The Hive (Card and Johnston novel)

The Hive is a science fiction novel co-authored by Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston, published in 2019. It is the first book in the Second Formic War series, a prequel series to Card's acclaimed Ender's Game series. The Hive explores the events leading up to the first human-Formic war, focusing on the initial contact and escalating conflict between humanity and the Formic race.

The story is set decades before the events of Ender's Game. It follows multiple perspectives, including those of humans working in the early days of space exploration and those of the Formic hive mind as they expand their reach into the solar system. Key characters include Victor Delgado, a Brazilian child prodigy and astronaut; Mazer Rackham, a young pilot who becomes involved in the escalating conflict; and the Formic individuals as they attempt to understand humanity and determine its threat level.

The novel delves into the early stages of understanding the Formic's hive mind and their societal structure. It also examines the political and social complexities on Earth that contribute to the eventual outbreak of war. The book provides context for the motivations and actions of both humans and Formics that are later referenced in the original Ender's Game series.

The Hive is followed by The Queens in the Second Formic War series.