The book's handling of empathy, alien species, guilt, communication is layered rather than didactic, and a second reading often reveals dimensions the first pass only hinted at. Within United States's literary landscape, Orson Scott Card occupies a significant position. Speaker for the Dead is both a personal artistic statement and a contribution to a tradition shaped by the country's history and cultural concerns.
About this assessment: Editorial scores are aggregated from 2 independent sources including major literary prizes, critical surveys, and leading publications. Our editorial team reviews and contextualises this data. Rankings reflect critical consensus, not personal opinion or popularity metrics. Learn about our methodology.

Awards & Recognition

Hugo Award
winner · genre
198743
Nebula Award
winner · genre
198743
✍️
About the Author
Orson Scott Card
United States
View Author →

Orson Scott Card is a celebrated author from United States known for influential works of science fiction.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Speaker for the Dead about?

Three thousand years after Ender Wiggin's destruction of the Bugger home world, he travels to a planet where humans and an alien species are in dangerous conflict, to speak for a murdered scientist. Card's Hugo and Nebula Award winner—the sequel to Ender's Game—is a profound meditation on empathy, loss, and the possibility of understanding the Other.

Who wrote Speaker for the Dead?

Speaker for the Dead was written by Orson Scott Card, from United States. First published in 1987.

What awards has Speaker for the Dead won?

Speaker for the Dead has received the following awards and honours: Hugo Award 1987; Nebula Award 1987.

Is Speaker for the Dead worth reading?

Speaker for the Dead is a widely acclaimed work with strong critical consensus, with an aggregate editorial score of 79/100 on 50 Best Books, based on mentions across 2 editorial sources. It is particularly recommended for readers interested in empathy, alien species, guilt.

Where can I buy Speaker for the Dead?

You can buy Speaker for the Dead on Amazon. Click the Buy on Amazon button above to find the best edition.

What category is Speaker for the Dead?

Speaker for the Dead is classified as Science Fiction. Speculative fiction exploring technology, space, the future, and society.

What country is Speaker for the Dead from?

Speaker for the Dead originates from United States's literary tradition. Explore more books from United States on our country page.

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