Earthborn
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Earthborn is the concluding fifth book of the science fiction Homecoming saga by Orson Scott Card.
Generations after Earthfall, there is only one original colonist from Harmony: Shedemei, who now wears the Cloak of the Starmaster. After hundreds of years, the descendants of Nafai and Elemak have built cities and towns - yet never forgetting the enmity between the two brothers. After hundreds of years, the Oversoul still has not achieved its original purpose: to find the Keeper of Earth, the central intelligence that alone can repair the Oversoul's damaged counterpart at Harmony.
But now, the Keeper has once again begun to spread its influence. Heeding the dreams below, Shedemei has decided to return to Earth.
The last book in the Homecoming saga marks a departure from the style and storyline of the previous four. All of the characters from the previous novels (except Shedemei) are long dead. The central conflict between Nafai and Elemak is represented in their descendants, but take a back seat in this book. The focus is on the struggles within the descendants of those who followed Nafai. The king of Darakemba (an empire founded by the Nafaris), his children, and his advisers, along with the high priest of Darakemba, his children, and his converts, provide the main actions in the story.
Also, the science-fiction elements are overshadowed by the blossoming of the religious overtones (most likely Judeo-Christian) evident since the first book. The emphasis on faith in the invisible Keeper, the evils of pride, and the importance of tolerance are consistently woven within the struggles of the characters.
| Homecoming Saga |
| The Memory of Earth - The Call of Earth - The Ships of Earth - Earthfall - Earthborn |
| Author: Orson Scott Card |