Ender's Game (Ender's Saga #1)

I loved this book and the characters I just wished that some of the characters would have stayed longer.

UPDATE! I recently found out that this is kind of like a series and if you are a fan of Bean then he will make more of an appearance in the other books in the series.

More than deserving of its acclaim as one of the best of classic Sci-fi.

The book is a complex examination of human nature, set to the backdrop of undated future earth after two alien invasion attempts. Population control is enforced, and the control of governments and their military is tight, even in the freer countries. The ethical implications of such a world are thought provoking and abundant. (I for one lost count of how many times I asked myself:' Do the ends really justify the means?') The cast of characters are vibrant and memorable. The author's grasp on depicting complicated action sequences was impressive, though I would have enjoyed a little more strength in the use of physical descriptions.

The author's greatest achievement, in this reader's mind, was the steady build of empathy he managed to develop. I truly ached for young Ender and many of these children as they were being groomed into military tools. While I don't know that these children could have realistically thrived at all under deliberate conditions of isolation, devoid of love or security, it did thoroughly outline--or perhaps forewarn--how far 'civilized' governments would likely be willing to go in the name of self-preservation.

The political intricacies were an inspired additional layer to the world-building, deep enough to be believable without bogging one down in needless detail. That, along with the deft emotional immersion, managed to make the book feel timeless in spite of the year it was written.

Ender’s Game

Ender’s Game is an amazing science fiction book! Ender is very unique. The setting is amazing, and I love the story in this book. The character that I see as very unique, is Ender. He is a boy who was monitored all of his life, and now in the year 2057, he is being bullied a lot because of it. One day, a bully gets in a fight with with Ender and Ender crushes the bully. Both of them have no idea how that was possible. When Ender gets home, the government is at his house and they ask to take away Ender for space boot camp to fight in the space wars. Will Ender succeed or will he fail? The setting in this story is more than the mind can see. Most of the book takes place in outer space in a boot camp with a bunch of tough bullies that float around picking on Ender. The dorms are huge and I think the author does an awesome job describing that. The battle arena is an indoor 500 acre field where they practice with laser tag! That is why I love this setting. I love this story, because it is about a boy who is being bullied and finally sticks up for himself. Then, Ender gets to go to outer space and train in boot camp and train for war against the spacenauts. Will Ender survive against the bullies and enemies? My favorite part was when Ender was failing while getting used to no gravity.

As avid and passionate readers, we each bear an ever-growing list of books that we know, within, we must read; A personal cannon that strengthens, enriches and validates us as the cultured and smartly cultivated readers we aspire to be. For me, Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game has resided on that list, in the invisible sci-fi section, for nearly twenty years. Because of its reputation as both a YA pathfinder and science fiction trendsetter, I feel like Ender's game has been visibly in my path for as long as I can remember, growing more and more intimidating the longer I staved it off. Well, as you would surmise by the existence of this review, I am proud to declare that Mr. Card's seminal novel no longer sits on that occult-like shelf of unread legends.

Yep, I read it!

Now, shifting into a more serious quality, while unsure whether or not Mr. Card had written Ender's Game with a young adult audience in mind or if it simply became designated as a book for teens because of the age of its protagonist, the novel certainly reads like YA. Its an energetic, breezy read told in a fairly straightforward manner.

However, to be clear, in staying true to its science fiction heritage, Ender's Game offers plenty to be found slightly under the surface and beyond. Conventional themes of consumerism, over-population, environmental awareness and Marxist politics are all present in this story of Ender Wiggin and his group of battle school mates. Uniquely, though, Mr. Card presents these generic issues and more through the lens of a young, unseasoned genius whose rate of understanding and empathy grows analogous to that of the reader. So, in addition to interesting dilemmas concerning exploitation of children, Mr. Card's delivery of often familiar and ordinary themes and ideas now seem fresh and au courant through the eyes of young Ender.

I feel pleased and contented to finally have read Ender's game and not just simply to remove it from my list. As one reads Ender's tale, its influence on countless science fiction, YA and bildungsroman stories is suddenly revealed. I have resolved, within my own literary experience, that Ender's Game is an important book and one that is sure to enrich, inform and entertain.

Reader reviewed by Bonnie

Earth has survived two invasions by aliens they call Buggers, and are
preparing children to fight in the Third Invasion. Children who show
promise are sent to Battle School to learn and practice fighting. Ender
Wiggin is one such child, is really the child that they are looking for
to fight the aliens. He is the third child (it is against society to
have more than two children - any more and they're not really supported -
public education, etc) in a family of geniuses with an older brother
Peter who is cold hearted, and an older sister Valentine who is gentle
and thoughtful. Ender is the combination of the two. He is sent to
Battle School at the age of six, where he is singled out by a leader
which causes everyone to hate him.



Ender learns quickly by observing, and quickly outshines the older
students. The students are organized into armies and they fight each
other in zero gravity battle rooms. Ender has a genius mind, and starts
playing the game as it has never been played before. To challenge him
the leaders change the rules, assign him multiple battles in a day, give
him an army of misfits, and still he shines. He graduates Battle School
at the early age of twelve and ends up at Commander School. The end of
the book is the Third Invasion, and I'll leave you to find out what
happens.



This book is intriguing, and one that is hard to put down. In some ways
it is hard to imagine a six year old saying and doing some of the things
that Ender does, but that is what he was made for - to fight off the
buggers. There is humor - Ender writing on the desks claiming they come
from "God", and there are disturbing moments where Ender hurts and kills
people. You sympathize with him as he is growing up in an environment
where he has no real friends, and doesn't get an opportunity to be a
child. I really enjoy reading this book and recommend it to anyone who
likes science fiction.

Reader reviewed by Joyce

"The Ender's Game" is an exciting read, but not for the young. While I enjoyed the story and wanted to read on, I found the vocabulary to be highly offensive. At the beginning of the story, Ender is six but never takes on the personality or mannerisms of your typical six year old. What they do to this child to save the world is cruel and leaves the reader with the moral question of how much is too much?

Reader reviewed by Samantha

"Ender's Game" was written by Orson Scott Card. It is about a young boy who has to face many challenges against alien kinds of humans. He tries his best to keep control over his own life, but it is not enough. Ender Wiggen faces deaths, fights, love, and most of all: war. After years of training for the Third Invasion, Ender finally breaks down and loses control and allows the adults to trick him into something that he can never forget.

At first, I thought the book was going to be horrible, but after I started reading it, I thought it was wonderful. It was full of suspenseful moments that made me gasp in anticipation. I think that Card did a wonderful job of forcing Ender's emotions into the minds of the readers which make the readers become more attached than before.

"Ender's Game" is the first of four books in the series. I do not know the other book names, but i cannot wait to read them after this one! I want to know what else happens and everything that was left unended.

Reader reviewed by Jinxie

Andrew "Enders" Wiggins is a child genius.  He didn't come by this naturally, but was bred in order to attack an alien race that is attacking earth.  He was the only one of his siblings to make the cut.  He goes off to military training to develop his skills.  I am not really into science fiction because somethinges the words and concepts are other worldly and complex, but this book was really easy to understand.  Card, the author, vies the characters a life of their owna nd created a story line that only a genius can develop. 

Reader reviewed by OY

    This book is very well written. It was surprising that Card could think of all this technology before its time.  This book is set in the future when the world is at war with "bugger" aliens and  the government is looking for the person who will save the Earth.
    Ender's character is very likable because he's a hero but at the same time he's just a little kid.
   My favorite part about this book was the zero gravity in the Battle Room.
    This book is science fiction, but its almost as if the world Orson Scott Card made is real.

Reader reviewed by J. Mitchell

Ender's Game was first published in August 1977 as a novelette in Analog magazine. Card later expanded that short story into a full-length book, which is now his best known novel. Ender's Game is a vision of the future in which gifted children are used to fight in an adult war against alien invaders. It will challenge your assumptions of reality.

While written with YA readers in mind, Ender's Game can be enjoyed by readers of any age from 12 on up. The book is clearly Science Fiction yet is not so technical that it can't be understood easily.  There's enough room to imgaine yourself in Ender's world - which makes this a wonderful escape from the pressures of everyday life. At the end of the story, most readers are hungry for more, which the author has provided. This was the first but is most definitely not the last novel starring Ender and his friends.

If you like Science Fiction, this is clearly a book you should read.