"Speaker for the Dead" is about dealing with human emotions and impulses - hate, love, forgiveness, understanding - cleverly disguised as science fiction.

When I first read it, I was let down by the fact that it was not Ender's Game. There is none of the action, cunning, or "heroics" (for lack of a better word) that make Ender's Game such a fun read. However, I've found that I enjoyed it much more on this second re-reading. It might not be action packed, but I appreciate the "human" undertones of it.