Ender's Game (Ender, Book 1)

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This book is a "Starship Troopers" for the Information Age, where enemies never come within a thousand kilometers of each other, but live or perish depending on how well they play computer games.

Six-year-old Ender has his personal monitor removed after living with it for three years. Now isolated from his overseers, he's a target for the school bullies and his homicidal brother, Peter. Only after he overcomes these obstacles is Ender allowed to join the International Force's Battle School in space.

This is the beginning of Ender's real struggle.

Humanity was once almost wiped out by aliens called the buggers. Only the brilliance of a single general saved us. Now the International Force is trying to create a new general before the buggers show up again and complete their genocide.

Ender is an extremely likeable genius--the exact opposite of the clichéd 'evil genius,' which I was getting pretty bored with anyway. He's a sort of six-year-old Byronic hero, earnest and determined to succeed in spite of his new enemies (geniuses themselves) at Battle School. His new mentors immediately and publicly single him out as someone special, and as a result Ender has to break one bully's arm on the shuttle up to school.

Thanks a lot, Teach.

This book's science is plausible, the background story is interesting, the mock battles are exciting and a great device for revealing Ender's growing tactical genius. His character is strengthened through his constant struggle with his envious and sometimes sadistic classmates. I wasn't too interested in the chapters concerning his psychopathic brother and loving sister, but I suppose they're important to the numerous sequels to "Ender's Game." This book's ending is a bit contrived, its climax impersonal and deflated, but other than that Orson Scott Card treats us to brilliant science fiction that is well deserving of its Hugo and Nebula. Ender is the true heir of Heinlein's smart, likeable, believable heroes.

Orson Scott Card tells a futuristic tale, yet it is only a prediction of what the modern world would look like. In Ender's Game, he explains the hardships of gifted children who are isolated in order to develop prowess.

Card is a writer of various genres including science fiction, fantasies, biblical works, and guides to writing. He also writes screenplays, which are possibly influenced by the encouragement of plays by the Mormon Church in his childhood. He writes commentaries in "Uncle Orson Reviews Everything," a writing column which appears online, as well as giving his opinions on culture, politics, and the world. In fact, he offers writing assist programs, which are offered on his website.

Card clearly demonstrates the tales of Ender that he created and displays his goal throughout. As an example, Bonzo, an elder, Hispanic student, abhors Ender because he disobeyed Bonzo's orders and assaults him. A cornered Ender manages to overcome Bonzo and injures him. As a result, Ender believes he is a murderer like his diabolical brother Peter because he harmed others. Ender struggles himself because of his discoveries of possible similarities with his nemesis sibling. Unlike his brother, Ender does not take pride in destroying others and commits this action because he is often pushed into situations which demand physical defense. This portrayal and situation in the novel justifies Ender's actions. Card connects many readers to the feelings and situations Ender has to endure. In fact, people who read the book believe they are similar to Ender.

Although Ender's epic quest in the military academy as well as his hardships draw the readers' attention, the novel does not challenge them with difficult vocabulary or language. However, this is not the intent of Card, who instead exercises a simple array of vocabulary in order to allow his novel to be understood by many people, and this is part of the reason the book managed to achieve its success.


(data from paragraph 2 from: http://www.hatrack.com/osc/about-more.shtml)

Let's see if I can do some serious damage to my reviewer rating here. This must truly be the most overrated book in the entire science-fiction canon. Card writes prose with the vocabulary of a moderately intelligent adolescent, and since "adult-acting" kids (in the most generous sense) constitute all the major characters of his book, that's who most tends to love this novel. And for all the older readers who think Ender's Game is the greatest thing since sliced bread, well, I guess some of us started our second childhoods a tad early. The best thing about the book is probably the whole subplot about Ender's evil brother and loving sister, and trust me, that ain't saying much. The bulk of the novel, however, is devoted to young Ender's rather unbelievable extended military training, which mostly consists of excruciatingly dull faux-battle scenes whose outcomes are thoroughly predictable. How will Ender and his minions outwit the bad boys-yet somehow earn their grudging respect-this time? Gee golly whiz, Tom Swift, I can't wait to find out! Oy. The capstone of this book's awfulness, apart from its obvious glorification of war for children (maybe Army recruiters should hand it out to junior high schoolers in West Virginia) and its characters' obsession with farting, is Card's utterly pretentious introduction to this "author's definitive edition." What a pompous bore! 'Tis a sad commentary on things that this man got rich and famous off of such nonsense. Anyway, if you like sophisticated science fiction with well-drawn characters and intricate plots, you should definitely look elsewhere.

I know this is going to make me unpopular, but it must be said: It seems to me that this book has become famous for being famous. I can't account for the overwhelming popularity in any other way.

It isn't particularly well written, although others who disliked it gave it credit for technical proficiency. It is essentially a story about bullies, video games and cookie cutter characters bought for half price at the Stereotype Barn and jazzed up with reflective neon tape applied to their fender flares. The misery of plodding through page after page of what amounts to the Lazer Tag Semi-Galactic Finals is made incalculably worse by the glacially slow pace at which these less-than-riveting events unfold. It's like enduring a root canal in slow motion. Without benefit of anesthesia. While the dental assissant reads aloud the latest celebrity gossip congealing around Paris Hilton. Ok, to be fair, it's not QUITE that bad, but lord! it sure ain't good. I can suspend belief with the best of 'em, but I have limits, and nothing these children do or say strikes me as being authentic. The problem with so many novels that feature young children or teens as their protaganists is that the author is writing through a filter; he is attempting to reconstruct the thoughts, feelings and dialogue of childhood from the perspective of adulthood. Please read 'Tom Sawyer' again and compare it with 'Ender's Game'. The disparity is glaring.

Comparing this to the genuine classics of the genre does not improve Ender's overall credibility. Both Frank Herbert's 'Dune' and Joe Haldeman's 'Forever War' are so much more compelling and thought-provoking. If you rated this book 5 stars do yourself a favor and give the titles mentioned a shot--you'll be rating them at 10 stars or beyond. :-)

In general I was turned off by this book. In the end, I think it is a child's book. It was quite easy to read and good enough to fill the time on my flight, but in the end, I was bothered to have read it. As someone who has experienced sleep deprivation, combat training, science training and much of what described in the book, I just found it pandering. Perhaps it is because in this age, being able to handle three dimensional thinking and movement and game play just isn't that spectacular. The world is full of people who spend hours fighting in games on-line and is also full of people who are bright enough to compose these games. I can't compare this to great writers whose work transcends science or presents philosophical context. It seems dated and naive in retrospect, but perhaps those who love it simply are impressed by things many now take for granted. This could be a commentary on the generational seperation in the wired world.

I wrote "possibly" because I'm only 2/3 of the way through. The only reason I continue to read it is because I keep thinking, "Surely, based on over 2,000 5-star reviews, something MUST happen to pull this book's fat out of the fire soon." The plot is thin, the characters are cardboard, the dialog would be laughable if it weren't so terrible that even laughing at it gives it too much credit, and I don't know what drove Card to have the 6-year-old boys running around naked half the time, talking about kissing each other's butts and how many pubic hairs they have between them, but he may be eligible for sex-offender registration based soley on this book. I've read there's a scene coming up where a bunch of naked little boys beat another naked little boy to death in the shower. Is this a work of science fiction or a description of a pedophilic snuff film? Also, Ender's genius is constantly hyped, but it seems like he's only a "genius" because every other member of the military is borderline retarded. "Hey, guys, in zero gravity, the terms 'up' and 'down' are relative! I'm Isaac freakin' Newton!" Seriously? No one in the long history of space travel had figured that out before Ender? Seriously?

Sheesh, this thing better have a good payoff, or I'm putting it in a paper bag full of dog feces and leaving it flaming on Card's doorstep.

Simply put, this is one of the very best fiction stories I have ever read.

This hardcover edition is nicely bound and the print is the best of all of the editions available. It does cost more than the others, but is worth it if it will be read more than once - which is very likely.

First off, let's start out you and me. Please! Do not skip this review just because I am young! Imagine how it felt to be ignored by adults as a kid! I hate it when that happens! I put a huge amount of effort into this essay, so please read it!

I was compelled to this book - AFTER a couple chapters or so. I think that STARTING a book with some boring phrase from people we have no idea about isn't so clever. I makes me feel left out, sort of. I had no idea what 'battle school' was in the beginning, and they're talking about it from the very beginning. I mean, after I read that first paragraph in bold (the dialogue from two people), I very much wanted to put it down and grab another book. But I forced myself to read on, only because others have told me it is a very good book.
At battle school, there is so much lack of variety in dialogue, and problems. The problems are always: 'I want friends!', avoiding someone, and to win the battles. The dialogue is most of the time slang. I have no problem with that, but what's all this talk about 'fart'? I heard Ender and his friends call others farteater about a couple dozen times, and Orson Scott Card constantly changes back and forth from slang to proper English.
Ender - when he is talking to his friends, he uses slang. And a couple pages later, hestarts talking to them in high vocabulary. This is very annoying.

Although I gave this book quite a lot of criticism, that doesn't mean it wasn't a good book. I loved Ender's Game and it ranks quite high in my top favorite books.
It is interesting to look at life at battle school from the point of view of one of the smartest and smallest kid, yet he is worked the hardest out of all the kids at battle school. This kid would be Ender Wiggin. Still, he holds off until he absolutely cannot go any further, and I believe this is a valuable lesson in life. The cliche: Try your best. Most people ignore the phrase, and do about not the best they can, but not the worst. Ender makes this you want to actually heed this cliche.

Wow! That was long. Well, I am a kid, and I am 10 years old and in 5th grade(to adults, don't be embarrassed that your reading the same book as a 10 year old! My reading level is 10th grade!). I loved this book and I can't wait to read the parallel novel, Ender's Shadow, and its sequel, Shadow of the Hegemon. I recommend it to everybody! And, the person who recommended this book to me is my friend, who is just like me - doesn't really read books, loves basketball, and you get the point. He reads even less books than me, and he read this book for a project. He loved it and I was very surprised at how he recommended a BOOK to me. It is already quite an achievement of myself to have wrote this gi-normous essay about my opinion of the wonderful book, Ender's Game.

"Ender's Game" is the type of book that incites profound passion in the readers; either they absolutely love it and think it is the greatest sci-fi novel ever written (actually Arthur C. Clarke's "Rendezvous With Rama" is the greatest sci-fi novel ever written) and that this book will save humanity with it's enlightenment, to the opposite feelings and that this book is the worst piece of trash that has ever existed and is more dangerous than "Mein Kampf". There are no opinions in between supposedly.

Wrong. While I find much to fault in this book I also find much to praise. First the faults. Looking at it from a literary point of view I don't like the huge amount of uninterrupted prose, going several pages without dialog. I prefer an even dosage of prose and dialog and using the dialog to expand scene descriptions instead of overusing the prose to do that. Minor point, the author Card has already addressed that as his style. Second point is the age of the characters and the level of dialog they use. Another reviewer was right, simply add five to six years to everyone's ages and it all turns out right. Card is less successful defending his view on this.

While I do not agree that there exists an abundance of obscene man-boy erotica, someone does need to explain to Card what real barracks life is like. Also the brother/sister subplot just doesn't seem to work for me despite the superb prediction of the Internet and laptops.

What many people also get wrong is that the main character of Ender Wiggin is not totally without empathy or remorse; on the contrary he is profoundly aware of the danger of descending into the "Dark Side", he wrestles with his decisions all the time, and Card gives great insight into Ender's inner torment. As the Guru once said, Genius and Self Awareness seldom go hand-in-hand.

What does work is the creation of characters that so many people can relate to. I myself relate to my own fleeing from becoming Ender just as he flees from becoming his brother. On the other hand the character rings so disturbingly true that those readers who cannot personally relate with their own life experiences are appalled by Ender and his compatriots and refuse to accept that any child could ever be like that, though they are unaware of the genuine presence of such people all around them (Boo!).

And that is where this novel works, because it fits its own niche so perfectly. One hundred years from now our descendants will still be debating these very points ad nauseam.

I think "Ender's Game" is one of the most overrated books I've ever read. Style of writing aside, there was so little I liked about this book that I'm amazed how many people act like it was life changing.
Most critical reviews focus on the unrealistic elements of the story. I agree, and I think it hurts the story a lot. Ender is too smart for suspense. Nothing challenged him. He never failed. Sure Card makes it seem as though he's struggling with acceptance and fear of other kids, but his situation didn't reinforce these thoughts, and you knew from the get-go that he'd have no problem figuring out what to do. A story where the protagonist never fails is boring. It would have been much more engaging if he'd struggled and lost in the battle room a few times, and it wouldn't have hurt the image of him as a super genius since he was contesting other geniuses with maturity and experience advantage.
Ender's extreme intelligence also made him unrelateable. I didn't feel a connection to him because I'm not a genius and I know it. I feel like people who think they relate to Ender are kidding themselves (exception being military personnel who relate to basic training). I only know of a few people in history who could honestly say they understand Ender, they would be Alexander the Great, Einstein, and the other anomalies who's brilliance defies logic. The fifteen year old who wins at Warcraft on the internet every day and thinks that makes him a genius can't claim any real bond with a character like Ender and should stop kidding himself. And if you were hated for being a teacher's pet, remember that you chose that for yourself, Ender was singled out against his will. For those of us who actually fail every once in a while at anything, Ender is like some mythical god.
When I realized the ending that Card was building toward I thought there was no way he'd really do that. I was wrong, it was exactly as predicted with even less of a payoff than I could have envisioned. No rising action, and if you didn't predict what would happen, the climax happens before you even realize it's coming. Aweful.
Peter's little political coup was terrible. The entire chapter could have been replaced with one sentence..."The children were so genius that they decided to make themselves into the most world's powerful political figures using the internet." That and it doesn't relate to the plot at all. Had I known that I would have just skipped that absurdly long chapter.
In short, for a book with a highly unrealistic and essentially boring character, weak plot, no rising conflict or climax, and a giant chunk of wasted paper, this book gets way too much praise. I don't recommend it to anyone over the age of thirteen.

What did I hate most about Ender's Game? 1) The non-stop imagery of naked boys running around, grappling with one another, getting soapy and fighting in the showers, etc. 2) The militarist, "destroy your enemies completely when you have the chance" themes that were reinforced over and over; 3) The glorification of a centralized fascist state, whose central-planning eugenics program produces a race of super children that act like adults (without the annoying pubic hair) except they have no personality whatsoever (not the author's intent); 4) The implausibility of the plot; 5) The lack of skill with which the book is written, shifting from first to third person in the same paragraph with no indication who's speaking or thinking; 6) The incestuous relationship between Ender and his sister; 7) The apologia for Hitler and the Holocaust via the "innocent" Genocide Ender commits; 8) The mind-numbingly boring and endless scenes that take place entirely inside a video game, or worse yet, in the appallingly lame "Battle Room;" 9) The Antisemitism.

Which is it? #10) All of the above.

This is, without question, the worst book I've ever read. How anyone cannot see, on full display, author Orson Scott Card's boylust is beyond me. Time and time again, we're told how the boys are naked "-- skin from head to toe." The boys "strip" or "peel off" their clothes; undress "methodically." We're treated to meticulous descriptions of soap running over their prepubescent bodies in the shower, or their cheeks (which ones?) turning red with shame as they're made to march naked through the halls. These boys, even with hairs on their chins, don't even notice the difference between themselves and the one token girl at the Battle School, who also runs around naked. And of course, there's the infamous shower-fight scene, wherein another boy gets "naked and wet" to fight Ender, just so things are even. Ender beats him to death, with the coup d'grace a "hard and sure" kick to his opponent's naked crotch.

If you like this book, you are either an idiot or a pervert or both -- to say nothing of being a fascist. I could go on and on about the generally fascist and explicitly Nazi imagery in Ender's Game, but why bother? The arrested-development fans of this trash, still living at home with mom and having never read a legitimate book their entire lives, are completely unable to see the even more obvious man-boy love imagery, why go into detail about the more subtle (but still overt) homages to something they're only tacitly familiar with (i.e., real world political philosophy and history) anyway?

A friend recommended this book to me. Or should I say a former friend. That's how bad it was.

I'm really not quite sure what the 'Ender Quartet' in this product title is all about, I was expecting the 4 books related to the ender series but instead only received the first book. The book is beautiful. Awesome gift. If I had known that this product was only the single book I would not have rushed the shipping, $50 on the single book wasn't so hot.

This book has been recommended to me by various people for the past fifteen years. The main reason is something like this: the Battle Room is really cool, and wouldn't it be fun to be a child military genius? My answer to that is no, not really.

The setup for ENDER'S GAME is something like the Third Punic War. Earth has already fought two wars with the unfortunately-named buggers (insectoid hive-minded aliens), and after winning both by the skin of their teeth they've sent an invasion fleet to wipe the buggers out. The galaxy's not big enough for the both of us, apparently.

Ender Wiggin is a six year-old genius who is taken away from his family to the orbital Battle School, where he and other child geniuses are trained to become the admirals and generals of the future. Ender, though only six, proves himself to be smarter than just about everyone else. He fights repetitive laser-tag games in the zero-G Battle Room, and demonstrates innovative strategies that might be clever for a child, but should be obvious to everyone else. He quickly rises through the grades of the school, playing ever more challenging and complicated games, until he becomes the supposed savior of all mankind. A subplot involving Ender's genius siblings basically taking over the world with the equivalent of political blogs is thoroughly unconvincing.

The main body of ENDER'S GAME is the dehumanization and manipulation of the child hero. He is made to suffer from age five up until he turns eleven at the book's climax. Only at the end, when he expresses remorse for all the terrible things he's done, does he actually become sympathetic, but by then it's too late. The book ends just when it starts to grapple with the ethical issues it has conjured up, which for me was just when it started to get interesting. The worst people are let off the hook, and Ender is set up to be the next Messiah.

Mr. Card contrives numerous ways to excuse everything Ender does, which boil down to "Ender is a good person, so everything he does is automatically good." This is explicit in the dialogue and in the presentation of Ender as a sympathetic hero; the author obviously loves him and expects us to feel the same way. I cannot begin to express just how perverse this philosophy is.

The emphasis is on action, in and out of the Battle Room. Ender doesn't want to fight, but he always finds himself in situations where he has to, and the reader is exploited into rooting for Ender just as Ender is exploited into using his killer survival instinct for the benefit of others. Manipulation is the key to this book. We are meant to sympathize with Ender because he is bullied. Why is he bullied -- is it because the other boys are jealous of him, or because he's annoying, or simply because the plot demands it? A six year old military genius sounds like wish-fulfillment for the author and his fans, and it's a lazy approach to writing a book, since what normal person wouldn't sympathize with an abused child? Even if that child becomes a cold-blooded murderer.

Card's style cuts out every adverb and adjective that might get in the way, leaving his prose spare and efficient and utterly devoid of personality. It's easy to read, but not particularly enjoyable. The dialogue is especially irksome, considering it takes up so much of the text. The children of Card's world do not speak like our Earth-children, even allowing for the fact that they're all meant to be child prodigies of limitless intelligence. Ender and his friends are effectively mini-adults, acting and speaking in adult ways. Card assumes that if a child has a genius IQ, he therefore also has the emotional maturity of an adult. The dialogue given to actual grown-up characters is no better.

ENDER'S GAME is disturbing rather than fun. The simplicity of its style betrays the complexity of its subject. By making his hero a child, Mr Card not only maintains Ender's innocence, but gets around the problem of sexuality: Ender's powerful love for his sister remains chaste, even when she takes on the role of a traditional romantic interest. What worries me most is that the book's appeal might be founded entirely upon the premise of violent child geniuses waging sophisticated wargames against each other. According to the five-star reviews and the endorsements I've heard, that might not be far from the truth.

My name is Rachel and I am 16 years old. I am a junior in high school and Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card was a reading requirement for my English class. I also love reading outside of school; I do it as much as I can when I have free time. I have read quite a few science-fiction books as well as many other novels from various genres. Although we were required to read Ender's Game, I enjoyed it thoroughly and found myself reading way ahead of the class and unable to put it down.
Although I liked Ender's Game overall as a novel, there were a few components I did not particularly care for. The plot was somewhat split in two, one half concentrating on Ender's story in space, and the other concentrating on the simultaneous happenings on earth and the story of Valentine and Peter Wiggin. The issues on Earth, in my opinion, were not explained clearly enough. It was difficult for me to grasp which parts of the world were plotting to attack which others. Valentine and Peter talk about these issues as if they are "old news" but I seemed to be lost during these conversations. What I did like about the novel was being able to know what was going through Ender's mind at all times. Reading about Ender's struggles from home, to those from battle school, to command school and beyond and how he overcame every obstacle put in his way was enjoyable for me. I also found myself very interested in how Ender was given no opportunity to become close with all other students, but he managed to make a few extremely close friends who learned to love Ender despite his uniqueness.
Card's writing style, in general, was actually one of the main things that made me like this book. At the start of each chapter, Card uses dialogue among the various adult characters, such as Graff and Anderson, to foreshadow the events that immediately follow. He also writes in a way that allows the reader to know Ender's thoughts and feelings; most of the novel is written from Ender's point of view. Card creates a few round characters that we are able to learn a lot about. But he also includes multiple flat characters that we know so little about, but are still critical to the plot.
I definitely recommend this book to any fan of science fiction, but I also recommend it to any dedicated reader also, even if sci-fi is not a particular interest. Young children should probably not read this book because of the complexity of the plot. It might be hard for them to fully comprehend the different themes and certain specific plot points of the novel at such a young age. I suggest this to readers that are 14 years of age or older.

In the 22nd century, Ender lives in a modern Earth where there is a new Warsaw Pact between the countries in Europe, where each child receives a miniature computer that records all of their life experiences, and where law forbids adults to have more than two children. However, Ender also lives in world that has been invaded by alien creatures known to many only as the "Buggers", which are insect-like humanoids that are controlled by one central queen. If it wasn't for the bravery and skills of Commander Mazer Rackham, mankind would have been destroyed. That was several decades ago. After several years, Ender is about to have his monitor taken off. At this point of his life, Ender is barely 7 years old. At the local school, Ender is teased and taunted by many of the schoolchildren for being a third child. When Ender comes home, he has to play an exhausting game of Astronauts and Buggers with his seemingly menacing and evil brother, Peter. However, a knock at the door grabs Ender's attention as a man simply named Graff tells Ender and his family that Ender has been selected to be a trainee at the battle school that orbits Earth, where young children are trained to soon become military commanders. As two invasions by the Buggers have taken place, the third one seems close to many, and Earth needs all of the defenders that it can get. When Ender climbs into a space shuttle, he finds it to full of young boys. However, one of them begins to pick on Ender after Graff makes a nice comment about him. Ender reacts by breaking the boy's arm (unintentionally). When Ender arrives at the battle school, he finds himself in a group of beginners. However, Ender is placed in a more advanced sqaud. At this school, Ender practices military combat using a device that freezes the opponent with a lazer. Also, Ender receives a game on his personal computer. In one chapter of the game, Ender comes upon a giant. The giant sets out two glasses of liquid, one of which is pure, while the other glass contains a poison that always causes Ender to die. Frustrated with this, Ender moves his character up to the giant and begins to take the giant's eyes out using his hands as shovels. This is when Ender begins to realize: is a he a born killer? On Earth, Ender's brother, Peter, and his sister, Valentine, learn a terrible truth that Russia and other neighboring countries have brought together a new Warsaw Pact, and plan to begin another nucleur war with America and the rest of NATO. For the first time in their lives, Peter and Valentine team up together as brother and sister to reveal the dreadful secret. Back at the battle school, Ender begins to climb the ladder to greatness, and eventually becomes commander of the newly formed Dragon Army. After several months of overwhelming training, Ender experiences first-hand what it is like to command an army. Although Ender's sqaud has defeated every army he has ever battled with, he begins to suffer. He begins to wonder if this is the life for him. One day, however, Ender is approached by Graff, who announces to Ender that he will be moved to a new school. When Ender arrives, he finds himself on the asteroid Eros. In his new room, he finds an old man who instructs Ender to battle. Unfortuanetly, Ender loses in an instant, only to realize that his new instructor is Mazer Rackham, the man who destroyed the Bugger invasion. He says to Ender that the humans will be the third invasion on the Buggers this time. And unknown to him, Ender will be the commander. As his training goes by, Ender is introduced to a game simulating an important battle. As the final simulations get closer, each level becomes much more harder. When the final simulation ends, Ender has destroyed the capital Bugger planet, only to find that the simulation was in fact, real. As this battle ends, a short skirmish occurs on Earth, but subsides. Several years later, Ender boards a craft that will take him to one the Bugger worlds. While it will take only several months to cross space for Ender, for Earth it will be over a period of five decades due to light-speed. When Ender arrives on one of the Bugger worlds, he writes The Speaker of Dead, based on his experiences on the new planet and with the Buggers. Ender's Game is an excellent novel by Orson Scott Card because of its detail, its suspense, and because of its great work of science-fiction.

Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card, is an extraordinary novel to be read because of its superb detail. The novel, written in 1985, received the Hugo and Nebula Award for writing. This is an obvious reason that Ender's Game is a top choice among many readers for science-fiction. In the novel, the author is able to describe every battle down to the simplest part, which gives the reader an advantage. Also, the novel contains vocabulary that can be understood well by most middle and high school students.

Ender's Game also consists of a great deal of suspense that will cause the reader not only to be thrilled to the utmost extent, but it will also cause the person to keep reading on until their question is answered:What happens next? Such as an event includes when Ender is in the simulation of the battle between the human forces and the Buggers. Another is when Ender begins his journey into the battle school, where Graff and other experts are providing Ender with traps, personal hardships, physical conflicts, and other obstacles. In both of these, the possibility of Ender dying is high. These and other events will cause the reader to invest more of his or her time into reading more.

Orson Scott Card is an amazing science-fiction writer, and his book, Ender's Game, has won two awards and is also a New York Times Bestseller. While piecing together this piece of work, Card imagined a new Earth that would be much different than today. Although there is no second Warsaw Pact as in the novel, it describes a more similar Earth as well. Card's imagination included large and massive star-ships that took years to reach their destination, and large stations that orbited Earth. Orson Scott Card also created the Buggers, an insect species so different yet so similar to our own species.

Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card, is an excellent novel becasue of its large amount of detail, its thrilling suspense, and also because it was an extraordinary piece of work. The story was about a young boy who is taken from a young age and is trained to be a military commander to help ave mankind once and for all. I rate this book a total of five stars out of five.

A. Chappell

This is probably one of the worst books I've ever read. Not just SciFi either, but in all of fictional works I've read. I am a big SciFi fan so naturally I was drawn to this book based on rave reviews and endless praise. The plot of the book has already been explained ad-infinitum in the 2000+ 5 star reviews on this page so I won't add to redundancy. All I can say is that Card MUST of intended this book to be for the 15 and under crowd because there is absolutly no way that this would be taken seriously in by adult Science Fiction reader.

I read something funny in one of the other reviewers pages comparing this to "DUNE"....yes, you read that right, "DUNE"...... are you serious?.....

Why don't I compare some R.L. Stine to Tolstoy? Or some Nancy Drew to Stephen King?

Don't fall for the hype if you are expecting a rewarding SciFi read. "Ender's Game" is junk you'd find in "HighLights" magazine.

Stay away from this waste of paper.

The story involves a young genius named Andrew "Ender" Wiggin who is recruited into the military when only six years old. He is to be groomed as a military commander to eventually defend the Earth against a possible invasion by an alien race.

Ender is, we are told, the last hope for humanity.

Intriguingly, throughout much of the story we don't know whether or not the aliens present a real threat.

Ender's Game certainly has a thought-provoking ending (which I won't reveal here). However, the novel has far too many problems to be recommended.

(1) Pacing:

Ender's Game is primarily based on a shorter work published in 1977, which the author then expanded to make the novel. As a result, there is much filler.

The story treads water for several hundred pages before reaching its clever ending. Readers may wish to skim the tedious middle sections.

(2) Dialogue:

Orson Scott Card was originally a playwright and he employs "theatrical" dialogue in the novel, i.e. dialogue appropriate for the stage. As a result, the dialogue scenes are unnecessarily long and meandering.

Readers may wish to skim the lengthy dialogue sections to find the one or two lines that actually advance the story.

[In the appendix to the 20th anniversary edition of the book, Orson Scott Card reveals that he takes great pride in his theatrical dialogue. "Every word counts!" Sorry, Orson, but theatrical dialogue belongs on the stage, not the page.]

(3) Scene Descriptions:

The scene descriptions in the novel are spare and lifeless; it's like reading a very concise user's manual. Efficient, by dull.

Again, this is a legacy from the author's work as a playwright. Playwrights need not describe scenes in detail, since the scenes will be created on the stage.

In a novel, however, an author needs to paint a picture of each scene, evoking the sights, sounds, smells, tastes and textures of the world we are asked to inhabit. Failure to do so and we can't really put ourselves in the shoes of the protagonist, and so the world of the story remains distant.

This is yet another reason why Ender's Game was, for me at least, simply a bore.

(4) Plausibility:

Ender Wiggin is a genius. How do we know that? Because the author keeps telling us he's a genius. Unfortunately, he never shows us.

Ender is certainly clever for his age. (He quickly realizes, for example, that any direction can be "down" in zero gravity.) But does he ever really do anything that some other clever child or adult couldn't likewise accomplish? I don't think so.

Indeed, at a critical point in the narrative, Ender is easily and thoroughly tricked. Wouldn't a true genius realize he's being tricked?

Because the author never convinces us that Ender is a genius, we never truly believe Ender is the last hope for humanity. As such, the story suffers from a lack of plausibility.

Ender's older brother and sister are also geniuses. Again, we know this only because we are told, not shown. We are told they write political missives that insert profound thoughts into the politics of the world. But what exactly are these profound thoughts? Orson Scott Card never shows us.

No doubt, it's difficult for an author to invent the thoughts and exploits of true geniuses. But Card needed to find some way of conveying that genius for the story to have worked.

(5) Story Structure:

The novel presents Ender and his older brother Peter as antagonists. Indeed, throughout much of the novel, Peter is seen as the primary villain of the story. So we expect a final confrontation between Ender and Peter that will resolve their conflicts. Yet we get none. As such, the ending fails to truly satisfy the reader.

Also, the ending seems to come from an entirely different story. And, indeed, it does. The ending was derived from the author's original outline for a different story called "Speaker for the Dead." [Later, Orson Scott Card wrote a novel of the same name, as a sequel to Ender's Game.]

Hence, the ending of Ender's Game, though thought-provoking, doesn't entirely work in the context of the novel that precedes it. The tone and pacing of the final chapter are completely different from the rest of the story. This is not surprising, since that final chapter is mostly there just to set up the sequel.

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Despite these and other flaws, Ender's Game won both of the Hugo Award and Nebula Award when first published. I suspect the award voters were tired of the many cyberpunk novels of that era and found Ender's Game to be a refreshing "old school" science fiction novel, in the tradition of Robert Heinlein.

This is not to say that the novel is without merit. Certainly, the story has resonated with many readers, particularly younger ones who can more readily identify with the child protagonist.

Still, I'd say Ender's Game is for hard-core sci-fi fans only.

But then again, if you're a hard-core fan, you'd have read it long ago...

P.S. I had listened to the audio version of the novel. Perhaps I would have enjoyed the story more had I read the book and been able to skim through the many dull sections.

As to the performances, the primary narrator--Stephan Rudniki--was excellent. The female narrator--Gabrielle de Cuir--was too cloying for my tastes. Harlan Ellison and Orson Scott Card both make "cameo" appearances in some scenes and acquit themselves well.

If you did not read this book by the time you graduated high-school, you owe it to your self to read it. I have read it many times and the story is never tiresome. This is a wonderful 'coming of age' story with roots in Lord of the Files. I loved the idea that childern are the focal characters, but not just any ordanary childern. Great ending as well. No matter how many times I read it, I can never seem to put it down. I only gave it five stars, because there wern't more to give.

With many dear friends who worship this book, I really, really wanted to like it. I'm not a sci-fi newbie, having read virtually everything by Bradbury, Asimov, Henry Kuttner, and many others. Orson Card writes a very pedestrian novel here, with yet-another Messianic "The ONE" (a la Star Wars, the Matrix, the Wizard of OZ, Bible) thread about THE BOY (a heavily misogynistic tale) who will save mankind. The "this is going to hurt me more than it hurts you" style of Officer Training that 6-year old Ender Wiggin is put into would make an excellent model for suicide bomber camps everywhere. In fact, I'll bet it does!

Peter, the character who embodies pure evil, is as beguiling as Eddy Haskell from "Leave it to Beaver", but while the Cleavers could see straight through Eddy from the start, NO ADULT, but only Peter's young sister, can see him for what he is. Of course she is powerless to stop him, or resist him.

Everyone asked me to reflect on the "twist" in the story at the end. When I finally choked this whole thing down, I was bewildered. TWIST? Have you people ever read anything else? Yes, it takes a tad bit unexpected turn at the end, and I'm told that I REALLY REALLY should try the more-sophisticated sequel. That's okay. I still have plenty of other things to read and enjoy.

I read a lot of books, but science fiction is not to my taste at all. I started reading Ender's Game for some unknown reason. It's one of the best books I've ever read.

My 15-year old brother does not read books. I gave him Ender's Game. He has not put it down yet.

In the introduction, Orson Scott Card says that he doesn't believe in hiding motives or secret themes beneath the words in a book. And you can tell in the writing. Everything is presented as simply as possible. There are no rambling paragraphs here in which the author uses the alien race to represent some real-world political stance or whatever. Every word in this book is tied directly to the story, which makes the incredible revelations and touching scenes stick with you all the more.

I'm not a science fiction fan AT ALL. My eyes glaze over when books get too technical, and the thought of spending months on a ship to get to a new planet, or shooting photon lasers at a slimy alien...it just don't get my juices flowing.

Ender's Game...is different. The science fiction elements presented here are believable without becoming too complex and boring. They're used to propel the story along, to make you feel what Ender feels, to imagine yourself as a denizen of Earth at this time.

The ONLY thing about the book that was kind of "meh" was Peter's role. It was great at the beginning, and his influence on Ender and Valentine was well-done. But what he and Valentine ended up doing/becoming...that was kind of dumb.

Otherwise - incredible book that nobody, NOBODY, should go through life without reading.

I was looking foward to reading this based on reviews. At least it was short and easy to read. Ender keeps going through the same fights, same promotions, same earnings of respect, same feelings of remorse, fighting the same mock battles, etc. Even his sister had to give him a pep-talk.....TWICE. That's a lot of repetition for such a short book.I had known about the ending already so I didn't even enjoy that so much. I may read the second. I doubt it even though I bought them together.

As a 6th grade teacher, it's very typical to have to battle with students to get them to read. This book was the exception. I actually had students upset when I wouldn't let them take the book home so that they could read it on their own!

I highly recommend this book to show students, rather than tell them, that reading can be an "experience," and not just work. I had the students write for 10 minutes after each chapter. They were to explain why Ender felt the way he did and why. They also needed to write how they would have felt, and why, as well.

I don't know if it was all the book, or partly the bonding of thinking about how the main character felt, or both, but EVERY student in my class was fully enveloped in this book. When I asked them to read in groups, they read. When I told them it was time to stop, they were upset. When I asked a student to read for the class, they ALWAYS knew exactly where we were. It was amazing!

The plot of the book has been described over and over, so there's no need for me to repeat it, but there are a couple things to note. This book is not for an immature class. The story takes place in an almost all-boy's school. Boys from all ages attend the school, so there are things said and done that can be expected. There are a few cuss words said throughout the book, and the mention of boys walking around naked. However, the students get over it very quickly. There are a few chuckles during the first couple reading sessions, but then it's no big deal to them anymore. Actually, it may even pull them further into the book, since they feel that they're being treated unlike children during the reading.

I will read this book with a class every year I am able. Order a class set of these. You won't regret it! It's the best book I've ever read with students...EVER!

As a librarian I recognize that Ender's Game was hugely popular as a YA book (I'm not calling it a novel) along with the author's name, Orson Scott Card, several years ago. I thought I'd better read it before I started recommending it to Grade 5 kids looking to read science fiction. The real deal: I checked the circ listings for my county's 36 library consortium, and I'm the only one who has the book checked out.

The story has more action than depth, and unfortunately the action is very repetitive. The characters are dull; the adults don't grow with experience, nor the children with age. The voices and thoughts of the children are never childish, never strained by inexperience or emotion, even though we are introduced to these characters at very young ages. The only thing that helped me keep the perspective of Ender as a child was flipping back to the cover art to look at the appealing picture of Ender.

The storyline is suitable for a fifth grader, but the "highbrow" (not!) language will throw younger readers off course. Mature readers who can throttle through the stiff language will lose interest in the low level, predictable, condescending, stereotyped maneuvers at cloning a story.

I waded through it all, hoping to encounter a redeeming moment, but at the end the reader is left only with Ender's apocryphal remorse. Ender's Game is a perfect fit for the 1950's black & white television era when we went screaming from the likes of "The Crawling Eye" and "Them", but grossly disappoints today's sophisticated readers.

I just finished reading the science fiction novel called Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card. It was a decent story about a fast thinking child, who is shipped out to battle school to be trained as a soldier in the expected alien invasion. Because the battle school instructors have seen his ability to think fast, and innovate, they know that they cannot treat him like a regular student. They make him 100% accountable for himself, even when people are out to get him. When he shows himself to be true leader material, the battle school administrators throw every challenge, twist or turn they can imagine his way.

As I do not wish to spoil the story, I will not talk about Ender's progress from this point. Ender faces many hardships with the daily grind during his training, his battle school teammates and enemies. He struggles as well with the mental demands everyone has for him, and the mental stress caused by the family he left behind. Throughout the story, you begin to feel the same emotions as Ender, which are not all bad.

I would recommend this book to any reader under the age of fourteen. Although I enjoyed the book, and it was on the honors reading list at my high school, I think that the concepts of the children engaging in outer space battles would be much more enticing to a younger audience. But over all, good read, good story, good book.

Thanks for reading.
Please give feedback.

Ender's Game is a great book for all ages and genders. This book is the story of a young boy, Ender, who is blessed with super human intelligence. He is taken to an area in space called Battle School where the government has bred super human commanders. As the boy grows, you go with him on his journey where the adults isolate him and destroys every last mental gate so that the government can use him as the ultimate weapon. This book is a great book for someone who doesn't like books that take their time. This book jumps right into the action and engrosses the reader through the whole story. From when Ender is a six year old boy trying to fight his way through simulation battles, to when he is twelve years old sending his army into a battle that would save the world. I this book think could be a considered a classic.
Even though Orson Scott Card, a great Sci-Fi writer, has a great choice of words, sometimes his plots can become convoluted. Because he is trying to come up with a new world, parts of the book feel a little bit dense or overworked. In the parts where he is trying write about how Ender learns to fight and how he teaches others are almost too detailed. This wouldn't be a problem with the book since the rest of the book is fast paced. I enjoyed a book with a lot of plot, but, I think that he has created a world that is ingenious. You never feel that he is just rambling. We feel for Ender, even though he has been pushed beyond the brink, and feel he is still loveable and has a great voice.
In the end, Orson Scott Card has found a way to revolutionize Sci-Fi books. He can explain his world in a way that is meticulous and perfectly crafted. This is a great book and can be enjoyed by everyone.

I'm 14(A Freshmen) and i'll say I never read books. I'd rather hang out with my friends or play video games than read. Like I don't think i've actually read one book in 2007. Well in English when we came back for a new semester about a two months into the class our teacher was gonna make us read Ender's Game.I hated the idea of having to read, I didn't want to. We listened to it over tape. And each day i'd love this book more and more. This is probably the only book i've read in years. It's amazing, after class was over at home i'd read there to. My parents must of thought something was going wrong but man. This book is incredible. I recommend it 1000/10

I read this book about six years ago as a school student, so my memory of it isn't that clear. But I do remember being distinctly unimpressed. I was later informed that Ender's Game is an immensely popular novel. I was flabbergasted. I couldn't understand why such an average book was such a crowd-pleaser.

In recent conversation a friend of mine said he liked Ender's Game and I had to ask what it was that he found so appealing about the book. He said there were three main things he liked about the novel:

1) It is exciting and full of unexpected plot turns

2) Ender's character relates to youth, particularly the kind of youth interested in science fiction. He was over-intelligent and isolated, yet a military genius. My friends exact words were: "it's what every sci-fi geek loner would aspire to be."

3) Enjoyable plot with lots of combat and such

His argument made sense... so why don't I like this book? Well, I have a number of reasons.

Firstly, Science fiction is a genre that is supposed to be creative and thought provoking. I enjoy stories which are creative, original and imaginative. The idea of aliens attacking the Earth was original and creative - back in 1898 when "The War of the Worlds" was published. But since then it's been done to death. My whole life I have been bombarded with stories of aliens attacking the Earth. People love this stuff - so much, in fact, that that abysmal movie Independence Day actually managed to make box office records.

Let me give you an example of the lacking creativity in this book: The aliens are a bunch of bugs. After humanoid aliens, insectoids must be one of the most overused clichés in science fiction. Orson Scott Card's imagination simply failed to impress me. The buggers, the use of a prodigious youngster as the protagonist, the simulated battle game and the computer game - it simply struck me as boring when compared to some of the other imaginative stories out there. Admittedly, Ender's Game was based on a story written in 1977. Perhaps the concepts used by Card were fresher back in 1977. However, there are older novels in this genre whose creativity and originality far outshines Ender's Game (Dune, Star Maker etc.).

But any story can get away with a lack of originality if it is emotionally moving. Once again, though, Ender's Game completely failed. Orson Scott Card's depiction of an incredibly intelligent six year old was thoroughly unconvincing. There were one or two points in the book when Ender was tricked and I was left thinking "if this guy is so smart, why the hell was he so easily fooled?" In fact, I never felt like I was reading about a really smart six year old - Ender's dialogue seemed strikingly similar to that of an adult of normal intelligence.

As for the plot turns and exciting battle scenes? Well, I only recall one plot turn which really surprised me. And it was not the big plot turn on which the climax relied. In fact, the climax was completely and utterly predictable.

Finally, I rarely enjoy literary battle sequences because TV, comics and movies are so much more effective at delivery exciting action scenes.

All in all Ender's Game failed to impress me on any level. Judging from the vast number of positive reviews, you may very well find this novel to be enjoyable. But if you enjoy speculative fiction, and are looking for a story that is not a mere rehash of your previous readings, then look elsewhere.

Not only is this one of the greatest sci-fi novels of all time, it is also a primer on leadership, its concepts, and application. This gift version is beautifully executed and worth the 12 and change it costs on Amazon. A worthy addition to any library, home, corporate, or otherwise.

Having blown off life, spouse, and cats on Sunday in order to read cover to cover Ender's Game, I was left feeling cheated that no one had given me this book earlier in life and demanded that I read it. On my brief breaks from the book to forage for food in the fridge, I refused to speak to my spouse as I didn't want to come out of the world created by Card in this must-read book.

I'm not a sci-fi fan by nature and so wasn't expecting much. But I was hooked from page 1 and never looked back. I'm off to the local library to see if they carry the sequels.

Ender's Game is quite possibly the quintessential Sci-Fi novel. It's one of the best around with some truly unique settings and characters. For any fan of science fiction, this is a must read, and was one of the inspirations for my own novel The Elder Worlds: Book One.

I first read Ender's Game in high school, around the time I tackled my first novel, which went through many revisions since those days. Ender's Game was one of those books that was hard to put down, and played out almost like a movie. The writing style of Card makes it easy to visualize the characters while still allowing for individual interpretations.

Wow! I just finished reading Ender's Game for the first time, and I must say it has established itself as one of my favorite books. I won't focus on plot synopsis or spoilers--let me just share with you some of the things I most enjoyed. Oh, and by the way, Ender's Game stands on it's own. So you can read it and end with a sense of completeness. Although it does set the stage for its sequel, it does not do so at the expense of a good conclusion.

Card presents a world that is plausible--a distant future, but not one so disconnected from today that we do not recognize it. He did a superb job of expressing the human condition, especially in the primary actors of this story--genetically engineered children who were created solely in the hope that one of them would be the super-soldier they need to save the world.

His insights are profound, yet very simply stated. For example, in a society where conforming citizens have sworn-off their religious beliefs, Card gives insight into Ender's past by describing how his father insisted on baptizing the boy at home, even after disavowing his faith.

As a technologist, I was profoundly impressed by Card's insight into some technologies that were yet to see their rise: student "desks" that are (what we would today call) tablet PCs (with holographic displays); the reach and influence of "the nets" (or "newsnets")--a vast internetwork that foreshadowed the Internet (as we have known it since the early '90s). Card even foresaw how identities on such an internetwork could be assumed--that anyone could, indeed, be anyone on "the nets." His vision of what we would call the Internet included a two-tiered system: one that allowed anonymity, and one that required registration and identity verification--a very interesting picture of the future (I hope he was not prophetic here)!

The story moves quickly and the characters are very compelling. Yet, at the same time, they are disturbing. The engineered children of the Battle School, and particularly Ender, come across as adults in much of their thinking. Juxtaposing those thought patterns against the ages of these characters made them stand out as very unique and disturbing, yet all the while I found myself relating to the main character and many of the supporting cast as well. Yet, on top of all that genetically engineered maturity, Card still captured boyhood quite well (even if the dialog is a little dated) with dialog that reflected typical, gross boy-talk (e.g. fart-talk). I found myself pitying Ender even though he was always painted as the superior being. I found myself wanting him to win--wanting him to overcome--not just the enemy buggers, but to overcome the life he was presented so he could emerge as what he always wanted to be: just a boy without a care in the world.

Also, given the date of this story's writing, I found Card's socio-political insight keen, too. He did not foresee the fall of the Soviet Union, but he did envision that Russia would eventually end up dealing with uprisings in the Islamic states. Perhaps that one was a given with the Russian involvement in Afghanistan during that period, but I still find it profound given the tender nature of that region (and Russo-Islamic relations) today.

Wheter or not you are a sci-fi fan, I believe you'll enjoy Ender's Game. It is a wonderful book with a quick pace and memorable characters. You can't go wrong with this one.

When I was in fourth grade, my older sister read "Ender's Game". She had a tendency at the time to introduce me to good books she read, both of us being very mature readers. She read "Ender's Game" and fell in love. I asked her about the book, and she told me that I wouldn't be able to appreciate it. I was crushed. But then she said she'd read the first two chapters to me, and she did. I listened and fell in love myself, finding the story to be interesting, exciting, and very different. I was, however, not allowed to read the remainder of the book until I entered fourth grade, as my sister would not lend it to me, saying I wouldn't appreciate it. For four years, the first two chapters sat in my head. I would repeat them to myself so often, that by the time I read the full book, I knew the first chapters by heart. For four years I waited and waited, until the day I finished seventh grade, when I grabbed it and began to read.

It did not disappoint me. I finished it quickly, and then read it again. And again. All summer long I read it.
Why? Because it was amazing. It was nice to read about kids who are smart, because it made me feel good as a kid. It was a fascinating story that totally makes you think long and hard. Ender is a character both flawed and incredible, with his intelligence helping him and hindering him at once. The book incorporates some politics; just enough to be interesting, not so much that it overshadows the main plot. It's even scary sometimes, but it's the perfect kind. It's a great book to read, fun, interesting, and exciting all in one, and was definitely worth the four-year wait, though I would have rathered to have read it sooner.

For those who do not like it, I'm very sorry to hear that. For those who are uninterested in reading it, I feel even sorrier to hear that, because you are missing something incredible.

When I first bought this book, I was under the assumption that it was similar to Starship Troopers. I guess someone's review misled me...
It's nothing like ST, other than the fact that they are fighting aliens that are like bugs (and even then, their attitudes are completely different).

But, on the whole, the book is a solid read, with interesting characters with real development and personality. The beginning of the book however, I felt was a bit too slow. Other books like ST start off with a bang, and get things moving quickly so as not to put the reader off in the first 5 minutes of the book. This problem was quickly relieved as the book progressed though, and you begin to identify and like (or hate) some of the characters presented.

Really, the emphasis of this book is mostly on the people, not the plot. The plot can be summed up as a kid who plays laser tag in zero gravity with others because it simulates space combat with ships, which he does later on to fight aliens. Who cares? It's the characters and Ender's experiences with them where the real meat and potatoes can be found.

Ender himself is likeable to a certain degree. You want him to win, and you want him to be tough. But he isn't tough all the time. He is whiny sometimes, doesn't want to fight sometimes, and cries too much. Where have I heard this before? Oh right, Kira from Gundam Seed. At least he's not as bad as Kira though. Ender is much more likeable when he's confident with himself, and becomes a leader to be looked up to. His experiences with bullies and harassment when he's younger, and his ability to overcome those obstacles makes you respect him more. So Ender strikes a balance with being confident, and being a wimp, but I would have liked him a lot more if he wasn't crying and whining at those moments of weakness (although his reaction to what he did at the end of the book is understandable).

This book pulls off character development very well. Sadly, that's only shining point of this book. Like I said, this book is mostly Opera as opposed to Space Opera. There are no fantastic battles in outer space against a fearsome enemy (at least not directly). The book barely even mentions the buggers. Just a few mentions here and there in the middle, then again at the end of course. Even ST had more battles, and more discussion of Sci-Fi elements, and technology. Rico as a character was also a lot more likeable.

On the whole, this is a solid good book. However, it has its faults, and I think it's overrated. If you are looking for a good soap opera that happens to take place in space, then this is the book to get. If you are looking for Sci-Fi Space Opera, then I'd pick up Starship Troopers instead.

This novel started out as a short story in the August 1977 issue of Analog. Which was where I first read it. Talk about intense. Not until 1985 was it expanded to a novel. And the story has been carried forward through at least seven more books and a few short stories. Card won the Nebula and Hugo in back-to-back years, the only science fiction writer to do so. And the simple fact that there are more than 2,300 reviews of Ender's Game requires a thoughtful look.

First, it's not great writing. Even Card admitted, in the introduction to the 1991 edition (and rewrite) that it wasn't very good writing. The plot is pretty good though, and the characters are memorable. Despite some wooden bits, parts of the book are gripping. And the surprise ending - if it still a surprise to anyone - has always given the plot some extra electricity. But the book is not without its critics.

Second, I think it's morally suspect. John Kussell, in a thoughtful 2004 essay, takes serious issue with Card's creation of an "innocent killer." Kussell shows how the reader is manipulated by Card and the characters he writes into sympathy for Ender. Keep in mind Ender commits two homicides and and a xenocide - the extinction of an entire intelligent race - in the course of the story. Does innocence excuse homicide?

Third, I worry about the message of the book. Andrew "Ender" Wiggin is a physically gifted genius, genuinely the best the human race can produce. And he gets to murder with impunity. How many megalomaniacal teenagers will read that message wrongly?

Lastly, I found the novel to be oddly less intense than the short story. The novel feels "stretched" in places, with additional plots loosely stitched on to fill up the pages. The additional bits are interesting, and sometimes compelling, but the overall effect is reduce the overwhelming force of the 1977 short story.

Still, the book remains amazingly popular 20 years on, and I understand it is required reading at The Marine University in Quantico, Virginia. I politely disagree with the many reviewers here who call it the best science fiction book ever, but I think it is among the 50 best. I also disagree with those who dismiss the book out of hand. The book has been too popular for too long to dismiss with literary snobbery.

Good ideas (some borrowed from other writers), a good, even compelling plot, good characterization and adequate writing. Recommended, especially to younger readers. You can find the short story on-line by Googling the book title if you'd like to see how it started...

Out of all of the books that I've read, Ender's Game is by far the hardest novel to put down. From beginning to end, it has a captivating, and very real (though most would consider it a sci-fi) nature to it. Even as there are many characters who seem to be almost completely opposite, you often find yourself able to almost completely relate to them. Personally, this is the only piece of literature that I've been able to see myself in the main character's position, and really feel the experience first-hand so distinctively, that, contrary to any other story, not once did I hesitate about a decision made, thought expressed, or word spoken, and say to myself that I would have acted differently, or thought otherwise.

The basic plot of this story is that the human race is in danger, entering the third war against an alien race. Assumingly due to population reasons, every family is limited to two children, by law. The Wiggin's family however, is an exception. The government monitored their children to see if they could fulfill the role of a perfect fleet commander, as Mazer Rackham from the previous war had. The first two children were almost perfect, but the first, Peter, was too selfish and powerful, and the second, Violet, was too compassionate, so they persuaded the family to have a "Third", Ender, who was just what they were looking for. They send him off to Battle school, where he proved to be a military genius. The problem was that when it came to reality, he didn't like the thought of killing or harming others, although he was often forced into the situation; and to say the least, he was good at it. His teachers and mentors were aware of this, so throughout the story, even though they care for Ender, in order to rescue the human race, they feel obligated to manipulate and shape him in a way that would preserve his creativity, and motivation to continue on the path that he has already began to take.

One of the main themes that Orson Scott Card depicted in this book, was the idea of a game. As humanity struggles in it's war against the alien "buggers", everything, in a sense, is viewed as nothing more than a game. When Ender is sent off to Battle School, the majority of the combat training is taught through games. The reason that Ender is considered so special and important is that he has the rare ability to analyze his enemy and create strategy that ensures his victory consistantly. However, as he is able to understand his enemy he gains compassion for them, and in reality his victory is his last resort. When the time comes where his skills are needed, the officials convince him that it is just a game, as if it were his final test in Battle school.

Another important theme to consider is that of compassion vs. ruthlessness. As these are the two extremes that prevented Peter and Violet from being chosen for Battle School, you can see the traits conflict with each other from within Ender, as he is necessarily balanced between them. This is not just limited to Ender though. As the officials in the government and at Battle School see it necessary to be ruthless with Ender, they are compassionate with him and loathe the fact that they are obligated to do so, in the same way that Ender feels about defeating his enemies.

Overall, this is a rare book that underneath the story, asseses human nature in the deepest way. One that brings out real feelings that makes the rest of the story a giant metaphor for any situation that would reach us in the same way. This is most efficiently expressed in Card's message that, in a way, reality is a game that we all play, and the reality this novel contains, is Ender's Game.

I am currently reading Ender's Game and I have got to say it is one of the best pieces of science fiction books that I have read. I am not big on reading books but when I started reading this book it lured me in and is hard to put down. It is about a family that lives in a government that you can only have two children. This family that this book is about had a third child whose name is Ender, Also known as a third. Ender gets into a military school in space called battle school, where children are put into armies and have war games against each other in the battle room which is a room with no gravity. The kids who play the game do not know that they are being closely watched for who will be able to command a fleet when they reach adulthood. That all that I have read so far but I can't wait to finish it.

Wordy, banal, and politically wrong-headed; the kind of thing that appeals to unsceptical adolescents who find it "deep" because they believe it resonates with their own minuscule experience of life. Which is also true of Miss Rand's work.

The characters were two-dimensional and unsympathetic, and the writing pedestrian. Also, the big surprise twist at the end was a surprise chiefly because it was utterly, ludicrously non-credible.

Don't waste your time. Go read Patrick O'Brian instead. It will be much, much harder going -- and it will be much, much more rewarding.

I like Science Fiction just fine but must not love it because there have been many years I haven't read even a single SciFi title. I had read a few of the standards over the years without much prompting and recommend them all - Frank Herbert's Dune Series, Philip Dick's Valis Trilogy and Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (became the movie Bladerunner), Asimov's I, Robot, Ray Bradburry's Farenheit 451, Robert Heinlein's The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, Arthur Clarke's 2001: Space Odyssey, C.S. Lewis's Out of the Silent Planet trilogy, and I'm sure others.

My son Merrick introduced me to Orson Scott Card and his child genius Andrew Wiggin - Ender. A slow start - probably because of my own low expectations - and an ending that was so unexpected that it made me want to read the book again. Immediately. I'll leave it at that so I don't even stray towards a spoiler. My reading of preferred genres goes in streaks I admit, but I devoured all the books in Card's series as quickly as I could get to them: Speaker for the Dead, Xenocide, Children of the Mind, Ender's Shadow, Shadow of the Hegemon, and I'm sure I'm leaving something out. (Thanks Merrick!)

Ender grows up in a home with a cruel older brother, Peter, and the love of his life, Valentine, his older sister, the only one who doesn't seem to resent his brilliance. Card does have an ability to see the future - his description of communication over the Internet before Al Gore had the thing really up and going is amazing - and in a world of overpopulation Ender wasn't even legally allowed to be born. Peter and Valentine are both eligible to be selected for Battle School but Peter's anger turns to lethal hatred when it is Ender who is chosen to train as a fighter to repel a hostile alien forces's next invasion.

My description may make this sound trite but the psychological, moral, and physical conflicts are brilliant and emotionally exquisite. Off topic: Did 'they' ever make the Ender movie? I saw ads so I'm sure they did. Was it any good?

Like Frank Herbert in the Dune books, as you read through Card's series you find an author who doesn't just create other settings or even worlds - but whole cosmologies complete with religions, races, histories, and complex moral dilemmas, including definitions of the soul and consciousness. (Yes, there are some slow sections, particularly in Xenocide, but the whole experience is more than satisfactory.)

Just a note or two about Card. He is a descendent of Brigham Young and graduated from BYU and the University of Utah, and did doctoral work at Notre Dame. He served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While passing through Salt Lake City on a Delta flight I saw that he has also written the novels Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel and Leah, which are known as the Women from Genesis Series. The Internet says he lives in North Carolina now. I don't know anything about his ongoing personal religious life but would simply observe that as with other author's from a high identity religious background, there is a discipline and training of thought that seems to spawn a counter-intuitive imaginative freedom with the ability to dream up huge, comprehensive, and interconnected realities as he's done in his Andrew Wiggin novels.

On a recommendation from a friend, I found this book in my neighborhood paperback exchange. By all evidence of the physical object, I went into the read cautiously, as it seemed to resemble any of the dozens of pulp sci-fi novels surrounding it.

The writing was, in fact, nothing particularly special. It was, as expected, a fast-moving, simple and rather un-nuanced writing style. There were no big surprises, and read like a pulp novel.

That's the extent of the criticism, though. Although as literature Ender's Game was lacking, the story and the characters were all brilliantly captured and relayed.

Card did a spectacular job capturing the psychology and the complexity of the interplay of individuals with one another, with their society, and with the institutions forming their realities.

Though it did not exceed a simplistic telling of a tale, the subjects and characters were so wonderfully captured that Ender's Game was a complete joy to read, and bore an intellectual payload far overshadowing the writing itself.

Ender's Game is a good idea that was botched by providing an artificial, easy solution to every moral dilemma.

From the beginning of the book you're supposed to feel nothing but sympathy for Ender. He's the poster boy for a military eugenics program, brilliant, yet kind and gentle. Through the entire book he has to overcome obstacle after obstacle, but each obstacle is presented in such a way that Ender acts perfectly. Ender's always brilliant and he always cares about other people. Yawn. The book misses every opportunity it creates for looking at ethical dilemmas, yet it presents so many that would be ripe for discussion. Population controls? Eugenics? Education? Militarization of society? Manipulation of children? These are just some of the moral dilemmas that Ender's Game just glosses over.

The book does have a solid fan base. The reason it has so many fans is because boys want to be Ender Wiggin, which isn't a bad reason to like books in general, it's just that Ender is such a terrible role model. Ender gets to beat up (and even murder) his enemies, such as school bullies, while being the smartest kid, and he never takes real responsibility for his actions. It's the dream of every bright kid everywhere, but neither reality nor better novels are like that. Ender's Game presents a magical, unbelievable world where the solution to everything is just to be smart enough and strong enough to beat up everybody who's a bad person, and if you do something really bad (not like Unabomber bad, more like Hitler bad) then it's not your fault.

The rest of the series reads like an apology for Ender's Game, but falls into the same trap of resetting every moral dilemma with some magic button that you can only figure out if you're smart enough, and Ender's the only one in the galaxy smart enough to press it, apparently. The messages of the series? You just have to be smart enough, and if you care you'll never have ethical problems because you can always find a perfect solution, and eugenics works, and people should have large families. If you're looking for a good hero for young boys who like Sci-Fi, then keep looking because there ain't one here.

Throw a dart at a list of Hugo winners. You will find far more sophisticated fare and better ethical dilemmas wherever the dart lands (as long as it doesn't land here). Ethical dilemmas are a hallmark of good science fiction, magic answers to all your problems are not.

All said, the book isn't badly written. Like most popular sci-fi produced in the past few decades, it is paced well, the story is tight without extraneous fluff, it stays true to its core (however demented), and the prose flows well. Card obviously knows how to put together a paragraph or two he just doesn't know jack about ethics.

It is difficult to write a review on a book considered by many to be a modern-day classic of science fiction. I risk either falling flat in an attempt to give an honest, insightful review, or raving in a manner which invariably leads to disappointed hopes. I will err on the cautious side, therefore.

I think what draws people to Ender's Game is that it is as much psychological suspense as it is science fiction. Thus, readers who rarely enjoy SF are enthralled by Orson Scott Card's imaginative prose and engaging characters. Ender's Game is a fantastic introduction into a genre that is often classified as "nerdy." It can be enjoyed equally by hard core sci-fi fans and pedantic literary critics.

I am a freshman in high school and I thought that Ender's Game was a fantastic book. Ender is a six year old boy that gets taken into space to be trained for war. While it is hard to believe that a six year old is getting trained for war, it is amazing to read about everything these young children can do. The adults and the world leaders actually believe that the children have potential to help the world, instead of just being worthless children. Orson Scott Card describes the different places and events so well that you really get drawn into the book. It makes you feel as if you are there with the characters watching the story unravel itself. Card also brings in many different challenges and he shows how Ender copes with all the difficulties. An example is that Ender had many people that hated him and even wanted to kill him. When these people attacked Ender, he had no choice but to fight back. Even though his enemies were all bigger, stronger, and older than him he was still able to beat them by using his amazing strategist skills. All of the different plot twists makes the book very interesting and you never get bored while you read it. The book also shows how a very hostile alien race, the buggers, was planning to kill all of the humans, and take over Earth had some kind-hearted members that wanted to live in peace with the humans. Ender found a queen from the bugger race that survived and wanted to rebuild the bugger race to live in peace with the humans. This relates to our world today because it shows us that we should not stereotype against a group of people because even though some people are hostile it does not mean that every person with the same ethnicity is hostile.

I know there are so many reviews for this book that adding another one doesn't matter very much.

But over the past 45 years, I've read over 500 Science Fiction books.

This is still my favorite.

I wasn't expecting much from this book and did not realize it was so highly rated by Amazon, so perhaps that is why there are reader's reviews that are disappointed. Pleasantly surprised and happily delighted; the story moves with a good pace, the characters are strong and the dilemma's faced are well thought out. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and hope you do as well. So, before reading, knock your expectations down a bit and give the book a better chance on its own.

His best book. I really enjoyed the entire ender and shadow series, but this one is the best.

I loved this book! I was not, nor had I ever been a sci-fi fan. However, at the request of a friend I gave Ender's Game a try. I could not put it down. I fell in love with the characters. I fell in love with the story. I am now reading further into the Ender Series as well as the Shadow series and I cannot get enough. You should take the time and give these books a try. Let yourself fall into their world for awhile. You will not be disappointed. I am now a sci-fi fan...at least as far as fans of Ender and Orson Scott Card are concerned.

Everyone raves about this book, so I was eager with anticipation when I began to read it. I struggled to get into the story from the inital few pages. The style is average, the characters are relatively flat and undeveloped, and the action is nothing special. The ending is very good and redemptive, but even this doesn't warrant a higher review. I know this borders on sacrilege for some, as this book won both the Hugo and the Nebula (something 17 other books have done, by the way!), but this book just didn't deliver as promised. That being said, it is worth reading; just temper your expectations.

This is one of the best books I have ever read. It captivates you to continue reading well into the night.

As a group the books of Orson Scott Card's Ender series are tedious, predictable and preachy. That said, the first of the Ender novels is a delightful read. It's fresh and imaginative, with a series of well paced challenges for its characters that keeps the pages turning. It's a shame that the series deteriorated so quickly after this promising start.

The book Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card, was a fabulous piece of work. In the story aliens have invaded planet Earth and then retreated. The world has united in trying to fight the enemy. They are training young gifted children in the ways of military strategy. The story takes place on a training ship in outer space. For training, the children must learn to battle each other in a simulation room, these are called games. Ender Wiggins, the main character, is the smallest and youngest of the recruits. He must fight his way through battle school and overcome many obstacles to prove that he is the best.

Orson Scott Card was born on August 24, 1951 in the state of Washington. He won the Hugo award and the Nebula award in consecutive years, making him the first author to ever do that. He won those awards with Ender's Game and its sequel, Speaker for the Dead. Currently Card is a professor of writing and literature at Southern Virginia University. He is also still writing books.

The end of the story had an unbelievable twist that would catch any reader off guard. The book deals with moral issues that every one struggles with. Card is able to use children to set an example to everyone. The way the children ban together to triumph over the challenges is inspiring. He also deals with issues of compassion, mercy, and the greater good. Also, throughout the story the reader gains an excellent understanding of all the characters because their development is very expressive. Battle school not only teaches the children about war but it makes them grow up very fast.

Overall the book was a joy to read. The action was intense and the dialogue was intriguing. Although there were dull moments they were few and far between. The dull moments come during training periods when everything seems routine. However, these dull moments do not last long and are generally followed by intense action.

This book is a great read for young adults and adult readers. Some parts may be too violent or frightening for younger readers. There are two sets of books that follow Ender's Game. The Ender Series which follows Ender's life after this book and the Shadow Series which follows a character Ender meets at Battle School. Both series are excellent reads after Ender's Game.

I read very little science fiction as typically I am more drawn to fantasy or horror titles. I picked this book up on a recommendation from a friend and boy am I glad I did. Card not only managed to draw me into his world, but was able to genuinely catch me off-guard with the ending of the book which, unfortunately, doesn't happen very often. His portrayal of Ender is deep and meaningful and indeed, drives the story itself. The premise of the story is exciting and reveals the authors deep understanding and identification with the human condition. Additionally, there is a message here, rather profoundly delivered, that manages to provide allegory without venturing into the pretentious or preachy trap that many other "books with messages" tend to fall into.

All in all, Ender's Game will provide you with a story that is deep, engaging, entertaining and touching with none of the irritating stuff that clutters otherwise decent story lines in this genre. In short, it's everything you love about science fiction (and indeed, books in general) with none of the stuff you hate. Highly recommended.

For anyone who is not keen on reading books, this audiobook is Excellent.

Everyone should experience "Ender's Game"

I had to read this book for my English 250 class. At first I was not so excited to read a science fiction novel. However, Card does a great job with this, and this book really impressed me. It was well written, easy to read, and carried a good story that left you wondering "what next" until the very last page.

First off, to those who only felt this book was sub-par, you're obviously living in a fantasy world where everything meets your standards. Every author is different and if they all wrote the same way, then we wouldn't be able to see their stories from their own unique perspective.

It's true that he goes from third-person view to first-person view in this book (and others), but this only serves to help us get into the mind of the character. It's because of this that you're able to feel so strongly about the character, to understand their motives. Yes, it's different, and different is GOOD!

Orson Scott Card is a fantastic writer. He knows exactly how to flesh out his characters so that you love them, you hate them, you know what their motives are, and in the case of Ender, you completely sympathize with him. Ender is truly a tragic hero. He wants so much to make the right decisions and follow his heart, but is conflicted on another level to ensure his own survival. He ends up having to make some really difficult decisions that we all face in our individual lives. Not all of them are perfect (he IS only a kid), but no one indeed can be. His relationship with his sister is far from ideal. Most of their lives have been spent apart from each other. It's difficult to imagine someone expressing a genuine heart-felt love for another when they've spent most of their lives apart, and one has become embittered with the nightmares of war. Again, you can't help but feel for Ender. There are times you just want him to be real so you can give him a hug and let him know that life isn't all that bad.

What makes this book great for all people is that it isn't hard to understand and it doesn't use all that nonsensical, flowery descriptions that other books have. There's no need to a be a literary or technical genius. People of all ages can enjoy it as the great story that it is. It's imaginative and completely original. If you haven't read it, then you're missing out on a superb story. It has influenced me in ways that no other book ever has. READ THIS BOOK!

One of my favorite SF books - vividly remembered decades after the first read, and worthy of a spot on your bookshelf! Read it with Haldeman's The Forever War, and you're really set!

I am the daughter of a police officer and a college-bound student. I am warranted

to speak about Ender's Game, because it was a requirement for my English class and

unlike some of my fellow classmates, I actually read the book. I enjoyed the book,

although I had my doubts at the beginning. It is a journey unlike any other I have

partaken in. I personally am a fantasy-type girl and this was my first true Science fiction

novel; so I read it with only Star Wars to compare it to. I have read many award winning

books and unrecognized books in both categories. I found good and bad in both. I like

new experiences, so when I was handed the book, I tried not to judge: although, I didn't

really like the first two pages, but don't let that fool you; all together it is a ground

breaking book, that changed my views on a few things.

Now don't worry. I won't spoil anything for you, but I will give my insight on the

book. I love the characters that Card created; souls tortured by: destiny, their strengths,

and weaknesses. Another thing I admire is the twist and turns the author sends you

through. I didn't like the book at times, because the author would ramble about

unimportant information for a paragraph or two. I really like when Ender plays the

fantasy game, because it gives you real insight into Ender's thoughts.

Card is one of those authors who right when you think you know where the story

is going; it goes in a different direction by changing the characters location or situation,

leaving you uneasy of the outcome. Although the characters do talk, most of the book is

narration. Card explains so much that a page or two won't have any dialogue just

narration. To Card it is important to capture what his character is seeing or feeling. Card

uses many literary techniques in Ender's Game: characterization, creative license,

dialogue, dramatic irony, imagery, irony, parallelism, and symbolism. Most of the literary

techniques are in the narrations. The audience that Card is targeting is more than science

fiction geeks; he is targeting children with family problems who can relate to Ender.

Ender's Game is an incredible book and you should read it!

Though I love this book, I think I have an objective opinion for several reasons, though you can infer them by reading my comments below.

I came to Ender's Game initially without any preconceptions. The only reason I read it was because it was the only "modern" scifi book on my high school required reading list. When I read the back of the book, however, my heart sank since it didn't sound like anything I would want to read. Nonetheless, it sounded more interesting than the other books. To my surprise, once I starting reading it, I couldn't put it down. For me, it was the development and discovery of Ender that compelled me. Seeing the process by which he figured things out and learned from other's mistakes was fascinating to me. Additionally, I found myself yearning to see him undo his misconceptions about the adults around him and realize that he was valued by them for more than just what he could do, but for who he was. And yet even when we saw the evidence of this at the end, there was still that mistrust in him that continued to tug at my heart.

That was back in 1986-87.

I enjoyed it so much that I decided to read Speaker for the Dead even though it would be "extra" reading on top of the high school list I had. It was very different from Ender's Game, but so much was revealed about the first book, that I had to re-read Ender's Game just so I could see it from the "insider" view. I enjoyed it just as much as the first time - even more, because of the new insight I had from reading Speaker.

Since then, I have read it five or six times. Sometimes, for my own enjoyment, other times because I was reading with others. I have read it to my middle school students and allowed them to take "parts" to read out loud, too. Many of these students ended up getting a copy of their own so they wouldn't have to wait for class to find out what would happen next. I have read it to my son (10 at the time), who recently re-read it and is now reading all the sequels.

Now, I am a scientist and still enjoy reading it. I have read it with other adults, many of whom also appreciate the insight into developing leadership skills and manipulation of the human psyche that this book affords. Each person I have discussed it with has their own slant on it, making it all the more fun to read again. I have never been able to re-read any book all the way through except this one.

This book is a lesson, above all, about interpersonal relationships, both intimate and shallow, just like they are in the real world. Most of us only have a few "best" friends (well developed characters), and the rest of the people in our lives are scaffold. This book isn't a soap opera about every character Card happens to mention. It is a focused analysis of the human condition - its savage will to progress contrasted with it's empathy for others. By the end, it makes you wonder if that is what makes us sentient - our empathy, and the other is what makes us human - our savagery.

O.S.CARD Writes an almost perfect book in enders game. He draws amazing pictures with his writing that makes you completely obsessed with this book.

Ender is the third child in a futuristic world where parents are only allowed to have two children. Ender is an exception; the government asked his parents to have him because they thought he would have the genetic makeup to be an ideal soldier. The government desperately needs good soldiers; they are worried about further attacks from an alien species that has already attacked Earth twice. When Ender is six years old, the government decides that he does have the stuff in him to make him a great soldier, and so they take him from his family and put him into a children's military academy where he will begin training to be all he can be.

This story follows Ender from the time he is six until he is ten, and we see his growth from a scared little boy into a powerful military leader. Ender is brilliant, and the purpose of the school is to mold him into a general. Ender has to make the decision whether he will allow himself to be molded, though, and he needs to decide what kind of person he would like to be.

I liked Ender as a character. I thought he was sympathetic and interesting, and I enjoyed reading about him thwarting all attempts to beat him down. I also liked how the other characters interacted with each other, and I thought the war games were vivid and detailed.

There were parts of this book that were less believable than others, and I didn't particularly like the subplot of Ender's siblings. I thought the book would be better if it just focused on the activities inside the school.

Learning to read was a difficult task for me (as well as several members of my family). I suffer from several learning disorders, and it made the process difficult and frustrating. Even after I was able to read, I never read a book cover to cover to cover. Instead, I skipped through the boring parts as much as possible. Part of the problem was the books I was being given to read. Like most of the subjects in school, they offered nothing to challenge my imagination or intellect. That is, until I discovered Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card.

Ender's Game was the first book I read cover to cover. Granted I was a just a little kid, but the challenge of reading and understanding this story about a boy genius who was as bored with his studies as I was yet bound for greatness thrilled and inspired me. It was the first time reading was fun. From that point on, I would be interested in reading for the pleasure of it, instead of viewing it as a boring chore.

As an adult, I have give Ender's Game to all the young adults in my family. Many of them suffered from similar learning disorders and I was hopeful it would help them learn to enjoy reading the way it had helped me. Not only did they enjoy this book, but their parents read it and enjoyed it as well. After discovering my own mother was reading the Harry Potter Books, I recommended it to her. She loved it so much she read the entire series. She's become a huge Orson Scott Card fan is now reading his other books.

Orson Scott Card has become an honorary member of my family. Not only has he entertained several generations of us, he has helped many of us to learn to read. We are eternally grateful.

First the good and interesting: The whole subplot with Ender's siblings was much better than the rest of the novel, the descriptiona and use of zero gravity, and the use of the ansible was interesting, although deritive (PLEASE read Urusla K. Le Guin novels if your going to read Ender's Game and think the ansible is original).

The rest: This is an aweful book. Poorly written- there are narrative paragraphs that read right into a charcters personal thoughts or dialogue.

The Worst: Why the hell is the bulk of this book spent on kids playing laster tag, when they will eventually be flying ships in battle? There is no correlation given whatsoever. The points about leadership and Ender's internal dialogue are very intersting and worthwhile, however this book is terrible. Terribly written (as noted above) and the rest is way too completly unrealistic in the way that young children speak and react and think. Also, what the hell is with the semi-kiddie porn - multiple descriptions of Ender and other young children naked and wet and showering - what the hell? Orsen Scott Card is one of those crazy homophobes, I think he's got some obvious issues there. However, its great if this book gets people to read, also the people who think that this book has bad language: you people are idiots, please kill yourself as you are so delsional and such a threat to society and human culture that you should not be allowed to live.

-------SPOILERS-------------

Ok this is why this book really sucked for me: Why and how the hell are they having Ender remote controlling the spacecraft that are fighting the Buggers with real humans at the scene of the battle in real spaceships?? How does this make any sense??? Why aren't ALL the spaceships remote controlled? Why risk human life at all?? It does not make any sense. It is so stupid and I am really angry that this won the nebula and hugo (not the first time I've been disappointed by those award winners) And I am really angry I wasted time on this bad book, I could have been reading a Heinlein novel instead of this stupid bad book.

Enders Game, one of my favorite books, is about a young boy in the future and his problems and strengths. He's picked on at school and at home and finally, he does something about it.
The buggers, or the alien civilization, have invaded twice and another invasion is on the way. They have recruited kids and Ender is one of them. He's going to be trained to battle the Buggers and so are plenty of other super smart kids. Soon he will find out that his brother and sister, Valentine and Peter, are going to be the ones responsible of some of the things that happen is the story. However, what he doesn't find out is what he thinks is a game, is the real deal.
His brother and sister play a big part in his life. Without them he wouldn't be who he will become in the future, and he wouldn't be able to turn around the tragedy at the end. Enders Game is a great book for people who like to read exciting, adventurous, puzzling, action packed books. It is a science-fiction novel and everyone I know that has read it, loved it. In addition, if you like Enders Game you'll love Enders Shadow, Speaker of the Dead, and other books by Orson Scott Card.

Enders game is about in the future earth has been attacked by an alien race and the alien race is planning a second attack. A young boy named Ender Wiggin who is chose to go to this place called battle school which is where the government trains military geniuses . A mane part of this training consists of battles between armies or school teams in zero gravity.
My favorite part of the book is the last battle in battle school. What happens is Ender becomes commander of dragon army which is all filled with inexperienced recruits. After only a short time to practice Ender gets a notice that he has a battle not only early but with two teams at once . When Ender gets their he notices that the other two teams where already let out in to the battle room and also they have a wall of obstacles called stars set up to give the two opposing teams cover, so pretty much Ender is going into a ambush out numbered and fighting blind. What Ender does is he has a group of soldiers go out while using other soldiers as shields. Ignoring all casualties ender just keeps advancing on the enemies gate. Ender figures that since the other two armies are ignoring the rules so will he and he gets to the opposing armies gate and performs the victory ritual even though he hasn't froze all the enemies soldiers and ended the game.
Yes I would greatly recommend this book. There are many reasons why I would recommend this book . One of the main reasons why I would recommend this book is because is because it is very interesting how Ender thinks things through. Another reason why I would recommend this book is because it is full science fiction action. I greatly enjoyed Enders game and think it is a very good book.

The breadth of Card's knowledge in the areas of geopolitics, education, game theory, religion, psychology and story telling is very impressive. This is no mere "science fiction" work, but a novel that can take its place with any of the best fiction now being written. I'm especially impressed by the ease with which he combines these difficult subtexts with entertaining character, dialogue and plot. He creates a unique and entirely convincing view of the future on an epic scale. In addition, those who enjoy allegories will find much to meditate upon.

The main characters in the story Ender's game are Ender, Peter and Valentine. The basic plot for Ender is to beat the problems given to him by the teachers, while Peter and Valentine try to spread the "truth" by using the Internet. The setting is at a "Battle School" in space. A problem Ender gets into is bullying. People bully him around because he's small, but he learns how to deal with it, sometimes in a violent way.

This book will teach you about intellectual perseverance, to keep trying. When I saw this book, it looked like a long book that had little promises. After I started reading it, I couldn't put the book down. It felt like I was Ender, facing all of his challenges. It told me that everyone would be human, in just about any situation, like when Ender hurt the boy bullying him, just so he'd stop taunting him. I learned that mostly everyone has someone they rely on, like how Ender relied on Valentine, but when that's taken away you will have to learn to rely on yourself. The length of paragraph and chapters is not just full of extra words and texts, but it presents wondrous pictures, especially about the Battle School since that's where most of the story takes place. I would recommend reading this book even if you aren't interested in science fiction. It will take your imagination and expand it in ways you never thought of.

It has been a couple of years since I've humbly bought and read the revised hardcover edition of Ender's Game from Amazon and still I waiting for a moment to pick it up again. I was simply amazed at the character of Andrew 'Ender' Wiggin and how smart and vigilante he was when it came to his surroundings, let alone the science fiction space element. Ender's Game while reading you feel connected with the characters and their lives and almost makes you feel like your with them in deep space. Orson Scott Card did a fabulous job when it came to writing this novel. It's so good that I compare it's excellence to my other favorite Sci-Fi novel: Dune by Frank Herbert, which is basically a favorite of mine I can't seem to put in words. Anyway go buy Ender's Game if your interested in a not only intelligent scifi read but a great romp through space as well.

Enjoy!

Imagine this:

You're a child. The school bully has it for you no matter how many non-violent ways you avoid him or attempt to weaken or discourage him. When he comes for you, he comes for you hard. You get damaged. One day, he's really mad and gunning for you. You sense in every cell that this will be the day you will be badly broken or die. He's not just gonna hit you once. He's got a gang and he's gonna pound you to a bloody, maybe unbreathing, pulp.

What do you do?

Imagine that adults are of no use in this situation. You can't call the principal or the security guard or your parents or the cops.

You're alone, facing brutes who will happily turn you into human compost.

What do you do?

How much action does "surviving" justify?

Depending on how you answer this, you may or may not like or love or respect the classic, best-selling, rivetting, page-turner that is ENDER'S GAME, winner of both the Hugo and Nebula. (The sequel won both as well.)

ENDER'S GAME is one of the most accessible of sci-fi classics. The straight-forward prose rises to something higher and magical only in spots, but its page-turning plot and rivetting boy-hero keep you reading. Card created a highly-sympathetic character in a horrible situation to which we, nevertheless, become addicted spectators.

It's not a novel that makes you stop and admire the prose, although I did go back, later, and see how he made me feel so strongly in some parts with such unvarnished writing. The storytelling skill and the narrative drive are such that if you aren't kept up into the wee hours, desperate to finish, something's not wrong with the story. It's wrong with you.

Yes, there you have it. You. Not the novel.

And I'm only half-kidding.

So, back to the bully question. How do you answer?

It's the question Ender Wiggin, our protagonist, must answer from the moment he's able to think and act. He is an extraordinary boy, six years old and so smart it brings him to the attention of the government, the same government that tested his elder siblings, his sister and brother, who are also remarkably gifted. Ender's life is a torment. His parents are ineffectual. His brother is a monster. His sister loves him, and mitigates some of his suffering, but she cannot guarantee he will not be killed. When Ender is approached to attend Battle School--effectively cutting him off from everyone in his family and on earth for years to come--the boy accepts. It is the way to save his own life.

And the crux of the novel: What does one do when bullies threaten one's life. . . and the lives of one's family?

What would you do?

Ender is faced with bullies in the home, in school on Earth, and then in Battle School in space, and then beyond, in Command School, and then at last in a place where the biggest, scariest enemy isn't human, but an ant-like creature termed a "Bugger."

What does one do to survive? How do we train the people who fight our biggest battles?

And is it morality correct to train people THIS way, and to fight THAT way?

I'm not usually big on militaristic novels. Battle strategy, fight after fight--that tends to bore me. In this case, I was eager for the next mock encounter. The zero-G battles between the "armies" of boys (and one girl) are exhilirating. And I was even eager for the next real confrontation between the bullies and Ender, because Ender is no ordinary boy and following his mental and emotional processing of his surroundings and options, and how he reaches his ultimate choices, is mesmerizing.

Ultimate choices. It must come to that.

I hear that the book is studied in some places specifically for the psychological insights into leadership. I'm not surprised.

ENDER'S GAME has one of the most sublime endings of any novel I've read in this genre. It's powerful and mystical and dark and hopeful. I wept.

But to get the pay-off of that beautiful ending, you've gotta live through what Ender lives through, and fear what he fears, and then know what he knows.

I recommend this journey highly for any reader, even those not usually drawn to speculative fiction, even those (like me) who avoid child protagonists.

If you're a writer who struggles with less than poetic sentences, you can learn from this how the power of a cracking good story brings magic to prose lacking in literary "artistic" levels and finesse. Card's prose gets out of the way of Ender's struggle, so that you can remain focused on the boy and his journey. And it works.

Mir
of MIRATHON blog
Asst. Editor DRAGONS, KNIGHTS & ANGELS

Ender's Game has become a staple in American Literature in the 20 years since it first came out. If you don't believe me then head down to your local high school or junior high and you might be surprised that is often read amongst other titles by authors such as Shakespeare, Twain, Salinger, Homer and Harper Lee (7th - 9th grade English). This may be somewhat surprising to some but not undeserving to most that have read it.

The plot has been mentioned in the 1000+ other reviews so I would rather examine what makes this book so good. First, the main character of Ender is your classic underdog and he is an extremely identifiable character. There is a little bit of Ender is all of us as he must battle the unjust and overcome extreme odds to succeed. You root for him from the beginning, he succeeds on intelligence alone, and yet he is still flawed enough to be entirely too human. His companions are just as loveable and fallible as him and have spawned their own separate books. Second, the plot moves fast, is entirely unique, and is filled with action. Card deftly handles the ingenious battle room sequences with skill in what would normally be very hard scenes to write clearly for most writers. Finally, like all of the best science fiction, the book transcends it genre by having multiple identifiable and relevant themes running through the text. It also appeals to teens since as stories about adolescence and identity often do.

Ender's Game is a Gen Y (and to some extent a Gen X) phenomenon. From my experience, it ranks amongst these peoples favorite book more regularly then any other single book besides Catch 22. (Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings as series seem just as popular but one can make an argument that no single book from those series is as good as Ender's Game) It also seems to be one of those books that people who don't regularly read have picked up and loved.

In 1986 Ender's Game was immediately recognized as gold by the Sci-Fi community. The book won both the Hugo and Nebula award beating other popular books like The Postman and Footfall in what was a strong year for sci-fi in general.

Now is a better time then ever to pick up this book since the long awaited movie adaptation is prevalent in the near future. A great book for young adults from 5th grade on and up as well.

Bottom Line: One of the few books that can really appeal to everyone. Card's masterpiece with an overall level of quality that few others have been able to replicate. Deserving of all its praise.

In 1985, Orson Scott Card made his major debut with Ender's Game. It remains one of my favorite books after years of reading other books. I first read Ender's Game in my eighth grade English class. One of my best friends said he had read it and it was an amazing book, which was surprising. It turned out that he was right. It won the Hugo and Nebula Awards and many others, is being made into a movie, and has a substantial following.

The book follows Ender "Andrew" Wiggin, childhood genius, his peers, adults, and more. I do not want to give anything away, because part of the novel's fun is accomplishment when you figure out what a term means or what is actually going on in the world Ender has been put into, but I'll tell you that the story is intricate and impressive. Because children are pure and fresh thinking, and because they have not been molded into anything yet, it is up to the government to train the brightest ones into war machines, so they can defeat the alien race called the "buggers." The brightest children are sent to train in an isolated space station. Ender, as it turns out, is one of these kids.

I was an apathetic reader until Ender's Game. Orson Scott Card puts you in the feet of a child genius, which undeniably made me feel good, and inspired me to read and write more frequently. His writing does not go out to impress, but it certainly does. People complain about vocabulary, as if that has a lot to do with someone's intelligence. The characters in Ender's Game have suitable vocabularies, and to complain about that is ridiculous. Card's writing is poignant and flowing. It is easy to read, hard to put down, and touching when you finally do put it down. The book is just all-in-all awesomeness. Escapism at its finest.

There are some minor faults in Ender's Game, though they do not detract too much, they might even add to the experience, they just seem like technicalities. Firstly, I do not like the big deal Graf makes about taking Ender to space. They suspect that he will be the messiah-esque figure, but do not immediately take him. No one else in the station is near his level, but they are reluctant to take him. Just the fact that they think he could be the one, is enough. He does not even have to be the one, as long as he is close. There are many kids in the station. They say his brother and sister tested out impossible when, compared to others in space, they were very suitable. They could have aided Ender well. They exceeded many in the station, especially when you read Ender's Shadow. That actually brings out another point. In Ender's Shadow, everyone wonders where Bean came from because he is such a genius. Everyone thinks that his parents must be geniuses and well known to breed such a child. A major motif in the novel is searching for his parents. For Ender, I wonder how Ender's parents made three genius children, one tame and weak (Valentine), one balanced (Ender), and one extreme and evil (Peter), but the parents are boring and unimportant. Even though Peter and Valentine are very gifted, I still wonder also how Locke and Demosthenes got so far in the political world. In addition, why are the adults so lacking? It seems so strange having such brilliant children at such a young age. Sure, it makes you feel good to be in the minds of these child geniuses, but it really does not make sense. Lastly, the descriptions of the battle room and battles are excessive at times. Still, these faults are not too great. I would give this book four and a half, but it is not possible. Anyway, these faults demonstrate how much I really care about the book to mind the faults. If it were a trashy book, I would not care enough to bother.

Ender's Game is a classic in all respects and must be read. I am a harsh reviewer, but I cannot deny this book's quality. I am off to read it again.

A winner of multiple science fiction awards, its back cover says that the American Library Association listed it in "100 Best Books for Teens." I have nothing but respect for the association, but they're mistaken. It's good, make no doubt about that. Ender, a permitted `third' child in a world of childbirth limits, is removed from his parents' home to train in the hopes of becoming the great military leader that the powers that be feel is so badly needed. The character development is great for Ender and subtly strong for many secondary characters. The pacing is compelling. The future that Card creates is not unlike others, but is clear and well made. Truth be told at this point, I enjoyed it. I would, however, be very reluctant to lend it to a teenager.

To quote a different kind of authority: "What's done to children, they will do to society." -Karl A. Menninger, psychiatrist (1893-1990) I agree and it's what the book's adults do to Ender that makes me so wary of lending it. They model and act as if the ends justify the means. They often believe that misleading children is necessary for growth. They frequently overlook or tacitly encourage violence if it suits their purposes. They function on the premise that support and love are counterproductive to the growth they want. These are difficult enough concepts for an adult to be able to set aside as fiction, but they're entirely too challenging for a young mind to try to incorporate into a meaningful world. Those and the whole premise of the value of pre-emptive strike based on past actions and not current threats make a chilling package. The end does reveal some of the fallacies of those actions, and in some ways suggests that another ending, one which relied on cleverness and communication, would have not only been possible, but wiser and much more suitable to a young adult audience. I'd recommend it to an adult who has the wherewithal to cast a jaundiced eye on some portions of the tale, but would probably not recommend it to anyone below college age.

Is this is a book for high schoolers? I guess my high school was either not up to date or not cool enough. Unfortunately, high school reading in my formative years was wasted on junk like Summer of My German Soldier. Unlike the aforementioned, Ender's Game wastes no time with emotional teens, their misunderstanding parents and their unsteady crushes and needlessly conficted emotions. Instead a super genius of a six-year old is subjected to brain-implanted computer monitoring until unwittingly proving he is humanity's last great hope of salvation from impending doom in the form of brutal, telepathic insects and consequently sacrifices his childhood and early adolescence to the cause. I know it seems like stereotypical sci-fi at first, but science fiction is merely the setting. The author has quite acurrately penetrated the mind of the young. Childhood and all of its irrationality and severity is, sometimes painfully, recalled. One forgets that the protagonist is a child. But children, at least in my memory, are mostly not aware of being children at all. Childhood is something reflected upon in later years. Children live severely in the present, and especially here. But their surroundings are otherworldy in more than one sense. Every so often one is reminded that it is a child being pushed beyond childhood; what is fair and right for a child and into exploitation, duty to humanity and the misinderstanding eye of adults. There's no more accurate word for this book than intense. Maybe it seems more ridiculous reading this as an adult and a parent. The book is full of complicated, but never tedious battles against the insane, the adult, the extraterrestrial and most frighteningly, other kids. The battles are mental, physical and utimately philosophical. Beyond the unexpected climax of the story, a mystical and mysterious denoument leaves the reader sick, breathless, intrigued and a little unsteady. Can't wait to continue this series.

This is simply the best book written for boys from age 8-9 and up. Not to say that girls won't like it - it is a great story, with a truly engaging plot and a hero that you just have to root for. I turned all three of my kids on to this book, and my "reads to live" daughter probably loves it more than her brothers. But if you have a boy in your life who doesn't like to read - this book could turn that around. It is easy to read without being simplistic; Ender is a kid that anyone can relate to; and the hurdles and tests he faces are enough to keep you turning pages all night. And here's the dealclincher - Ender's Game has a very strong moral core in the story that resonates and makes you think. Okay, I know Ender's game is not great literature, it may not even be great writing - but it is a truly great book.

this is a really good read. I stayed up until four o clock in the morning cause i didnt want to put it down. I havent read the other books but it looks like scott is becoming my favorite author

This may be the worst book of science fiction/fantasy I ever finished. I should have dumped it after the first fifty pages, but I kept thinking it had to get better based on all the awards it won and the rave reviews. Unfortunately, the vast majority of the books is absolutely terrible.

You should know that this book is geared almost entirely to pre-teens. And it is so far fetched as to be laughable. Now I realize that Star Wars is far-fetched too, but that's not what I'm saying here. It's the whole premise--the idea that the military is going to scout grade school looking for the next great world leader. But they're not trying to get them through high school--heck no, that would be too late--the really good commanders peak around age nine, right?

The vast majority of this book is spent recording the military training of Ender Wiggins. This training is almost exclusively in a zero gravity chamber where teams of little kids battle with their "freeze suits". Somehow this is supposed to prepare them for battling the insect-like hordes of aliens that are warring with Earth. In reality, this training has nothing to do with anything. It's brainless, repetitious and so utterly abstract as to be meaningless. "Ender kicks of a wall, does a double backflip. The team forms a ring--no one saw that coming. Wow--Ender won again. This kid's a genius!" Yeah, it really is that bad. And it goes on, and on, and on.

Trust me, this is one you want to skip.

I picked up Enders Game last month simply based on the premise alone-that someone could prepare for war by playing games. I thought it would be a simple, cute, quick read. Have I ever been more wrong? It was an incredible look into the psyche of someone snatched from their family and trained for battle from their childhood. Orson Scott Card captures the arrogance, humor and frailties of the defense structure with brilliance. I could not put Enders Game down and when I later learned that there were more books in the series (just finished Speaker for the Dead (Ender, Book 2)) it was like Christmas.

The ending battle may have been a little predictable, but the Giant's game and Speaker for the Dead ending really let the reader escape a perhaps unsatisfying conclusion.

As for Mr. Card's writing style, I found his American Plain Style captivating and straight forward which are two reason (along with the sensational plot) to keep me riveted turning pages. Bravo!

Sam Hendricks, author of Fantasy Football Tips and Fantasy Football Guidebook

One of my favorite books of all time. Ender is a great character, I've never met anybody who has read this book and not loved it. I've read all 6 books in the Ender series, and my reccomendation is to just read this one, then read Ender's Shadow (book 4 which is the same time frame and told from the point of view of another character) Books 1 and are good as stand alone books, and the other books are ok, but not must reads.

I think Orson Scott Card is a fine and very talented author. His success as a writer trumps mine to a ridiculous extent. I also like the fact that Card is engaged enough with his readers that he writes a review expressing his strong thoughts and feelings to us, his readers.

I'm a voracious reader and I read almost all genres. I'm a bit of a neophyte in regard to sci fi, so I don't have a great pile of books with which to compare. However, I enjoyed Ender's Game. It was written tightly with a nice taut story line. The plot is fairly simple and I had no real problem with the sibling sub-plot as some did. I don't think the plot was particularly ingenious but it kept me reading. It would be interesting to know how many of the enormous number of reviews were written by teens and young adults. The fact that the book features kids may have added a vast young readership who would see this as the coolest book ever.

I've read another title or two by Card and enjoyed them. And I will probably read more of him at some point. He's too great a writer to ignore.

Aside from being one of the most accurate descriptions of modern warfare in print, Ender's Game is a compellingly written story with a protagonist you will find hard to forget. Why Orson Scott Card felt the need to defend his classic sci-fi novel on amazon.com, I will never understand. Over 2000 reviewers have given it five stars. (Not to mention the fact that it won the Hugo and Nebula Awards.) We like your book, Orson! And for very good reasons.

The most frequent criticism leveled against this book is that the writing is too plain. In fact, the impact of this book is largely due to the simplicity with which the ideas, thoughts, and events are expressed. This is a book about war, which means that lyrical, poetic writing would have been completely inappropriate. The straightforward prose is perfectly suited to the topic. Moreover, there is absolutely nothing wrong with a no-frills writing style. Far too many authors get caught up in the sound of their own prose. It was a welcome relief to simply be able to read a story without having to stop and admire the cleverness if its author.

The other frequently heard criticism is that the characters don't act, think or talk like children. This is indeed true. But, they aren't supposed to. Ender's Game is a vastly extended metaphor about war. The very untypical children who fight the war against the "buggers" represent the very real children who fought in Vietnam (and in all wars). Your typical soldier goes straight from Senior Prom to bombing raids, and an 18-year-old is not by any stretch of the imagination an adult. Card's point that wars are, in reality, fought by children, is very well taken, so rather than get stuck on a literal reading of this book, reviewers should consider the fact that Card makes his point thoroughly, convincingly and without compromise.

Card's unwillingness to compromise in order to demonstrate the moral, ethical and social dilemmas that lie at the heart of warfare is what makes this book great. This is what speculative fiction is supposed to do, and I can only say that in Ender's Game, Orson Scott Card has succeeded where many more "realistic" authors have failed.

Ender's Game was my first sci-fi novel and remains my favorite to this day. The writing style is vivid enough to fully comprehend what is happening but vague enough to allow the reader to use his own imagination (as the author himself states). There has never been a fictitious character I have cared more for after reading a book than Andrew Wiggin. He represents so much in the human spirit. The primal instinct, the compassionate heart, the deep seated moral dichotomy between doing what one knows is right and wrong, and the ability to comprehend and accept consequences to ones action. There's a lot more here than just an action story about boys with laser guns in zero-gravity cubes and it is something every literate human should experience.

I can see why Ender's Game has won so many awards, including earning a place among the Top 100 books for young people. Although the story is very sci fi, it's actually an interesting discussion on children and how society treats our brightest, gifted kids.

The book begins with the government monitoring six-year-old Ender Wiggins, a child born as a result of specific government permission giving his parents the right to have a third child in a time when more than two is unheard of -- and even a source of shame. His two older siblings are also brilliant, but weren't quite right for the government's needs. Ender, on the other hand, is a perfect fit for Battle School.

At the tender age of six, he's taken from his family for the priveledge of attending Battle School in space. He won't see his parents again until he is 12, but he is escaping the clutches of his jealous and sociopathic older brother, Peter, who is bent on killing his superior sibling. Unfortunately, he also has to leave his beloved sister, Valentine, the only person in the world he really loves.

Ender is a fascinating character. I had to keep reminding myself that he was only six -- like my own son. His genius shows through in every exchange, but Card also does a good job of showing that albeit exceptional, Ender is still a little boy. He makes mistakes. He has regrets. In the end, I was reminded of another child genius in literature -- Charles Wallace from A Wrinkle in Time. Both antisocial, both brilliant, and both fascinating characters I won't soon forget.

My only criticism about Ender's Game is that some of the battle practice scenes get a bit repetitive. They all serve a purpose in showing Ender's growth and development, but they wore on me a bit. I enjoyed the secondary story highlighting Peter and Valentine's efforts to stir up rebellion back on Earth, posing as adults on the Internet and using their superior intelligence to herd adults toward war - just to see if they can. It's great stuff.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and am glad I can say that I've read this classic. I loved the characters -- but wish it was just a bit less military-focused. I think young men will love this book, and anyone that loves science fiction should definitely give it a try.

At the tender age of six, Ender Wiggin is taken from his home by the military to train. Ender is a genius and Earth's last hope for survival if a third war with the buggers, aliens that resemble large ants, comes to pass. The humans were nearly destroyed in the previous two wars. Their survival was mostly thanks to luck so the military is willing to do anything, even fight the war with a small child in command, to insure Earth's future.

This is an amazing book. The story is original, the characters are very well drawn, and the author kept me wanting to read way past the time I should have been in bed. I fell in love with Ender, but I did find it hard to see him as only a child sometimes. His thought processes were so much more than that of a child, yet at the same time there were moments when he did feel like a child to me. Those moments when he was isolated from everyone and felt so lonely were heartbreaking. I wanted to just put my arms around him and give him a hug and yell at the trainers "HE'S ONLY A CHILD!!!". Even though I'm not generally a sci-fi fan, I found this to be a wonderful book that I would recommend to anyone.

I received this book as a gift from a very well-read friend who shares very similar interests as me. I was advised this book was one of the best novels ever written. Unfortunately I received terrible advice.

This book follows the tales of Ender Wiggin. A product of a government that intends to breed military geniuses. Ender is definitely a genius, but that's about all he is. Every character is essentially the same and do not change throughout the entire book. Ender is criticized for being a "third" (third born child) and faces many obstacles throughout the novel in "battle school."

In most sci-fi/fantasy writing a book is believable in its own world. It can be completely unbelievable in the sense of our world, but at least in its own world it makes sense and fits. This book is NOT believable in its world and does not make sense. Card does a terrible job making anyone believe that a small child thinks the way Ender or either of his siblings do.

This book is hardly sci-fi. It's not until very late in the book that you learn anything about the "buggers" or get any description of anything outside of Earth and battle school.

On the plus side, the overall plot is decent (hence it receiving 2 instead of 1 star) and Card does a decent job of building a lot of suspense and tension.

Overall, this book is no more than a 2/5 stars. I can't possibly see how this is the best novel ever written or even close to anything above 2 stars. Do yourself a favor and read an Arthur Clarke book.

A book that benefits from multiple reads. I read this book twice and year and find something new in it every time. Makes me grateful for the choices I have in my life and hopeful that I will do better with them.

This was a great purchase, and the seller was very fast in shipping it to me!!

It's been some years since I read this novel, but I do recall the general tale: about a group of boys in some future world that is being terrorized by alien invaders, akin to the insect aliens from Heinlein's Starship Troopers.

These boys are gathered for their skill in games. They get into competitions where they play for domination of Earth. The story revolves around Ender, a boy who is a bit of a runt but very smart. He deals with his gang and others who want to see him fail.

Orson Scott Card has a way with describing his characters and interactions that is quite attractive and interesting. Ender is fleshed out at the end and the surprise ending (well, at least I didn't see it coming) really grabs you.

Orson's sequels are not so interesting, such as Speaker for the Dead. The insectoids have a fascinating civilization and the story is "OK" in regards Ender's involvement but I couldn't finish it. Still, I want to check his next book in these series, I believe it's Ender's Shadow, Battle School. The Ender's Shadow Series Box Set: Ender's Shadow, Shadow of the Hegemon, Shadow Puppets, Shadow of the Giant

In July 2009 Marvel Comics has published the comics versions of these books and I can't wait to pick these up.Orson Scot Card Ender's Game: Battle School #1

I was hoping for another Foundation Asimov trilogy but still, quite an entertaining read.

Recommended Card Books:

Another book Orson wrote is called Pastwatch; The Redemption of Christopher Columbus. Great time-travel tale that has some pretty gruesome physical aspects, such as a sharp object being thrust through some male anatomy. Ouch! A very R-rated time travel tale. Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus

He's taken a stab at the Stephen King-like genre with such books as Homebody, a book I have yet to read, which I may review as well. Homebody: A Novel

I'll admit, I'm new to the whole Science Fiction genre (whether that be books, movies, etc.), but this book absolutely blew me away. A friend recommended it to me, saying that the story changed his life haha. I laughed when I first heard that, but then decided to pick it up. I was actually in the middle of reading through "Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief" and had the bright idea to start reading "Ender's Game". Well, needless to say, Percy was returned to the library and I'll probably never get to finish it.

You can read all the other reviews to get a plot summary, so I'll just tell you how much I enjoyed it. I love stories that start of small, but by the end they cosmically epic. This is one of the best examples of that. The twists and turns are so interesting and the character of Ender is someone you can relate to. Pulled and manipulated by various people, Ender is confused between being a human being with emotions and feelings, and being simply a weapon of war. Sure, that's been a common theme in stories before, but this is much deeper. Especially because Ender is merely a child.

I loved all the action, the moments in the story when you find yourself shocked yelling "WHAT!?!", the relationships between characters, the movement of plot, and especially all the mystery. Excellent book.

The Ender novels are some of the best science fiction written in the last 50 years. They are intense, insightful, and strongly character driven. Read them, if you are a fan of science fiction you will enjoy them.

If you are put off by OSC's more recent work, as many people are, don't worry. The Ender novels are not filled with his nonsensical, factually wrong, and absurd political/religious propaganda.

I read this book when it first came out after my daughter got it. The book reminds me alot of the "Lord of the Flies" where children who have to grow up quick miss out on developing many of the kinder emotions we rely on as adults. This book is heartbreakingly cruel in many ways. It shows what happens when children become tools of the adult world. Ender is a smart boy trying to survive in a environment where the wrong step can result in the death of oneself, a companion or an unknown entity. I thought the writing was very descriptive and drew you deeply into this futurist world. It is a must read and I can't figure out why the author felt the need to defend this writing. Maybe the readers who did not like it were looking for "easy to read fluff" and this book was too deep for them.
If you want to read something that makes you think, stays with you long after you finish reading it (as it did for me) and makes you feel real emotions, read this.

Ender Wiggins is sent away to military school at a very early age. He is among other special recruits who are also the only hope for the planet to survive the next war against the aliens. Ender was picked over his siblings by the school despite his also having very talented siblings. Ender is a little boy who should be in early elementary school. This makes it all the more astounding that he engages in daily warfare with his classmates, all of the same age, while also tackling massive academic challenges. Meanwhile his siblings become secret journalists writing for opposite political sides, with one another's knowledge and cooperation, to make their marks on the planet. The story builds towards the inevitable showdown with the aliens. This is beautifully narrated by more than one narrator. I enjoyed the audiobook immensely. There is not an extra word in this novel. This is so refreshing as so many of the newer books seem to lack a real good editing job. I could see Stephen Spielberg filming this, much like his AI film.

Ender's Game is the one sci fi book I can hand to anyone and know they will love. The book combines many story elements and themes to develop a complicated young boy who faces the worlds challenges. It is a fun fast read, that I love to pick up and read again and again. As you learn more about ender and the other characters in the ender-verse you can more deeply appreciate the boys losses and wins and the emotions he goes through while getting there.

Andrew "Ender" Wiggin is six years old, a supergenius, and the world's only hope for survival against the ant-like Buggers, an alien race that has attacked Earth twice. When Ender accepts his admission to the famous Battle School, where children build their tactical prowess by participating in military-style games, he immediately demonstrates his superb logical reasoning both in and out of the Battle Room as a soldier and a leader.

But war is no game. Can Ender overcome his deep-seated fear of becoming a violent criminal like his brother and rise up to the impossible challenge of saving humanity?

Ender's Game, the first of a series by Orson Scott Card, is a masterful work of science-fiction, having won (and deserved) both the Hugo and Nebula Awards for its excellent coming-of-age story combined with Card's simple-yet-effective style of writing--a style that the author himself (presumably) explains right here on Amazon. Ender's Game is more about Ender's battle against his own tumultuous emotions in a time of impending war than the war itself, creating an expansive character-based story that'll leave you with a high sense of empathy for Ender and the other brilliantly created characters of this series.

There is one issue with the book that I take with, and that is referring to it as a child's book. The amounts of violence, swearing, politics, underlying philosophy and intense emotional situations make this a book I would wait to give to any children of mine, maybe until they were fifteen, when they could understand and appreciate the material significantly more. This is a minor complaint, however, and has no real bearing on the content of the book or the story, and so does not affect my rating of the book at all.

I highly recommend Ender's Game to anyone who enjoys science-fiction or has that one friend who needs some conversion to the genre through a very enjoyable experience.

Ender's Game

By Orson Scott Card

Review by David White



Is Ender's Game a classic, is it mainstream fiction, or perhaps just an above average sci-fi novel? Such classifications lead to the realization that a book like Ender's Game is all three. Ender's Game started its journey to the acclaim that it enjoys today as a short story about brilliant children learning to fight and win a near hopeless war against an alien enemy by playing sophisticated games. When it made its transformation into a book in 1985, however, many things changed. Ender and company still prepare to fight the Buggers while battling one another, but what becomes more important in the novel is Ender himself.

The book begins with Ender's life as a "third" or an illegal third child granted existence by the government for his potential in government service. Ender is an outcast who is tormented by his schoolmates but gives himself no choice but victory over them. His defeat of the gang leader, Stilson, in the opening pages is all that Col. Graff, the commander of the Battle School, needs to see to know that their commissioning this third was warranted.

Ender is, from the moment of his introduction at the Battle School, surrounded by enemies. It is, in effect, a story coping with this peculiar way of life. A telling fact of the book is that it is the teachers, primarily Graff, who has engineered these series of contests even to the end. Even after everything Ender is forced to endure, he is able to defeat the Buggers, without and because of the fact that he didn't know he was fighting them. This victory was only attained, however, by giving up playing the game when winning; he realizes it is not worth the cost. The moment of victory for all mankind is a moment of defeat for Ender.

As Ender was learning to fight and overcome his enemies, his former foe, his brother Peter is, with the help of his sister Valentine, establishing himself as the heir-apparent to the hegemony of earth. When the war ends Peter decrees that Ender will not be allowed to return to earth, and is essentially banished to the colonies opened up by the end of the war. Ender will spend the rest of his life traveling to these colonies with Valentine working to undo the damage his defeat of the Buggers, who Ender had destroyed, by giving back their place in the galaxy.

Ender's Game began life as a sci-fi short story, but in novel form it establishes itself as a model for all SF which ought to work to show, through the use of spectacular plot and setting, the strength and weakness of the human character. Ender's story is the story of the growth of character throughout life, not just childhood. Even as Graff thinks, and accepts, that he is responsible for the terrible actions Ender was forced to take in his training, Ender puts the weight of the destruction of the Buggers on himself. Ender showed that, although life is not fair and balanced, and surely ignorance of the implications of one's actions does not exempt one from them, each person must take up his burden.

Honestly - this book is perfect beyond perfect. A must read. I'm on my twelfth copy (honestly).

Ender Wiggin didn't know what he was doing. It was just a reaction, what are you supposed to do when people at school keep making fun of a monitor on your back? You're supposed to fight back, aren't you? Whatever he was supposed to do didn't matter because after that small fight everything in Ender's life changed, starting with Colonel Graff asking him to join Battle School.
The Battle School where Ender is taken to is where young boys learn what to do in the case of a bugger attack. Ender Wiggin, a brilliant and ruthless boy is the boy that everybody thinks will be the next defeater of the buggers, but that is just the problem, the fate of the world is in the hands of a young child. Ender must go through much to defeat the "evil" buggers by showing compassion.
I loved this amazing science fiction prequel to this 11 book series. I personally like Orson Scott Card's writing the most. Card starts each chapter with people conferring with each other about Ender. I think this really helps you understand what's happening.
Although this book is about a young kid, it is so complex; I recommend it to older adults as well as kids.
In summary Ender's Game is definitely is a must read. It's full of surprises and disappointments.

Okay, I bought this book for my ten year old son because he's an avid reader. I'm so glad I read this first. Since he's still reading His Dark Materials, The Golden Compass series, which is excellent by the way. So I'm not opposed to controversy. But this, is a whole nother level of reading, and one that I am not ready to introduce him too. I know that it's not a perfect world, and I know that he's heard bad language before, and might practice using it, but I'm not ready to hand it over to him. I was very surprised that this was listed as a book for ten and up. The language and the violence was surprising, so for that listing aspect, I would lower my rating. But otherwise, it was a fantastic.

Definitely an interesting book--finished it in a couple days. The writing isn't that great (i.e. I would never compare this to Hemingway, --or any of the great sci-fi writers--etc) but the idea was still intriguing and held me most of the way through. The premise and constant moral dilemmas portrayed are very much the centerpiece disguised in a very action-oriented plot-line (read: sparse "telling" scenes rather than "showing" scenes & character development). In other-words, it isn't too sophisticated though it tries to be and is definitely a "young adult" book, both in how it's written and (lack of) depth of knowledge covered.

Still, quick, entertaining read --it's ambitious in a couple ways and definitely a conversation piece.


However--on a personal note, after reading some of the author's essays/comments regarding many "big issues", it's clear he's got some real troubling agendas that I don't agree with and find at best, disheartening and at worst, ignorant, fanatical & hateful (it's like finding out someone is a total racist or scientologist). I'm glad I only picked up a used copy of this book as I certainly don't want to patronize him in anyway.

This book is well executed, brilliant and revolutionary. However unrealistic it may be- it still shows great evolution of the character and his attributes and fulfills a primitive need for warfare and the birth of an epiphany after you read it. A great book almost all-around; it also lacks Card's religious outlook which shows his massive strength as a writer.

I have read this book over and over and find it new and heart pounding each and every time. This one is for anyones shelf. even if you aren't into sci-fi or fantasy novels... the characters are live, and the threat is real. it is written as an absoute page turner. one of my altime favorite books!

This is such a though provoking book. Once I started it, I couldn't put it down. Then afterwords, I wanted more. Definitely the best of the series, but Ender's Shadow comes close.

It follows a child and development of his psychology as he is forced to survive his environment. In this futuristic world, it is fascinating to discover some of the technology is similar to what we have today (seeing that the original book came out in the early 1990's).

GREAT BOOK!!!

Orson Scott Card's books have become a staple in science fiction books. Ender's Game, being one of his more popular books, has won a Nebula, and a Hugo award, along with being a New York Times best seller.

Orson Scott Card's intriguing characters are mature and responsible; the only twist is that they are mere children. The mix of this maturity in childhood especially appeals to high school freshmen, I believe, who are somewhat in the middle of becoming mature and still being childish.

Orson Scott Card does a great job of telling the story through the eyes of a child. While many authors try to see things through the eyes of a child, few succeed. Among this elite group of authors is Dr. Seuss, Roald Dahl, and Orson Scott Card. While most of the time his character's maturity makes you forget that they are in fact children, occasionally the characters have moments of childhood; these parts were somewhat frustrating only because of the immature language. However that is, of course, a part of childhood. While that trait of the book might not appeal to older readers, I think that it is a trait that makes Ender's Game enjoyable for younger readers.

While most writers try to "dazzle" readers with vocabulary, Orson Scott Card uses far simpler vocabulary but still succeeds in transforming the words on the page into pictures in the reader's mind. While some might dislike this style, I think it is a strong point. One must remember that he is writing from the point of view of a child; no one should expect ridiculous vocabulary.

Orson Scott Card's goal was to write a Science fiction novel that captivated the minds of his readers. However, I don't believe he could have fathomed how many minds would soon be sucked into his heart pumping story line. With his complex characters and a story line that keeps the reader wanting more, he easily accomplished his goal.

I read this book in about a week because I had to travel a lot by subway. The cover is a little embarassing but the book was excellent. Actually it was the last several pages that made me really love the book, beautiful ending.

I read Ender's Game when my 21 year old daughter finished it and told me "read it, you won't be sorry." I did, I wasn't. In fact for the first time in my entire 40 plus years, when I finished it, I turned to the front and started it all over again! This time I even read the authors intro!! I am not a science fiction fan by any means, but this is just an amazing story that is almost impossible to put down. So as my daughter says: "read it, you WON'T be sorry!"

I have been a big fan of Orson Scott Card since first reading Ender's Game many years ago.

I moved and lost my copy so when the opportunity came to purchase the hardcover version, I jumped at it.

The book and the subsequent ones that follow Ender Wiggins through his early years, his training at Battle School and subsequent winning of the Bugger Wars and beyond show Card's depth of understanding the human condition.

The visual ideas imparted by his use of vocabulary allow the reader to clearly 'see' the story which for me makes it even more entertaining.

Ender's Game is one of those oft-praised award winning books with a cult following, and I've been meaning to read it for years. Retrospectively, I wonder what sort of affect it might have had on me in middle-school or high-school. I liked it now, but I think I would have liked it even more then. As an adult, I found the most interesting aspect about this book to be the way it portrays leadership, and I could easily see some professor incorporating Ender's Game into a "leadership through literature" class alongside Henry V and The Odyssey. As a six-year-old living in a future US, Ender Wiggen is noticed for his inherited genius (shared by his siblings) and his potential to be developed and trained to become the next great commander to lead humans against an invading alien race. Ender is sent to the Battle School, an orbiting satellite/station with a special zero-gravity room where genius young soldiers-to-be practice tactics in a three-dimensional environment. The concept is brilliantly realized, as are the details of training and the Battle Room sequences themselves. The plot itself is well-paced and gripping. My main complaint is the lack of emotion and relationship between the characters and, when it does exist, it feels forced (Valentine & Ender's relationship). OSC did a better job fleshing out minor characters like Dink in the recent novella War of Gifts, letting them show real affection and human empathy for each other. The surprise "twist" at the end was good, but not that surprising, and the last 30 pages of so simply did not fit the story thus far and ground everything to a halt. Despite it's flaws, this is definitely worth your time.

Sometimes books are labeled fairly in a certain genre, although they may appear to people who do not normally enjoy the given category. "Ender's Game," by Orson Scott Card, has to be categorized as a science-fiction novel. But luckily for the reader, it's much more than that.

True, one of Card's central influences was Isaac Asimov, a well-known sci-fi writer. And while Card does wonderful work on the space and technology side of this book, he pays close attention to the numerous psychological aspects of humanity.

Ender is the name of a child who some high-level officials believe will command worldly forces against an alien race, or the "buggers." Ender's two older siblings, Peter and Valentine, are extremely intelligent and have leadership qualities, but are secondary compared to Ender. That's the reason Ender is jettisoned to Battle School in space, where he befriends some of the students. At the same time, though, Ender and nearly everyone else is aware that he is gifted, which leads to numerous issues amongst the children.

As Ender continues to climb the military ladder, his brother and sister begin a quest of their own on earth. Valentine, the sister, is torn between helping Peter, whom she perceives as being the evil brother, and Ender, whom she dearly misses.

From a futuristic standpoint, this book nails many of the theories involving humanistic thinking and how to lead through the usage of highly intelligent reasoning. Regardless of technological advances, there are certain aspects of mankind that remain pretty much the same, namely the basic foundation of reason. This book would be a hit not only for anyone interested in science fiction, but also those interested in politics, psychology and philosophy.

Never having read this book before, I was skeptical about how it'd hold up in the test of time here in 2009. Boy, it sure went above and beyond what I expected. The story is downright original and enthralling. Card definitely has a knack for characters - Ender was completely lovable and easy to relate to. If you're looking for a sci-fi book that's not too 'nerdy', and action packed, pick up this book. You can't regret it!

I bought this book for my boyfriend, because he's just starting ot get into reading. But I read it before him! It was great!

A while ago, there was an interesting conversation among the people I follow on Twitter. They were discussing books, and several people commented that one of the best books they had read was Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card. A book in the science fiction genre, that had quite a following, I found. I put it on my list of books to find at the library. About a month went by, as I had other books that needed to be read and reviewed. But with a holiday season coming up, I thought that it would be nice to have some "recreational reading." I checked out Ender's Game from the library on December 30 and finished it on January 1. I would have finished it earlier, but I needed to sleep and attend work, family, and New Year's Eve activities.

Somewhere in the future, children are bred to defend Earth against a hostile alien's next attack. By law, families can have only two children. The parents give up rights to the children for a while, as they are tested for their fitness to defend Earth. Part of the testing is to discover if a particular child can lead armies and have the fortitude to make hard decisions concerning the future of the human race. However, if the government decides that the parents have a good genetic base, they may authorize a third child, as the first two show excellent results, but not quite "perfect." The problem with this is that the family must absorb burdens placed on it by society. And the child is referred to as "Third," a term of derogation, noncompliance. The Wiggin family has a Third, Andrew "Ender" Wiggin, who is six when the story begins. Ender, the government hopes, will strike a balance between his older brother, Peter, who is dangerous, given to fits of anger and destruction, and his sister, Valentine, who is empathetic. All three, however, are extremely smart. It is with Ender that the government pins their hopes of victory over the aliens.

The copy of Ender's Game that I borrowed from the library is a part of the "Gift Edition," which includes a new introduction by Orson Scott Card. While I usually enjoy these new introductions, Card, I felt, explained too much about Ender, his writing style, and how this book has affected the readers. I think that his publisher should have included Card's thoughts, but as an Afterword. It would have had more impact. Now that I have that out of the way, I need to tell you that this is, simply, one of the best books I have ever read. The hero is gifted, but alone. His intelligence makes him an outcast at school. Because of this, he doesn't really relate to any of the children in his class. The government builds on his isolation, so that he can make hard decisions with little thought to the feelings of others or to change his thinking due to friendships. But there is a humanity to Ender that endears him to the reader. The adults in the novel may think that they have control over him, but they are allowed to believe that, if it serves Ender's goals or objectives. I used to read a lot of science fiction, but have moved to other genres; this book has restored my interest. While Ender is six, Card never patronizes the reader or his characters. Ender is a well crafted character; intelligent, warm, and, when the situation warrants, tough. Your preconceived notions of children, and gifted children, will be tested. But the payoff is that you may realize that you have read one of the best science fiction books. Not only is worth your time, it is a book to share with your children.

'Ender's Game' was written by Orson Scott Card and first published in 1977. It has won both the Nebula and Hugo Award for Science fiction novels.

I picked up this book after some discussion with another amazon friend who was a great fan of this series (now at 6 books, I believe). This recommendation turn out to be a good piece of advice as I enjoyed reading this work.

The tale was well thought out and superbly written; the story itself was intriguing, with enough action and interesting events to make you eager to get back to this book whenever you could.


The Story...*SPOILER*

This is the tale of Ender Wiggin, who we meet as a six year old boy. We then follow Ender through the next five years of his ongoing training and development; development that the authorities of the day hope will lead them find the next military leader they need to save the world from an alien invasion.

One Concern...*SPOILER*

The one negative I'd have (and loss of 1/2 Star) would deal with the aspect of believability (or lack thereof). Somehow taking a six year old boy (despite his high aptitude for the job) and training him to take over an intergalactic space armada seems a little (well, a lot) preposterous. Replacing the six year old with someone a bit older, would have added some credibility to this otherwise excellent story.

Conclusion:
Although toted to be 'Young-Adult', this book will appeal to any sci-fi fan because it is both well written and superbly presented. Maybe the believability factor could have been enhanced somewhat with an slightly older protagonist. 4 1/2 Stars.

Ray Nicholson

Have you ever wondered what it is like to have an army or have to freeze your own legs to pass a school test? In Ender's Game, Ender does that and much much more, all before he's 13! At age 6 Ender left his family to go to the Battle School. From the very start older kids hated him because he could beat them at all the games in the game room. After only a couple of months, he was put in an army, but could not participate in training, and during battles he was not to enter the fighting. Not long after, he was transferred to a Rat Army where they used his ideas to win lots of battles. After a lot of moving around, he found himself the leader of the Dragon Army, where again he put his abilities to use to win battle after battle.

Do not get this book if you hate action, battle, science fiction, and excitement; otherwise, you must read it.

For any budding or even die-hard science fiction reader, this is a library staple. The storyline is so well crafted that it can be read again and again.

I first read Ender's Game in 9th grade English class. At the time, it was one of only a handful of books I actually enjoyed from my public school required reading list. I had never heard of Ender's Game or Orson Scott Card and had no idea what to expect from the book. I enjoyed it and read it in less than two days. (a big deal for me at the time)

When I was done reading it I was SHOCKED that I had read a Science Fiction book. Me, a Jane Austin junky.

It opened my eyes and broke all prejudice that Sifi is for geeky boys, it can be for romantic girls too.

Over 12 years later I still have great respect for the book and enjoy it just as much as when I first read it.

Ender's Game


Orson Card Scott is an expert when it comes to science fiction. He knows how to attract young readers, like myself, to a good book. In Ender's game, he has a strong emphasis on children and in order for us to grasp the main idea, he shows things from their point of view.
Card, now in his late 50's, has been fascinated by military strategies and crucial roles of leaders in an army ever since he was in high school. He has spent two years as a Mormon missionary in Brazil and attended Brigham Young University. The idea of the Battle Room came to him when he was 16, but he chose not to write about the story till years later.
The book is all based upon the concept of games. All of the important concepts in the novel are interpreted on the idea of a game. The first way a game comes into the novel is "buggers and astronauts". This is a game played by Ender and his brother, Peter. All the kids in Ender's society, at the time, played the game. However, in Ender's case the game is more than it seems, because Peter hates Ender and beats on him upon the course of the game, so that Ender never wins. Later on, at Battle school, Ender faces two different types of games, the mind game he plays on the computer and the war games that he plays in the Battle Room. The final game is the greatest one Ender plays, where he is commander of the Third Invasion. He cannot sleep, his eating is scarce and he is forced to command the people he cares for (which causes the friendship bonds to break). The writer accomplishes a goal in this book by showing how sometimes, the playing of a game can have profound impact on life, and that the game can unexpectantly become reality.
This book was very well-written and had much strength. One strength is the relationship between adults and children (respectively in this book). Although many times in the book the adults manipulate/control the children, sometimes the children take over. For example, Peter and Valentine, two kids, dominate the worldwide political systems through adults in their forums. This book has no weaknesses.

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!

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

This is my favorite book! i read again in 2 days recently and i still picked up new things from it. its a great read for people of all ages younger people will like the action while as you get older you can appreciate the fine lines of an ethical struggle between the sacrifice of one for the good of many, and who decides what the good is. Hightly recommended!

do you like books? do you like characters with superhero-like abilities? do you like lasers that go pew-pew? Then you'll enjoy this novel.

I found this book to be pretty well written, relationally anyway. You can empathize with several characters at once in such a way that it helps you understand their interactions better and how they relate to and think of one another.

The real fun of this book is the psychology. You see the child and the adult in Ender and the others at the same time. Plus, not only is it a game for Ender and his teachers, but it is also a game for the reader. Ender's Game is really unique in the way the characters experience, experiment with, and exhibit leadership. You learn with them, and you question and test ideas with them.

The occasional mentions of religion were interesting, especially with the knowledge that the author was a Mormon. I love how Card was able to explore a life with subtle and hushed religions but how they impacted Ender and other characters at the same time. You could see the author seeking out what is in the core of the soul. Maybe we're all not that different in the end. Do we secretly find ourselves just as evil and depraved as others who may even have a reputation for it? Is there hope? Is there a way to be good again? What is it that spurs us toward purpose?

Warning to the reader, there are some graphic scenes of violence, but this is necessary for the plot and its underlying themes. Don't worry; there are plenty of fun scenes for the imagination as well though. The battle room scenes are especially fun as they force you not only to imagine the scene but to think through the logistics of it at the same time. Once again, you learn the elements of zero gravity and multiple dimensions at the same time as the characters.

Overall, the book is an excellent read even for those who aren't as interested in sci-fi. I am living proof. The end was a little overboard sci-fi for me, but I still enjoyed it as it brought good closure to the story and tied up some of the key themes. It's a fun and easy read (minus the violence which can be tough to stomach in one sitting), and I hope you will enjoy it. While it's certainly not my favorite book, I would highly recommend it to anyone.

Oh, and I have the author's definitive version (ISBN-13: 978-0-8125-5070-2). If you enjoy reading a lot and the relationship between the characters of a book and the reader, I highly suggest you read the introduction. :)

After a devastating war with an alien race referred to as buggers, mankind is in search of brilliant commanders to lead the next assault; Ender is one gifted six-year-old boy selected for Battle School, where he is trained to be mankind's only hope in war. Battle School is an immersive environment where Ender pitted alongside and against his peers in order to develop leadership skills, and is instructed to play a number of games in order to learn how to think and to fight. In the Battle Room, he learns to fight in a zero-g atmosphere and then conducts battles against teams of fellow students. An fast-learning and capable fighter, Ender is advanced through his courses at an incredible speed, and the rules of the Battle Room begin to break down as he is pushed, time and time again, to fight better against increasingly bad odds, all in mankind's desperate hope to find a commander before it is too late. The novel is incredibly intelligent, both in concept and in plot: the science-fiction elements, both in alien race creation and inventions such as Ender's games, are contentiously created with a rational explanation and useful purpose. The young children that make up the bulk of the characters are exceptionally gifted, and so sometimes read too much like grown adults--but Ender's development in particular takes into account his young age. The end of the novel comes as little surprise, but that failing is an unavoidable consequence of the way the plot is scripted. This is a famous, innovative, accessible text, and I enjoyed it and highly recommend it.

I prefer some science in my science-fiction--at statement which seems self-evident, but too often falls short in books in the genre that have inadequate or flawed scientific reasonings. Ender's Game, however, contains science and integrates it seamlessly into the fiction of the novel as a whole. The alien race of the buggers is increasingly investigated and developed through the course of the book, and what Card reveals about them is original and logical. The games that Ender plays, and the course of Battle School itself, are equally well thought out and explained, without tedious detailed scientific sections but with complete integration into the course of the novel. The skillful intermesh of science and fiction is one of the things that makes the novel so successful, and I really appreciated it as a fan of the sci-fi genre.

The choice to make the main character and many of the secondary character children is an unusual one, and a mixed blessing. The children are gifted--exceptionally intelligent, and as a result, well-spoken, thoughtful, and often mature. As a result, they sometimes read as adults, which both undercuts their brilliance and makes them seem unrealistic as characters. It also makes the real adults seem stiff and fake in comparison; their dialog in particular is clunky and exaggerated to the point of melodramatic. Card does tackle some of these problems head on: he stages interactions between the gifted Ender and his normal, largely unintelligent peers, drawing attention to the differences between gifted and nongifted children, and has Ender's siblings discuss some of the difficulties that gifted children face when interacting with patronizing adults. On the whole, the age of the characters can throw the reader off and make the text seem unrealistic at points, but Card handles the difficulty as best he can, in particular in regards to Ender's character, who's progression, on the whole, is that of a brillaint but still immature gifted child.

Ender's Game is a classic text of the sci-fi genre, and when reading it it's easy to see why. The science is existent and well-developed, but seamlessly integrated into the course of the story. The text is well-paced and accessible--almost too accessible and, by the end, too completely explained and laid out--but as a result, the core philosophical issues of the book are openly and honestly presented. I found myself thinking about this book for days after I had finished reading it, and went on to pick up the sequel. To me, that's a sign of a good novel--one that captures the reader during the reading of the text, and continues to provoke his thought after the final pages. I highly recommend the book, even with its faults, and I was happy to have the chance to read it.

This book was by far the greatest book I have ever read! I would encourage anyone that enjoys books to pick this up and read it. Even if you don't enjoy reading, I am sure this book will grasp you!

You watch as Ender goes to battle school and fight for the I.F. against an enemy known as the "buggers". It sounds cliche, but then you realize this book was written in 1985 and realize all of the other books/movies/games were developed from this book! A movie is supposedly in the process of being made and even a small downloadable game for Xbox 360 or PS3.

Everyone I see I tell them about this outstanding book. I will continue to praise O.S.Card for his outstanding title. And to think, he thought up "E-mail" back then and used it in this book. Its crazy to think, but maybe he influenced our E-mail system to be what it is today!

10 out of 5!

I love how the top review for this book is written by someone who doesn't really care for this book and represents about 1% of the reviews. Tell you something?

Simply put, storytelling does not get better than this book. Notice, I didn't say Science Fiction doesn't get better--this isn't Sci-Fi. The setting may be futuristic, but that is merely the backdrop for a wonderful story filled with memorable characters placed in tough situations--almost all of them children. I have read a lot of "Sci-fi" and just about every other genre but this is my favorite story of them all. It probably always will be. It speaks with power stronger than words. When I put this book down I was a different person and to me this is the sign of a true piece of art.

If you are someone that refuses to read books, or thinks that books are a waste of time, I challenge you to be able to put down this book. From the very inception of its first page the reader dives into a world of fantasy and excitement. Orson Scott Card creates a world that we all feel an affinity for and characters we all can relate to on some level. For the science fiction buff, this book is a wonderful and riveting read. For people that could care less about "aliens and spaceships," this book brings to life the scenarios and events that abound in it, making even the most stubborn person a true believer in the power of creative writing. Orson Scott Card magnificently delivers this book with politics, war, creatures, and a cast of characters that rivals any other book in this genre.

First of all, my review of the book - Ender's Game (and the Ender saga as a whole) is a wonderfully written story that tells of an unusual boy in unusual circumstances and at an unusual time.
All in all, it is a relatively short (in the good way), easy-to-read and highly memorable book, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to both newcomers and veterans of this genre (this applies to the whole saga).

Now, on a more personal note, after reading through some of the less sympathetic reviews here, I think people have been way too harsh on this book.
One of my favourite aspects of Card's writing is that he leaves room (other reviewers have called it gaps) for your imagination to fill. He doesn't specifically and absolutely tells you everything that happens in this world, and this makes a lot of sense since each book in the saga is told from the perspective of one individual, or at the most a certain group of individuals with very similar circumstances and experiences. This creates, for me at least, suspense and encourages me to constantly speculate what is going on around the characters (this is also the case with the Farseer trilogy, which is also a very good read). It also makes the book much more realistic for me, since in real life we also don't have the whole picture at all times.
One opposing example for this is the Wheel of Time of saga, which started out as very interesting, but since you most always know what all parties are doing (bad guys too), all that's left to for you to look forward to is see how the protagonists will react, and not what they will also discover (as is the case in the Ender saga), which in turn led to the saga growing very dull as it progressed (to me at least).

And just one more quick thought - I think Card, in Ender, has created something new and amazing in the fantasy/sci-fi genre- a story that manages to intrigue its readers, make them think and imagine (which is what we read these books for), while being easy-to-read, and relatively light (both in length and in "heaviness", for lack of a better word). The only other saga that is as good as Ender, in my mind, is Song of Ice & Fire, and it is HEAVY.

There's this kid, and he's sent to a military school in space so he can defeat the aliens who attack the Earth.

This book does a lot of great things all at once. It's plot driven AND character driven. The main character (Ender) is in conflict with himself, other people, and with two entire civilizations, while also being caught up in the eternal struggle between good and evil. He feels victimized by his own strategic genius. He longs to be good but fears his only use in life is to be bad. The author's exploration of empathy as a tool to destroy is phenomenal. I've never seen anything like it.

There isn't very much description in this book. Sci-fi and fantasy, as genres, tend to be very descriptive, but this isn't Also, the dialogue is more likely to characterize the speakers than advance the plot.

Anyway, this is one of the few books I would recommend to anyone. I must have bought five copies so far because I keep giving it away.

Ender's Game is part action, and part meditation on the nature of enmity and loyalty. It presents complex thoughts in simple, compelling language, and readers won't find a single confusing passage. That may be its greatest attribute.

I found the childrens' military genius a bit unrealistic, but for many other reasons, they were the most substantive characters I've encountered in years. The main characters are neither "good" nor "evil." The plot is somewhat simple, but underlain with complex philosophies, and it has a chilling but appropriate ending twist. Even the extraordinary events in the book felt (often heartbreakingly) real.

Although the children are more intelligent as most of us will be as adults, they show many relatable qualities like homesickness, pride, love, and paranoia. Read this book, and the author will bury them in your heart...with a blunt tool and no anesthesia...and you'll like it.

I debated for several minutes about whether I should toss in my two cents over Ender's Game. Here I am, Amazon: The 2,451st reviewer of this very fine novel.

Ender's Game has been a favorite on my bookshelf since I was 15 (which was long enough ago). I thought it might not hold up as well in re-reading it as an adult, but I have only found more to love in this story, and in Card's beautifully spare and clean style, the more I re-read this book.

The depth of each major character is staggering. Even the not-so-major characters give you a little peek into their souls here and there, and the overall effect is a sense of reality - and urgency, as the Bugger War comes to its climax - that most fiction writers are unable to match. While Card tends to steer clear of too much prosey prose, his narrative voice is still deeply moving, to the point that I consistently get a little teary-eyed each time I read certain passages, their clean, simple beauty and honest are so effecting. (I'm thinking of the scenes between Val and Ender on the lake raft, as well as the drive to Stumpy Point here.) Card's gorgeous style strikes right to the heart. Such direct and emotive writing is refreshing in the genre.

Ender's Game is so inviting and so easy to connect with that I have "converted" many avowed sci-fi haters to sci-fi lovers by recommending this book to them. True, some of them I trapped in my car on long road trips and subjected to the audio version of the book (which is performed excellently, by the way) but still, all people I've ever known who have first read Ender's Game have become big fans immediately. (The exception being a few reviewers here, of course!)

I strongly recommend this book to any person who loves good fiction. I don't care whether you're a sci-fi fan or not - Ender's Game has something inside that any lover of good writing can appreciate.

my son is 14, he does not like reading and at first he sat reluctantly with me to read this book. by the 2nd chapter he was asking me to read 2 or 3 times a day and now he's reading without my help " the voice of de dead". He was not the only one that enjoyed the book, I'm waiting for him to finish the 2nd of the series to read it.

Ender's Game was one of my favorite books when I first read it and I have enjoyed all of it's sequels, sisters books, etc.

I actually purchased this copy for my new boyfriend - since he gave me one of his favs, I returned the favor. :)

This book just left me wanting a little bit more. The conflicts seemed contrived, the deceptions were weak and thinly veiled, and the twist was not really a twist at all but was pretty obviously there all along.

It might be possibly because I'm used to relatively intricate plots and developed characterizations and the author admittedly states the story is kept simple. Perhaps it's because I read this book over 20 years after it was released. It does have its good points, and I am a fan of Card's other works, but this one just kind of felt... juvenile.

The best part of the book was after the climatic "twist", when Ender goes out and about. That part seemed to be the most intriguing part of the book, since there actually seemed like there would be drama and conflict instead of just Ender conquering obstacle after obstacle.

Perhaps, it's the Superman syndrome. It is difficult to make a story interesting when the protagonist is basically, admitterdly, undefeatable.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

Review by Wade Rediger





"I've watched through his eyes, I've listened through his ear, and I tell you he's the one. Or at least as close as we're going to get."

Ender Wiggins is 7 years old. Taken from home, surrounded by enemies, impossible odds, and no hope. After all he is Earth's last hope. Although, young and a `third', he soars to the top of his battle training. Always finishing his superiors' orders and making up the rules as he goes. Though, time is of the essence and an alien `buggers' invasion looms over Earth. Ender, the wonder child, is put to the test. He is predestined to lead Earth's defense and retaliation attack against the `buggers'.

The entire book, every page, was truly entrancing. Yet, I won't spoil it for you, but the ending is what separates this book, what makes it better than all the other sci-fi books out there. It is ingenious, unusual, and different, but it draws you in and you reread the ending for days, just to take it in. The twist of what happens to Earth and what becomes of Ender is shocking and unexpected to a new level that I have never read in a book before.

Ender's Game is by far the best book I have ever read. The details, dialogue, visuals, and sensory Scott Card uses forms an remarkable bond between you and the characters, especially Ender and his family. You learn to love ender, learn to feel his world, and eventually learn to believe in him. Scott Card makes you hate the characters Ender hates, and love those he loves. I felt close to Ender because he reminded me of any other regular child and even of me as I was when little.

I gained a personal connection and relationship to the main characters because each character resembles common personality traits that everyone has. You feel as though you are right in the story involved in the plot. You want to reach out and touch the characters. Scott Card bridges the gap from reality to imagination.

Ender's Game reminds us that our future, our hopes for earth always lies with the youth; they control the balances of power. More importantly Scott Card emphasizes the theory throughout the book that death not being an end, but rather a beginning for something new.

Is there enough time? Can Ender save the human race from the impending `bugger' threat?

I learned a lot from this book. I manage a team of people in a vary stressful environment and this book actually helped me think of things differently. Crazy, huh? Well, give the book a try, I'm sure you'll think of things a little differently afterwards.

Ender Wiggins is the third child in a North American family in a futuristic time where having more than two children is prohibited by law. However, in his case, the government allowed, in fact requested, that his parents have a third child because the government believed that Ender would be a child that could save the world from the "buggers" or other life forms that had previously attacked the human existence. At age six, Ender is taken to Battle School, a training ground in outer space where he is rigerously prepared to become a formidible commander that will one day be able to finally defeat the dreaded buggers and save the human world.

But amidst the warfare, military strategy, and science fiction, Ender must deal with the everyday realities of being a kid in a world where the adults won't let him just be a kid. His brilliance and cunning abilities make him the envy and enemy of just about every other student at the Battle School. Ender must deal with conflicting emotions that come with wanting to belong and have friends versus the pressure to succeed and be the best regardless of how that makes others feel.

This is a brilliant first novel in a series that keeps the pages turning to the very end. It is a book for everyone - science fiction lovers, students of the military and war, and readers looking for strong human emotion and long lasting relationships. It is simply amazing to imagine putting a child through the stresses that Ender is put through in this novel. The addition of a futuristic space setting just adds to the excitment and thrill of the story. It is a novel that will be difficult to describe to others that have not read it, but describe it one must because it is a novel that anyone can learn from and all can enjoy.

The premise behind the story is very creative and unique. It was thought of before anyone else thought of it and and has been copied in the movies since its release, but nothing will compare to Card's brilliance. The author has quickly become my favorite author. He includes elements of science fiction, fantasy, ethical dilemmas, and the nature of men. Overall, this book is amazing.

Enders Game is one of the best science fiction bocks of all time. It's suspenseful and there's a new conflict for our hero ender around every corner. Ender is a small boy who has the intellect of a genius and the strategy skills of a 4 star general. Ender faces Problems from his evil brother to battling an alien race with far more superior fire power and number. I would recommend this book to any who likes science-fiction or if they just want to read a book and not get bored. Ala in all 10 out of 10 stars!!
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Ender's game was the whole reason I started reading books. The story telling is great, and the characters which Orson Scott Card puts together are unforgetable.

This book is great! Very engaging... hard to put down. I would highly recommend it to anyone.

The first book in the Ender series: Alien "buggers" are preparing to invade Earth. The cities below the skies are in turmoil in this futuristic land. The government is recruiting boys from the world to Battle School, regardless of their age, size, or character. Ender Wiggin is the commander that any army could possibly wish for. Intelligent. Merciless. Deadly. Yet, who is the threat? The aliens? Or the so-called "caring" government? Can even the famous Mazer Rackham be trusted? Ender is unsure where to go, whom he can turn to. Slowly, surely, Battle School is breaking him down. And it's only a game. Or is it?

In the perfect sci-fi novel, Card gives the reader a reason to bring a bookbag wherever they go.

this is the only book good enough that i read it twice. the characters are original and believable, the style is simple enough for a gradeschooler, yet the social theory is post-grad.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card follows young boy Ender Wiggins, who at the start of this book is a six year old genius. Young Ender lives in a future Earth which has unified by treaty in the aftermath of a war versus an enigmatic Alien enemy. The war versus the "buggers," as the Aliens have come to be called due their insectoid appearance, took place 50 years previously and would have destroyed Earth if it were not for the heroic actions against nearly impossible odds by one Starship Commander, Mazer Rackham. Earth is in preparation for further conflict with the Bugger menace and is in desperate need to groom soldiers who can protect humanity from extinction. Thus, it is a glorius honor for children to be selected for the military. Hegemony leadership has put strict limits on the amount of children that can be born, and many are genetically engineered for the purpose of serving in the military.

Ender is the third child of his family and thus is the recipient of the scorn of others that comes with his outlawed status. He and his siblings, an older brother Peter, and older sister Valentine have been born at the behest of the government and military and therefore monitored all of their lives for their potential. Peter has been found too vicious and Victoria to pacifist and thus rejected, however Ender has not and he is sent to battle school.

Ender's game is a story of isolation, innocence, ruthlessness and ultimately compassion. Ender is a manipulated pawn, a great and intelligent leader in the body of a child, who although mature in intelligence is still just a boy. Ender's innocence must be sacrificed that the world may be saved.

Ender's story is utterly contemporary. Ender displays his complete humanity and the ability to demonstrate great compassion, while at the same time knowing that to defeat great evil, one must crush it completely. He faces great challenges which threaten to tear his mind apart and snuff out his soul and it is in this journey and the universally understood themes that make this a very, very compelling book.

Ender's Game is considered one of Science Fictions seminal works, winning both a Nebula and Hugo award and a New York Times best seller, and it is well deserved. This book connects strongly with the reader and its spectacular ending is thoroughly memorable. Card has crafted a book whose themes are thought provoking and at the same time definitive in universal and moral truths.

I can't believe I got this far in my adult life without reading this book!

I guess I was put off by the length and the sci-fi slant of it, thinking that it might be over my head. But this is a completely readable, completely engaging novel that really packs an emotional punch.

I loved Ender as a character--loved his independent genius, his pessimistic hope, and the strength that lay hidden behind his very innocent face. I found the narrative of his training completely involving, though I was much more concerned for his emotional well-being. Poor kid.

The climax caught me completely off-guard and was quite stunningly brilliant. Enough said there.

I found the conclusion a bit melancholy, but realistic. I imagine that the guilt Ender felt was not easy to erase, no matter what they told him. And the fact that I'm talking about him like he's a real person, well, there you have it. Card's Ender is very, very real, and very, very exceptional.

Fabulous book!

I'm not an avid sci-fi reader, but I thought this book was a great read. Its not mind blowing but it stays with you after you have finished it. It has its incites and it reels you in. I was very impressed with it, and i thought it unique & imaginative. I recommend it completely. Though don't expect some kind of illumination rather go into it expecting to be entertained through the imagination and depending on the person you may glean something more.

I read this book because of all the good things I had heard about it and was overall quite satisfied. The book isn't the most detailed of books and leaves a lot of plot holes I feel, but I enjoyed it, because it's straight to the point and you can use your imagination to fill in the details. This was a quick and easy read and I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys sci fi.

In Orson Scott Card's "Ender's Game" we are introduced to Ender a young boy, 6 or so, who is not only a genius but has the abilities necessary to be a great field commander. In Ender's world this is great news, twice the Earth has been attacked by an alien bug-like race and twice the Earth has just barley survived. Our world has just one chance left to stop this threat and it is hidden in the planet's youth. Ender is part of a world wide strategy, a game to the young, where the best of the best are raise on space stations to study and fight war games in zero gravity. Ender shows much promise. Will he be the new military messiah? Those in command think so and the game is accelerated for him. This creates jealously and tension for Ender's bunkmates, but this too is part of the game. Ender realizes this, barley staying onestep ahead of those who wish to destroy him as well as those who hope to propel him.

All the while Ender's brilliant siblings, the emotional Valentine and the sadistic Peter, play a game of their own as they begin to infiltrate the web with slanted opinion pieces that smack of current Fox news reports. These reports divide a world numb to the alien threat and set it against it self. Peter plans to rise to the top like cream and take his rightful place that was denied him when Ender was chosen above him.

Can Ender keep beating the game and stop an invading army? Will Peter and Valentine shift the world politics in an attempt to shift themselves into power? Are the aliens even a real threat? The book does a pretty good job of taking in all of these themes and making them work. It does seem a tad ridiculous that these are all children we're talking about, Ender's not quite in his teens as the book draws to a close. However, it works. It makes sense and it ends up being a fluid and strong read. Comparisons can be made to "Starship Troopers" by Robert A. Heinlein which is a slightly better book but takes a different spin on the whole boy against an army of invading insects tale. "Ender..." is more about mind games and how certain people react to opinion and pressure differently than others. Probably the worst thing I can say about it is that I feel no strong desire to read more Ender books, I think that speaks to a lack of character development. Ender's fully flushed out but he comes off as a nearly perfect human, there are few flaws in him to draw me closer. Perhaps that will be corrected for in further volumes, but for the time being I'm happy to have read "Ender's Game". Who knows if I'll want to play again.

This book is the beginning of an incredible book series. I highly recommend everyone reads at least this book. Ender is brought into a life he doesn't want, and over the course of his chosen life you (as a reader) will learn how to become a leader.

Ender's Game is by far one of the most captivating sci-fi novels available. The reader gains a connection to Ender through his story and will eventually start thinking as Ender even when not reading the book. Yea, it happens. Ya just gotta read it to understand what I mean.

This is probably the sixth or seventh time I have read Ender's Game, and it gets better each time. Every time I read it there is something new I notice or some other nuance that I had not caught before. This book about the raising of a military genius to save humanity, and all the hardships he must go through--all between the ages of six to twelve--is astounding.

I highly recommend this book.

I have read Ender's Game at least 6 times and ADORE it. The main character, Ender, is easy to relate to and the reader is allowed to explore his complex psycological and emotional life as he follows the archetypical heroic path. Through his experiences, Ender and his siblings in the novel reveal the true nature of humans and survival.

I have multiple copies of this book because I like to give them out to people and share the joy I got from this book with others. It is so moving, educational, and pertinent to the present day. Young readers will relate to the "kids" in the book (who are mini-soldiers with immense responsibilites) and adults will be deeply familiar with the pressures, emotions, and challenges that come with grown-up responsibilities. This book has wide appeal and is also very entertaining. Page-turners don't come around often enough, but rest assured that this book is one of the few that catch one's interest and imagination immediately.

Someone once said this book is about children but not necessarily for children. I agree. It is an awesome novel that anyone can enjoy, and it is mature enough in its content that adults can appreciate and love this book even more than children can.

Ender's Game showed up on the required reading list for 9th grade and my daughter passed over it several times, opting for other selections instead. Near summer's end, several friends had read it, and loved it, so we dove in. My whole family has read it and we all loved it. While it is science fiction, it is a believable story about a little boy with exceptional abilities. He remains real and believable even while enduring gruesome training. The ending is also bittersweet (even though mom was the only one with tissues!) and led us all to pursue the next volumes in the series. A good read for all.

This book was exactly what good books are supposed to be: captivating, thought-provoking, and uniquely imaginative. It's not a long book, but it is addicting; once started, it reads very quickly.

There were a few things I didn't like, though. One of them was the continous use of fart-related slang. The other was the post-cold-war setting. Yes, I know, Card had no way of knowing that the Soviet Union would fall and there would be no Second Warsaw Pact. But it did detract just a little from the story's realism.

I'm not a die-hard sci fi fan (I don't like to be limited by genres) but Ender's Game remains one of my favorite books. I didn't give it five stars because that would imply that this book was as close to perfection as any book can be. It wasn't, but it was still a fun read and I'd recommend it to anyone, science fiction lover or not.

This was a really nice way to get back to science fiction. It seems odd to say since it was so different and more... adult... but as the alienated child goes to a special place to excel at arcane things, well, it reminded me of Harry Potter.

It's a shame so many people, who think they don't like sci-fi, will never read this book, (and that means you TD! lol) as it is one of the most enjoyable, most 'human' books I've ever read. Without fail, anyone I've been able to cajole into reading it has enjoyed it - it's a classic.

Enders Game is written by orsson scott card. it is about a boy named Ender. Ender is issolated by the commander of the battle school. He is issolated by being placed on a pedestal of praise above everyone else. He kills a boy by accident. He is a commander at the end of the book, even if he doesn't know it. He is used to command an army and kill off an entire race. He is used by many people. Many of his friends come out as treacherous. Through it all though he has a handful of true friends. Some of their names are: Petra, Bean, Deeker, and Valentine. These people are family and friends. The book has an amazing under-lying theme of treachery.

Not having read Sci-Fi since I was a kid (and that pretty much limited to the Timothy Zahn Star Wars and Conqueror's series, which were awesome) I was a bit hesitant to read this book. My sister had read it enjoyed it immensely (and she's NO sci-fi fan) and in some training I had come across a large number of Marine Corps Junior Officers who had read it as part of their OCS reading list. Intrigued by how a book could cast so wide a net with its enthusiastic readers and having about a week of free time to unwind I picked it up, momentarily tired of reading dire history and current events. Two days later I was very happy I had done so.

I won't go into plot or spoilers since you can read that from other reviews. What struck me about this book was Orson Scott Card's completely intuitive and amazingly correct understanding of warfare, competition, and humanity. This understanding, combined with an extremely active imagination and a captivating, page turning writing style made Ender's Game a quick and fun read, an excellent escape from the real world. However it is an escape with a good deal of merit as Card has a lot of wisdom that he conveys about human nature and the character of our struggles, and he breaches a lot of philosophical issues with insight that will actually make you think.

Although geared towards a younger audience, there's a lot of good stuff in this book for people of any age. Last, it has a steady pace of action which kept me hooked, enjoying Sci-Fi novels where as much blows up as possible . . .

Ender's Game is about a young boy named Ender Wiggen who is sent off to Battle School in space. Once there he plays war games and is taught rules of the game, how to play, and how to develop his skills with the help of older kids and commanders. When he plays the war games, he plays in a room with no gravity, and he has to make sure that five group members do not get shot in order to ensure victory for the team. It is essential that at least five members of the team are unfrozen to open the gate and let one pass through.
My favorite part of the book is when Ender is commanding the war games for his team. Ender starts off as someone who no commander wants. However, soon Ender becomes a commander himself. He is the youngest commander and even though the other commanders thought it was a joke that he was appointed commander, he won every game he played. He even won when the enemies had an unfair advantage, like when there were two armies against his, or when the enemies were let in first. Ender was also given all of the outcasts who no other commander wanted.
Ender's Game is book about an underdog who becomes a champion. This book teaches that creative ideas and clever maneuvers can help solve a lot of problems. I would recommend this book to all science-fiction and fantasy-literature readers. I think that this is one of the best books that I have read, and it is one of my all-time favorite books. The climax of the book occurs when Ender becomes the only hope against the deadly buggers that are much smarter than humans. The buggers attacked once, and Earth almost lost. What do you think will happen this time? You'll have to read the book to find out.

I am by no means a sci-fi fan, but this book is enough to convert me. It sat on my book shelf for ages, finally I picked it up, and couldn't put it down. Ender is an advanced child groomed to be a leader, taken through a battery of physical and mental anguish, that we can all in someway relate to. From start to finish this book flys by.

I found Ender's Game an exhilarating ride of a book, one that kept me pressing ahead chapter by chapter to see what would be revealed next, what would happen to Ender. Card does an excellent job setting a world that is normal enough to create empathy with the characters, yet strange enough to give a sense of unease to the reader. Immediately Ender became the character to cheer for because he is put through such abuse. His brother and sister initially seem to be opposites, but this changes as the story moves along.

Ender's sister, Valentine, vacillates morally throughout the book between the poles of "good" Ender and "bad" Peter, though these designations are much harder to deal with at the end when Peter is the herald of world peace and Ender is . . . not. I was unsatisfied with the development of Peter within the story (why did he change?) but Valentine was well fleshed out. Her ideas of emotional control over those around her are quite interesting and prove to be true.

The philosophy of Ender's Game is certainly attractive and in the same vein of much science fiction. Humanity can and will accomplish whatever it sets its mind to, including colonize the stars, as long as it can overcome the evil within itself. I found that Card does not overdo his insertion of philosophy into the novel at the cost of story. Masterfully, Card uses the standards of this genre to bring out some hard questions about evil's role within each human, ends justifying the means, and the decisions of popular opinion or secret power.

Favorite quotes:
"Humanity does not ask us to be happy. It merely asks us to be brilliant on its behalf. Survival first, then happiness as we can manage it."
"Welcome to the human race. Nobody controls his own life, Ender. The best you can do is choose to be controlled by good people, by people who love you."

Andrew "Ender" Wiggins is a perfectly normal boy, other than being the third child, who lives a normal life with normal parents, a kind sister (Valentine), and a mean older brother(Peter), a typical family with a typical son. At least, that's what Ender thought when he had his monitor, a device for testing, removed from the back of his neck. He was normal now, even though he's had the monitor for longer than everybody else, he was normal now. Everything was going fine when one day a commander from a battle training school in space comes to take Ender away. There he lives a tough life, being bullied, being placed into isolation by his instructors. It only gets worse when he gets promoted to commander of Dragon group. But, things seem to turn for the better as he is renown for his battle skills and defeats of the other groups with a bunch of misfits. Later, all of his students/soldiers are promoted, leaving him with nothing as he goes to Command School. They are trained to fight in space, the art of interstellar space combat. He is shown a video game to play. It is a stimulant of battling with the Buggers, their enemies. He finds everyone he had ever trusted from battle school there too, playing with him. He is placed commander of all of them. There isn't anything else to say or else I would be giving the end away, but this is a great book, and I recommend it to everyone but there is a little cussing.

This quickly became my favorite book!
I plan on getting more of the series.
Highly recommended.

The main characters in the story Ender's game are Ender, Peter and Valentine. The basic plot for Ender is to beat the problems given to him by the teachers, while Peter and Valentine try to spread the "truth" by using the internet. The setting is at a "Battle School" in space. A problem Ender gets into is bullying. People bullly him around because he's small, but he learns how to deal with it, sometimes in a violent way.

This book will teach you about intellectual perserverence, to keep trying. When I saw this book, it looked like a long book that had little promises. After I started reading it, I couldnt put the book down. It felt like I was Ender, facing all of his challenges. It told me that everyone will be human, in just about any situation, like when Ender hurt the boy bullying him, just so he'd stop taunting him. I learned that mostly everyone has someone they rely on, like how Ender relied on Valentine, but when that's taken away you will have to learn to rely on yourself. The length of paragraph and chapters is not just full of extra words and texts, but it presents wonderous pictures, especially about the Battle School since thats where most of the story takes place. I would recommend reading this book even if you aren't interested in science fiction. It will take your imagination and expand it in ways you never thought of.

i'm not into sci-fi but i could not put down ender's game. too interesting. a whole new world is created and the details are useful as well as entertaining, not flowery. the characters are endearing and complex.. easy to empathize with and easy to love. intense. made me want to go save a world or something when i was done reading it.

What an amazing story! I have read a lot of science fiction in my life, and this story is truly unique. So many people can relate with Ender. His story is sad, triumphant, thought-provoking, so many things. A MUST READ for science fiction fans. It made my hour-long commute fly by!

If you like Star Wars and space books then you will like Ender's Game. I am going into high school and I am 14 years old. There are a good amount of characters. Ender is a 6-year-old boy who is supposed to save the world. He is a genius. It is interesting because a 6-year-old tries to save the world when this doesn't normally happen. The book shifts scenes so it keeps you on your toes. The language is challenging so it should be for a high school or older kid. Someone reading this book will want to buy the next book because the last chapter leads into Speaker for the Dead.

This book has all the needed components for a book to be great, characters, story, narration, all, it is just very, very good.

I don't know where to start. This book touches so many feelings. It is probably the most intense book I've ever read. The book never settles down to happiness, it just keeps building and building fast-paced and suspenseful from the first page to the last even after it should have settled down. I did not find it a happy book at all. If fact I am surprised I even liked it, but it has become one of my favorite books in just the time it took to read it. It shows the "worst" side of human nature. How we lie and manipulate to save ourselves. How we always believe the worst in people. And mostly just how for humanity will go far survival of their kind.

If you are over 13 and under 9 thousand you need to read it. You will be swept up in its pages and into the future with Ender. You will feel what he feels and live what he lives. On the journey you will find something, learn something, and lose a little childish innocence that you didn't even know you had. You might not like it, but you will be glad you came.

I thought that this book was great. It was about a small child who goes by the name of Ender. As a young boy a military force takes him to be trained as a soldier. He is not a normal boy though. He has been bred to be a genius in every way. Although he is a soldier he is being trained In a different type of war. It is a war in space, which is being fought against another species. He does not realize it until later but he is being isolated from all the other children in his class. Although this seems mean it is necessary to make him strong. He is being trained not just to be a soldier but to be a general. He is slowly but surely being driven insane.

Throughout the book you get a few paragraphs each chapter that explain the feelings of the commanders and why they are doing what they are doing. I Thought that this added very well to the story and was a very good idea. Although I do not want to give away the ending of the book I will say it was a complete surprise and very good.

Ender's Game is a great science-fiction book. For all of those who like science-fiction books, this is the book for you. Ender's Game takes place in the future where the world is in fear of the return of an alien race, the Buggers, which attacked seventy years ago. All children have to go to Battle School. While at Battle School are given a monitor on the back of their head at birth to see if they're smart enough to go threw school. All the children go to Battle School to learn combat and strategy incase the Buggers return. A small, six-year old named Ender who lives with his abusive brother, Peter, his loving sister, Valentine, and parents, must make the decision to go to Battle School or not. If he goes, he will not be able to see his family again until he is sixteen. If he stays on Earth, he will have to endure his brother Peter and his torture. In the end, he does go to space for Battle School, not knowing of the jealousy, fear and lament that await him. Ender's Game is a good sci-fi book that kept me involved. I would recommend this book to a person who loves reading science-fiction books. It also can be a bit tedious and graphic. I think the majority of people will enjoy this book.

The effect this book had on me, would have been much greater if I had read it during childhood. In this book, Orson Scott Card succeeds in two very difficult tasks: writing from the perspective of pre-pubescent children; and bringing new life to the Super-Man sci fi genre.

Ender is a character that many intelligent and mature children will emphasize with. His talent ensures that he is always working and competing with older children. He's by himself, resented by the older children because of his superior ability, resented by his older brother Peter who thinks he should be the prodigy, resented by schoolmates because he's a third child (there's a stigma attached to this in the future), and resented by his parents for the same reason.

How does Ender respond to these pressures? In the only way that he can. When Stilson mocks him and threatens him with violence, Ender lashes out viciously. When his opponent is already helpless, Ender kicks him again and again to ensure that no witness will ever bully him again. Stilson dies as a result of the fight, and Ender's correct choice of action wins him a ticket to the Battle School.

Upon reaching the school, Ender is forced to overcome fatigue, hostility, severe numerical and informational disadvantages, and inexperience. Ender eventually wins the respect of his teammates in the only way he can....through sheer preeminence.

One reason I give only 3 stars is that too many plot elements failed the straight face test. Ender's siblings Valentine and Peter take over political control of earth through manipulative E-mails......the various Field commanders of the International Fleet (through the medium of computer simulators) are all children.......and I could go on. Some reviewers are unhappy with Card's pedestrian prose (and hilariously bad impression of latin machismo), but I wont fault him for this because the book is geared toward precocious children and complements their reading level admirably.

The dispositive reason for 3 stars as opposed to 4, is that the biggest draw of this book (Ender's baptism by fire) has concluded, and there's nothing left to interest me in continuing with the other 7 books in the series.

If I ever get in a conversation about books, I ALWAYS recommend Ender's Game.

Now this is science fiction, but is appropriate for people that don't normally read science fiction. The list of people that are not Sci-Fi fans that have read this book and liked it is large. This includes my mom.

One of the cool things about this book is that it is actually the first book in two different series. Sort of the trunk, of a story tree. I really find this a neat idea.

The book is a good read. The characters are great, and Orson does a great job in getting you involved with 'the game'. If this game existed I would want to play!

The main characters are children, and it is very appropriate for teenagers. I was around 28 when I read it the first time, and have read it five times since. Had I picked it up sooner, I know it would have been read even more times by now.

Just remember I ALWAYS recommend this book, and I have not had anyone that has taken my recommendation come back and tell me they didn't like it.

Ender is a third. In his futuristic world most families are only allowed two babies, but he was an exception. When he was six he was accepted into soldier school. The commander on his launch decided to isolate him so he would do his best. Even though he was isolated he still made friends. When he was taken to the battle room (a giant no-gravity training room) he wasn't very good. But he and his friend Alai hold extra practice sessions and quickly learn skills that even the most advanced soldiers hadn't grasped. But just when he is getting comfortable, he is traded into another group, this one unlike his first group was untidy and raucous. He is thought to be bad at first, and told to just sit still and wait for the mock battle to be over; he does this for a while until on day it is up to win the battle. He uses his unique tactics to soar to the rank of top soldier at the school. All the while he plays a computer game with simulated challenges that are a test of his knowledge. Even though he grows to be close to his new army, he still holds extra practice sessions with his first group. Later he is traded again, and gets to fight a lot and have a platoon of his own. He helps the group win many battles, and wins some of his own with the bullies of the school. Finally he is promoted to the rank of commander and given an army of his own. The boys he receive are all inexperienced or new (just one of the tricks the teachers pull to work him to his full potential). He finds out that he has only about three weeks instead of the usual three months to train them. They leave their first battle victorious over an experienced army. They end up having battles everyday for two weeks (most battles were a week or two apart). Even though the teachers strain him almost to his limit, a letter from his sister he hasn't seen in three years encourages him to give it his all. He is later advanced and is told he will be sent to commander school. When he is there he trains with Mazer Rackam, the man who defeated the entire bugger army. The buggers are the reason that Ender is being trained; they are the enemies of the humans and have attacked before. After battling the buggers and defeating them, he and his sister decide to colonize on a defeated planet. When he gets there, he finds that it looks just like the computer game he had played. He eventually found the bugger queen and her larvae, and she explained that the buggers didn't know that the humans were intelligent, and stopped attacking when they found out they could think. They hadn't known until she had been able to read Ender's thoughts. Ender writes a book that later becomes somewhat of a religion. "Enders Game" by Orson Scott Card is a spectacular vision of the future.
I liked that in the book there was more than one plot. On one hand Ender is having trials and tribulations adjusting to life as a soldier, but there is more than one point of view. It gives conversations by the teachers who think they know what is right for him. It also touches on Ender's genius brother and sister who plan to make a splash in the political world of the future (and are very successful).
Ender's game was very lifelike. Even though it was in the future, it seemed as if it was set in real life. The medley of everyday emotions and futuristic setting make it an excellent read. The fact that Ender is frustrated that he cannot make any friends because he is so respected because he is number one soldier is really ironic. Even though it has real emotions, it shows some odd ones too, Ender's sibling's incredible manipulative powers are an escape from the usual ten and twelve ear old emotions found in many books.
The book was fast paced when needed but didn't rush through. It gave you enough excitement to keep reading, but still gave time to the teachers view or the corresponding plot developing on Earth (both of which were some of my favorite parts). I wanted to know what would happen to Ender, if his siblings be caught using fake ids to use the net, and even if the teachers would let up on him. It had a perfect balance of anticipation and mellow spots.
Orson Scott Card wrote a great book with a lot of excitement. Even though it had more than one plot they all flowed together flawlessly. The futuristic setting was interesting and exciting. This book always kept me guessing and caught me with more than one twist. "Enders Game" is a great science-fiction novel.


G. Bennett

First, I have to say that this has become one of my favorite books. It ranks right up there with "To Kill a Mockingbird". And I really can't stand how such works are thrown into the science fiction bucket and therefore stigmatized. I read lots of different kinds of fiction and each has their own merits. But it is the quality of the story that counts.

This idea that it isn't appropriate for the young. oh please. Card is not condoning what was done to Ender and the rest of the "children". He's not saying that the ends justified the means. Card is asking you the reader to examine these and other issues for yourself. This is what a great story does, forces you to think and decide. That is why I can put this work beside "Mockingbird" and "Moby Dick", which also challenge us to think. And we ask our youth to digest those works.

I would recommend this work and the books that follow in the series to anyone who enjoys a great story and has an open, questioning mind.

Thank you.

I spent a long time thinking that this book was really bad, but I couldn't tell you why. Honestly, I can't even remember where I got the impression.

It is a good thing that I read this after I was a teenager, though, lest I fall too far into believing that Ender is me, as Orson Scott Card suggests many kids do.

Other reviewers have probably said enough about what the book is about and why you should read it. As such, I will keep this brief.

Orson Scott Card, much like Robert Aspirin, writes an excellent tale that makes us consider one key question: What is acceptable behavior when the very survival of your society is at stake? The draft? Worse? Enslavement? Genocide? What?

Both of these raise this question, and they answer it with VERY different answers. The truth is that if you've read one and enjoy it, you should read the other. You will enjoy it, too.

Definitely worth picking up. I read it in a day, so it is not too long. Buy it, read it, and pass it along. Not so deep as to need more than a week of thought, but not so simple as to make you want to throw it across the room for being worthless. A keeper.

Harkius

This book takes place in the future. Instead of mutiple governments ruling planet Earth, thee was a single ruling party: the I.F.. The I.F. recently ended a war with an alien race known as the buggers. The I.F. suffered extreme losses in the war and needed a grweat deal of repair. They needed a new general to lead them into battle. They found Ender Wiggin, a small 6 year old boy.
I thought that this was a great book that had great language and story line. I kept turing the pages with antisipation and suspence. Orson Scott Card had a briliant military mind which he used perfectly to make this story. This book was unusual because te whole story was a climax, there was no end to the excitment, no end to the peak of the story. The sroy itself was the peak.

to this day, this is still probably my favorite book. coming across it at the age of only nine, it changed my prospective on life. since then, i have probably read it over 5 times. the detail that Card uses takes the reader to a different time and place, and even dimension. i have not yet found a book to even challenge this unforgettable novel.

if this book interests you, you should definitely check out the rest of this great series.

AND IF YOU HAVE KIDS, I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS FOR THEM.

Ender's Game is a scifi masterpiece, with a psychological twist. Fantastic read! It's surprisingly meaty for young adult literature. This book should be mandatory in every high school.

I kept putting this book at the bottom of my TBR since I had so many to read but then I picked it for my reading challenge and I am so glad that I did. I ended up loving this book to my complete surprise.
Enders Game takes place in another time and deals with planets, new creatures, and interplanetary traveling. I have never been a fan of "starship trooper" type books but this one grabs you from the beginning. Ender is the worlds only hope of surviving another war with the buggers (a type of alien). Ender is only 6 when he enters the training school and you get to see him develop into a world class hero. As with all hero's he has his faults and can be quite scary but in the end he steps up to the plate. I wish he would have been older when he was picked but I understand that this is set in another time.
I really enjoyed this book and I will continue on with the series.

Ender's Game = must read. This book should be on all of the mandatory high school reading lists. Excellent story plot with a few one liners that make you think. This is a sci-fi classic.

The book Enders game is truly a spectacular piece of literature, within the cover is a true piece of art, with imaginative settings, creative and interesting characters who really drive the plot, which itself is interesting with enough detail, and plot hooks put in so that the reader is kept very interested and wants to continue reading, I myself could not find nyself with a spare moment in which I was not reading the book it was so incredible. The Book Enders game is truly masterful and should be read by anyone wishing for a great science fiction novel with out a boring futuristic super detailed book which puts the reader to sleep, the book is very highly reccomended to any reader.

Ender's Game is a fantastically written and very intriguing book. Although it is slow starting as soon as the action picks up you are immediately drawn in. The writing style of the author is what made the book the best-seller that it is.
Orson Scott Card doesn't use flashy language in the novel, which is very appropriate due to the fact that it is about a child. He doesn't use elaborate descriptions of the settings where the book occurs which can be viewed in two ways. On one hand, this style leaves a lot of room for the reader's imagination to work; on the other hand, occasionally the book seems to be rather bland with no color what so ever.
Another thing that the writer accomplishes in this book is he is able to bring the characters in to our hearts. He does this by focusing on a few main characters and really bringing them to life. Each character seems to have a role in the book that has been measured to continue to keep the plot moving along. For instance, Peter Wiggin appears in Ender's life during Ender's early childhood and during Ender's time at Battle School. However the manner in which he influences Ender changes although he still negatively affects him. While Ender is on Earth Peter physically takes over Ender and makes Ender feel inferior to himself; once in space the physical abuse disappears and Ender is controlled mentally by Peter.
In addition another fact that must not be overlooked is Mr. Card's ability to use children as his vector to carry the message of the book. Ender, Valentine and Peter Wiggin are beyond intelligent, ahead of the adults in the world. So much so that their influence is felt on a global scale. However, Orson Scott Card doesn't lose the reason young people are so captivated by the novel, the fact that the main characters are children. What I felt would happen as the book progressed was the Wiggins would become adults in child bodies. Throughout the story as the Wiggins are placed in settings that would be more suited towards adults they retain the innocence of children.
Ender's Game was a terrific read and I highly recommend it for everyone, because it appeals to a large variety of readers.

The product arrived on time, it was in excellant shape and the book report will now be a success.
thank you

The annals of popular science fiction are decorated with archetypes of human heroes and heroines triumphing over technologically-advanced alien races. But what if these protagonists were children? Enter the premise of Orson Scott Card's first novel, Ender's Game, a fun, fast-paced, and imaginative read (notwithstanding its moderately far-fetched environment). Its heroes are children, born and bred for a singular, special purpose that holds the key to human survival.

These children, most notably Andrew "Ender" Wiggin, are separated from their Earth-bound families and moved to a covert military training facility. The reason? Well, many decades previous, planet Earth was attacked by a an advanced alien race--termed "buggers"--in what history remembers as "The First Invasion". These "buggers" attacked a second time and were repelled, with the remaining survivors retreating in the reaches of space. Under fear of a third attack, the government has commissioned a secret military project, in which children are "engineered" and trained to be intelligent and ruthless military commanders, all by playing an elaborately-designed, zero-gravity "game". The story follows the most promising candidate, Ender, as he realizes the intent of the game and questions his ability to assume the role for which he is being groomed.

If that seems preposterous, it's certainly fair to say that it is. But Ender's Game is aided by sharp (if not spectacular) writing and vocabulary on the part of its author. This gives the book an authenticity that intensifies the creative premise and moves the book at a quick pace. The book is just plain enjoyable, and doesn't pretend to aspire to any sort of high philosophical statement or ideology. Not to devalue the book's depth; in truth, it certainly paints an intriguing and compelling picture of the lengths to which a desperate humanity will resort in order to protect their continued existence. At its heart, though, it is simply a great story of adventure and strategy, the perfect page-turner for a week away on vacation or a long weekend at home.

Read this and more reviews at my blog: [...].

Very good sci-fi book with interesting characters and a heck of story-line. No one is all good and no one is all bad. A six-year old (Ender) is chosen to go to military school because of his potential. Ender must overcome social, physical, and mental obstacles. And still be six-years old. The story is compelling and the characters are deep. The ending leaves me scratching my head but I'll let you decide that as I would still recommend this book.

I recently found a list of the top 100 greatest sci-fi novels of all time. I've been on this massive sci-fi kick lately so I made it a point to read all of the books on that list that I haven't read already. On the top of the list is Ender's Game. This has been hailed as a classic many times over so I couldn't help but read it right away.

The story follows Ender Wiggins, an extremely brilliant child. All of the children in the Wiggins family are well above brilliant but Ender was ultimately chosen as the one to train, so he can potentially save the world from the 'Buggers'.

This book focuses primarily on Enders training as well as the alliances and rivalries that form at the training academy. Ender has a knack for being the best and that annoys some of the other children. Much of the book focuses on the zero-gravity games that Ender plays. It's pretty clear right from the beginning that Ender is a mastermind. Meanwhile back on Earth his brother Peter and his sister Valentine have their own plans.

I do have a few minor complaints. The story is incredibly predictable, I saw the major twists coming from a mile away. Also, even though the games are fun to read about they do tend to dry up a little towards the end because you pretty much know exactly how each one is going to pan out. I am being a little nit-picky here because throughout most of the book I was quite engaged, even if I did know what was going to happen.

Overall this book is very good. It is a very easy read that doesn't provide a whole lot of detail; instead Card lets your imagination fill in all the gaps, which I did like quite a bit. In the end I would give it 4.5 / 5 but since I can't award half-stars I'll round up to 5 because it was a really fun read that kept the pages turning well into the wee hours.

Who are the people that are writing stellar reviews on this book? Five year olds? At best, this is a children's book for simpletons.

The detailed plot and pace of the book makes it an entertaining read, and it masks some of the book's deficiencies. The only memorable characters to me are Ender and the military guy that first scouts him out. The other characters appear to me to be mere plot devices.

(via [...])

I have been looking for a great sci-fi story that isn't the usual recycled crap you see on TV's and most sci-fi books these days. Granted this isn't exactly a new book, but it really caught me up in the story. I started to feel for Ender and his unusual situation. The storyline takes a while to develop, but it never seems tedious to get the details of the world Ender lives in. I love his experiences at the battle school as I was imagining myself performing the tasks he performs and wondering how well I would do myself. The book really puts you in the story and that's why it gets 4 stars.

This was like taking that one bad Harry Potter book and making it 100 times worse. Nothing but sadness, grief, depression, anguish and killing. Sounds like a kid's book? I personally think not.

I read this book and immediately went out to be the sequels. I highly recommend all of them. They're the kind of books that you can't put down once you pick them up.

Winner of the Hugo and Nebula awards? Really? This is a book with only marginally decent prose, unlikeable characters and a weak plot and it has been deemed equal to masterpieces written by authors such as Asimov, Dick, Gibson and Le Guin?

Sorry to all the fans, because I know there are many who love this series, but this book is not worth the hype. There is nothing worse in terms of characterization than surrounding your protagonist with villains who have no reason to be mean in order to make us sympathize with the victim. It is also mind-boggling to see something as ridiculous as eugenics employed in sci-fi, of all genres, to justify the presence of not one, but three genius children in one family. World domination via message boards? Seriously? The worst part of it all is that Ender is meant to be a long-suffering, courageous hero, according to Card. That is not the book I read.

My advice: read this as the 'making of' of a serial killer and you might enjoy it.

This book is truly wonderful. Scott Card has created a true classic in this, the first of the Ender Quartet.

First off, Card's style is magnificent. I've heard complaints that his style is too blunt, too direct. However, in addition to this style making him a master of dialogue, it lends his writing an immediacy hard to find in other books. You travel with the characters, trade punches as they do, and this makes the blunt and direct nature of the book totally worth it.

Second, the plot is enthralling and completely engrossing. The novel is well paced as Card walks us through Ender's beginning struggles, his painful descisions concerning his leaving his home and those he loves, his arrival at Battle School, and the way he progresses there. The end is astonishing, shocking, and unexpected, and yet it all becomes obvious that Card planned this all the way through, and the clues were there for those astute enough to find them.

And finally, Ender's personal journey was inspiring and thought provoking in itself. When you take genius kids and make them fight wars, humanity comes to its worst, best, and strongest.

I definetly reccomend this book to all those seeking cool action scenes, good dialogue, and a deeply ingrained sense of humanity.

I've already read this book (more than once). It's a favorite, so I bought it for my son.

This is not really science fiction and it's a mystery how it won the Hugo award. Card himself says that he doesn't know much about science so he's written a story about a bunch of jocks preparing for a 3D football game. If that's interesting then I suppose that this book is O.K.

I feel like all the other reviewers who gave this book 1 star. The book's plot line was weak, I got tired of the endless military babel and the snooze fest "battles." The book had unnecessary religious undertones, add to that the continuous anti-military/anti-authority propaganda and you have a great brain washing book for young minds. The only thing I can see that made this book redeemable was the obsessive game play, I SUPPOSE young boys/men who never grew up types love reading about someone playing video games, but I personally need a little more to keep me entertained. This book was a huge waste. If only Card could reimburse me my time and money then maybe I wouldn't feel ripped off.

Ender's Game, rightly or wrongly, is a highly popular book. I picked this book up, not so much because I like sci-fi reading (I don't), but because the main character is a military genius and that is what I am interested in. I was not disappointed in the main character. The rest of the book, I was.

Negatives first, then. I was encouraged by Card's lengthy introduction. He wrote well, with wit and amusement and I looked forward to such writing in the novel. It was not there. Card's writing style was, at best, lazy and at worst, distracting. In his intro, on addressing the style of writing he used, Card states that

"I designed Ender's Game to be as clear and accessible as any story of mine could be. My goals was that the reader wouldn't have to be trained in literature or even in science fiction to receive the tale in its simplest, purest form."

Rather than an explanation, this is an excuse for deliberately choosing to write poorly and making sport of the reader's intelligence in the process. A story can be simply and still be well written. Card's odd uses of sentence structures, ("'Do you understand that?' And he whispered. 'The game is over.'"), was distracting and his characters' stilted manner of speech was annoying and at times confusing. Card often had the children lapsing into slang and so perhaps what he wrote is considered "correct." However, if it only serves to distract the reader, then, correct or not, it needs to change.

Once again, I am reminded by why I enjoy reading children's books so much. Whenever I venture into "Adult" fiction written after 1870, the book is practically guaranteed to be riddled with foul language and so much of it is largely unnecessary. The children in Ender's Game are particularly disgusting to read in this respect. In fact, the children read more as though Card is relying heavily on crude slang and stereotyping to give his characters any sort of depth.

A quick tangent: this is not much of a science fiction story, either. Card wrote this book well before the internet, Blackberries, and Google Wave and chat. It is startling, then, to realize that Card's world is a world we are living in today (minus spaceships hanging around Saturn). In that respect, the book is less a sci-fi book than a commentary on today's culture, complete with the author's intrusive views on religion, evolution, life, death, and the value there of. His politics in the book easily reveal when the book was written and what the world and America were concerned about then. More often than not, I thought it weakened the story, but at the same time it makes his book all the more human. Card's is a realistic book. It is a book one can see coming true.

The true strength of the book, however is the main protagonist, Ender. Here is where the book gains brilliance and satisfaction. Just as the Earth relied on Ender for its survival, so does Card rely on Ender for his book's survival. And survive it does! Card's deft handling of a child genius was brilliant and completely satisfying. Ender is not a character that will be forgotten. He remains a curious and incredible creation. He is more member of concrete history than of changing fiction.

After a rather harsh criticism of Card's writing style, it seems only fair to praise his story-telling skills. Each chapter opened with an ambiguous discussion of Ender by several adults, (who deserve a nod of recognition, they were well crafted). Such interludes served only to heighten the interest of a story that was surprisingly repetitive and drawn out. And perhaps that is where Card succeeds. The book is dull and slow, and lacks the sparkle of sci-fi technology. And yet, he manages to string the reader along, luring them with little hints here and there, and before the reader has realized what has happened, the book is over, Ender's Game is finished and the reader, most surprising of all perhaps, is satisfied.

To conclude, Ender's Game is not a brilliant book. The writing style is cheap and annoying, the characters flat, the action relatively low key, and the plot twists sadly predictable. And yet, despite the crudeness of the story, there is the boy Ender. Ultimately, Ender's Game is a book of contradictions, the story's weaknesses are also the story's strengths, and Ender is the greatest strength of all.

I wrote this line above because I think the reader of this fine novel should be alerted that also the first few chapters seem to eat up plot at break-neck speed, the rest of this novel focuses on speculative military training and not so much the what comes after (mostly).

This is not something that should scare the reader, because the novel is written with high-conflict and great imagination; however the book seems to promise a scope of multiple oncoming battles, but mainly focuses on the protagonist's formative years.

The training is bloody and the enemies are present like a thicket, so even though you never get to the inter-galactic baddy, you still get see the character's grit and wit. Ender, a boy, has the weight of a universe on his shoulders, and the outcome of the book does not disappoint.

This book raises some great speculative questions: How far can the military complex go, especially involving children and genetic manipulation? Is there a future hybrid plan for gaming and war?

And like all good Sci-Fi, it raises these questions in an entertaining manner. I look forward to reading the subsequent novels.

I'd always heard about this novel, but never picked it up. Today, I'm glad I did. It's a fascinating read about a young, gifted, child named Ender who is put into military training at an early age. I love the way the author crafts the world in which his characters live. I can't say how enjoyable this novel is. Just read it!

After having read so many good reviews about this book, then reading it myself and not liking it, I sometimes get the strange feeling that I haven't read it properly. Has that ever happened to you?

Enders game, for me, was a rather ordinary read. I didn't find the message profound, I didn't find the characters extraordinary, and I was not impressed with the extended scenes of virtual combat. In fact, I became very tired of the perpetual training that Ender had to go through.

I am unsure as to why there is so much hype about this book even to the point that it has become required reading in some schools.

Maybe I missed something, I don't know, but whatever it was must have been important. I wouldn't necessarily recommend this book, however, it isn't in and of its self. It totally depends on whether Card's style suits you.

I've had a recent streak of intense sci-fi interest. First Out of the Silent Planet, then 1984, then Fahrenheit 451--and now, thanks to a friend, I have been led to this literary treasure: Ender's Game.

There are a lot of detailed reviews, so I won't go into detail. In short: this book is brilliant. It's just great. The author has mastered tension and the insight into human psychology is just ridiculously good. Be forewarned that, although this is mostly about children, that it is NOT a children's fiction. In fact, there is a good amount of foil language and other comments, as well as violence, which may not be suited for a child under 13 or 14. This is, believe it or not, perfect for adults. (On a side note: The next book in the series deal with adults.)

Ender Game by Orson Scott Card is superb. At first glance this book might seem ordinary and unoriginal, but in fact the deeper you go the more you discover what an amazing book it pans out to be. The story of Enders Game revolves around an uncertain hero, Ender. Throughout the book constant pressure is forced upon Ender to be the weapon he was born to become. This genius commander is forced to face challenges no ordinary person could overcome, all for the sake of humanity.
I liked this sci-fi adventure for its deep sophisticated characters, its outrageous settings, and mind blowing action sequences. From the very start this book pulls you into the story, and makes you feel as if you were fighting alongside Ender.
Another character I want to mention is Bean. Bean was a soldier for Dragon Army and worked under Ender. They call him Bean either because it's his name or he's really small, I'm not sure which. Bean is just one of the many reasons why I can't help but continue reading this great novel.
General Graff uses his power to set in front of Ender difficult challenges, while his friends Petra, Bean, Molo, Soup, Vlad, and many others support him. Ender states time and time again he would be nowhere without the help of these people. Bean is the smallest of the group. He's a little hot headed and can be sort of arrogant at times but is still loyal to his commanding officer, Ender.
Ender lives a life that he is not in control of, saving people he doesn't know, all the while killing life when he isn't aware. He struggles to meet the expectations those people set around him, even though he excels above everyone else. I think the big idea of this story is just to do the best you can with what's around you.
The story in Enders Game begins with a boy who at the age of six enlists in the military. The setting of this story is in outer space, in the future. It follows Ender through years of military training, confinement from people around him, and being deprived of any sense of support. This is necessary in order to make a suitable commander. Throughout most of his childhood he never escapes the grasp of the people controlling him, this was a sad reality. Even though he was a military genius, and grew around an environment most of us will never experience there were still some connection between normal people and ender.
If you ever want to find out what happened to Ender you'll just have to go out and pick up a copy of Enders Game. I would rate this book a 4/5 and would recommend it to just about anyone who enjoys and good read.

An exciting science fiction treasure for adults as well as teens. This is a book to read as an adult and then give to the teens in your life to start them on a lifetime of reading pleasure.

As thousands of reviews have correctly attested here, this was a superb novel: in its plot, its characters, its writing.

I thought I'd focus this review therefore on how the book seems different now compared to when it was read after its first publication in the 70s.

From a technological point of view, many of the predictions are not that far off. People do carry around "desks" with them, although nowadays they're more likely to be laptops, tablets or smartphones. People do have complex video games in which they're immersed. The border between simulation and reality goes get fuzzier and fuzzier. In fact, it may be difficult for a modern reader to understand that the net-centric politics and computer-based learning and gaming described by Card was all yet to be invented when he wrote the novel. The kind of virtual reality even of the mind game was in the future.

The psychological and sociological milieu of the novel was predicted less accurately. True, partly the novel can be read as a utopian wish fulfillment fantasy. For children, the idea that their video games and squabbles are watched and analyzed with great care by senior military officers because the fate of humanity depends on their resolution must have been appealing. For bright people, the idea of a meritocratic society in which test scores and performance are used to select for command must have been attractive. For authors, like Card, the idea that Peter and Valentine could sway public opinion by dint of their writing ability must have seemed completely natural.

As time passes, though, we see that however reasonable these daydreams seemed at the time, they're utterly and equally unrealistic. The squabbles of children are utterly uninteresting to adults and utterly unimportant. Nobody is going to select commanders or anything else based on super-high test scores - connections are what's crucial in the selection of people, not test scores. Good writers have no effect whatsoever on public opinion, particularly on the net. Indeed, writing generally has fallen into desuetude - just compare the rich vocabulary and occasionally ornate sentences in parts of Ender's Game - for example, the pastoral descriptions of Ender's lake or the landscape where he located the queen's cocoon - with the simplistic style and syntax of contemporary authors (including Card for that matter).

Parts of the writing do not hold up well, although of course overall the book's prose is much more sophisticated and interesting than modern authors'. The slang - "neh" and "eh" - is laughable. Some of the epithets would be considered inappropriate and offensive now. The odd syntax in parts of the dialog (as in Moon is a Harsh Mistress) can get annoying.

So the book's vision never came to pass, not in the wider culture nor even in Card's own increasingly bland and uninteresting novels. But while it lasted, it was mesmerizing.

I've read this book many, many times. It is the book I've most often recommended to others and have bought this book multiple times after lending it to others and not getting it back. I hope this is eventually available in Kindle edition and I will buy it again.

I'm not generally a sci-fiction fan, but this book is a very compelling read about children learning war games to fight an alien menace. I liked the book so much that I read another in the series, "Ender's Shadow".

Ender is the main character of this novel about child warriors. At age 6, he is taken to Battle School to learn to fight the Buggers. There he meets others who have also left family and friends behind. Manipulated by adults, Ender is thrust into the role of leader of these other children all the while thinking he is just playing video games. As any teen knows, it is easy to reset the game...but check this book out to find out Ender's reality.

Ender's Game is a great sci-fi in many ways. It is a much easier to read than many futuristic pieces and the settings are vivid although somewhat left to the imagination (am I just saying I have a good imagination)

The novel follows Ender as he completes military training to defeat 'The Buggers'. In order to succeed Ender must survive his murderous brother, fellow students, the games that his superiors play, and eventually the enemy themselves.

My problem with the book is that its main drawcard is the ending twist. The rest of the book lacks real tension. The main character is a child prodigy who never looses a battle, so one reads the book without any fear of the protaganist failing or the need for a resolution of tension.

The character development is relatively basic, although there are a few satisfying revalations. There are also the occasional interesting philosophies on warfare throughout Ender's lessons.

Ultimately Ender's Game is an excellent beginning to a series and a relatively easy read. Recommended to sci-fi fans and those who enjoy straightforward books.

Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game is an emotional story that would fit very well in a high school curriculum. The novel takes place in the future but is highly rooted in the Cold War era. It tells the story of a young boy who is drafted by the military to be the world's hero in the final war against an alien race of insect-like creatures. The reader will be sympathetic to Ender and also be discouraged by him. The novel has amazing characterization. Readers should feel something for each character, no matter how minor. There are many supplementary materials for this book including sequels and comics to incorporate into teaching lessons. This book can also be taught alongside the Cold War in a social studies class.

Long time fan of Ender's Game, I was delighted to get this audio production. The voice talent was spot on. Stefan Rudnicki and cast capture the pain, the stress, the struggle through voice. They tell the tale so well that it added a depth to an already outstanding story that I didn't think was possible.

Ender's Game is an incredible read. It took me a little while to get into. I did not feel as though I immediately connected with Ender, but after a few chapters I was thoroughly and hopelessly engaged. Recently, when speaking with a friend, I commented that I cannot imagine the intellect it takes to produce a book like this, and I maintain that stand here. It's phenomenal. I would have to put it up as one of the best books I've read.

The story is about a futuristic Earth, where space travel is not only possible, it's practiced. Not only that, but humans have engaged aliens in battle out in space, and the threat of a repeat hangs heavily in the air. This generates so much concern that the government decides to begin a search of children in hopes that they can find someone qualified enough to take on the aliens known as buggers. They find that someone in Ender and this is the story of his discovery, training and ultimate task. The ending is so surprising that it took my breath away. I reread it three times. The first time to make sure I read it correctly and the second and third times to experience again the shock of what had happened. It's amazing.

I know that this novel is used in many high schools, but as an adult, I read it for personal purposes and I wasn't disappointed. I know that there are other novels in this series, but Ender's Game can be a stand alone novel as it has a beginning, middle and end without any annoying cliffhanger endings.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book and hope that you enjoy it as much as I did.

We actually listened to the CD version of the book (unabridged) during a Denver to Mount Rushmore trip. The miles flew by. We couldn't wait to get back in the car to see what Ender was up to next. We all loved this book! My 11 and 15 year-old boys did not fight once. This is a miracle. My husband loved it and I loved it and we are in our late 40's and early 50's.

There is just something universally appealing about a 6-year-old boy being chosen and trained to save the world.

We are leaving for another long car trip in a couple of weeks and we can't decide which Ender novel to listen to next--Speaker of the Dead or the Shadow Series. We may need them both. Maybe we will forget the condo and the Grand Canyon and just listen to Ender stories. Who needs DVD players in your car when you have a CD player and Orson Scott Card?

My son loved and picked out this book. If he was satisfied so am I. He was 12 or 13 years old at the time of purchase.

The star rating system is a bit problematic here, since I have yet to read the book. However, I wanted everyone to be careful when buying this product. Based on how Amazon lists it, it looks like it is all 4 books of the "Ender Quartet", rather than just the first one. The name should actually read: "Ender's Game Gift Edition (Ender Quartet-Book 1).

I approached this expansion of the award-winning novella with some reluctance, because I was afraid of being disappointed. Novels based on shorter works sometimes add little more than filler, really; but "Ender's Game" adds both story and characterization. Does it ever! It tells the same tale, that of a little boy named Andrew Wiggin who goes by the nickname "Ender" because he is his parents' third child in a world where exceptions to a strict two-child limit per couple are not granted lightly. Ender Wiggin's parents conceive him because the future Earth of this story faces an enemy so alien that only a child's creativity, a child's inability to comprehend that certain things are impossible, can hope to defeat that enemy. Their first two children, Ender's siblings Peter and Valentine, possess the intelligence and the creative gifts the authorities know they need; but neither's temperament allows those gifts to be used as first Battle School and then Command School can teach Ender to use them.

Battle School, where most of the book takes place, is a space station where brilliant children from six to twelve years of age train relentlessly in combat and tactical "games" that have a deadly serious purpose. Small Ender is deliberately isolated by teachers who push him to his limits, as they realize that the crisis they are preparing him to meet will come long before he can complete his training on a normal schedule. He has to be ready sooner - and he has to learn to lead other children who are almost his equals.

This book chilled me, because it felt absolutely real; and Ender's universe was not a nice place to be. Yet not only Ender himself, but the book's other characters, too, made me keep turning pages until I wound up finishing it at 2 a.m. An amazing piece of work!

--Reviewed by Nina M. Osier, author of 2005 EPPIE Science Fiction winner "Regs"

A classic science fiction story that is appropriate for upper middle school and high school.

same as subject but I would also add that this sci-fi book made me cry and it made me happy and it did it in positive and intelligent ways.

This was an assignment for my son's summer reading. He loved the book so much that when he was done I read it as well. Very well written and it has a good ending as well.

The cover of this edition is a disgrace. I feel bad for anyone who has to look at it. Seriously, I might tear it off my copy.

Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game is set in a 22nd Century Earth that has suffered invasion by aliens. Having repelled the invasions, Earth is preparing to take the war to the enemy. It is believed that the best hope for successfully killing the aliens lies in the recruitment of genius children and in training them to be the greatest military minds in history.

Most of Ender's Game occurs in the battle school of the International Fleet. We watch Ender Wiggin go through training and hi...more Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game is set in a 22nd Century Earth that has suffered invasion by aliens. Having repelled the invasions, Earth is preparing to take the war to the enemy. It is believed that the best hope for successfully killing the aliens lies in the recruitment of genius children and in training them to be the greatest military minds in history.

Most of Ender's Game occurs in the battle school of the International Fleet. We watch Ender Wiggin go through training and his selection as the ultimate commander for the coming war.

Ender's Game is one of my favorite novels of speculative fiction. Reminiscent of Heinlein's juvenile novels, Card captures the state of mind of a young child as the immense weight of training and command fall upon him. The setting of null-gravity battle games creates a novel and vivid backdrop for the story. The characters are brilliantly developed. I'd recommend this novel to anyone.

In the future, the human race has mastered space travel (but not "lightspeed"). Before the story in Ender's Game, humans ran into a race known as the Formic, or "Buggers". We were able to fight them off, but it was close. Now we have created the International Fleet (IF), and given them complete control over international and interspace activities. One of their prime directives is to train the next generation of military leaders at Battle School, a space station orbiting Earth. Every child in the world is tested as a toddler to determine if they present the kind of traits needed to lead. The best of the best are taken when they are 5 or 6 and trained to be the next Napoleon or Alexander.

Ender's Game follows the story of Andrew Wiggin, known as Ender, as he is selected to attend Battle School. In some ways, it is similar to Harry Potter in that it is set in a school of exceptional children.

This is a book that my father, my mother, my sister and myself have all read, and all thoroughly enjoyed. Neither my mother nor my sister like "sci fi" at all, so don't let that put you off. Once you've read Ender, it will be the kind of book you start buying for others as gifts.

Others have detailed the plot, so I won't comment on that in this review. I just wanted to add my perspective as a mom - save this one for when your children are a little older (maybe 8th grade and above). They'll get more out of it at that age and will be able to appreciate it more. Also, encourage your children to read Ender's Shadow (by the same author) after this one. It's basically the same story (although different enough to make it interesting), from another character's perspective. Then discuss the different points of view with them. It'll hopefully result in some interesting discussion about characterization, perspective, and general writing/literary techniques. They may even try writing their own story - from two perspectives.

Others have detailed the plot, so I won't comment on that in this review. I just wanted to add my perspective as a mom - save this one for when your children are a little older (maybe 8th grade and above). They'll get more out of it at that age and will be able to appreciate it more. Also, encourage your children to read Ender's Shadow (by the same author) after this one. It's basically the same story (although different enough to make it interesting), from another character's perspective. Then discuss the different points of view with them. It'll hopefully result in some interesting discussion about characterization, perspective, and general writing/literary techniques. They may even try writing their own story - from two perspectives.

There are already plenty of accurate reviews of this book up so I won't elaborate too much. All I'll say is that all aspects of this book, from the political intrigue and dialog to the combat and associated ethical dilemmas are executed absolutely flawlessly, what more could you ask of a novel?

One of my all time favorite books. I was drawn Ender's vulnerability and strength. I also loved Ender's shadow.

I gave this as a gift. My friend loved it. I recommend this book for all "real" sci-fi fans.

This is actually the second time I've read the book. I purchased it so I could read it again, and pass it on to others.

To write the hardships of life into this kind of magic is... incrediable.
I first read this book when I was 14years old and it changed my life, for the better I might add. Ender is easy to love! You cry with him, fight with him and believe in him, and in the end when all hope seems lost you only cheer for him. As a right of passage I now give this book to all my nieces and nephews who enter the strange world after puberty/ before graduation. No body tell you better than Card does in this book that you can do it. It's Card's HIVE QUEEN!

you really can't ignore it. I have loved this book since the first time I read it. The story, in all its varieties, intrigues me.

Particular to this version, however, is a superb author's forward. I learned so much about the story and the motivation behind the story by reading this forward. As he (Card) says herein, the real story is not what is written, but what YOU and I make together with him when we read it. The true story is the joint creation of our minds. Reading this intro makes this version even better than the others I have read. A definite must-have.

Orson Scott Card is truly a master of science fiction. I consider his books the successors to Isaac Asimov's works. "Ender's Game" can be enjoyed by anyone from any background. Even better, read Ender's Game and then read "Ender's Shadow" for another twist of complexity.

Ender's Game by:Orson Scott Card
226 pp. Tom Doherty Associates 1991 $24.95
(Hardcover)
ISBN 0-312-93208

Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card, is an emotionally charged read for people who like science fiction. Ender, a genius boy with raw, unpolished skills for command, must endure extreme hardships that would break a boy of lesser strength. Following Ender through the years of his life, I felt sympathy and sorrow for his lost childhood.
At just six years of age, Ender Wiggin is used to pain. Everyday, his older brother pushes him around. Once the government takes away their surveillance (they are looking for brilliant children who might stand a chance at becoming soldiers), there is nothing standing between him and the greatest pain he will feel. So he fights back. The next day, a man comes to Ender's house, offering him a chance to become a soldier. Ender soon finds himself at a school in the stars.
But his life at the Battle School is not meant to be one of happiness. The teachers, including Colonel Graff, the man Ender thought was his friend, isolate him from the other students. Throughout his years at Battle School, Ender grapples with bullies, unfair battles, and even near death.
Down on Earth, Ender's siblings plot and plan. They want power no matter what the price. Valentine, his sister, sells out Ender for a medal. Peter tortures little animals. Slowly Ender's siblings grow closer and Valentine starts to hate herself for being like Peter. They create for themselves fake identities on the computer. Their identities, Locke and Demosthenes, see two different opinions. They debate with each other, placing a seed of doubt in those who read their postings. When Valentine (as Demosthenes) is invited to write a weekly column for a newsnet, she accepts. As they gather more power and followers, they are asked questions that they don't want to answer. Valentine becomes frustrated that her fake identity is so influential when she doesn't believe in the things she is writing.
Just as Ender starts to enjoy battle school, the teachers graduate him to command school. There, his enemy, Mazer Rackham, teaches him. Ender commands a simulated fleet of starships, defeating computer enemies. Haunted by dreams of alien buggers and by Valentine, Ender sleeps restlessly. His sanity slowly breaks down and he tires himself out. When his final test comes, Ender plays his hardest, not realizing that winning this game is more than just winning a game.
Ender's Game has a grabbing plot that sucks the reader right in. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Ender is a strong but lonely character that I loved right away. As I read the book I loved his friends as well, most especially the charming Alai. Although the characters are a bit unrealistic in the way that they think and write, I prefer it this way because then I feel as though I'm not reading about someone dumb. This is the best science fiction book I've read in a while. The philosophy in this book can be determined as right or wrong and could be debated for hours. Its sequel, Speaker for the Dead, has won the Hugo and Webula award. Ender's Game is a book that I could read again and again.

Ender's Game Tom Doherty Associates, New York, 1991, 324 pp.

Orson Scott Card ISBN 0-765-34229-4

Our Hero

"Enders Game", by Orson Scott Card is a "don't want to put book down" kind of book. Card's perspective on how one man, or in this case, one boy saving the futuristic universe freo the buggers, which are small and intelligent aliens. Andrew Wiggin, or better known as Ender, is the savior of the future as he fights too many battles to count.
This book is set in one area but in many locations in the future, his Battle school where he firsts goes to space school. Command school where he spends his older days. Lastly, rarely he's on Earth where he starts off and meets his much missed sister Valentine. Orson Scott Card found his inspiration of this book from the book Analog.
As I read through Ender's life, I notice he faces many difficulties. Ender Wiggin is a young, smart, and courageous individual and many people are jealous of that. When he lived on Earth at the age of six, he was in a fight with a bully, but Ender unknowingly killed him in the fight. The government noticed Ender's fighting skill and intellect in his earth school, so they decided to send him into space for battle school. The teachers thought it would be a better idea to isolate him to make him a better student. So, every time he'd get close to somebody, they would transfer him to a new commander or promote him. Ender was once assigned a commander named Bonzo Madrid who was so jealous of Ender's success, he tried to kill him in a fight but ended dead as a result. In Battle School, they have battles that are fake and Ender had numerous odds piled up against him, but he always emerges on top.
Ender Wiggin is such a phenomenal athlete, he skips pre-command school and heads straight to command school, which is unheard of. He is given a simulator, which simulates what would happen if you were fighting Buggers. As he fights in the simulator, he is undefeated. He is trained by the former, greatest leader of all time who saved the world from the buggers in the second invasion, Mazer Rackham. At the end of command school, Ender is told to go in front of his old teachers and one more simulation but he didn't know it was an actual battle. It was the hardest fight he had ever had, but he came out the victor.
Back on Earth, Enders sister, Valentine, and Enders brother, Peter, are saving Earth their way. They are undercover writers with convincing columns on today's current problems. Their names are Demosthenes and Locke. Their influential columns brought Earth together.
This book was generally a good read, but I think it missed a little. It could have had a better ending and stronger details. The goal was to convince the reader that he or she was witnessing Enders life from his point of view which was mostly reached. Ender reminds me a little of my brother thought. He has so much intelligence and use, but he doesn't know how to use it. This is a very good book and I recommend it to anybody who likes science fiction books and space.

By,
Pablo Pepper

I loved Enders Game when I first read it as a teenager and maybe that is the best time to appreciate this coming of age SF story. I read it again now as an adult and I almost wish I hadn't. The story is still good but the writing (which I remembered I loved) is simply not there and neither are the characters. Ender and his siblings, who become such giants in the world, are not nearly as interesting as they should be and for me that is the real problem with the novel.
So I would recommend it for teens, not for adults. By the latter measure, it falls well short.

Amazing! Simply out of the ordinary! Card has taken his writing to a new level, with his use of simple elements from the Sci-Fi genre. The more you read the more attach you become to the novel. You are introduced to so much more than you ordinary Sci-Fi because Card has created a story that has let the mind wander freely in. From the contrast between characters and the imagery of battle rooms all sound so unrealistic but somehow Card can draw you back in to the story. The main plot in which, gifted children are isolated into military schools where they are trained to become the futures savior against the Buggers. Here you are truly introduced to the light and dark side of Ender through his epic simulations and interactions between his fellow classmates. It is not a surprised if you can connect yourself to Ender because the connection that Card uses between him and the reader is what really makes you so attached to the story. Ender being the highest ranked of the students is rising up among the highest military soldiers being the envy of students that he had excelled leading to the challenges that any ordinary person must face (fitting in). Through all of these challenges that Ender faces will he sink into the pressure and become what he is not or will he overcome his obstacles to become the best commanding officer on Earth to save mankind!?!? This is one ride that you just have to strap yourself into because it's a ride that you'll never get off. -jue

A wonderful "coming of age" story.

A great sci-fi novel.

An insightful look into how the young are brainwashed into the "game" of adulthood.

And incredibly prescient considering it was written in 1977. There is an Interent with bloggers and the kids all have wireless laptops are a couple of examples.

This is one of my favorite books of all time. I am just a bit annoyed at the confusing product title. I thought I was getting all four books and thus was a bit lost when only one arrived. Checking back showed that the mistake was mine, but they really should make it clearer that you are only getting the one book. Judging by the other reviews, I am not the only one to make the mistake.

Still, this is a great book and a good price for it.

This is a great read and a classic sci fi story. It opens the mind up for thought on a wide variety of topics including war, imperialism, government, good vs evil, genetics etc. A large portion of it is about the changes the main character, Ender, goes through. Towards the end however, the books offers several plot twists that really deliver and set up the stage for the series.

From cover to cover, Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card is a page turner. If I had one criticism, I'd say the flow of the book speeds up a bit abruptly toward the end. Overall a wonderful book - I look forward to reading more from Orson Scott Card.

The binding of this paperback decided to destroy itself within a couple hours of reading, with normal use (not opening it too wide or folding it).

Hands down one of the best books I have ever read.

Card's book has vivid characters, ones you come to love (or hate), a plot that sucks you in and twists you around, and the timing and pacing are all spot on. His jumps in time are barely noticeable, they're so smooth, and that is one mean feat. It's nearly perfect the way it is. Adding description or more advanced language would slow the book down, and distract from the main point. Only someone following some irrelevant convention because it makes them feel more academic would think otherwise. Until I came here I honestly had not considered this as something to complain about.

No my only complaint is in one, and yes, only one, scene of the book. SPOILER ALERT (I hate reading reviews that ruin the end): When Ender fights the final battle and destroys all (but one) of the buggers, I honestly thought he was just going to blow everyone up, including his own ships. He thought it was a game. He wanted to cheat, rebel. Why not? And it was a big, no, colossal gamble on their part that he wouldn't. A friend, however, tells me that there is something in a later book that basically makes this concern disappear. Awesome. Almost doesn't matter however, for in any book you must suspend at least some disbelieve, and that is much easier when the book has touched your soul.

I can truly say I have not been this emotionally invested into a character in a long time. When the truth is revealed, I was in shock. Then more truth is revealed and my heart was wrenched in my chest. I stared into space, deep in thought for a long time after finishing this book. Which is something I've been looking for from a book, for a long time now.

I am not much of a fiction reader. I discovered this book only recently. It was a quote on a license plate frame, a middle-aged woman driving, and I don't remember the quote exactly but I remembered "Ender's game" and my curiosity drove me to Google it, which led me to buy this book. I guess it's quite popular to be quoted on a license plate frame 30+ years after it was originally published, eh? I thought the military leadership lessons that Ender learned were enjoyable to follow and I was very impressed by the quality of writing, the characterization, the LOGIC of Ender. I have a limited science fiction depth of reading experience and "Death Star" was my previous novel to this one. I've read a bit of Frank Herbert and Carl Sagan but mostly I stick to Star Wars for sci fi books. The day I finished reading Ender's Game, I bought Speaker for the Dead (loved it) and the day I finished Speaker for the Dead I bought Xenocide which I'm in the middle of right now (loving it). Orson Scott Card has converted me into a science fiction chain-reader and not a day goes by that I don't read. Thank you Mr. Card!

Orson Scott Card scored both of Science Fiction's major awards for this book and its immediate sequel, Speaker for the Dead, and he deserved it. This book is about some big Ideas - keep in mind that plot and characterization are secondary to that - or rather that they are done in order to fulfill the Ideas that he is trying to convey.

In the future, far enough away but also a little too close to us, Ender Wiggin is taken to a military school in the asteroid belt as a young child in order to be trained to be a military leader to fight back a race of aliens that have attacked Earth before and probably will again. But the leaders of this academy, of the world, have some specific specifications for the military commander they are trying to create and the ways they seek to attain this are not gentle on Ender's mind, body, or soul. What will Ender become as a result of this training?

If you get the paradox that this book presents, the irony should be physically painful. It searches deep into the collective soul of humanity and comes up with darkness but also with hope. And it hints at the question to be asked later in the series: Is humanity the race that no one can live with because of its hatred and violence?

Ender's Game has been marketed as a young adult book, but the issues this book deals with are complex and just as compelling for an adult as for a teen or preteen reader. If you have not read this book and ever thought you should give it a shot - do so, because you probably won't regret it.

Also: Free-fall fights in 3-D. Oh. My. God. If you can respect nothing else about Card, respect his ability to imagine fights in weightless conditions and imagine them well.

I don't know why it took me three decades to get around to reading this book. I've been reading SF since the 1950s and I'd heard this is a classic, but somehow I missed reading it. Anyhow, I finally read it and understand what the buzz is all about. This really IS one of the 50 best SF novels ever, and a great read. Don't wait 30 years to read it like I did!

I LOVE THIS BOOK. It is such a great read. Fun, interesting, thought-provoking, tense, blah, blah, blah.

The plot is original and fluid. The characters are real - there is both good and bad in all of them (and us). Very well written.

I find myself re-reading this every year or so and each time I think "wow, what a great book", but each time I'm drawn to a different part or understand it in a way I hadn't previously.

Oh, how I wish they'd make this into a movie. But they'd butcher it so maybe I don't want them to.

I think I might go read this again.

December 2008 -I read it again. Does that make me a nerd?

*taken from my review at goodreads

I had heard of this book and just listened to part of Orson Scott Card's "Shadow of the Giant" on the Sirius Book Channel, so figured it was time.

It was a great story and definitely makes me want to read more of Scott's work. I agree with the one negative criticism I read here that the writing was somewhat dumbed down, apparently to appeal to the younger crowd (as opposed to "Shadow of the Giant" which seemed more geared towards adults), but if you can get past that it's a lot of fun. The ending threw me for a loop: I never saw it coming, but maybe I'm just clueless.

Time to grab a few more of Card's books and see what else he has on his mind.

I vaguely remember reading the novella length precursor to this novel at some point in the late 1970s. It was subsequently released in its current form in 1985 and won both the Hugo and Nebula Awards in 1986. As a result, mid way through the book, I knew what was going to happen, but that knowledge did not detract from my reading experience, and the denoument, which I don't believe was contained in the earlier novella was brilliant.

The Earth has been attacked twice by Buggers, insect like aliens, and has barely survived. Ender Wiggen is the result of a breeding program to develop a supreme commander for the purpose of commanding the human space fleet in order to ward off an anticipated third attack. Ender is six years old when he is snatched from his family and put into rigorous psychological, physical and tactical training. His training and the looming Bugger threat are the centerpiece of this novel.

Without going too deeply into the plot and the various twists and turns, suffice it to say that this book is every bit as much about human psychology and philosophy as it is about science fiction. The events leading to the climax involve a major plot shift and the action following the climax is magnificent.

My only quibble with the novel is the language, actions and mindset of the very young trainees, starting at age six and advancing to age twelve. They are simply not realistic, even in the context of genetic engineering. Card addresses this point in an introduction, which is otherwise excellent. He argues that advanced children do, in fact, think and behave this way, though perhaps not in front of adults. To support this, he produces a letter from a group of 12-13 year old prodigies. A letter from 12-13 year olds hardly reinforces an argument that 6 year olds are as sophisticated as advanced adults. In my opinion, Card could have added five years to the ages of all the children in the book and presented a far more realistic scenario. Nevertheless, it is an excellent novel and well deserving of the accolades it has earned.

This is the story of Ender Wiggin, a young child who must go to 'battle school' to become the comander of Earth's starship fleet and fight the alien 'Buggers.'

Overall well written and entertaining, Ender's Game is a must read for people who enjoy Sci-Fi.... or really anyone for that matter. I think it drags a tiny bit in the middle but the end makes up for it.

The book was in mint condition, came on time and there were NO problems in any part of the process. Thank You!

I love a world where people are tested young for vocations and set on the right path and this books takes it to a delicious extreme (something Orson Scott Card does very well - so does Isaac Asimov). This book almost took me to where Anne McCaffrey did in Dragonsong and the Rowan. If you mixed the two into a cynical mind, you'd get this story. While Anne McCaffrey is a hopeful author, Orson Scott Card wants to take us to the edges of humanity's willingness to exploit talent it would normally not even recognize.

That said, I love this book. I love that edge and the writing draws you in without drawing attention to itself the way some authors do. It is an insight to the thinking of a truly exceptional intelligent mind. Thank you Orson Scott Card.

A co-worker recommended "Ender's Game" in 1995 and it didn't make much of an impression on me. I couldn't "Buy the premise, buy the bit", probably because I wasn't married with children at that time.

Recently, I was looking for something to read and I noticed that the book had been revised. I had read quite a few favorable reviews, and I really liked "Pastwatch", so I began to wonder if I had missed something when I originally read the book.

My daughter had been in a robotics program at school and I was amazed at the technical level that these kids were compared to my own childhood. When I read Ender's Game again, I realized that recruiting children to fight a war was totally realistic. If you have an attention span lasting for more that 20 seconds, the book is not wordy, awful, or vague as some reviewers have stated. Most likely, these readers prefer the dumbed down writing style of Dan Brown, which is more suited for the average reader.

I didn't read the standard edition of this book; however, this book standing alone, it was a good read. The way that card tells the story, I have some minor issues with, but I did have a hard time putting it down. The story itself was done well, though.

I think the premise of the book, that the child's mind is faster and better able to adapt than that of an adult's was put very well. I also liked how the general from the previous engagement said that he would not have been able to do what Ender did.
That Ender's brother and sister got along in the way that they did, and doing what they did made the story line flow, but was a touch too far fetched for me to swallow.

All things considered, though, it was a good read.

For me, this was an ideal novel. I felt pulled me in right away, I cared about the characters, and the story line kept me excited from start to finish. It touched my heart and stimulated my mind. Perfection!

Wonderful story brought to life by very imaginative details and I am in anticipation for the making of the movie. A top notch scifi for all fans.

When I first started reading this book, which I came across by accident, I was amazed by the number of people who told me it was the best book they had read, from strangers on airplanes to co-workers. After completing the book I must agree. Since that time I have recommended the book to numerous other folks, one who was surprised that his son had already read it and agreed with my observations. Needless to say, not one person I passed my thoughts on to had anything less than high praise for it.

Read it and you will not be disappointed.

I'm 46 years old and the last sci-fi book that I read was in high school until I picked this book up on a whim to venture outside of my normal book reading realm. Simply said, this book is so well written in regards to the character development, the concept of the story and the manner in which it played out to my surprise in the end. There are so many books that I've read and so many more that I want to read yet I must find time to read this book a second time and I already look forward to it. Be prepared for a thought provoking story that is truly a pleasure to envision time and time again.

I bought this book after I watched 'Benders Game', the 3rd Futurama movie. I knew it had nothing to do with the movie but after reading some Wiki I thought it sounded like a good read.
I shouldn't have read so much Wiki about it, almost ruined the book for me, but not quite. It is well written and is a great story. At times I felt like the book was much mor erecent than it is, with the way they descibe the computer networks used, seemed like the internet in the not so distant future. I really liked the ending and will be picking up the next book soon.

I've read this book several times, and I have very strong empathy for the characters in the story. It is well written, and I highly recommend it.

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.

Have you ever had the feeling when you were drawn into a book? Have you ever felt like you were hooked and loved reading it? I hoped my experience reading Ender's Game would be like this. I went to a book store to pick out this book that was on a list of possible books to read over the summer. I needed to chose one to read. This book is LONG with SMALL print. It's 300+ pages! I had 3 weeks before school started. My dad and the store clerk told me stories of people saying "My teenager won't read, but then when he picked up this book, he couldn't stop reading." I got convinced and put down a book that I was going to get since it was less than 200 pages. I was convinced I would enjoy reading a book that was longer, but "more interesting". I chose Ender's Game. I read and kept waiting for the moment where I would be "drawn into the book". I kept waiting, and waiting, and waiting, and waiting, and waiting...Guess What...THAT MOMENT NEVER CAME. I never had the feeling I was drawn into the book. It was still good, but nothing special. I gave it two stars since when I look back on it, it wasn't too bad of a reading experience. But I had very little time to finish the book, and it was 300+ pages of stuff that didn't interest me. I have had past experiences of being "drawn into the book", I enjoy those, it makes reading more fun, even if it's for school (which reading for school usually isn't as fun). I hoped that it would happen with this book, but it didn't. Me and my dad have learned to think harder before assuming I will get drawn into the book. So overall, this book is LONG. 300+ pages of SMALL print. If you really enjoy stuff about battling and wars, you may like this book. I like that stuff, but I didn't like the details on it this book explained. Overall, it wasn't a good match for me. Think hard before committing to reading this. Also, since this is a long book, I would recommend reading it for fun, not for a school assignment (unless you absolutely have to).

It has been a while since I've read a book that was momentous, that you knew was something great as you were reading it, something that stood for something more than simply the storyline. Usually it is found in fiction, such as Faulkner's Absalom, Absalom!, Morrison's Paradise and Steinbeck's East of Eden. Tolkien in fantasy did it. But I've never come across a book in science fiction that could evoke such a feeling. To this point I've loved science fiction for entertainment, for a fun and interesting and different genre to read. With Ender's Game I was finally introduced to all of that, plus the great writing and true and deep story that made the above mentioned books so great. I didn't think sci fi could do it, but Card certainly did it.

There isn't anything awe inspiring, earth shattering, or fly by the seat of your pants action. What Card does is inspire the characters, gives them a human feel, and then puts them in impossible situations that they can exceed in. Little Ender was the best of the best, and he continually accomplished everything he put his mind to. Card doesn't trivialize this or hide it. In fact it is made clear from the beginning. What makes this so believable is the emotions that little Ender Wiggin goes through that makes him so great. This was what Card excelled at, in giving Ender a human face that the reader could sympathize with, could laugh with, could cheer on and believe in. Add to that a fluid storyline that had nary a hiccup, and you have one amazing science fiction novel.

I particularly liked how each chapter started with a third person omniscience, letting the reader spy on the overseers of the children, spy on the commanders and leaders of Earth. Their insights helped guide the novel, yet not diminish what was happening. A literary device that added flavor and character to the story itself.

I can't say enough about this book. I am sad that it took me this long to finally get around to reading it. Ender's Game is an absolute gem of a book that any sci fi lover should read, and, dare I say, others not interested in sci fi should read as well. A definite recommend for the book and the author.

5 stars.

This is my favorite sci-fi book of all time. I highly recommend it. Looking forward to the movie, if it ever gets made. OSC keeps saying it is happenning. The rest of the series is pretty great too.
Ian Sassoon

Imagine a futuristic earth-world where buggers and astronauts has replaced cowboys and Indians as children's make-believe game of choice, space travel has replaced automobiles, and the planet's citizens' primary concern is to defeat an alien race before it can annihilate them.

After the powers that be decide that his too cruel brother, Peter, and too mild sister, Valentine, don't have what it takes, a third Wiggin child, Andrew "Ender" Wiggin, is created in hopes that his intelligence, abilities and temperament will prove to be just right for his sole purpose in life: to become an officer in the International Fleet capable of defeating the enemy. Constantly watched (through the use of a device implanted in his brain) and tested, at age six, he is strong-armed into choosing to attend Battle School, where, they tell him, (p 24) "It's like playing buggers and astronauts-except that you have weapons that work, and fellow soldiers fighting beside you, and your whole future and the future of the human race depends on how well you learn, how well you fight." And where he won't be eligible for his first leave until he is twelve-years old. Might one small boy have what it takes to survive the rigorous training, defeat the buggers, and save the human race?

Ender's Game, especially in the detail and visual descriptions of the battle scenes, is a wonderful sci-fi story about a brave little boy who holds the future of the human race in his hands. With a relatively high incidence of profanity (illegitimate male, the hot place), violence (including death), and enough references to flatulence to tire even the silliest of children, the suggested age of "10 and up" might be a bit in the low side. Also good: The Giver by Lois Lowery, Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein (though sexist), and Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes.

An alien species has twice attacked earth and nearly destroyed humanity, and now a third war is fast approaching. The hero of this story is a young boy with extraordinary military gifts. Ender Wiggin has a natural ability to plan and carry out strategy in three-dimensional space, but along with this, Ender has another, rarer quality: the right balance of empathy and self-sacrifice that enable him to act in the service of humanity (rather than himself), combined with a ruthlessness to do whatever is necessary to win not only the present war, but all future wars as well. (This is in contrast to his siblings, both of whom share Ender's remarkable strategic abilities; but while Ender's brother is cruel and sociopathic, his sister is soft-hearted, and neither would make a suitable soldier.)

Ender is removed from his family at the age of six and sent to the multi-national Battle School, where along with mundane subjects like math and history, students plan and act out mock battles in gravity-free chambers. Ender rises through the ranks more quickly than the other boys, making friends and enemies along the way, and graduates to Command School not a day too soon (and possibly, he is told, a few years too late). At Command School, the battle games reach a new level, and the eleven-year-old Ender learns that he is humanity's last best hope. (Meanwhile, back on earth, nations are threatening one another with war, and Ender's remarkable adolescent siblings are hatching a plot to rule the world.)

From this point the story moves fast, taking some interesting turns and revealing some suprises, as Ender learns the about the true nature of the war he is about to enter, and the alien species he must fight.

This is a fantastic book that inspired me to go our and read all of the Orson Scott Card books out there. He is a really talented writer. I heard they are making it into a movie but imdb does not have much on it. I had the pleasure to meet Orson Scott Card one time and why I don't agree with his political views, he was a great guy and remains one of my favorite writers.

Seriously. This book is the reason I ever began to read for pleasure. After a random grab from my English class' book shelf I was hooked. I couldn't begin to describe the many levels this book is amazingly amazing and won't try. But I will say again that this book started it all for me.

I am not a fan of science fiction literature in general (though I love science fiction cinema), however I will be the first to suggest "Ender's Game" as a rather exceptional little novel. There's a lot to like in "Ender's Game", and while it's probably not the perfect novel many fans make it out to be, the characters are memorable, and the story moves along at a fair pace. Indeed, it becomes particularly engaging once you hit the middle, and anticipation builds as the story weaves towards a possibly cataclysmic end.

This is an engrossing story of a young boy who has been selected for training at a space academy. Earth is under threat by aliens. The initial battles in space have not gone well. Earth's only hope is to find and train the leaders who can defeat the aliens in the few years breathing space that has been won before the aliens return. Children are evaluated to see if they have the qualities to be those leaders, and the few that show they are intelligent enough, determined enough, and ruthless enough are sent into space to be trained. The regime is brutal and brutalising, but the main character, Ender Wiggin shows compassion and regret as he is forced to take actions he would rather not. You feel for this small child who has the hopes of humanity riding on his shoulders.

This is simply one of the best books you will ever read. Five stars.

This book has become a sci-fi classic in a short time. Fast read and will always be remembered! Highly recommended.

I read a lot, and this is a book I can always come back to and I love it all over again. Even though it is an older book, it feels like it was written for our times. The desks are computers in the school, for example. I keep giving books to friends and family with diverse reading tastes, and they all love it so much that they won't give it back. If you are looking for a book that teaches heart, bravery, honesty, integrity, what it means to work as a team, and how to overcome adversity. . .you've found your book. It is simply amazing!

I don't use awesome for hardly anything, but I loved this book. I've re-read it off and on for years, and I don't re-read many other books.

Ender is a young boy who is sent to a military-strategy school to learn how to win battles. The book follows his training experiences as well as his journey to learn about, understand and destroy humanity's greatest threat(with a twist).

A great classic in science fiction.

Without a doubt Ender's Game is my favorite book. Since reading it in school I have reread it at least 10 times.

"Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card

Many thanks to Borders and Barnes & Noble for allowing me to read this in the store while my wife checks out books and magazines for herself.
This is quite the story.
Ender is a genius. He has been followed by some 'monitor' (inside his head or skin? Or just hovering around him?), so the government/military can make sure of his growth and development as well as his safety. He has grown up in a normal enough family: Mother, Father, brother and sister. He has just started school and is adjusting to this new life. There is a stigma associated with excess children, the world being a closed system, it can only support so many people. One or two children is all that is normally allowed; a third is taking advantage of everyone else, and is given a very bad social stigma. This is what Ender is: a third. When the 'monitor' is taken away, nobody knows it is just another test for his quality or fitness to be who he has to be. He passes and is taken away, after appropriate fussing and fuming, from his family to command school. It happens to be miraculous how prescient and adept the teacher Graff is in helping Ender become great, but it is fiction, so I guess the author can have the story do whatever he finds necessary.
It is hard for us 'normal' folks to understand all a genius thinks, so Mr. Card does not go into that, he just gives the impression of quality and intelligence exhibited in the actions and conversations of the heroes. I have read this sort of thing before (Robert Henlein). There I felt that the heroine was not shown to be such a great genius, in fact, she showed some very silly mistakes, not at all what a genius would do, as far as I am concerned.
In the edition I read, Mr. Card wrote an introduction. It was funny how different people took the notion of exceptional children. A teacher said it was all bosh. A bunch of exceptional children said he really got the problems and attitude shifts they use very correct. But some of that is odd, because he puts Ender in a school of exceptional children, so why the problems, etc.?
Mr. Card developed a full story. He gave the characters something to do and problems to work out, and in the end you felt very good about the future of the characters.

"Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card

Many thanks to Borders and Barnes & Noble for allowing me to read this in the store while my wife checks out books and magazines for herself.
This is quite the story.
Ender is a genius. He has been followed by some 'monitor' (inside his head or skin? Or just hovering around him?), so the government/military can make sure of his growth and development as well as his safety. He has grown up in a normal enough family: Mother, Father, brother and sister. He has just started school and is adjusting to this new life. There is a stigma associated with excess children, the world being a closed system, it can only support so many people. One or two children is all that is normally allowed; a third is taking advantage of everyone else, and is given a very bad social stigma. This is what Ender is: a third. When the 'monitor' is taken away, nobody knows it is just another test for his quality or fitness to be who he has to be. He passes and is taken away, after appropriate fussing and fuming, from his family to command school. It happens to be miraculous how prescient and adept the teacher Graff is in helping Ender become great, but it is fiction, so I guess the author can have the story do whatever he finds necessary.
It is hard for us 'normal' folks to understand all a genius thinks, so Mr. Card does not go into that, he just gives the impression of quality and intelligence exhibited in the actions and conversations of the heroes. I have read this sort of thing before (Robert Henlein). There I felt that the heroine was not shown to be such a great genius, in fact, she showed some very silly mistakes, not at all what a genius would do, as far as I am concerned.
In the edition I read, Mr. Card wrote an introduction. It was funny how different people took the notion of exceptional children. A teacher said it was all bosh. A bunch of exceptional children said he really got the problems and attitude shifts they use very correct. But some of that is odd, because he puts Ender in a school of exceptional children, so why the problems, etc.?
Mr. Card developed a full story. He gave the characters something to do and problems to work out, and in the end you felt very good about the future of the characters.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

Ender's Game is, without a doubt, one of the finest works of science fiction ever written. I believe it is a book that no sci-fi fan should miss. Card is one of the finest story tellers of our time, and all people should recognize him as such.

I was a little leery on reading this book; I finally broke down and bought it. It is a great story, and I love it. Enders Game is defiantly a book I will bring with me into a classroom setting. I am excited to use it, and hopefully others will benefit from it the way I have.

I'm a 13 year old girl, and I absolutely LOVED this book!! I don't read much science fiction, but after this, I realized just how great it can be. Ender's world came alive for me, and I enjoyed the slightly strange aspects of the plot, like Ender's dreams. A definite for any kids who haven't tried any sci-fi yet!

Orson Scott Card's 'Ender's Game' is one of my favorite science-fiction novels. Reading about Ender's genius thoughts, and uncanny abilities really provokes my imagination. The ending is stellar, but the LDS religious undertones of the whole 'Speaker for the Dead' part is a bit offputting. However, the book is still awesome!

...you won't regret this read. One of my top three favorites of all time.

I recently picked this book up and thought it would be fun to reread a little. I quickly got hooked in and had to finish it (which only took a few hours). I had forgotten how good a piece of fiction this book is.

The story is set in the future. Humans are confronted with an alien species and are training an army to defeat it. Part of the training is sending young kids to a battle school. Ender is one of the kids chosen to go to battle school. His adventures there are a great read. The sequels to this book (Speaker for the Dead, Xenocide, Children of the Mind) are also great, though not as good as the original. There is also "Ender's Shadow" which tells the story of another student in the battle school at the same time as Ender (thus, it is not a prequel or sequel). Ender's Shadow also has a couple sequels that are pretty good.

Orson Scott Card is a great writer and it's hard not to enjoy his books. If you have never read him, this is an excellent place to start. I have known many non-science fiction fans who have really enjoyed this book. An all-time classic.

No matter who I've loaned this book to, the response is the same. They all have given it rave reviews. In fact, this is the book that I've purchased the most copies of. You'd think that I would have learned after not getting the first few copies back. It is such a wonderful story that I cannot help but want to share it.
Please note that this is soft science fiction.

Wow. I am a junior in high school now and I am recalling from the time when I first had the chance of reading the series thanks to a recommendation. I was looking online actually for the Twilight series but the Ender's Game kept coming up, which compelled me to see if I can buy the series.
The series is PHENOMENAL. Which is why even after three years have passed, I have always kept thinking of these books. The storyline, characters, and the themes will STAY with you long after you have finished the novels. It will have an impact on the ways you see the world, but King does not push the "moral" I guess, in any way, shape, or form.
I ADORE this books. I think Orson Scott King is an absolute genius and would recommend it to anybody- regardless of what their opinion of Science fiction.

Enders Game is a great book about the struggles of a young boy to come to terms with his specific set of abilities. This book should be in every school across the country.

There is little I can say about such a classic book that hasn't already been said by others, but after reading it for a second time with my brother, I just have to share a few thoughts.

Ender's game is not by any means a perfect piece of literature. It has it's flaws, and imperfections, and they are occasionally noticeable. Fortunately, these are vastly overshadowed by one of the most well thought out characters and stories I've come across in years. Ender feels very real and there are many times where it felt less like I was reading a book and more like I was experiencing it.

I'm a finicky fan of Science fiction. I love many aspects of the genre, but many authors have a tendency to get so caught up with the details or ideas about the future that I have trouble relating to the story. Ender's game isn't that way. It has a lot of futuristic Science fiction ideas, but they're done in a way that is fairly believable, but more importantly, the focus remains squarely on Ender's thoughts and feelings throughout the book. It's one of the few books I can recommend to friends that don't like Sci-fi.

Orson Scott Card is a GENIUS! Ender's Game was fast-paced and vividly detailed. It was so realistic, but had just the right amount of detail to keep you hooked. Never bored me at all. I loved it in 6th grade and still love it all these years later. This book converted me to a science-fiction lover, even though I didn't like to read much before. Wow! Definitely a 5-star book!

The book presents a mirror through the eyes or a genius child which we use to look at our own trespasses. Is what we do to others and to ourselves really right?

This is an excellent book for young and old and I highly recommend it.

Ender's Game is a classic, and I've recommended it to even those people who don't usually care for science fiction. I've loaned it so many times I've often needed a new copy for myself. The particular copy I bought, the one with the picture of the boy with his hand out, disappointed me: it's lacking the introduction by the author. It adds to the story, and is the kind of introduction you read after you've read the book. When you choose a copy, look for one (say, the mass-market paperback) that includes the introduction. You can check the table of contents using the "search inside" to be sure.

What more can be said about this book that hasn't already been mentioned in the thousands or preceding reviews. The accolades are all well deserved. This book isn't just a science fiction classic, it's a classic work of fiction that transcends the genera, right up there with Orwell's 1984 and Huxley's Brave New World. A must read.

Recently I finished Ender's Game with a sigh of relief that I had finally plowed through this book and was done. I am not saying it wasn't good, just relieved of being compelled to keep reading. For me it rekindled a lost fire that had died out about a year ago after reading I am legend, I couldn't find a book that matched it, atleast in my eyes. But I picked this book up at a barnes and nobles while I was out of town and decided I would give it a try. As a reader of science fiction there is one thing that I have come to learn, to never believe the hype surrounding a book, no matter how many awards it has won, or the amount of praise it has gathered from the readers or critics. I almost let some of those critiques of the book deter me from reading it, but I read it none the less. Now that I told my story I will give you the actual review of the book from my own opinion. The book started out revealing almost nothing for the first few chapters but then I started to read it more and more until I found myself turning to the last page. It was good read and contains many different "morals" each one means whatever the reader wants it to mean. For me it was a powerful story of a the human nature and its will to survive, and in that human nature there lies within each of us the capacity for both good and evil sometimes hardly discernible until after the fact. Another moral that struck me was the fact that we aren't anything without hope and friends, we are social, and without those elements in our life we would give up and stop caring. The ending for me, left me with a slight feeling of unfinished business if you know what I mean thats why I give it a 4 out of 5 but other than that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Also one thing you must remember if you do see any similarities between this book and some other book just let it be know that this was written in 1985 I believe, I have read some readers think this is just harry potter in space but what they don't understand is that harry potter is ender wiggins with magic.

This is an epic masterpiece. In short, if that was my review for this book, I would stand by it for all time.

I haven't come across a great fiction book to read in a while, and today I decided to just "try" Ender's Game for perhaps a few chapters. A few hours later, I rested the book and I was astonished.

The story is extremely captivating, and the reader can feel Ender's life through so many different moments. We sympathize with him when he's glad, we're happy for him when he succeeds. Scott has really created a book that will cling to all of us - move us, and makes us imagine, just what it would be like to be Ender.

We are involved with his love for family, but more importantly, we are involved with his way of growing up. He has no means an easy childhood, but readers can understand EVERYTHING that he's going through - Scott's delicate choice of words certainly makes this novel one of my favorite of all time. I presume that you have the basic notion of what is already happening with the story, and to that I say, even if it doesn't seem interesting from a little bit of the context of the story, buy it and read it!

You will love it!

I give this book to anyone who I think will get it. There is a lot more to it than meets the eye. I gain something new every time I reread it. Definitely give this one a chance!

I had always known that this particular series was very popular, but I honestly had no information about it (I didn't even know how old these books were until I read the introduction and copy write etc). So I was surprised when I learned that it was actually a very famous sci-fi rather than some odd, stereotypical modern-day repeat of the same formula that most writers seem to use today (again, another example of that I had no clue when this book came out). I read it, and found it to be a very engaging story that brilliantly combined elements of action and suspense with many classical allusions (the smallest and weakest ending up being the champion, as with the Biblical story of David, among a few others) as well as a very interesting look into human psychology that is so convincing that you have the motivation to go argue with some genius just because you felt that this book told you how too.

In a militaristic aspect, this book doesn't apply very strongly to todays military (with the exception of possibly the Navy and any form of an amphibian attack force thingy), as almost all "fights" occur in zero-g. In comparison, this book is like a "Life of Pi" except that instead of animals, you have 10-year-olds flying around shooting each other with lazers.

The only thing that prevents me from rating this novel a full 5/5 is that it isn't very emotionally satisfying. You can't feel any sort of joy for the charachters when they triumph or any sort of sympathy when they fail.

Other than that though, it's great.

The story itself was a great read, although I think it would have been much better without the religious overtones that crept in relentlessly as you near the end of the book.

Also, I suggest that you do NOT read the back cover of this or any other Ender book prior to reading it. Twice I found that it contained a spoiler (which was very irritating to me).

Once you have met "Ender" Wiggans you will never forget him or his remarkable journey. I hope that there will never come a time in human history that we would require a child like Andrew "Ender" Wiggans.
Read this story and then read about Bean, whose life and trials make Ender's life seem like a day at the park.

I generally do not read science fiction, but a friend highly recommended Ender's Game. This is hands-down the most riveting and entertaining book I have ever read.

Zach T. 5/24/08

BLOG


Enders Game is a book about a kid named Andrew (Ender) Wiggin who is six years old and has a monitor on his neck. A monitor is a device that the IF (International Fleet) put on kids to see if they have what it takes to save the world from buggers. Ender has a brother named Peter and a sister named Valentine. Ender is accepted to a special school to save the world from aliens (buggers). His brother and sister unfortunately, weren't accepted to the school. Peter gets mad at Ender because he was accepted, but he wasn't. Before Ender got accepted to the school, he hurt a child badly. When this happened Ender felt horrible. On the way to the battle school Ender figures out that if he didn't hurt the child he wouldn't have been accepted to the battle school. The battle school is in outer space. When he reaches the school he goes to his battle group called Launchies. Launchies are for beginners that are not experienced with the strategies. Ender is immediately put in a higher group called the Salamander Army. The Salamander Army fight against other Armies to see who has what it takes to save the world. In each army there is a commander who is in charge of the strategies in the battles for each team. The Salamander Armies commander was Bonzo Madrid. When Bonzo saw Ender he immediately didn't want him. He made Ender do nothing in the tournaments and waited for a team to take him. Finally a team took him. Ender didn't last very long in that group though. After a couple of days he became a commander for the Phoenix Army. When he was commander he won every game. When Bonzo lost to him he wanted to kill Ender. When Ender was taking a shower Bonzo and his friends went to the bathroom and tried t get Ender. Ender was prepared and killed Bonzo easily. After he killed Bonzo he was sent to combat school to save the world. When Ender got there he saw an old man in his room. Ender tried to get out but couldn't. Soon Ender got mad and charged at the man. The old man immediately grabbed Ender and through him. When the old man got back to his position Ender attacked again. It was an instant replay to what happened the first time. Finally, the man spoke and said he was Mazer Rackham the man who killed the buggers before.

The storyline was engaging but overall predictable. I agree with a few other reviewers that the lack of description was annoying but I can live with that.

The brother and sister felt like a side story. I think it was supposed to show all three were gifted with the same skills and could use it, but it felt out of place and not at all parallel to what Ender was going through and very disconnected.

I can agree that Ender is a particularly gifted kid and smart kids will identify with him. However, I have a realism problem with the existence of the other kids in the school. Card had put an introduction to this book, and seemed disgusted at the guidance counselor who argued that kids "just don't talk like that". However, I have to agree with the counselor. Rather not about Ender, but the other kids in general, most of them didn't feel real to me. Others can blame this on lack of character development, but I felt that most of the other kids were not realistic in the way they acted or spoke. If this is a school for the best and brightest, these kids are not it. I could, conceivably, amount this to my lack of military background and understanding, but I don't think that teaching a 10 year old trigonometry is comparable to what this kid is producing in strategy and command and tactics.

The worst part of it is the lack of questioning, which again can be said to be military conditioned. Children want to know why. Especially the gifted ones. Conditioning them to not ask (or even not to think about it?) is restricting their ideas. And the point of using children is so that they create new things no adult had ever seen before. I find this illogical.

All in all, I took a powerful message after reading this book. I think many others will also. It is particularly philosophical that happens to be written in a sci-fi setting (that I don't necessarily agree with) in an era of politics and war. Nothing particularly new and exciting except for the message that I received, which I think is strong enough to be grateful for.

I first read Ender's Game in highschool, when a friend passed me an old, worn-out paperback copy of it.
I instantly fell in love.
I've never been heavily into science fiction, and you don't have to be to understand Ender's Game. There are no complicated scientific or unbelievable things going on. It's all about the characters, the story, rather than dazzling you with things that would translate into over-the-top special effects. It's beautifully written, without being confusing. How could you not love Ender, the brilliant yet lonely kid who is being trained to save the world? His emotional and mental struggles are very real and I easily identified with him.
I was absolutely ecstatic to find out there was a hardcover edition out. I still have the old, torn-up (and slightly mildewed...) copy my friend gave me years ago.
The hardcover edition is definitely worth a few extra bucks though, especially for long-time fans. There is a new foreward by the author himself that gives some insight into how the story was born and what it was like for someone to write their first futuristic/sci-fi novel.
I definitely would recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading.

My boyfriend got me this book (he loves sci-fi books) and I really loved it. I typically do not read a lot of science fiction, for example I never got into star wars or anything of the sort, granted I do appreciate it, but was just never a fanatic.
So I'm not going to bore anyone with an essay on this book I'm sure you time could be much better spent actually reading it!

Ender's Game is a fast paced, high speed novel. The charactors are fresh and exciting. I have always said that people underestimate the power that kids have. Card took a group of kids and turned them into heros. I have always been one for the underdog, so the charactor of Ender was perfect. his struggles were real and his attitude riviting. My imaginantion ran wild and I suddenly found myself right there at Battle School in the midst if training! I would recomend this book to all ages, and don't wory if you don't think you are a Sci-Fi fan, from the first page you will be hooked. There are also 3 other books in the series, so make sure you check them out. Also don't forget the Ender's Shadow series (4 Books) that introduces the charactor of Bean. Both series are eaqually exciting and leaves you wanting more. I heard there was going to be a movie made and can't wait to see it!

OK. Your a sci-fi fan. And your curious about whether or not reading this book is worth the time and money. Heres your answer: YES.

Card's name will be right up there with Heinlein, Clarke, Williamson, Gibson, etc...etc... and not just because of this book. Ive read a bunch of his stuff and can honestly say that a new major player has earned his way into the Sci-Fi pantheon.

Yes, buy this book. Enders Shadow is also good. Speaker for the Dead made me cry (and I aint a cryin man lol) and Xenophobia was good as well but be ready...Card likes to experiment with differing story styles so dont expect carbon copies of his latest hit. Enjoy.

This was the best audio book I ever herd. The voice work was top notch.

.. so I'll just write my experience.

I read a scifi or fantasy book about every 2 weeks. I have done so for 40 years. I opened this book on a boat going from Fort Lauderdale to the Bahamas. I did not put it down until I had read the last page. Very few books have had me so addicted. Maybe Pinocchio when I was 10 or Dancers at the end of time by Moorcock.

Warning: This book is ADDICTIVE. Do not pick it up unless you have several hours to spare in order to finish it.

very engaging book - good for teens and adults. I will probably pick up some of the sequels at some point...

Ender's Game (Ender, Book 1)
This book has a futuristic setting in a time of space travel where it takes years to get to outer planets. In the background of the story, there have been two attempts by an alien species to take over Earth. The main character, Ender Wiggin, is a brilliant boy chosen to attend battle school on a space station. In school, he is picked on, especially by his brother, because he is a third (usually there are only two kids in a family in this book). Ender, 6, is the youngest to become a soldier in the battle simulator game room with kids as old as 14. Each army has 40 kids. The two armies attack each other from gates on opposite sides into the no gravity battle zone. Ender was told not to shoot at the other team by his first commander, Bonzo, who wants to trade him the second he sees him. He chooses to shoot the laser gun to freeze the other team anyway and places on top of the standings. He is traded to a different army that he does even better and still he is on top of the scores. During his training, he misses the Earth and his sister, Valentine. A game that was installed in his computer for training creates issues in his imagination. The game is played through the players' thoughts and Ender saw his sister and his brother.
Soon, he is a platoon leader and then becomes a commander of his own army, Dragon. His team wins every time and once against two whole armies. The school's commander graduates Ender, now 10 years old, into the next rank of school. Usually command school is for 16 year olds with 4 years of pre-command school experience. His new teacher was the hero of the 2nd invasion during the Bugger Wars. That time humanity was saved by Mazar Rackham who destroyed the queen bugger making every bugger born to her die almost instantly. Ender is taught how to use a simulated battle as a commander. There are friends and other soldiers he met in battle school on his side against the simulated buggers. He learns something each time. Soon he is almost doing it in his sleep. He wins each time. When the real thing happens, will he be ready for this challenge to invade the buggers and wipe them out? Read this book to find the answer.

Ender's game was a well written science fiction book. The story line was good in a way that it was unpredictable what would happen next. The plot line of the teachers and higher officers was very surprising to me. The thing that bothered me the most was the children's bad language. That is why I recommend this book to age 12+. You had to be mature while reading this book.

In totality, I believe that Enders Game is a very provocative book. Its science fiction but it has the ability to be viewed as truth and reality. The book grabs you and keeps you engaged. You may find yourself finishing this lengthy piece in a few hours. It is full of stimulating ideas and a view of a future society.
The beginning is written wonderfully, giving you a feeling as if you're living in their society. It gives an eerie view of the future with the world being split up into separate alliances. The world as we know it was in two wars with an life force from the universe known as the Bugger, and are preparing for the third invasion.
The book gives a believable view of the future of the world and what a atmospheric war would look like. The book has parts that you may find disturbing, but it's intriguing and fascinating at the same time so you don't notice them as much. The book portrays the life of a boy who is isolated from society, and it shows how pressure and responsibilities can make you crack. Censorship of media and the secrecy of information by a world government can have corrupting effects in the future. The book is a fascinating read, that I believe anyone would enjoy.

I must say that the people who gave this book 1 star must be some of the least intelligent people on earth. This book is a masterpiece.

When I heard that a fantasy, strategic military, sci-fi book was finally added to our reading list of books, I knew that it would be my first choice for an excellent read. The book Ender's Game did not disappoint. Orson Scott Card spins an epic tale of tragedy, victory, and conquest that has something in it for everyone no matter what age. Ender's Game also sends a wonderful message that we can all relate to. Orson Scott Card's message, I believe, is to never judge a book by its cover. Ender, who is only 12, saves humanity and has as much, if not more, maturity and intelligence than any adult on earth. This book is remarkably thought provoking with twisted turns in every direction, which makes this book highly unpredictable and therefore that much more fun to read. Ender's Game is a real page-turner. Beware, do not start this book at night, as you will receive diseases of extreme insomnia or sleep deprivation.
With a beguiling plot and endless amount of captivating scenarios, Orson Scott Card will grasp your attention in the beginning as Ender begins his first steps to his extraordinary life with the ultimate removal of his monitor implanted in the back of his head. As the tale enfolds, Ender is quickly swept up to battle school as he exceeds in everything, making friends wherever he goes. Ender swiftly becomes a star and a role model for every student in battle school. Back on earth in a brother and sister feud between Ender's beloved sister Valentine and his distrusted brother Peter, they also change the world in their own unique way, using pseudonyms and ingeniously stopping the war that was bound to break loose at any moment. In battle school, Ender soon becomes the best and colonel Graff sends him out, at age 12, to save the world from the vile buggers. Doubts soon subside regarding his age and skill after countless battles were won for the Galactic Army using a holographic simulator. Will Ender and his few chosen comrades are up for the battle of, literally, their lives? Ender's Game is waiting with that answer.

Enders game is one of the best books I have ever read. I would recommend this book to any one who likes a fun science fiction book. The excitement of this book was never ending; Card takes you on a rollercoaster through the remarkable child hood of Ender Wiggin. He brings to life Enders friends and family and shows how lucky we all where to go to a regular school (even if it wasn't fun).

This book gives a different perspective on the future that has never been thought of before. This book will hook you and not let you put it down until you read to the very end. Behind every page is a new shocking surprise that will delight any reader and keep your attention. I hope everyone reads this book, because it is the best book I have ever read by far.

This book was recommended to me as a good science fiction novel for non-science-fiction types. The story is gripping, and while it draws nicely from imaginative "sci-fi" concepts, it doesn't rely on them; the story stands on its own. It focuses on themes of leadership and power that are fairly easy to relate to and get excited about.

In a nutshell: It's a great story, and you don't have to be wild about spaceships and aliens to enjoy it. It didn't change my life, so it doesn't get a fifth star, but it's great entertainment.

I've seen Enders Game on bookstore shelves since it was first published in the late 70's. I figured it must be good to have stayed in print for so long but I managed to avoid reading it for decades. I just finished it a couple of days ago. I could kick myself. This is a GREAT story on so many levels. I was particularly impressed by Cards world-knowledge. The book is stacked with understanding of the human condition, leadership principles, etc. There are folks who don't grasp this stuff in a lifetime, but I think Card was only 26 when he wrote EG. Great read.

This is touted as a book for young people. I was 50 years old when I read it. By that time I had been reading Sci-Fi for 40 years. This is one of the top sci-fi stories of all time. Even if you are too old for it.

I've found myself on more occasions that I can remember, using Ender's Game as an example for a variety of things. "It's like in that book Ender's Game, when..." I think I quote it more than the Bible, or at least more than the Koran. Great story, great moral, makes you laugh, makes you cry - but most importantly makes you imagine.

WOW is the best word to describe this book. This, in my opinion, is a masterpiece of literary work that everyone should read. I could NOT put this book down. A must read!

I highly recommend Ender's Game. The book really showed us some increadible war and fighting strategy by using Ender and his team. There was a lot of action throughout the first 3/4 of the book, but the ending was a bit slow. The entire book was well written though. I look forward to continuing the series.

If your looking at the reviews to decide if you want the book, I think that the give away to buy the book is how almost 2000 people gave the book 5 stars, out of around 2500 people.

If you liked the movie, The Matrix, and also the movie, Starship Troopers, You will love this book.

That's all I need to say. Anyone disagree?

Ender's game was a great read. It was genuine Sci-Fi at it's best. It's not dated. I loved the game play both real and on Ender's computer. I would recommend it to gifted students as well. Fabulous read with thoughtful contemplation when you are done.

This book was pretty good. It had some mild surprises and interesting things to say about our future.
The whole sibling relationship thing was a bit strange and unbelievable. And the ending was kind of perfunctory. But it kept my attention and moved along at a good pace. Not the greatest book ever, but a nice sci-fi novel.

I approached this book nervously. Whenever I hear a lot of hype about a book (Harry Potter comes to mind), I am very very nervous that I will end up being sorely disappointed. I am glad to report that I found this book delightful.

It's hard to describe exactly why this book appealed to me so greatly. Perhaps it was the fact that it was eminently READABLE (there's nothing more frustrating than unnecessarily complicated prose). Perhaps it was the simple, straightforward plot line. Perhaps it was the fact that it was, in a sense, a "game" all along. Most likely, it is all of the above, not to mention the fact that it manages to strike an emotional chord frequently, and without feeling burdensome. All I know is that I couldn't put it down, and I can't remember having read a book so fast in my life.

Five stars, without reservation: not because it's the most immaculately-crafted piece of literature in the English language, but because it doesn't need to be.

If you like science fiction save the universe kind of literature than you will love this book. This novel is about a young boy named Ender Wiggin who is chosen to save the universe at the age of six and has to leave his family and go to Battle school to become the commanding general. Throughout the book it discusses how Ender copes with the molding of the teachers, with his peers, and with his own genius. What I disliked the most about Enders Game is that the soldiers in battle school were naked half the time, which was a little uncomfortable. Secondly, Orson Scott Card promotes violence and swearing a ton in this novel I was shocked at how much there was, even though that fits into the genre of this book it made me a little uncomfortable. It is a good length, there were maybe a few parts that were drug out but it is a young adult novel so it moves at a good pace. The one thing that I did enjoy was how even though Ender was affected by the manipulation of others his conscience, personality and values remained intact. So if you enjoy science fiction full of military tactics, naked swearing soldiers, and a war to save mankind you will love this book.

I always wanted to read this book, but never got around to it until it was assigned to me by my young adult literature professor. I enjoyed this book very much and finished it in about a week. I will do my review in the following format: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

The Good:

The story itself is enthralling. It is the story of a child prodigy who is hand picked by none other than the leader of earth's most powerful army. He is trained to become the new supreme commander in a brutal and cold manner, this is the strength of this book. Are the generals justified in their cruel treatment of Ender? You have to read the book to decide. Another aspect of the story that I found interesting was Ender's fascination with the enemy. He was the only one that seemed to want to know more about the "buggers" and their cause. I also loved the strategy involved in the battle room games. Ender's dream simulation program also progressed the story and character in an entirely innovative way. Genius!

The Bad:

Ender himself is an intriguing but unsympathetic character for much of the book. Although he is inherently good-natured, he was too distant for me to embrace as a likeable hero. He rarely makes a human connection with those around him and learns to see people only as resources for his cause. There were only two things that I didn't enjoy about this book and this was one of them.

The Ugly:

The other thing I didn't like about the book was the crude language and violence. I do understand that these are children, but seeing as how they are all very gifted I expected more of the characters to speak with a little more nobility and respect. The violence left me feeling dull and hollow.

In conclusion, I HIGHLY recommend this book despite my complaints. If you enjoy science fiction, fantasy, or even Harry Potter, I am sure you will LOVE this one. This book also contains the most powerful and shocking ending I have ever read. I am extremely excited about the film adaptation that should be released soon. In short: reading this exciting book will give you a greater appreciation of the movie!

I'm not a big fan of science fiction; however, I loved this book. I read it as a school assignment and wasn't expecting much from it; however, once I started I couldn't put it down.

Ender's Game is an exciting book that keeps you engaged the entire time. I loved the theme of good vs. evil throughout the book. The idea that Ender can't trust anyone and is completely alone brings about his individual strength and character. It is through the sacrifice of his childhood and the comforts of life that Ender understands who he really is. The characters and conflicts in this book are both realistic. During the action scenes Card pulls you into the story so you feel as if you are really there. It is the complex themes and high energy that make this book a page-turner.

Ender's Game is one of my favorite books, and I am an avid reader.
I tend to keep a couple of copies on hand to share with my high school students that like to read. All my copies have wandered off with absent minded teenagers with their noses stuck in them, so I need to buy myself another copy or two. Ender's Game is just a good all around story. At bit of military science and action for the boys and excellent character development and depth for the girls. You get caught up in the battles and in the characters and can't put the book down until sadly you are done.
I have read the sequels, but none have the same appeal for me as Ender's Game.

This book is a fantastic book for a first-time reader to introduce him to sci-fi. I wouldn't say I couldn't put it down, but it was a real page turner nonetheless. Shane, author of Enemies Among Us

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. If you enjoyed it as well, I would highly recommend reading Enders ShadowEnder's Shadow (Ender, Book 5) (Ender's Shadow) as well, it is a great parallel to "Game".

If you are you looking for an enjoyable, interesting, fast-paced sci-fi novel that draws you in, then Ender's Game is a book for you. Before receiving this book as a gift, I had not been a huge fan of sci-fi and did not know about Orson Scott Card's work. I was not sure that I would like it, but it soon had me eagerly turning the pages. I was first drawn in by the complex characters. The main character, Ender, is a young genius, who is taken away from earth in order to train to eventually become the leader of the earth army in the fight against the alien buggers. Card does a commendable job of expressing Ender's "adult" maturity while having him retain his youthful characteristics. Even with not much change occurring in the plot, this book still held my attention. Card creates a bond between the reader and Ender, making it easy to relate to him, and wanting to know how he will face his next challenge. Though a short read, I found this book compelling and I was unable to put it down. I would recommend this book to readers of all ages, including those who don't consider themselves fans of science fiction.

This is a great book for youth and adults, and for families that enjoy reading together. Intense, surprising, disturbing, raising questions of ethics and projecting our imaginations into a future that is not so far away. It is also a book about leadership, power, family, and understanding differences.

Book Review

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card is a futuristic tale of a young boy, Ender, who is recruited into the International Fleet's Battle School to be trained for combat in an impending alien invasion. Only six years old, Ender is shocked that he was chosen and not his older brother Peter, because unlike Peter Ender is not a fighter. He quickly adapts to the orbiting space station where the school is located by making friends, even though the Colonel Graff-the leader of the school-make it hard for him to, and conquering the null gravity battle room. Ender is an intelligent character who defeats all challenges thrown at him, except the inward battle against himself. The book Ender's Game follows Ender on his journey from small child to young commander.

I liked this book for many reasons. This was an exciting, original story which kept me on the edge of my seat. The anticipation of an alien invasion creates a compelling feeling that kept me reading. This is one of the best books I have read and it was hard to put down.

The author has some very unique styles of writing. On pages 175-176 for example, the author writes entirely about Ender's thoughts. Throughout the book the author focuses on his main character, Ender; nearly the entire book is written from Ender's point of view. Also Orson Scott Card ends every chapter with a cliffhanger; in fact the book itself ends as a cliffhanger. This style of writing made the book exciting and made me want to read more. I am excited to read the other books in the series and see how the book concludes. I applaud Card for his amazing writing ability.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys exciting novels. I am a large fan of science fiction stories and this book definitely is worth purchasing. I enjoyed Card's cliffhanger writing style which kept me reading hour after hour. The futuristic setting and intelligent characters make the book very intriguing. This is a book I would read over and over.

This purchase was for a friend because I enjoyed the book so much.
It is well written and has a brilliant, imaginatve story as does the rest of the books in the series

Have you ever got a book, and never really read it? I have. I got Ender's Game a couple of years ago for a book to read over vacation, and I never did. It didn't interest me at all, so I put it away and never took a look at it. I just recently decided to read it, and really wished I hadn't. It was boring and abhorrent. Ender's Game is about Ender Wiggin, the thrid in a family of geniuses along with his brother Peter, and his sister Valentine.The book is set in the future where an race of aliens called the "buggers" are attacking Earth. They have already invaded twice before, and are planning a thrid attack. To defend against them, the military is training kids at a young age to become commanders. All in all, this book wasn't really that absolutly terrible, but not a really good book either. I would definetly NOT recommend reading this book as a leisure read, because you'll probably end up throwing it through the window, or in the trash.

This is definitely my favorite book of all time. It does not have the most sophisticated plot or imagination, but that is the whole point of the book. It is written from children's point of view and explores the ethical dimensions of war, personal and societal. What is ethical for me to do when I am given these difficult conditions and no one can help me? How much can I ethically push a kid, even a genius, to save human kind? Exploration of these issues make Ender's game my favorite read. It really puts some perspective in my life at the ages of 17, 23, 27, and 32. And I expect that I will read it every couple of years for the rest of my life because I enjoy it so much.

I read this book 12 years ago and loved it. I hate sci-fi as a rule, but this book is great. It's about a kid who does amazing things and that is probably why I liked it as a kid. Lots of imagination for the reader.

Like so many great sci-fi stories, I ran across "Ender's Game" in a back issue of Analog, and loved it. Later by chance I found out that Card had turned it into a book. I was very happy to see that by extending the concept contained in the short story into a book he had made the story better, principally by expanding the role and importance of Peter and Valentine.

For those of us who follow Card this is arguably his best novel. Fear of the Other, stolen youth, fights, action, plot twists, camaraderie, genius . . . it's all in here. If you're curious about Card's sci-fi, this is the place to start.

In Enders Game, Ender is an outcast because he is what they call a "3rd". The story begins with Ender getting his monitor taken out, which causes a state of paranoia. Not only is he looked down upon because he is a 3rd but also because he was not chosen to go to the space academy. But what Ender does not know is that he actually was chosen. The story follows his journey through the school and a twisted plot which pushes him be the best he can be at the expense of every last thing he cares for.

Enders Game was a surprising twist to that of my normal reading genera. Neither space based novels nor movies have ever once tweaked my interests. However after hearing countless claims from teachers and students with their love for the book, I picked it up and was not able to put it down until I was on the last page. The story line being intriguing and all, I found the ending very displeasing and predictable. Luckily Orson dose not leave out any details in the book that would leave you guessing, allowing for at least some enjoyment at the end. The surprising character development of being a helpless child to a strong leader was well played out. You will find yourself feeling the hardships that ender is put through, and even feel joy when he is triumphant. I was even surprised to learn the development of Ender's siblings without him and there ability to make a difference even though they are kids (these chapters were my least favorite.) Another surprising aspect of novel is how Orson gives a very realistic curve on the children's intelligence as they come of age. This book, however, is only a gateway to most of Orson Scott Card's works. He luckily takes things more in depth with his Ender's world in other novels from countless views of other characters, and even an older Ender. This is definitely a great book to read if you are at all into fiction novels. If you have already read this great novel and loved it ( I know someone who reads it every year in the spring), a great next book to read is "Ender's Shadow" which follows the character named bean before and after "Enders Game"

Ender's Games is about a third (third child in the family often disliked by everyone because government wouldn't allow thirds) Named Ender Wiggin who was also a genius. He was a very strong fighter he even killed a kid in the beginning of the book without even knowing it. Ender had two older siblings the oldest is named Peter who was a vicious person, and his sister Valentine who was a very kind person. Peter would often torture Ender while his sister would protect him. One day a man named Graff came to Ender's house to see if he would like to join Battle school which was a school that trained kids to fight their enemy the buggers. Peter and Valentine were rejected by the battle school because peter was too vicious and Valentine was to kind. In the battle school ender made friends with Shen and Alai who were both also very talented. Ender went through the ranks quickly; first he was put in Salamander Company where the commander hated him but after he came over that obstacle he was promoted to leader of Dragon company because of his tactics at the games. When Ender left battle school he went to Commanders School where he was taught by the Famous Strategist Mazar Rackham to defeat the buggers. He was also put through a lot of battle simulation where he was commanding a fleet of ships and his friends from command school were commanding a small amount of ships and they fought against the virtual buggers and each fight was harder then the last but later in the book he finds out the battles with the buggers in the game was real and that all the people that he fought with were real too. This is a very good book for those people who are really into science fiction and even for those who might not be into science fiction.

As of late, I have been hooked on the whole SF/Fantasy genre. Reading has a great way of helping me get my mind off of the daily grind. That said I tend to read descriptions and reviews of books prior to purchasing them. And, if I am going to read a book in a series, I tend to buy all of them at once. So, when it came to Enders Game, I decided that I would buy it and the rest of the series. I am on book 5 at present. What does this have to do with this 1st book? Well, if you want to make an intelligent buying decision, I think that you have to consider all of the books. However, you can read any of the series by themselves, but they are much more enjoyable (at least the one's I've read so far) if read together.
This book had me hooked from the start. Not to spoil it, but there's something here for everybody. There are times in the book that the scale of psychoanalysis becomes a little heavy, but I think in most cases, Card makes it work.
If you are looking for a good Sci-Fi series, this should fit the bill. I like the fact Amazon has the preview option on this book. Read it and you'll have a more than adequate indicator as to the rhythm of the rest of the book.

This book will grab you and not let go. It's the story of a boy sometime in the future when humans are at war with an alien species. There are some Orwellian influences in the human society which are interesting to think about. The book has excitement and adventure that will keep you reading but the best part is the look it takes at humanity and human interaction. This book is very different from Orson Scott Card's other works but he definitely has a talent for story-telling. There are 3 sequels to this book (Speaker For the Dead, Xeniocide, and Children of the Mind) which are just as good but the story can be complete with just Ender's Game.

If you enjoy these books Card wrote another series related to it. He takes "Bean," a minor character from Ender's Game, and tells his story before and after what happens in Ender's Game. The "Bean" series begins with Ender's Shadow. If you're a Sci-Fi fan or enjoy introspection on humanity, this book will interest you.

Male, female, juvenile or adult; you'll either love this book or hate it. If you love it, the story will mean more to you with each read and with each new level of developmental maturity.

Enders game is about a kid that is enrolled into a battle school where they play games that make them better soldiers. As Ender is at the battle school he kills wolves, other kids and a giant. My favorite part of the book is when Ender kills the giant. I love it when he hops in the giant's eye and scoops the giants eye out. Then he does the same thing to the other eye. I recommend this to people who like sci-fi books or adventure books. It is a very good read that has many up and downs. You will not want to stop reading until you reach the last chapter. This book has a very good plot. This book is one of few books I enjoyed reading and I hope you will like it to.

Loved this book. One of my favorites. Wonderful main character and unusual setting. I think a teenage boy would like this as much as an adult.

Desperate war psychology strategy classic.


This is Card's masterpiece. Taking an earlier novella, extending it and actually making it considerably better is a very impressive feat.

The basic idea is that the Earth military is in a war with aliens and need something to help them fairly soon. Enter the Battle School and a program to find genius children than can be turned into masters of space war by intensive early training.

Ender Wiggin is one of these children, and becomes their natural leader, with some support.

The novel grippingly looks at using children for war, and the problems of training those whose intellects exceed yours, as well as the ethics of the situation, while keeping the reader and the young characters in the dark as to what is going on.

A book that works well for all ages without simplification, and an outstanding writing achievement.

Card is such an amazing writer. Such complex matters are made light and easy to read; easily sucking in the reader and making them feel like they are a part of the story. This is an amazing book.

I first read Ender's Game at the age of 13. I found it on my grandmother's bookshelf, and devoured it within 3 days. Twelve years later, I've read the book at least five times more, and I gain more enjoyment from it every time.

The story itself is highly entertaining, simply as sci-fi or popular fiction. This was the first book I ever read in which dialogue was used to introduce each chapter (without identifying either speaker.) The revelation about this dialogue (which I won't spoil) that comes later in the book only reinforced the idea in my mind that OSC was a master of his craft. Anyone who reads the dime-store political garbage that he's written in the past five years or so would do well to remember that his early years were filled with sci-fi masterpieces like Ender's Game.

Beyond the entertaining story, there are obvious socio-political undertones inherent in the "children as soldiers" theme of the book. While the full moral impact of the story didn't hit me when I was 13, at 25, serving in the Army, the story means a great deal more to me. The world we live in today, in which young men and women as young as 17 and 18 are dying on foreign soil, is reminiscent of a world in which humanity lives in such a dire state of fear that they are willing to sacrifice the lives and innocence of an entire generation. The moral quandaries that Ender Wiggin faces mirror the life and death decisions that are put in the hands of soldiers today, still young enough to be called children. And the ending of the book (spoiler alert!), in which an older Ender Wiggin faces the demons of his past and finds redemption, is something that I have seen far too often in our own perilous times.

In my humble opinion, Ender's Game is a great read, whether you're simply looking for an entertaining story or a fictional study in ethics. And while the Ender's Shadow series is much more contemporary, I would firmly recommend the original sequels, starting with Speaker for the Dead, if you want to find a satisfying ending to the tale of Ender Wiggin. Hopefully, this book will last for another 20 years.

This book made for a great bus ride to work. Easy to follow and can't wait to watch it play out in my head again.

If you never were the science fiction type this is a great one to get your feet wet. Enders game isn't too far out and doesn't make you feel too nerdy reading it. There are times where you really feel respect for ender the genius child who thinks more like a man. Well written and hard to put down.

I read this book for the first time nearly 20 years ago and still recall it's excellent story line. Ender and his siblings are developed into incredibly realistic and believable characters. Ender's Game is perfectly written and perfectly concluded. Definitely one of the best ever.

This is a really great story. Great sci-fi is another thing, but this isn't bubblegum writing. What I thought was going to happen, partially happened. I was surprised at how predictable, yet unpredictable the story was. The pace of this book alone is pretty fun, making for an enjoyable read. Ender, along with his siblings and friends, are very interesting characters. What does Ender really want? How does he live with himself and what he's done? Worth checking out, whether you end up loving or hating it.

This book is in easy read for all ages. It is also perfect for anyone new to reading sci-fi.

Like I said, this book is core reading for any sci-fi fan.

I really liked ender's Game, a lot. As with all book I read, there is a certain sense of skepticism involved. I asked the questions 'What is this Book about?' 'Where is it going?' and 'what does it have to offer me?' and with Ender all those questions were answered with positive results!

The book is about Ender Wiggin, it starts off when he is 6, only a child, a genius, and follows his progress through a training program as higher authoristies prepare him to command the war agains an alien race known as the buggers! The training program takes place in the 'Battle Room' a training room which is null G (no gravity) and teaches the soldiers to fend off attackes from all angles. Naturally Ender excells, but not without drawing enemies from all sides.

It is brillaint sci-fi, the characters and action and suspense are top notch, and only recieves a 4/5 because I spoilt the ending for myself coz I was thinking about it too much, only 3 pages before it was revealed... and the last chapter was a bit obscure to me, but overall deserves it place at the top.

Cheers!

Orson Scott Card blew me away when I read this book way back when it first came out in mass paperback edition. I love his stories, and the way he makes you care so much about his characters. His rich interlay of a consistent mythology in his books shows his fine ability of world-crafting.

His books from the eighties and nineties were always favorites of mine - so much so that when he delved in other directions, such as Saints, I whole heartedly followed him and enjoyed the story without any aliens or native magic.

This is the book you can give someone who says they do not like Science Fiction and prove them wrong.

I read this in about 2 days, and could not put it down. I didn't realize there were follow-on books until later, and will get a hold of them soon!

Absolutely stunning. The humans are preparing for an end all war with the Buggers- an evolved race of creatures who are busy colonizing the universe. Andrew (Ender) Wiggin is the most balanced of his siblings, his sister Valentine is too soft and brother Peter is too violent. This future world is an engineered one. Two children only are permitted a family and Ender is a scorned Third. But he is the best hope of the of his siblings who are all magnum geniuses. The I(nternationl) F(leet) needs Ender to command their armies though he's only 8 or 9 years old when he's recruited. A sub plot is that Valentine and Peter start a writing camapaign that polarizes the politics on Earth, and which sparks the potential for global war, while Ender is in space preparing to save humanity. It's all game; but the game is deadly real.
A truly spectacular book. Can't believe I haven't found this book before now. It will give you nightmares as you see so many ideas in the book beginning in our lives today. I'm certain the word has been used; this book is prescient to an alarming degree.

The story is about training "kids" to become battle commanders to lead the Earth fleet to victory over the buggers (a pejorative word of the race of creatures that man finds himself fighting). Ender Wiggin is selected to enter into the Battle School to join other recruits in determining the best of the best so that the top commander will be in control to decide the outcome of the impending battle of annihiliation between humans and buggers. This is a good story that works more to expose the nature of the human condition than to give us any real star wars hero. Ender Wiggin is put through grueling personal, physical, and psychological testing and, by the end of the book, the reader is filled with a deep abiding empathy with the boy genius. The toll on his mind is astounding. The toll on his soul is even worse. Ender pays a great price in the learning process and testing that comes along with, first, Battle School, and then, Command School. Little does he realize that he is also the victim of a great duplicity, which in the end only more greatly burdens him. Then there is his rejection from all of humanity at the end. It is a great and terrible thing to be Ender Wiggin.

If you at all enjoy stories of great and tragic endurance then Ender's Game is for you. Other critics here have claimed that at times Ender's Game is poorly written and that it does not deliver for the reader. I disagree. The story is written fairly directly yet the maze of development could not have been better. The concepts of the book are very stark and harsh, probably not very realistic, but are interesting to consider. What length would the Earth go to in order to rid themselves of a perceived danger from another race in the universe? Ender is the answer to that question.

Ender's Game follows the exploits of a born leader and strategist, Andrew "Ender" Wiggin, from his drafting into an elite military school, all the way up to his graduation from the ultra-elite command school. It is a quick read and pretty hard to put down. The pace is fast and intense from start to finish. Ender must fight his way through all of the obstacles laid out before him in order to fulfill his true potential as the prodigious savior that all of the adults in the military expect him to be. Colonel Graff is the head of the military school and the mastermind behind Ender's trials and often goes against his better judgment to push Ender to his limits. All of this for the upcoming war with the "buggers," who the humans will surely face for a third time.

Now, I do have a few small problems with the book. Ender is completely infallible from start to finish in his capacity as a military mastermind. Even at 6, he is heads and tails above even the smartest kids in the school, and they are all presented as exceptional. From start to finish, he takes on all comers with nary an outward blip. It is fun to read about this little upstart making everybody else look stupid but ,very early on, the reader has little doubt and this removes the element of surprise a bit and, in turn, doubt about the outcome. Because of Ender's perfection, not much happens that doesn't seem inevitable. Where Card does seem to insert doubt is into the main character's own mind and, even as a prodigy, Ender seems too adult like in his thought process and angst. I could be completely wrong, but I was not convinced Ender was as young as he was through most of the book. Sure, Card tried to use immature banter between the children, but it just didn't offset the material going through Ender's head and the language was just an odd foil. These kids are so super intelligent and have complex inner lives, but are calling each other "fart faces."

My quibbles though, by no means are to discourage anyone from reading Ender's Game... Just a selfish little wish list to have made the book that much better for me personally.

This book is great! I really enjoyed this book and could not put it down. I have always been a fan or Orson Scott Card and this just makes me want to get my hands on more of the series. I would HIGHLY recommend it to anyone looking for a good Sci-Fi read.

I especially like that this book appeals to boys who aren't voracious readers...

There's a series, but I've only read this first one.

Grab your flight suit and don't forget: The enemy's gate is down!

Orson Scott Card has written a lot of novels since this one, including a veritable plethora of Ender sequels and spinoffs, but he's never topped it. This book has something few books have: an idea that was, at the time of its publication, wholly new and original. More importantly, readers will identify with and come to love the characters, especially Ender himself.

See if this sounds famaliar: a lonely boy, unusually gifted but put-upon by his peers and his family, is taken away to a place where he learns to master his considerable talents and may, in time, save the world. Any chance a certain celebrated English author may have read about little Ender Wiggin? This muggle writer of silly vampire stories thinks so ...

(This review has been posted by Marcus Damanda, author of the vampire fantasy "Teeth.")

Ender's game is amazingly entertaining. One of my favorite books of all time, Ender's game is surely a book that everyone should read. Even to people who don't like sci-fi( I didn't when I read the book) will love it, and its something I want to read over,and over again. In the books following Ender's Game(the adult sequels), the author tries a little hard to be complicated, but the narration and storyline is great in this book and makes a great read for both teens and adults.

I first read Ender's Game when I was 12 and it opened my eyes again to reading, a hobby I haven't given up to this day. Orson Scott Card shows us a stark future inside this book, putting us in the setting of a world with population controls, extensive testing for our children, and a world temporarily united to fight an off world menace, called the Buggers. They have attacked Earth twice before and we only barely survived the last attack. The book's main character, Ender, is one of the best fictional characters I have ever read.

The book does more than most science fiction books, this one has a stronger sense of morality. It explores both the future, and dilemmas of conscious. I have loved this book since the first time I read it, and reread it at least once a year. I recommend this for anyone who loves a good read and is tired of simple science fiction, Orson Scott Card and his Ender series books are truly diamonds in the American writing rough.

One of my favorite books of all time. An amazing look at gifted children and teaching techniques. An exciting and tactical look at war and military training. A thought provoking idea on the limiting of the World's population and how it could backfire. Look for all of the concepts in this book to be a part of our future as science fiction writers are often our crystal ball.

Enders Game is a classic tale, prawning into the deepest part of our society and our humanity, and Card spins a tale of morale and ethic in our world by projecting it in the future and among the stars. A tale of humanity, fear, the unknown, and racism, Card demonstrates an insigh knowledge of group psychology and group dynamics while creating the highly appealing character of Ender. The book is a good read by any measure, and is hard to put away once you are started, but your reading experience will depend on how much you relate to the character of Ender, how much of yourself you see in him and his experiences. Card has created a classic on the same level as Herbert's Dune and Asimov's trilogy

I read Ender's Game on a suggestion from a very good friend. I had read about in Card's book "How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy." The description there demanded that one read the book.

I read the book, not wanting to put it down. I wouldn't have, either, if sleep hadn't been a stronger impulse. The side plot that included Peter and Valentine was a nice touch. It showed that all these kids were intelligent and knew how to get what they desired. The last part with Ender playing the Game completely shocked me. I was amazed what Ender had actually been doing during the game. Ender's want of becoming a compassionate kid instead of the killer the others wanted him to be personified the character.

If you haven't read Sci-fi before, this is a good place to start. It gradually introduces you to the genre, without forcing you into unfeasable prospects. I would suggest this book to anyone who liked Star Wars or any similar story.

I read this book once back in 1987 and I still remember it vividly. How many books can you say that about?

I read constantly. As soon as I finish one book, I pick up another and get started. I've read more books than I can count. I liked some of them, loved some of them and hated the rest.

Ender's Game is a fantastic epic story that has stayed with me all these years.

Give it a read. You won't be disappointed.

Ender's Game is one of the most unique books I've ever read. For the most part, the characters are all children; with overwhelmingly high IQ's. They are recruited by the government to be trained to fight in a war with aliens from outer space. However, since they are all children when they are recruited they are trained in the form of "games".

Ender is the supreme genius of all the children. Along with his counterpart Bean he accomplishes only the unimaginable. I love the fact that the story is told from a children's point of view. I think it's great how Ender is an outcast because he is the "third" child and yet he was the perfect balance of aggressiveness and compassion. All of the ideas that surrounded this story were very well crafted. I think this book is a must read for anyone who is a fan of Science Fiction or Fantasy. I read it in one day because I couldn't put it down!

Thought it would be too childish a read, but too many people has suggested it. I was surprised and found the story a delightful, quick read.

Ender didn't want have the to be a killer, but his life as a child made him feel, and be, what he hated in his terrorizing brother, Peter. Ender, the third child in his family (thirds were not looked well upon), was sent to Battle School when he was six years old to learn how to fight the buggers, or the aliens that were trying to colonize earth and kill the people. Ender was the only hope of winning the war, and he finally did while at command school, though he thought he was fighting a computer simulator. To get away from his violent and un-happy Earth life, Ender moved with his sister Violet to the ex-bugger world to colonize and found that the buggers didn't want to kill them and had left a bugger pupa for Ender to put in a safe place to start the bugger colonies' new life of peace with the humans. Ender's Game was astounding and exciting, and I recommend it to science-fiction lovers and haters alike, because I know that the political opinions in the book are presented in a way that would appeal to anyone.

One thing that made Ender's Game so interesting was the way the buggers worked. Mazer Rackham's theory was that only the queen bugger thought and he thought went into all of the bugger minds, or at least in her colony. Also, they were able to get into Ender's mind and computer game at battle school to learn about Fantasy World and build one for him on their planet for when he got there. He did, and he found the pupa they had wanted him to find. The buggers were also pacifistic enough to not want to keep attacking Earth after they realized it was inhabited by intelligent life, which I found quite noble of a species that only had a few beings that actual thought for themselves.

A really good part of the book was how it had coy little themes within different parts of the book. I picked up a theme that war turns people evil from the way that Ender didn't want to be a murderer but based his childhood on learning on to murder in battle. Also, after Ender took his three-month leave to Earth, he realized how beautiful it could be because of the lake that he spent his time on, and from this I decided that conserving the Earth was a theme. That theme was also supported by Ender's constant hard work just to save the Earth and the people on it. Most of all, forgiving ignorance seemed to be a huge theme in this book. The buggers forgave Ender for killing them off, which they showed him in the end with the Fantasy World from the Battle School game and a thought telepathically sent to him, because Ender didn't know he was doing anything more than playing a game. Also, Ender didn't hold his inexperienced soldiers at Battle School responsible for not knowing how to fight because they had never learned.

The absolute best part of the book was how it showed the outlook on war that it helps nothing and hurts everything. It hurt the children that went to battle school, because battle school took up their childhood and made them think only about the battle. If any action had been taken by the people to see where the buggers were coming from mentally and if their intent was to keep killing, the buggers could have stayed alive and a partnership could have even occurred. The army required men like Colonel Graff that didn't mind messing up the lives of kids to win the war, which was probably looking at the army's younger men who die out there and the recruiters who bring them in from high school. No offense to anyone, but this made the book exceptional because it hit close to home with the Iraq War and such in the current time.

Ender's Game reflects on political opinions and could even give new reasons for new opinions. It showed how precious childhood is by showing you the life of a child who spent his acting like a violent adult, and it showed how much we should cherish the ability to live without war if we tried. The ways that Peter, Ender's brother, sought to rule the world and pretty much succeeded before he was twenty showed another cool point-kids can have power too, and they may be smarter than the adults. I recommend this politically endearing book to kids and adults who are open to learning about how other people look at the world and also people who want to hear from someone who empathizes with anti-war feelings.

-K. Carson

In addition to being a thoroughly spellbinding action tale about Andrew Wiggin and his advancement at the military academy to which he is assigned, Ender's Game examines the human condition and mankind's place in the universe. Orson Scott Card is an immensely gifted writer and Ender's Game is one the best novels I have ever read. As seen through the eyes of a schoolboy, I am challenged to examine my own prejudices and my place in God's universe. What is the value of life? At what cost do we secure our survival and is it worth it? Are our fears real? I have now read seven of Orson Scott Card's books and I wholeheartedly recommend all of them. Ender's Game is one of his best .... and be sure to read the books that follow in the Ender's series.

LOVE THE BOOK FROM LONG AGO AND LENT IT TO SOMEONE WHO NEVER BROUGHT IT BACK.

If you've always dreamt of being an astronaut and reading about aliens this is the book for you. I would say it is a cross between Harry Potter (it came before), The Matrix, Starship Troupers and the beginning of 300. Great book, couldn't put it down.

I read this book as a teenager and loved it. I talked my wife (who hates anything sci-fi) into listening to the audiobook with me a few months ago and she was immediately hooked and made me sit and listen to it and the subsequent books with her for up to 5+ hours each evening. Definitely two thumbs up!

My name is Tyler and I go to school in California. I recently finished the book Enders Game, by Orson Scott Card. And it is by far the best book that I have read in my entire high school career. I liked mostly the entire book. But it also and some down sides to it. Other than that the story was excellent though. The author managed to catch my eye with his style of writing and the way he kept me on my toes wanting more.
Andrew Wiggin, also know as Ender, who is a six-year-old third. Thirds are the third child of a family and he was only born because the government told their family to breed him as a possible hero to save the world. People are talking about another Bugger invasion. A Bugger is a type of alien that has invaded earth in the past. And Ender must be trained to stop them from taking their planet. He goes through some crucial tasks and challenges to get himself ready. Overcoming every obstacle even when he gets bruised, battered, and almost death. As years pass ender starts to get frustrated with everything and wants to give up, but he knows he can't, because of everybody who is looking up to him. He makes some friends and enemies on his adventure to save the world from a take over. ***SPOILER***: Ender was tricked, while he thought he was doing another simulation, he was actually fighting the Buggers, and managed to do what people thought was impossible. He destroyed the whole Buggers race and he didn't know he had destroyed them, so he was angry about that, he thought he was a killer but everyone else thought he was a killer. Years after the war, he found a larva of the buggers and discovered that they were not going to invade earth, but they knew what ender was going to do so they hid the larva for him to find and plant. Ender writes a book about it under another name and after reading it people start to hate him for wiping out an entire race. But little do they know that he will be the one who gives the buggers a fresh beginning.***.

Was it right or wrong? Throughout the book Orson Scott Card changes the way you feel. What once seemed good and light hearted later turns out to be deceptive or cruel. Your impression of the characters change many times.
I am a student who has just completed the science-fiction novel Ender's Game, written by Orson Scott Card. Reading this book began as an assignment for my American Literature class, but by the end of the book I was hooked. I have been reading and analyzing books, short stories, and many other types of literature for a good part of my life.
Although this is a plot I have seen many time; an outcast who comes and saves the day, it still kept my attention and I could not see what would happen next. He was able to create a set of events which are far from realistic yet completely believable. The events in this story such as the outer space lifestyle and buggers have not been seen today, yet the feelings and will to succeed of the characters are very realistic. One example is in the beginning of the book when Ender says "I have to win this now, and for all time, or I'll fight it every day and it will get worse and worse." (7). Even though these children are in battle school and learning how to kill they still have moments where they are just kids. After a brutal fight Ender had, he and Dink are sitting in his room when he "began to cry. Lying on his back ... tears seeping out of his eyelids and disappearing on his face. ... I didn't want to hurt him!" (213). You get so wrapped up in the story you forget how young the children are.
Card's writing style is very unique. One case is the way he develops his characters and plot. Every part of the story develops at a different rate. At times this may cause confusion but overall I enjoyed his technique. One of the reasons I was so interested in the story is because Card used literary devices such as foreshadowing and symbolism. Many times card gives you some hint of what's to come. Knowing this you want to continue reading hopping he is wrong.
People from every age group can read and understand the main parts of this book. I assume it was written primarily for children, but the context makes it entertaining for all. This is a book I would recommend to anybody, whether or not they enjoy science fiction

I am a junior in high school and was fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to read the book, Ender's Game, by Orson Scott. My college prep English teacher introduced my class to this book and I would soon find out it would be one of my favorites. I absolutely fell in love with Ender's Game. This book was not only filled with action but I was able to really get into the book was not able to set it down. Another thing I loved about the book was I could never predict what was going to happen next in the book, as there was always something surprising to come. **WARNING! SPOILER! **As an example, as I read the book, I could have never guessed that in the end, Ender would blow up the Bugger Army and destroy their planet**END SPOILER! **. Some dislikes I had about the book was how hard it was in the very beginning to actually understand and get into the story right away. For instance, in the beginning Ender was also called by the name of Andrew, which was often confusing to keep straight. Orson Scott chose to write his book in the future. Also, throughout the book I found it extremely easy to connect to the characters. It seemed as though Orson's writing and his delicate detail of the characters made that possible. His writing just seems so real and is so easy to read and connect. In Ender's Game, Ender is characterized by Orson as a so-called "THIRD" who is transformed into a fierce and courageous fighter at battle school and becomes a true hero to most in the end. Ender's Game is a book that most adolescents in high school would really enjoy. Those who enjoy reading science fiction novels with a lot of action would enjoy this novel. Those who prefer non-fiction romantic would probably not enjoy this novel. Parents of those who are reading this book should be informed that it contains some curse words--although not many. All in all, I loved reading Ender's Game and would recommend it to anyone who appreciates a great book.

read this book for a class assignment and i enjoyed it very much

the whole book is pretty good and the ending is amazing. I havnt enjoyed a sci-fi book like this in a long time. i recommend this book highly!

Far, far better than Enchantment, I do have to say that this is pretty heavy for a juvenile book. The ideas and concepts presented about war are interesting, and the ending is really amazingly well done. The "speaker for the dead" concept is different from what we hold to now (no one ever seems to saw anything bad about the dead) but I think far better. I'm not sure if the second book can live up to the first, though I will read it as I am very curious to see how Ender's life progresses. Not for the faint of heart, but a thoroughly thought-provoking book.

Finished reading "Ender's Game" tonight, one of the most sadistic / political / depressing works of sci-fi I've ever read, combining the grey political bleakness of "1984", with the foreboding creepy space doom of "A Wrinkle In Time". The book is centered around a trio of Kwisatz Haderach-like siblings, one of whom (Ender) ends up endlessly tortured throughout the book in a "Lords Of The Flies" meets "The Lords Of Discipline"-type environment of sanctioned cadet abuse. The story is just beyond gloomy, and the unease never lets up. Every adult is using every other, as are the siblings and the cadets - none of whom feel like real children, ever. In fact, it's probably safe to say that the students in "Ender's Game" feel more like little Karl Roves and Henry Kissingers than anything else, at least when they're not conspiring to bully and/or murder Ender Wiggin. Note: Although the book was written in 1977, aside from a certain overuse of the rather quaint word "astronaut" and a few references to Pac-Man, it rarely feels dated. In particular, the descriptions of the "Nets" and interactive 3-D simulators are amazingly true today, and the Peter & Valentine Wiggin plan to take over the world through anonymous blogging & punditry is uncanny. Same goes for the imperialistic/hegemonic machinations of the world community (largely the US and Russia in the story, in a nod to the Cold War perhaps) and the hawkish discussions of plans to establish world domination by leveraging the propaganda power of exaggerated and misunderstood alien threats is timely indeed. A few politically incorrect (and mostly unnecessary) bits regarding Jews, Spanish, and menstruation probably wouldn't have made it into the story today. Oddly, Ender's sister Valentine is the closest thing to a love-interest that Ender has in the entire book - but given all the isolation and gore that comes his way as the Powers That Be warp his childhood recreating Earth's military savior (cue "The Boys From Brazil") there is no happy ending or pleasant morality to save the day. All there is a little bit of hope that Ender might be able to eventually atone for unknowingly leading Earth in a preemptive genocidal war against an alien race by rescuing its sole survivor.

Although the recommended age of the book ("10 and up") puts it squarely in the middle of the Harry Potter set, this is serious reading and social commentary better aimed at the 10th and 11th grades. The fact that the story is built around such young kids (6-9 being typical) given the weighty and complex adult themes is just... weird. Same goes for the fart jokes, as has been mentioned elsewhere - this is a novel for older teens, and a weighty one well worth serious in-class discussion. (and BTW, helped along in this area with some Teacher's Guidelines in the back)

This is Orson Scott Card's finest work and is one of the top science fiction novels I've ever written. The story centers around a young boy named Ender who goes away to "Battle School," a futuristic space boarding school. It may sound like a children's novel, but it is certainly not. I first read this in high school when a friend recommended it to me and have reread it several times over the past decade or so because I enjoyed it so much. Card has spun this story into several other directions, so you can keep reading if you enjoyed it (try Ender's Shadow or Shadow of the Hegemon), but none of the others come close to being as good, although they are not bad books. I'd recommend this for anyone, teenage through adult, who likes science fiction at all, and even for those who don't think they like science ficiton, because Card avoids the pitfalls that many science fiction authors fall into, like not having strong characters and letting the "science" overpower the story.

I first read Ender's Game in sixth grade and it blew my mind. I listened to it with my girl friend on a road trip last year. It was fantastically read and it still blows my mind fifteen years later. I am continually shocked that it's sequels are at least as good (and possibly even better).

Tearing a page or two from Asimov's Foundation (Foundation Novels), Ender's Game is an excellent look at the effects of war through the eyes of an extremely intelligent child. When you know your enemy well enough to understand and even love them, how does it feel when you are forced to destroy them?

Set to become a movie in 2008, apparently this is required reading at Quantico.

I don't know why it took me so long to read this, despite the numerous praises and recommendations. I actually bought this book while Christmas-shopping, it had been sitting on top of my dryer for three months.

With that said, this is one of those rare books that really made me stop and reflect for a while after reading it. I was able to guess at the big "reveal" a couple of paragraphs before it happened but what surprised me was the strong emotion I felt later on when Ender pulled away the mirror from the wall. The ensuing "conversation" had tears welling in my eyes. Wow! Just wow! Haven't felt a gut-punch like that since I read Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz.

Buy it, read it. This one will have a cherished place in my library.

For those of you out there with a teenage reluctant reader....this book is great! I gave it to my 14 year old son (just started homeschooling this year) to read for school. Halfway through the book he said the book was not too bad. After he finished the book he said the book was pretty good. That's music to my ears coming from someone who doesn't like to read. I think his view is starting to change.

But I don't think this is your typical sci-fi book. This book is one of my husband's favorites and he talked me into taking a look at it - swore that I shouldn't get hung up on the sci-fi aspect. He was right (Damn! I hate it when this happens!). I found it to be an epic and poignant story primarily about human character, philosopy, sociology, and morality. One of his criteria for enjoying a book or a movie is that there has to be a hero or at least a character that can be admired. This book is all about heroism and has characters one can empathize with. I came away strongly reminded again that at the end of the day, your honor and your character are all you have to offer. I admired the way that Ender perservered, always thinking, changing, adjusting his tactics to win, honestly, fairly, and in the most efficient way possible.

Card is an easy writer and has that quality of making the reader forget they are reading. An interesting aspect of this book is that most of the characters are children. Sounds odd, but you forget this as you are reading. Adults in the story don't have the luxury of treating the main character, Ender, and the others as kids. The whole effect reminded me of when you were 13 how you understood more than adults gave you credit for...Well, the children in Card's novel think that way too. It gives the story an authentic feel as we read what a child is thinking, not what an adult thinks a child is or could be thinking.

All in all a very pleasant surprise. Another book that, without explanation, I remember most every detail.

This is a great story for science fiction and futuristic enthusiasts because it contains vivid and realistic characters combined with cool future technology and a way of... this is how good books are summarized.

But Ender's Game is more than a good story. Card weaves his story of page-turning adventure seamlessly with deep analytical themes reflecting upon human nature that few casual readers pick up on fully. In addition to his creative futuristic technology (nothing in the league of flying cars) and his ideas concerning leaderships, which has even prompted many universities classes to make Ender's Game a mandatory reading, Card touches on the subject of guilt's role in society and human ingenuity. Card wrote Ender's Game as an epic and not as literature, and by doing so, he has changed the meaning of the term.

I pity the fierce critics of Ender's Game, for they have truly never really read. They note its lack of descriptive details and long for Middle Earth, yet they fail to identify that as a small point to its greatness. Within the tome's words one imagines everything perfectly and is one with the characters, its steadfast glory surpassing any movie, yet the author even contextually excludes the color of the main character's hair. The robe of Ender's Game does not need interior padding -- it is made of silk.

Harry Potter is a book to read. Ender's Game is a book to live.

I have read the whole ender series, but with a strange sequence which may have affected the way I view the different books in the series. The first book I have read was the Shadow of the Hegemon, thanks to a tourist that had left it in the library of a hotel in Skiathos island. This book got me hooked, but it confused me also as I didn't know if I should start reading the next books or the previous ones.

The general pattern in the whole series is:
The beginning book is Ender's Game. Then we have two subcategories, one the Shadow series (which, with the exception of the first book, take place on earth and are more within military strategy) and one the Ender series (which take place in space and are more into new sci-fi ideas). Shadow series probably can be read from everyone, while I guess that the Ender series (especially from Speaker for the Dead onwards) would be read mainly from sci-fi fans.
Below are my comments for the books of the series, in the order I have read them and a marking (10 is the highest mark):

Shadow of the Hegemon: The first book I have read, and which I could not leave from my hands. I finished it in 2 days. It was fast paced action, very smart plot and after reading it I believed that Orson Scot Card (OSC) has invented/re-invented a new genre of literature. That of military strategy and adventure combined with brilliance/mind games and hidden portions of romance. Such books always existed but this seemed to be THE book. It was like the way Dan Brown re-invented books with trivials and puzzles, together with fast paced adventure. I strongly recommend it to everybody that likes such type of books. (mark: 10)

Shadow puppets: The sequel to the above. I found it interesting but somehow boring as the above story developed little and the focus was on the characters (maybe too much focus so that it seemed to me that it was slightly mumbling jumbling. Strategy, brilliance and adventure seemed to be very low here. I would not recommend it for anybody to read it in isolate, unfortunately you have to read it if you want to go to the next book. I really believe that OSC made a mistake here (deliberately or not) as this book should have been told in 50-60 pages and be included in the previous or the next book. (mark: 6 but you will read it because you will want to read Shadow of the Giant)

Shadow of the Giant: (see below)

Ender's game: A really great book to read, probably the best of the series, however, as I had read its sequels first, when I reached the 80% of this book, I had predicted the end. However, it's at the highest standards of sci-fi, military strategy, adventure, brilliant mind games and very good depth in the human aspect of the characters. In comparison to the shadow series, it is more "space" sci-fi, while shadow series have much lesser sci-fi elements and are more down to earth. (mark: 10)

Speaker for the dead: Another great book, but different style. Less adventure, more human aspect, more maturity. Brilliance yes, but not military, sci-fi yes (some great ideas) but not spaceship style. (Mark: 9)

Xenocide: A good sequel of the previous novel. In certain points more brilliant, in other sections more boring, however is again a very good sci-fi book. The only flaw in these series (Speker for the dead, Xenocide, Children of the mind) is the idea behind one of the alien species described which I found outrageously extreme, however if you ignore it becomes first class reading. (Mark: 9)

Children of the mind: I think that OSC has wrapped up his case pretty badly in that one. It's a fair book except the fact that I felt that OSC mumbles jumbles for one third of the novel not having decided how to end it. In other critiques I have found it described as nice approach to moral dilemmas, however, moral dilemma is when you describe it once and make your choice, while here the dilemma is repeated and repeated... I felt like I was watching a movie worth 10 oscars and the end did not worth to be included even in a cheap video movie. And again, many open ends at the end (for possible sequels). (Mark: 7 but you will read it as you will be hooked from the previous ones).

Ender's shadow: Having read Enders Game and Shadow of the Hegemon, I found this book probably the best of the series, which of course is my subjective preference. I could characterize it as probably the best book I have read ever! Not to repeat myself, it has all that Shadow of the Hegemon and Ender's Game have, and even more...(Mark: the absolute 10).

Shadow of the Giant: When I read shadow puppets, I said, "that's it, OSC has lost either his talent or his appetite for good writing...", so I was pretty unwilling to read it. Fortunately I decided to, as it proved to be a good one, were I believe that OSC has nicely wrapped up his story, with two small flaws.
* The one is described below (its end needed to be slightly more complete) and,
* The other is the fact that although he describes certain smart battles, he does not focus enough on them as it seems that he is in a hurry to wrap all things up. It had all elements to become a masterpiece but it ended up being a good to read book (Mark: 9)

In general, both series have three categories of good stuff:
1) Some great sci-fi ideas (battle room, battle games, fantasy game, ansible, aia, Jane, in/out travel, raman varelse etc)
2) Great military strategy, mind games etc combined with adventure
3) In certain books, depth of characters, moral dilemmas etc
And two main bad stuff:
1) Mumbling jumbling in certain books which was completely unnecessary (either OSC wanted just to produce and sell another title - see shadow puppets- or he could not decide how the story will continue-see last book of Ender series).
2) One of the alien species described in the Ender series was so too outrageous even for sci-fi that made it look ridiculous. The idea behind it was brilliant in sci-fi terms, but he could try a different living organism...
Finally, OSC has left open ends in both series (probably for next sequels), however I believe that there are two things missing. a) the story of the Hive Queen and the Hegemon, told in a metaphorical manner so it means much for humanity. b) In ancient theatre, a story should end in a way that brings "katharsis" to the story, and the souls of the readers. I believe that the end of the shadow of the giant may be smart for commercial purposes but it was very unfair to the reader as it did not bring full "katharsis".

I read this book very fast. It was "flawless" in many ways, but the reason I give Orson a 4-star rating is that his followup is not as visionary. The last chapter of this book when combined with the beginning of "Speaker" does not live up to the same high intensity action. The content wasn't bad, but the transition was like that from a bangin' night club to my grandmother's living room.

I've already finished book 2 and am waiting for book 3 to arrive.

It's been a long time since I've looked forward to continue reading a series!

Very interesting book, with a semi predictable twist at the end. Its set in a new world with ties to our own world so its not alien enough to alienate (pun intended) the reader, but you can relate to the phsycology of the game, at the same time escape to a different world.

OSC at his best. Well worth a read for both SF and non-SF fans alike.

I had heard about this book from many different people who said they really enjoyed it. I am usually a hardcore fantasy reader but thought I would give it a try. I found this book so intriguing and well written that I could not put it down. I read it in just two days. The fact that it is written in the first person and you actually read Ender's thoughts in real time was the best. I think this is the reason that both nights after reading this book I dreamt about being in the battle room and playing the game. I recommend this book to anyone, not just science fiction readers.

This book takes place in the distant future. Aliens are trying to wipe out the human race. Earth has made a defense by breeding military geniuses to fight them. Ender is the main character in this story. Because he is so incredibly smart, he is chosen to go to Battle School to learn how to fight the aliens effectively. Valentine is Ender's sister and she is always by his side trying to help him in any way she can. The action is non-stop as the fate of humanity rests in Ender's capable hands. You will NOT be able to put this book down. That is why I gave this book 5 stars. It is action-packed and full of suspense. You will love Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. I surely did.

Wonderful book for kids and adults. Part of a great series of stories.

I decided to get an Orson Scott Card book on tape to listen to while riding and to distract me while driving on business travel. This was a good choice. The narration was pleasant to listen to, communicated the feeling of the story well, and was fluid. First book on tape; so far, so good. I liked Card's story, but I was sure that I would after meeting him at a conference in 2005. Carefully conceived and polished storytelling with interesting ideas and an unexpected twist that somehow made everything seem right. Not over-the-top good, but certainly worth anybody's time to read/listen.

I read Ender's Game, and wow! I was amazed! This book goes deep into human emotion and what it is. Especially into despair and how it affects the young human body. It is about a boy that goes by the name Ender Wiggin. He is found to be very intelligent by the International Fleet. He is taken from his home at a young age. He is sent to military school in the stars. He undergoes many trials. The thing that I liked most about the books were the trials he underwent. When I read certain trials I was thinking, "A book that actually has emotional trials as well as physical ones!" Ender was burdened with a lot of stress at a very young age. Enoug stress so that anyone who wasn't extremely emotionally and physically stong would go insane. This book was very excellently written, with the exception of the ending. After he wins, he just goes to sleep for a few days. That's it. There is a very nicely written story line. It flows very smoothly and keeps going until the end. At the end, it just stops for a few days. Then, to make things worse, it has the pioneer ending. I reccomend that anyone who reads this book be prepared for an excellent novel, until the end, in which case you shall have to get the sequel to Ender's Game if you want to keep reading great material. Orson is a great writer, and may he keep writing as good as he is now.

Andrew (Ender) Wiggin, a six year-old super genius, might just be Earth's last chance of survival; he just doesn't know yet. In the book Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, the world is currently in fear that an alien race --which they call the Buggers--, will attempt to raid the Earth and use it to nest their queen. This book follows Ender through his childhood: being taken from his parents and deported to battle school, rising through the ranks at battle school, all the way, up to when he is promoted from battle school to command school.
This book is first-rate because it gave life-like detail and in-depth descriptions of what Ender felt and saw during his life and times in space. I can personally relate to some of the things he feels. It seems as if Ender tries to make people like him and follow him but he is not a warm and fuzzy person. Ender was a child who was never treated normally, so he is very different from the other children. The theme of this book is power of trust and self-confidence people need to work together and believe in each other and themselves.
Ender's Game was like a candy bar, and I am the small child who cannot stop eating. This book will hook you like a fish, once you start reading it, you cannot get out of it until you are done. Will Ender make his way through battle school and fight the Buggers?

Ender's Game is an unmatched book that compares to no other. This book is excellent in all fields of writing. It defines that which all novelists can only hope to achieve in their writing.
Andrew (better known as Ender) Wiggin is as sharp as a whip. Ender has had a small device on the back of his neck called a monitor for most of his childhood. The Monitor is meant to see into his mind and feelings to see if he is eligible to travel to space and be taught in the Battle School where other kids leave their families, to go and learn how to fight creatures called Buggers. When he's accepted into the Battle School, he gains many friends, but also many enemies.
To make the isolation worse, he is closely monitored by the school's teachers and is singled out many times. The teachers are watching him because they know he's the planet's last hope for survival against the Buggers.
It isn't long before Ender is personally taught by Mazer Rackham, who is best known for defeating thousands of Bugger ships even though he was outnumbered. Can Ender save Earth from the Bugger war?
Ender's Game is a definitely one of the greatest books ever published because it captures the imagination and not let go until the end. I recommend this book to anyone who needs a book that's out of this world.

If you want an out-of-this-world journey without all the oxygen-deprived bother, Ender's Game will take you there. Ender's Game is a thrilling action book by Orson Scott Card, which is for someone that loved books like The Giver. Ender's Game keeps you on the edge of your seat at all times. It's very hard to put down. I loved this book and I'm sure you will too.
Ender's Game is about a young boy named Ender who is a "third child." Ender is looked down upon because of this. Ender's brother, Peter, was like a snake: he bit like a killer cobra and always threatened Ender. Ender has been put under constant surveillance by a monitor to see if he was good enough to go to battle school and fight the Buggers who have invaded the Earth twice. Once it's taken off, Ender is just like everyone else....or so he thinks. Ender is still taken to a battle school where he is the best in the business at a game that they play to learn army tactics. He becomes friends with some helpful people along the way. Ender is given his own army at the age of ten. No one is surprised, though, because Ender is so good. Ender is taken to the command school where he is educated by the greatest hero of all time, Mazer Rackham. Can Ender defeat the Buggers? Find out in Enders Game by Orson Scott Card!

A friend recommended this book to me and I was very skeptical at first. I have never been a science fiction or fantasy novel reader. But I bought the book anyway and found that I couldn't put this book down!

The whole book gives you the impression that it is leading up to something bigger, but in the end the book twists on itself and gives you an ending you never would have guessed!

I highly recommend this book for anyone! Orson Scott Card knew what he was doing when he wrote an entire epic about a small child with the weight of the world on his shoulders. After I read this book I went out and bought the entire rest of the series because I was hooked!

Once in a great while something new comes along that one could compare to the classics of its genre. Ender's Game is one such book with its likeness to Heinlein's Starship Troopers. Yet though it may draw such comparisons in its likeness, it is still unique and original. The subsequent books of the series are also quite enjoyable and provide solid science fiction entertainment. Mr. Card has blazed a new trail and will likely be a standard for classics against which future science fiction will be measured. His work will be enjoyed by the military tactical thinker and science fiction action adventure fan alike. Well done.

For all those parents who have children that feel are different and picked on, this is the book for them to read. It will make them feel as part of the character in the book and no obstacles could stand in their way.

The story is great and caught me by surprise. I'm a huge fan of strategy and tactical games and such and this was enjoyable to read. Whenever Ender was presented with a challenged, I was always interested in reading the outcome and how he solved it.

Title: Ender's Game
Author: Orson Scott Games
Genre: Sci-Fi

` This book takes place in futuristic times, where a couple are only allowed to have two children. The laws for this family have changed, they not only have a choice but are forced to have another child. The reason for this is when any child is born they are studied until they age of four. The government studies the children by putting a sensor in the back of the neck. That sensor reacts to everything, fear, hatred, pain etc. Children in futuristic times are very smart and have the ability to learn more information than the children to now. The child this family has is named Andrew, Andrew Wiggin. He was always pushed around, and threatened by Peter, his brother; however, Valentine, the middle sibling always helped Andrew. Peter was always jealous of Andrew, or Ender (the name he went with) because he was studied by the government doing his daily things a whole two years longer. Ender had is sensor removed one day, that was the day that he wasn't protected anymore. Ender now had to fight for himself.
` The next day after school Ender was being bullied around, he didn't know what to do until he found the courage to fight the boy. When Ender was done that boy couldn't move. Ender had proved he can fight for himself, he didn't need someone else to do it. He had what it took, strength, and the brains to know what to do with it. Even though the sensor had been removed they were still watching him and they decided he had what it took to go to the battle school.
` The next morning there was a knock on the door, it was for Ender. When Ender went there a man introduc