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4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
adventurous
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Ender’s Game is not a pleasant novel. It’s a brutal and realistic take on child soldiers and the sacrifices made during war. It looks at how being exposed to an abusive situation as a young child pollutes a brilliant mind into a state of animalistic defense. It’s also one of my favorite sci-fi novels, so I should probably start talking about what earned it that “honor” before I scare you off.
The first way that Ender’s Game excels, and many other stories fail, is with the premise of a genius character. It is often the case that the term “genius” is slapped on characters whose mental abilities and wealth of knowledge are so far outside the realms of possibility that they may as well be an elf or demigod because they’re certainly not human. While such characters can be fun to read about, they exist strictly in the realms of the imagination and no one is going to believe that such a person could really exist. Ender, and the other child geniuses in this book, aren’t like that. Their genius is the realistic genius of people who are able to quickly and intuitively understand concepts and ideas that most people would never dream of without explicit instruction.
Then there’s the Formics, an advanced alien race commonly referred to as the “Buggers” due to their insect-like appearance. To go into detail about them would be to ruin the book for you, but I will say that they’re one of my favorite takes on alien life forms. Most sci-fi worlds seem to be inhabited by species that have marked similarities to humans in terms of culture and society and the Buggers are a welcome break from that.
The talk of an alien species and child soldiers may make you think this is a book about war, but I’d be hard pressed to say that’s an apt descriptor. When I think about such novels, I think about books that focus on soldiers in the field fighting battles where their sole aim is to survive. Such themes are not absent from this book, but it’s about training to fight in the war, not the war itself. The characters aren’t going to be soldiers, they’re going to be commanders, and tactics, not the survival of individual soldiers, is the name of the game.
Audiobook vs book: The first time I read (over a decade ago) this I read the physical book, I've listened to the audiobook twice since then. Both are excellent and I don't recommend one over the other.
The first way that Ender’s Game excels, and many other stories fail, is with the premise of a genius character. It is often the case that the term “genius” is slapped on characters whose mental abilities and wealth of knowledge are so far outside the realms of possibility that they may as well be an elf or demigod because they’re certainly not human. While such characters can be fun to read about, they exist strictly in the realms of the imagination and no one is going to believe that such a person could really exist. Ender, and the other child geniuses in this book, aren’t like that. Their genius is the realistic genius of people who are able to quickly and intuitively understand concepts and ideas that most people would never dream of without explicit instruction.
Then there’s the Formics, an advanced alien race commonly referred to as the “Buggers” due to their insect-like appearance. To go into detail about them would be to ruin the book for you, but I will say that they’re one of my favorite takes on alien life forms. Most sci-fi worlds seem to be inhabited by species that have marked similarities to humans in terms of culture and society and the Buggers are a welcome break from that.
The talk of an alien species and child soldiers may make you think this is a book about war, but I’d be hard pressed to say that’s an apt descriptor. When I think about such novels, I think about books that focus on soldiers in the field fighting battles where their sole aim is to survive. Such themes are not absent from this book, but it’s about training to fight in the war, not the war itself. The characters aren’t going to be soldiers, they’re going to be commanders, and tactics, not the survival of individual soldiers, is the name of the game.
Audiobook vs book: The first time I read (over a decade ago) this I read the physical book, I've listened to the audiobook twice since then. Both are excellent and I don't recommend one over the other.
emotional
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Despite my distates for the author as a person, I revisited Ender's Game recently on a road trip with my fiancee through an audiobook. It was one of my favorite books as a kid and I wanted to see if it a) held up to my new standards as an adult and b) if the book reflected the author's own views.
Thankfully, not only did the book hold up amazingly but it also featured none of the hateful rhetoric used by the author and, instead, has a very human and compassionate lens. The endingwas especially moving and a truely beautiful way to end the story as well as Ender's arc as a character . My only point of improvement for the book is, because of how long we spend with our main characters (who are fantastic) and how much ground the book covers in terms of in-store time, we don't get a lot of insight or development into the cast of diverse side characters we meet along the way who help Ender in his journey. I especially would've liked to know more about Alai and his bond with Ender.
Regardless, I was touched by my return to Ender's Game. It's place in my heart is still conflicted due to Card's bigotry, however I cannot deny the impact his story had on me both in my youth and as an adult.
Thankfully, not only did the book hold up amazingly but it also featured none of the hateful rhetoric used by the author and, instead, has a very human and compassionate lens. The ending
Regardless, I was touched by my return to Ender's Game. It's place in my heart is still conflicted due to Card's bigotry, however I cannot deny the impact his story had on me both in my youth and as an adult.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Xenophobia
Minor: Child death, Racial slurs
There is a single usage of a slur when referring to a character of Israeli descent. It is used to show the bigotry of the setting, but I question the necessity for it's inclusion. Card had also had a version of the novel where he used the n-word to specifically draw critique of a characters bigotry, however he later implored his publisher to let him re-write that segment to not include it.
I liked it. It is a wonder I never read it as a kid when I was heavily into science fiction, but blame must be laid on the local library and its meagre selection of...well, books. I can't say I was very surprised with the ending, if that was ever the book's intention. However, the sketchy setting of the beginning, Ender's ridiculously eloquent persona and the shallow attention to the world at large, do not hinder the satisfaction you derive from Ender's victories. It is a pleasurable read that I shan't spoil by picking up sequela. Life's too short anyway.
Card is a baffling author. despite his truly absurd bigotry irl he is capable of writing delicate stories about fate and struggle. Ender's Game is a sublime work of art that barely shows its age. it rewards intellectual as well as emotional engagement from the reader and asks difficult questions about violence, genocide, intimacy, and destiny without capitulating. I could go on and on about what it does and I won't come close to saying what it is. saddest prettiest boy book ever. Card is a genius; too bad he's so fucking stupid.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
This is the only science fiction book that I've ever liked.
Ender is a relatable character and so are most of the other characters. Orson Scott Card managed to tell a story so unique and fascinating it will leave you yearning for more. Although you could see this book as a little boy's life struggle, the way it is narrated is simply too good.
Ender is a relatable character and so are most of the other characters. Orson Scott Card managed to tell a story so unique and fascinating it will leave you yearning for more. Although you could see this book as a little boy's life struggle, the way it is narrated is simply too good.
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed this world. I found the big reveal very satisfying but not the actual ending. All the characters were fine; I didn't love them but I didn't hate them. Ender being bullied felt a bit repetitive at times, as well as some of Graff's sections.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child death, Death, Murder, Colonisation, War