# Earth Unaware > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Earth_Unaware > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Earth_Unaware.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Unaware > Source revision: 1354697732 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) ***Earth Unaware*** is a science fiction novel by [Orson Scott Card](/source/Orson_Scott_Card) and [Aaron Johnston](/source/Aaron_Johnston_(writer)) in the [Ender's Game series](/source/Ender's_Game_(series)). Published in 2012, it is the first book of a prequel trilogy to *[Ender's Game](/source/Ender's_Game)*.[1][2] The novel is set before [Ender Wiggin](/source/Ender_Wiggin) is born and tells the story of the first [Formic](/source/Formics) War.[3] *[Earth Afire](/source/Earth_Afire)*, the second book in the trilogy, was released on June 4, 2013,[4] and the conclusion, *[Earth Awakens](/source/Earth_Awakens)*, was released June 10, 2014.[5] Orson Scott Card described the connection between the [Ender's Game (comics)](/source/Ender's_Game_(comics)) *Formic Wars: Burning Earth* (2011) and *Formic Wars: Silent Strike* (2011–2012) and the first Formic Wars trilogy as such: "Aaron Johnston scripted the Formic Wars graphic novel series (Burning Earth; Silent Strike) from Marvel Comics; now we're creating novel versions of the same story. In a novel, we have room to really flesh out the stories, the characters, the relationships, and a lot of what lies behind and around the action".[6] ## Plot A family of "free miners" living on the spaceship *El Cavador* is working an asteroid far out in the [Kuiper Belt](/source/Kuiper_Belt) when they detect what appears to be an alien ship decelerating from near light speed as it approaches the [Solar System](/source/Solar_System). Meanwhile, Lem Jukes, son and heir of the hard-driving founder of the largest mining corporation, is also in the remote region, far from the prying eyes of competitors, secretly testing a "glaser" (gravity laser) that promises to revolutionize mining. Back on Earth, Captain Wit O'Toole goes recruiting among the elite [New Zealand Special Air Service](/source/New_Zealand_Special_Air_Service) for the even more select, multinational Mobile Operations Police (MOPs). Jukes orders his ship to "bump" *El Cavador* from the asteroid the family is mining, as it is the only suitable one nearby for his test. During the violent collision, an *El Cavador* crewman is killed. The miners hack into the corporate ship's network, planting a message for Lem Jukes and downloading confidential files pertaining to the glaser. Jukes, fearful of a scandal involving the death of a free miner and the danger of the miners selling the confidential files to his competitors, sets out for Weigh Station Four, where he intends to plant a hacker to strip *El Cavador'*s files. *El Cavador'*s transmission equipment having been destroyed in the bump, the crew are unable to warn another mining clan about the intruder, and can only watch helplessly as the alien pod destroys them. *El Cavador* rescues a few survivors. In the meantime, Victor and a few others modify a "," an automated vessel normally used to send processed metals to Luna, to carry one person to warn Earth. When the pod attacks *El Cavador*, the men on the ram and disable the pod using mining equipment. During the attack, the aliens emerge to battle the humans. Their physiology is revealed to be [Formic](/source/Formics) (ant-like). *El Cavador* heads to Weigh Station Four to use their laserline transmitter. As a backup, Victor volunteers to take a datacube with the evidence of the aliens' hostile intentions to Luna aboard the . The journey is perilous, but their duty is clear. Meanwhile, the Juke ship makes its way to Weigh Station Four, only to come under attack from roughnecks who recognize the crew as despised corporates. Several of the attackers are killed by Chubs, a man seemingly junior to Lem Jukes, but revealed as having been assigned by Ukko Jukes to protect him. The corporates are still able to leave behind a hacker to strip *El Cavador'*s files, but the scheme becomes moot when the Formic ship destroys the station. *El Cavador* sends a short-range, broad radio call and is able to contact the Juke ship and a Chinese mining vessel. *El Cavador* sends its women and children aboard the Chinese vessel, which is too small to help in the attack. The plan is to plant mining explosives along the hull of the alien ship. Unfortunately, one of them detonates early, drawing the attention of the Formics, who at first engage the humans wearing space suits, but subsequently attack without any protection. Seeing the battle go against them, Chubs withdraws Lem Jukes and his men and moves the corporate ship away, as the Formic ship destroys *El Cavador*. Victor arrives at Luna, only to be largely ignored and confined for his illegal arrival. Meanwhile, Wit O'Toole prepares his MOPs for any situation, including what he thinks is a hypothetical alien attack. Victor is eventually assigned a case worker who believes his story and helps him transmit the evidence onto the Nets. ## Characters - Victor Delgado, a young mechanic of great talent who, along with his father and a young apprentice, keeps *El Cavador* running - Concepción Querales, captain of *El Cavador* - Lem Jukes, son of mining magnate Ukko Jukes and captain of the *Makarhu*, a corporate mining vessel - Captain DeWitt Clinton O'Toole, commander of the Mobile Operations Police (MOPs) - Lieutenant Mazer Rackham, a Maori soldier whom O'Toole is interested in recruiting - Alejandra, Victor's second cousin - Mono, Victor's assistant ## See also - [List of *Ender's Game* characters](/source/List_of_Ender's_Game_characters) - [Orson Scott Card bibliography](/source/Orson_Scott_Card_bibliography) ## References 1. Barnes & Noble. ["Editorial Reviews: Publishers Weekly"](http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/earth-unaware-orson-scott-card/1107085830). Retrieved 9 August 2012. 1. Cassandra (28 March 2012). ["Enders Ansible"](http://www.endersansible.com/earth-unaware/). Tor Books. Retrieved 9 August 2012.-Official Fan site 1. Johnston, Aaron (3 March 2010). ["Aaron Johnston Books"](http://www.aaronwjohnston.com/writing/). Retrieved 2011-12-11. 1. Aaron Johnston (October 30, 2012). "EARTH AFIRE, the sequel to EARTH UNAWARE by me and @orsonscottcard will be released on June 4, 2013.". No. 263428133984796672. Retrieved April 12, 2013. 1. Aaron Johnston. "And hey look. The release date for Earth Awakens is June 10, 2014. Huzzah! Pre-order now. [http://amzn.to/16tZ2Nz](http://amzn.to/16tZ2Nz)". No. 392814734455873536. Retrieved November 11, 2013. 1. Orson Scott Card (19 July 2012). ["Uncle Orson Reviews Everything"](http://www.hatrack.com/osc/reviews/everything/2012-07-19.shtml). Retrieved 27 July 2024. --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Earth Unaware](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Unaware) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Unaware?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.