Review - "Enders Game" by Orson Scott Card

Genre: Sci-Fi

Intense is the word for Ender's Game. Set in Earth's future, the novel presents an imperiled humankind who have barely survived two conflicts with the Formics (an insectoid alien species also known as the "Buggers"). 

In preparation for an anticipated third invasion, an international fleet maintains a school to find and train future fleet commanders. The world's most talented children, including the novel's protagonist, Ender Wiggin, are taken at a very young age to a training center known as the Battle School.

Ender Wiggin is a genius among geniuses; he wins all the games they play at the Battle School. He is smart enough to know that time is running out. But is he smart enough to save the planet? 

"What else should you be? Human beings didn't evolve brains in order to lie around on lakes. Killing's the first thing we learned. And a good thing we did, or we'd be dead, and the tigers would own the earth..."

My evaluation

Even if the main characters in this novel are children and focus on the premise that children geniuses will save the world, the book is packed with adult themes and references to older, political history. The way themes of murder, fraud and abuse of children for adult purposes are described also better suits  the adult reader. 

That said - this is still a book for all ages. The reading is not difficult, yet the characters and plot have astounding depth. This is the book that started it all. This is Orson Scott Card's legacy. Almost everybody who has read Card has read Ender's Game at one time or another.

This is one of the most incredible Science Fiction/Fantasy novels I have ever read, along with the "In Her Name"-series of Michael R. Hicks. Some say this book is perfect. If it isn't, it's very close...

My rating

of 5



Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 623 KB
Print Length: 352 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0812550706
Publisher: Tor Books (April 1, 2010)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Language: English
ASIN: B003G4W49C

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