Monday, March 30, 2009

Orson Scott Card, Shadow of the Hegemon Pg.240-442 End

Orson Scott Card, Shadow of the Hegemon Pg.240-442 End
Summary:
In this section of the book, we begin at Achilles and Petra. They go to Pakistan, on of India’s worst enemies to try to negotiate a non-aggression pact (like Hitler and Stalin) so when a war inevitably starts, they both can expand outwards with out fear of being attack from the other. Then the Indian’s (a.k.a. Achilles) attack Burma. Bean figures out that the attack wasn’t or sabotaged by Petra, then Bean and other boy from battle school, Suyiwong team up with an elderly commander who makes sure they are heard. Then Bean and Suyiwong go to their base to plan, an attempt on their lives were made, which they narrowly escape, this is where politics take over and show the how the leaders might’ve been working with Achilles. Then the war really starts. When Bean calls for Sister Carlotta to be a person he can trust, her plane is shot down by a Chinese G to A missile which means that Achilles has made a non-aggression pact with the Chinese too. As Peter rises to power, Petra figures out the harshness of Achilles as he tried to kill her again, and she figures out a weakness of love because she is able to act as though she liked him, allowing her to talk Achilles out of his madness, and therefore she is able to live another night. When calls the generals of the Thai military about the impending Chinese invasion, he is shot down (not literally) and is forced to use his small army to fight the Indians, instead of saving Petra. After a certain escape of the camp where Petra is being held tells Bean the where about of Petra. Bean is able to go in and save Petra. After he gets there, he saves here and words with the invading Chinese forces to make sure they got back home with out any casualties. In the end, Peter becomes Hegemon and teams with bean to try to unite the world.

Vocabulary:
• Quixotic
o Excessively romantic
o Impractical
• Enmity
o Hostility
• Doctrine
o Rule or principle
o Ideas taught as truth
• Paradox
o Something absurd or contradictory
Response:
The ending to this book was very good, but why was it good. Well from my point of view, it was good because most of the story is dialogue or figuring things out, but it wasn’t until the very end that all the knowledge added up and then the fast paced action of saving Petra could happen. Because I knew it was going to happen, I just in the story it couldn’t happen until certain things were known, just like in my latest post I said, “In this metaphor, the jeeps are like the readers, and the story is the enemies, the more you read the more you map out the terrain and connect the little pieces of the map every step you take. You always know your enemy in hiding the uncharted places, you don’t know where, but he’s there,” and the write makes it surprising when it happens.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Orson Scott Card, Shadow of the Hegemon Pg.197-240

Orson Scott Card, Shadow of the Hegemon Pg.197-240
Summary:
In this section of the book Bean and Peter, test each other’s loyalties in a talk of strategies and next steps. They figure out that Achilles is probably planning and playing the Indian government to launch his empire. After that point, Bean suggest that Peter should some out of hiding behind the Locke persona and reveal himself to be a kid. Before this Peter, gets Bean a passage into the Thailand government, where he plans to fight Achilles. There is left to convince the leader of the military, another boy from battle school, to left him have a small force to save Petra
Vocabulary:
• Pique
o Bad Mood
o To put in a bad mood
• Expedient
o Appropriate
• Scuffle
o Disorderly fight
o Fight in confusion
• Prodigy
o Genius
o Wonder
Response:
In this part of the book, I really like how the story is sort of like a lot of parallels in the plot. For example, for the last how many pages he hasn’t talked about the other character group, Achilles and Petra, only about Bean, Sister Carlotta, and Peter. This is reminiscent, of R.T.S. (real time strategy) games. In this metaphor, the jeeps are like the readers, and the story is the enemies, the more you read the more you map out the terrain and connect the little pieces of the map every step you take. You always know your enemy in hiding the uncharted places, you don’t know where, but he’s there, like what happened to Achilles and Petra.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Orson Scott Card, Shadow of the Hegemon Pg. 95-197

Orson Scott Card, Shadow of the Hegemon Pg. 95-197
Summary:
In this part of the book, Bean receives and de-codes the message from Petra. Back the Petra and Enders “jeesh” Achilles separates all of them to torture them until they no longer pose resistance. Then Bean aware of the situation, secretly contacts Peter, Ender Wiggin’s brother, for he is actually a political columnist, Locke and Demotheses, with the information that Bean sent him, he goes to the press and gets the children released, also he learns that Bean, who he once though was dead is actually hiding and arranges to meet. During the release of the “jeesh”, Petra is kidnapped and transported, by Achilles. Bean meets with Peter, and his mother, who tells him Peters history and gives bean insight, to help them win or prevent a war (a little more complicated than that).
Vocabulary:
• Juxtaposition
o Put side by side
o Emphasizing a liked between the 2 objects
Response:
Why would anyone want to take over the hegemony/world? why would you?
In this book, there is a big emphasis on taking over the world, but what happens if you do. I mean, you’d be the most powerful person on the planet, but you’d probably lose friends, have many people hating you, and possibly a revolution. So, what is the point of taking over? So why? If you do take over what is your gain. Look at the world today; you have places that are neutral, like Sweden. They have never been taken over, or attacked any other countries, and they are fine the way they are. If everyone tried to be essentially good, no one would have a reason for aggression.