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Ender's Game Review
Winner of the Hugo and Nebula Awards In order to develop a secure defense against a hostile alien race's next attack, government agencies breed child geniuses and train them as soldiers. A brilliant young boy, Andrew "Ender" Wiggin lives with his kind but distant parents, his sadistic brother Peter, and the person he loves more than anyone else, his sister Valentine. Peter and Valentine were candidates for the soldier-training program but didn't make the cut—young Ender is the Wiggin drafted to the orbiting Battle School for rigorous military training. Ender's skills make him a leader in school and respected in the Battle Room, where children play at mock battles in zero gravity. Yet growing up in an artificial community of young soldiers Ender suffers greatly from isolation, rivalry from his peers, pressure from the adult teachers, and an unsettling fear of the alien invaders. His psychological battles include loneliness, fear that he is becoming like the cruel brother he remembers, and fanning the flames of devotion to his beloved sister. Is Ender the general Earth needs? But Ender is not the only result of the genetic experiments. The war with the Buggers has been raging for a hundred years, and the quest for the perfect general has been underway for almost as long. Ender's two older siblings are every bit as unusual as he is, but in very different ways. Between the three of them lie the abilities to remake a world. If, that is, the world survives. User Submitted Ender's Game ReviewsOctober 7, 2008 Yay for Ender! Sadly, this took me ages to read. But when I finally got around to it, I was amazed and touched beyond words. On the surface, this is a fairly typical sci-fi novel, but what makes it stand out as the modern classic that it has become is the deeply felt emotion. This remembers to be a book that is about people and how we treat one another. A war is occuring, an attack on an alien species affectionately known as the Buggers who have attacked Earth twice before. Understandably Earth is sick of it and doesn't want to be wiped out this time. So they twist the Golden Rule and begin an army to make this aforementioned attack. To do this, they train young shoulders to be commanders, pilots, whatever. This is where the boy genius Andrew "Ender" Wiggins comes in. We get to watch Ender go through incredible and heartbreaking training that forces him to be more than the little kid he needs to be. On top of that, we see intriguing perspectives of other characters that surprise us in their effects on the plot. This is a well-written story that manages to be driven equally by both character and plot, with plenty of emotion and philosophy in both. Basically, I bawled through this. It was that good. October 5, 2008 Not Your Typical Science Fiction Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card is definitely not your typical science fiction novel. At first glance, I was reluctant to read it, "Oh boy, another version of Star Trek or Star Wars with a cheesy plot." I was wrong with Ender's Game! Although the book includes science fiction entities, it goes beyond them. What lies beneath is a book with a story filled with foreshadowing and twists and turns. The plot of Ender's Game is filled with many climaxes and incidents. As we follow a young boy that is definitely not like the rest through Battle School, we experience the high points and low points of his life. This young boy, Ender Wiggin becomes the outcast of his peers due to his intelligence. "Ender noted quietly that this was the first time another Launchy from his own class had sat with him at a meal." (P.56). Ender is constantly caught in the wrong place at the wrong time and his unintentional antics result in him becoming the loner of his launchy group. As we watch Ender develop through his trials and tribulations of Battle School, it is quickly determined by the many that he will be the one capable of saving the human race from the aliens. Will Ender be able to live up to his potential while trying to live a typical life at school? You will have to see for yourself. Ender's life at Battle School demonstrates his excellent abilities and potential. He immediately becomes the favorite of the teachers. This creates many enemies for Ender. In what becomes a good v. evil battle, Ender is forced to make decisions he may later regret. "You took him apart. I thought you were dead meat, the way he grabbed you. But you took him apart. If he'd stood up longer, you would have killed him." (P. 232) The most intriguing aspect of Ender's Game is the foreshadowing. Each cadet at Battle School is constantly monitored by the teachers. Each decision and move they make can be scrutinized or praised by the teachers. If they do not meet the standards of the teachers, they can be sent home immediately. This is especially challenging for Ender. Every game he plays, his loneliness, his decisions are all observed. Even more so because the teachers believe Ender is the chosen one. He must be prepared to beat the aliens and save the human race. "But going for the open eye - like that - this is the one we want to put in command of our fleets? (P. 171) Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card is a must read for anyone looking for some unexpected twists thrown into a science fiction theme. You are drawn into the main character, Ender within the first few pages. You personally experience Ender's ups and downs at Battle School. As Ender becomes the chosen one to save the human race from the aliens, will he rise to the occasion or will he crumble under the pressure? The lives of the human race are at stake and you can see the outcome by reading this book! September 30, 2008 How did I overlook this series for such a long time. I have no clue how I missed out on this classic, but the story certainly stands the test of time as one of the best science fiction stories published. I thoroughly enjoyed my introduction to the series with the 20th anniversary edition audio book, narrated by Stefan Rudnicki, and other narrators including Harlan Ellison. Having multiple narrators perform the story made this a special listening event. If you are new to this series or story, I would highly recommend you listen to the audio book version, as it is an exceptional story form the author has taken great effort and pride to make this presentation his best work. September 21, 2008 My top favorite of all time! So many reviews, not much more to say! What a great book/series this is. This title ranks up as my number one favorite book of all time. If I ever meet anyone new and we talk about books, this is the title I mention first and recommend the most. I've read the book so often now that the pages are all dogged and frayed, but I actually love listening to the AUDIO book even more, if you can imagine that. Scott Brick, Gabrielle de Cuir, Stefan Rudnicki and the rest of the cast bring these characters to life. So much more so than a movie ever could for me. I highly recommend the audio book on top of the written book. The emotion and power of these voice actors pulls you even farther into Ender's Saga. I get tears in my eyes every time I listen to this story and experience Enders triumphs and tragedies. I can't count the number of times I've been listening to this book and the time just melts away. I never want to stop until I get to the end. If this were the only book I got to read for the rest of my life, I'd die happy. No joke! September 12, 2008 Not a Sci-Fi Fan, but loved this book What a great book. Interesting, literate, and just wonderful. I finished it then started to buy more Orson Scott Card books. Ender is a fascinating Character. The book is great for adults and children. I totally recommend it. August 27, 2008 Believe the hype I kept seeing Ender's Game recommended by others but it seemed like a young adult type book so I moved on several times. I finally couldn't ignore the shear number of 5 star ratings for this book. It lived up to it. I devoured the book in a few days (fast for me.) I was surprised to find that I actually took some things away from this book that I used in dealing with people who work for me. What a fantastic story. Left me wanting more. I have already purchased "Ender's Shadow" and "Speaker for the Dead" - you will love what that means by the way - and can't wait to read them as well. The basic story line is aliens have attacked the Earth twice and nearly decimated the human race. The last time they attacked was about 80-100 years ago. In the meantime, humans have devised a way to identify and train a "super leader" to save us the next time the aliens attack. Ender is six years old when he is identified as a potential candidate. He is sent to battle school to learn to lead and fight, etc. He is basically pushed to his limits because he is our last hope. That's all I will tell you. The pay off was worth it for me. Enjoy! August 24, 2008 Lord of the Rings for the 21st Century, Part 1? This book is the first part of an astounding series of four books; Ender's game, Speaker for the Dead, Xenocide and Children of the Mind. Although interesting, deep and often fun in itself, Ender's Game serves a greater role of introducing the child Andrew Wiggan, his sister and brother Valentine and Peter, and the concept of another rational (the books use "sentient") Alien Species, known unaffectionately as "The Buggers". Ender is a sensitive but brilliant young boy whose combination of intelligence and desperateness for survival, and extraordinary empathy make him invincible in any setting, physical attack, mind games whatever. And hence set him up to be the potential saviour of the the human race in their war to the death against the Buggers. But this book is really a lot like "The Hobbit" is to "Lord of the Rings", and establishes characters who are in the later books a vehicle for astounding ideas and insights ranging across science fiction, physics, religion, psychology, romance, courage and self sacrifice. With a few small tussles between good and evil thrown in. I feel certain that in 100 yrs after their writing these books will be considered a pinnacle of a style of literary creation. Get reading August 24, 2008 Ridiculously overrrated pulp from a virulent homophobe This is a terribly overrated book. The writing is dated, and card doesn't seem to have ever met any children. In one review Card says that "The ideal presentation of any book of mine is to have excellent actors perform it in audio-only format." Yeah, that's because he can't write well enough to give the characters any real depth, or, well, character. Also, is it a coincidence is it that virulent homophobe Card has named his alien enemies "buggers?" I think not. August 22, 2008 What a deep book! I had to read this book for my AP Literature class in 12th grade. I found this to be my favorite of all 5 books we had to read. This novel is not only a spectacular example of science fiction, but it is also an examination of the human spirit, humans as a species, how much control one has over one's life, and children. I thought Card did an interesting job of casting away the typical stereotypes by presenting children in a very mature light. For those of you who are reading this to learn about the plot, this is the story of a young boy whose "destiny" is to save the human race from the buggers, an alien race that is trying to wipe out humanity. Ender trains in Battle School, led by the IF, and in the process, learns more about himself. I won't spoil the ending, but remember that not everything is always as it seems. August 16, 2008 Unique, fun, interesting, a delight to read all around! When you start the book you are immediately attracted to the main character. He seems interesting, and you want to know more about him. Usually authors have a hard time maintaing that interest. Orson Scott Kard is not only able to increase that interest, but keep you interested in every other character as well. This book has great ideas in it. I wanted to go into this book and do stuff like the characters. I wouldn't last long, and Orson Scott Kard makes that clear. Only the best of the best survive, and thats what makes this book intriguing. The smartest and brightest of earth's children must grow and learn and take on impossible tasks. This is undoubtly one of my favorite books of all time. I've never read anything like it. It pertains to almost every one of my interests. I think Ender's game is special for everyone, everyone likes something about it that makes it the best book they've ever read. Delightful twists, complex story telling, and superb character devolpment make this book something you will always remeber. For more Ender's Game reviews click here.
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