The Memory of Earth (Homecoming S.)

by Orson Scott Card

Paperback, 294 pages

Published Jan. 4, 1993 by Legend paperbacks.

ISBN:: 978-0-09-919961-8
OCLC Number:: 28063912

The planet called Harmony had been settled by humans nearly forty million years before. The colony had been placed under the care of an artificial intelligence, called the Oversoul, high in orbit. This master computer had one overriding command: Guard the people of Harmony against the dangers that destroyed humankind on Earth and other worlds. But now the Oversoul was itself in danger. Its systems were failing. Soon, within a thousand years, catastrophic war would break out on Harmony unless the Oversoul could be repaired.

The Oversoul determined that its core must be taken back to lost Earth, to interface with the Master Computer there, to be repaired and reprogrammed. But in order to do that, someone on Harmony must be given back the knowledge of space travel. And so the Oversoul must interfere directly with individuals on Harmony, in order to save the planet from disaster.

And …

And so, on the planet, while on the road to the city called Basilica, a man named Wetchik had a vision of destruction, sent by the Oversoul. Soon his sons, Elemak, Issib, Mebbekew and Nafai were drawn into conflict-with the city and with each other-as the Oversoul began destabilizing forty million years of social engineering. But even a master computer worshipped as a god can't guarantee that knowledge will be used only as it is intended.

The Memory of Earth is the first of a new five book series that will carry its readers from the road to Basilica back to Lost Earth. Orson Scott Card is the award winning author of ENDER'S GAME, SPEAKER FOR THE DEAD, and the bestselling XENOCIDE.

11 editions

Levi reviewed The memory of earth by Orson Scott Card (Homecoming -- v. 1)

None

5 stars

An unveiled allegory of being guided by God. In this case, God is a super AI who has been setup to watch over mankind and can communicate into their minds via means not spelled out. It’s computing power comes from satellites in the sky which have been slowly falling out of the sky for millions of years. As it loses computing power, it loses its ability to keep the planet, Harmony, in stasis forever. And so it needs to act, and this is the story of what it does, and the story mostly of a particular family that it decides to use.

The story is really about the theme of hearing from God, and exploring that in many nuances as the main character struggles with the concept in many ways. So there’s ideas about what is free will, what is freedom, how do I hear correctly and get myself out of the way, how do I not lose my own sense of agency and self, etc. And the twist is, since this Oversoul (that’s what it is called) is actually a really powerful AI, but is not actually God...there are some interesting ethical questions that come up from that.

If you enjoy asking these questions and exploring them you’ll probably really enjoy this. However if you are firmly atheistic then this would have very little appeal. I could see people making the argument that most of his plot is often driven through Deus Ex Machina events, that the plot is moved forward by the Oversoul (God) stepping in and doing what would otherwise be impossible. However, if you see the Oversoul as a character with real limitations (which are described in general terms and stuck to throughout the book), then it doesn’t really feel like Deus Ex Machina. At least that was my experience.

I also enjoyed the world building of different cultures on this planet, and especially of the “holy” city it is mostly set in, the warring factions and the interesting way that families are structured.

The book has a solid pace, a solid ending, and definitely makes you want to read the next one. It’s not for everyone, but for many I would heartily recommend it.