Orson Scott Card

Ender's Game

From New York Times bestselling author Orson Scott Card, Ender's Game is the classic Hugo and Nebula award-winning science fiction novel of a young boy's recruitment into the midst of an interstellar war. 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. Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game is the winner of the 1985 Nebula Award for Best Novel and the 1986 Hugo Award for Best Novel. THE ENDER UNIVERSE Ender Quintet series Ender’s Game / Ender in Exile / Speaker for the Dead / Xenocide / Children of the Mind Ender’s Shadow series Ender’s Shadow / Shadow of the Hegemon / Shadow Puppets / Shadow of the Giant / Shadows in Flight Children of the Fleet The First Formic War (with Aaron Johnston) Earth Unaware / Earth Afire / Earth Awakens The Second Formic War (with Aaron Johnston) The Swarm /The Hive Ender novellas A War of Gifts /First Meetings

really didn't know what the movie was all about... eehhh I never watched it

Emily

Enders Game

Andrew Ross

Paula Plaza Ponte 

I read this book slowly for two reasons: one, life got in the way, often enough I was forced to read a page or two a night, and two, like an observant, language-less bugger, I wanted to watch and really get to know Ender. How this boy genius a reluctant, killing machine becomes and unravels. I loved that he was undefeated, courageous, struggling with his own humanity between kindness and cruelty. I also liked Scott Card's storytelling. Like the lights on the battlefield, he left enough to make you want to walk through the dim door. When more pieces were explained, it didn't feel like spoon-feeding. It felt like revelation of classified information earned by our own trust. All in all, this book pulled me in and let me want to hang out in its lonely world. It often reminded me of this recent movie, "Whiplash", "The Matrix," with a touch of "Interstellar." It was a difficult to put down but the long, slow traverse made sense to me in the end. 

"...And it came down to this: In the moment when I truly understand my enemy, understand him well enough to defeat him, then in that very moment I also love him. I think it's impossible to really understand somebody, what they want, what they believe, and not love them the way they love themselves. And then, in that very moment when I love them...I destroy them."

siegs

Great story and very creative foresight into future technologies.

Lloyd Humphreys

Aamna

[Audio book]

3.8 stars

Actually looked forward to all commute this past week because I'd listen to this. Starts to decline after 70% though. Would have loved to see more of the Demosthenes/Locke storyline - it's introduced yet hardly built upon. 

Found the author's note at the end very engaging as he talks about the origins of the story.

Pepper

Ender's Game Movie Tie-In 18-Copy Fd

Although this book is considered a classic, I found it dull and uninspired. It might as well be called Ender’s Complaining.

Frederik De Bosschere

Aaron J Mitchell

While I enjoyed the space training and battle elements of Enders Game, the B plot about Ender's brother and sister ushering in a new age back on earth with fake message board flame wars seems more than a little goofy in a post Facebook age.

The book is overhyped in a lot of circles whereas the movie adaptation is slammed by fans of the book. But to me the movie captured most of the best of the book while leaving out the boring bits.

Jaden Nelson

yes, yes, yes. I have realized that I am a sucker for a plot twist. My thoughts on this book are kind of jumbled, so I'll try to keep this as collected as I can. The book was an extreme page turner and kept me up reading until I forced myself to stop. The plot was very well thought out, I liked how dynamic Ender was, and I LOVED the plot twist (I think I actually audibly gasped). I can't decide between 4 and 5 stars because the book was great, but I still felt like it didn't quite do it for me all the way. I was looking for a fun read and this book delivered. It didn't seem too childish or adult-like, it had a good balance. I am going onto  Speaker for the Dead (Ender's Saga, #2), and I am excited to see where the series goes. ((Also, if you have only seen the movie and not read the book, you need to read the book because the movie is a flop compared to it))

Emma Daniels

This book is my absolute favorite book I have ever read. I suggest this book to ever friend that has asked for a book suggestion, and always will!

Toby Baratta

This book would be even better if the author wasn't a terrible person.

Andrew John Kinney

Very entertaining, but it's basically YA stuff, and frankly not very believable YA. But it kept me reading.

Coleman McCormick

I've had this one on my reading list for years, and enjoyed finally getting to read it. Found it a little slow to get engaged with, but loved how it played out.

Shape Mismatch

After staying away from Science Fiction for quite some time, I started out with this book, on a whim, and on a recommendation. Easy for the eyes, imaginative but digestive, it's a tale you'd be flipping through before you know you hit the end. It never hits you, unless you turn over to find no more page. 

Immersed in it, I often felt like the book was meant for a different age group than the one I've grown to belong in. However, that's not entirely true. This inspiring tale of a kid's struggle has subplots, some minute nodes which really get you thinking (maybe it's just me). [SPOILER] The concept is heavily borrowed, and a watered down version of something that Asimov conceptualized in his Foundation Series, which is a good food for thought, and a good conversation topic for numerous conversations. 

At the same time, the book doesn't shy away from being childish. Many characters are linear, although their thoughtprocesses are beautifully elaborated. Sometimes it's really like being inside the head of a child. That is not always a bad thing, but might invoke certain distastes in the ones who have read other serious sci-fi novels

I think Ender’s Game is a really sad book. He never wanted to be a killer and the adults in his life manipulated him so that he was. Ender was constantly isolated and made miserable for the betterment of society. 

Liz Hunsaker

Gavin

Bit with Demosthenes and Locke was memorable (two children pulling the strings of the world media, less implausible than the aliens in this).

Lord Aragorn

Amazing story! Really enjoyed the descriptions of the relationship between the three siblings, as well as Ender's learning process.

Charlotte Dann

There were elements of this that made me want to devour it, but also many unassailable flaws. Chiefly, I just don't buy the premise. A 6 year old is the only hope to save the world? Sure. OK.
I'm going to make a video on this book when I find the time.

Ben Silverman 

An absolute classic that I'm so glad I took the time to read.

Aviv Leo Zippin

Once you're done with it you'll surly know why it's so high-regarded. Nothing shorter than a sci-fi masterpiece.

Loved this book. Such a different genre of book compare to what I usually read which makes a nice change. Would recommend this book to everyone.

Ben Jenkins

Scott Wilson

This was a great book!

Theme's explored:
- Practice makes perfect.
- Work as a game makes work more enjoyable.
- You can't always understand why adults do what they do - they do it because they love you and want the best for you.
- Everyone has a special gift - each one of Ender and his siblings had a special gift that they alone excelled at.
- People will always choose one person (sibling) as the best of a group - however those other remaining siblings are special in their own rights.


- You can't trust those in power.
- Adults will lie to you to achieve what they want.

Amy Thibodeau

This book was a quick, smooth read. I was quickly interested in the characters and rooted for Ender Wiggin. 

The end was weird and I guess it's because it's meant to get you to read the sequel, which I wasn't interested enough to do. The resolution felt a bit abrupt too. 

Overall, it was interesting and exciting but the last few chapters didn't hold up.

Kathy Jedrzejczyk

I'm not exactly sure what it is about this book that I didn't like all the way. It just felt too convenient. I did like the general premise of the book but I felt like the amazingness of these little kids was exaggerated just a little too much. I also didn't like the ending that much. It seemed to just kind of end, like the hunger games series. I felt like the main character was pretty plain. I didn't ever totally get into him. I didn't have strong feelings toward him positive or negative- unlike in hunger games I hated and loved Katniss at the same time. I really got emotional about her stupidities and also her good moves. I thins is book I was just "eh" about all his decisions and thoughts. Could have been a good book based on the plot, but turned out just ok,

Ender's Game

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