I gave the previous two books 4 stars, but I found this one to be a bit too chaotic. I had the feeling there was quite a bit of superfluous stuff in here. E.g., I really liked the stories of Rigg getting to know the different folds, but he did not do anything with the information he learned there. The first prehistoric bit was interesting, but really, why that whole second piece? Plus the stupid part where what's-her-name dies and Noxon makes the most ridiculous decision to save her 'original life'. As if there was anything to save, since it didn't exist yet. It also goes against everything Rigg learned in the story with the rapist. Sure, they are two people, so Noxon wouldn't have known, but what was the point of putting this in? It was stupid and unnecessary, since what's-her-name could easily have gone with Noxon as who she was in the first place. There was no need to change the whole world for this.
Then the parts that did matter got glossed over a bit. We finally get to the real reason Garden was destroyed, and then it all gets arranged in no time.

A second peeve I have were the female roles. Of course, we're talking about OSC here, so you can't expect a whole lot in that department. Still, it didn't bother me too much in the first books. But in this one, I really didn't like the whole business with Leaky, who is so unable to control her emotions she won't hear Umbo out for several times, even if it will mean not getting Leaf back. She won't even raise her own baby, just because she doesn't remember carrying him. Then I started thinking, who else is there? Param at least is growing up, but she still doesn't make the most convincing power woman. There is what's-her-name, who seems to only exist as a love interest. And she says that women are all attracted to power. Sigh. Oh, and Param's mother, the evil woman who would murder her own children. Perhaps the only acceptable one is Auntie Wind and she hardly has any role. Then the thing that seriously annoyed me. The mice go with Noxon on an expedition. They take all pregnant female mice, and... one male mouse to be the leader. Seriously?!? Not even the mice, who are so cooperative and all, can consider taking another pregnant female mouse as leader? Would have been more sensible,more mouse babies after all, and since they have manipulated the DNA, there is no need for males for DNA diversity.
Well,it's not his worst, but it is a pity, really. ( )

Well I finished it, the Pathfinder series by Orson Scott Card. I posted a short review of the first book but I did not do so for the second book. Nothing wrong with the second book mind you, it is just that it is the middle book and it is always hard for me to judge them. Unless they completely suck and I stop the who trilogy in general I usually will push straight from the second book to the final one.

Anyway, overall I enjoyed the trilogy. There was plenty of character growth and a few twists, particularly in the final book that I was not expecting and was pleasantly surprised. The growth of Umbo and Rigg from the beginning of the series until its’ conclusion was engaging. Solving the mystery of the multiple timelines and the future of Garden was a blast. It has been said by others that the time jumping and the multiple characters (copies really) was challenging. I would have to say that I somewhat agree with that. There was more than one time that I experience a “Wait, who, where was that?” moment. But I pushed through and eventually got it straight in my head again. Also, as I find typical in just about any trilogy or series, there were places that things just seemed to get slow. I realize that many times it is just me going through “series fatigue”, a condition I run into where I get somewhat bored with the current series and I start thinking about what I want to read next. But I stuck with it and I am glad I did. ( )

Not a bad book at all (I rated it 4-stars), but I agree with the other reviewers that this book isn't up to the level of the other two. I still really liked it but the other books felt more "full".

Unsure if this series will continue, but certainly felt like a conclusion. I wonder if OSC will revisit this series in the future? ( )

Orson Scott Card is a wonderful, albeit complicated, author. This book, and series, is not a simple one to read. The complexity of the plot adds to the philosophical nature of the story. By the end you are asking yourself "What just happened?" over and over again.
This book delves into human nature and how scientific advances can change the course of human history. By manipulating genes, can we create "powers" to significantly change human behavior? Do we have a right to do so?
This is by far a very complex read but it is done in a wonderful way. ( )

A crazy conclusion to a time bending trilogy. Overall enjoyed the series. And the this last entry was reasonably good if convoluted. ( )

I gave the previous two books 4 stars, but I found this one to be a bit too chaotic. I had the feeling there was quite a bit of superfluous stuff in here. E.g., I really liked the stories of Rigg getting to know the different folds, but he did not do anything with the information he learned there. The first prehistoric bit was interesting, but really, why that whole second piece? Plus the stupid part where what's-her-name dies and Noxon makes the most ridiculous decision to save her 'original life'. As if there was anything to save, since it didn't exist yet. It also goes against everything Rigg learned in the story with the rapist. Sure, they are two people, so Noxon wouldn't have known, but what was the point of putting this in? It was stupid and unnecessary, since what's-her-name could easily have gone with Noxon as who she was in the first place. There was no need to change the whole world for this.
Then the parts that did matter got glossed over a bit. We finally get to the real reason Garden was destroyed, and then it all gets arranged in no time.

A second peeve I have were the female roles. Of course, we're talking about OSC here, so you can't expect a whole lot in that department. Still, it didn't bother me too much in the first books. But in this one, I really didn't like the whole business with Leaky, who is so unable to control her emotions she won't hear Umbo out for several times, even if it will mean not getting Leaf back. She won't even raise her own baby, just because she doesn't remember carrying him. Then I started thinking, who else is there? Param at least is growing up, but she still doesn't make the most convincing power woman. There is what's-her-name, who seems to only exist as a love interest. And she says that women are all attracted to power. Sigh. Oh, and Param's mother, the evil woman who would murder her own children. Perhaps the only acceptable one is Auntie Wind and she hardly has any role. Then the thing that seriously annoyed me. The mice go with Noxon on an expedition. They take all pregnant female mice, and... one male mouse to be the leader. Seriously?!? Not even the mice, who are so cooperative and all, can consider taking another pregnant female mouse as leader? Would have been more sensible,more mouse babies after all, and since they have manipulated the DNA, there is no need for males for DNA diversity.
Well,it's not his worst, but it is a pity, really. ( )

This review is written with a GPL 3.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at Bookstooge.booklikes.blogspot.wordpress.leafmarks.com & Bookstooge's Reviews on the Road Facebook Group by Bookstooge's Exalted Permission. Title: Visitors Series: Pathfinder Author: Orson Scott Card Rating: 4.5 of 5 Stars Genre: SFF Pages: 609 Synopsis: Rigg, Noxon, Umbo and the others all do their own things to try to save the planet Garden. Noxon returns to earth. Rigg and Umbo try to save one of the Walls and set things up for yet another wall and the facemask'ers. Time and Causality bend, change, trade places and generally act in such a way that I am thankful we humans don't have to deal with those actions and their consequences. My Thoughts: It has been 2 years since I read Ruin but to be honest, it feels like 2 months ago. I knocked off a half-star because I'm not sure how these books overall will stand up to re-reads. Some of the other reviews I'd read stated that the readers were disappointed in the ending and so I was not really excited about this. Thankfully, this was on the same level as the previous 2 books, finishes the trilogy very nicely and still gave me lots of action and rationalistic beings acting rational. Thank goodness. Card put a lot of thought into the exigencies of time travel and how it would work AND what the moral implications of such would be. Like I said about the other books, this was a cool rush of cold water. Especially when I see all the crap out there about teens and romances and such. I want to scream out "Use your brains!!!" but obviously the characters in aforementioned books can't do such, because their authors aren't using theirs. And if you're thinking that is slam, it certainly is. A lot of ideas from Ender's Game are present, such as genocide, right and wrong, absolutes vs morals of the moment, etc. Also, if you're expecting tense expectation, forget it. We're dealing with multiple time travelers here, all of who want the same thing and are working towards the same goal. Overall, I enjoyed this trilogy, am glad I bought them in hardcover and am glad that Card can still write some good stuff. " ( )

As a conclusion to a creative series, this book is pretty good. However, it still contains the same content as it's two predecessors. OSC does a good job with the transition, reminding the reader of some critical items that might have been forgotten if a long time has elapsed since the reading of books 1 & 2. Then, it takes off. The story lines are interesting--they are adequately separated, then return together. I still have trouble believing that prepubescent teens can save the worlds, or that the adults wouldn't just bat them aside. There was also a significant amount of philosophical dialogue that's both tedious and unbelievable for the characters. OSC's ideas of time travel are engrossing and different from other sci-fi authors...who can say? ( )

As a conclusion to a creative series, this book satisfies the avid Science Fiction reader. However, when considered separately from the trilogy for its literary content, there are some aspects that could have been modified to increase reader enjoyment. For example, several defining moments for the main characters felt unremarkable. There were opportunities to capitalize on their maturation and therefore deepen the impact of the book, but Card did not do so. There was also a significant amount of philosophical dialogue to a degree that may prove tedious for some readers. Overall, a good book that neatly concludes the hanging debates from the previous two novels. ( )

I consider this series a lot like ender's game, the first book is very accessible woke the second and third book are much more philosophical and in depth (while a harder read, I feel like I get more out of the harder books)

This book in particular can get very in depth and the plot is sort of all over the place (in a good way, sort of) but it represents a pinnacle of the time bender ideas. Otherwise, I think the use of copies was more of a plot necessity to get two things done than really necessary. I liked it and think, again like ender, if there are more books in this world, I don't think they fit into a direct plot but more as stories or other plots in the same vivid world

Finally, I just had to say the mice surprised me, o think like the computer in ender, they were probably so much fun to write they got a huge role ( )

Need an IQ of 120+, or a PhD in Theoretical Physics in order to read this...
Ok... I had a hard time getting through the first chapter.... and a few others. This book does wrap up the Pathfinder series quite well, even if it is done the hardest way possible. At first I was quite confused with people talking to themselves and past versions as well as duplicates, but then things settle out for a bit. Then get really confusing again before settling down again. This is one of the hardest books I have read in a LONG time. However, the Pathfinder books needed a conclusion and this book concludes the series in a way that will make your head spin and give you a sense of closure at the end. ( )

From the internationally bestselling author of Ender's Game comes the riveting finale to the story of Rigg, a teenager who possesses a secret talent that allows him to see the paths of people's pasts.

In Pathfinder, Rigg joined forces with another teen with special talents on a quest to find Rigg's sister and discover the true depth and significance of their powers. Then Rigg's story continued in Ruins as he was tasked to decipher the paths of the past before the arrival of a destructive force with deadly intentions. Now, in Visitors, Rigg's journey comes to an epic and explosive conclusion as everything that has been building up finally comes to pass, and Rigg is forced to put his powers to the test in order to save his world and end the war once and for all.