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cschurch's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Minor: Child death
snowflake6778's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
beccamorrison's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lovelybatbaby's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
danijoy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
I had a difficult time making it through this book. While Card is a decent writer and crafted a compelling enough story, I could not get past the horrible treatment of the children (and especially the protagonist) in this novel. Also, I felt like the book lagged quite a bit in the middle - I was bored until the finale. Speaking of which, the ending caught me off guard. I should’ve seen it coming.
This novel is about human nature and the lengths we will go to in order to survive no matter the cost. This is not a happy story, although there is a silver lining at the end that elevated the book for me. The themes of love, mercy, and forgiveness played small roles as well.
This novel is about human nature and the lengths we will go to in order to survive no matter the cost. This is not a happy story, although there is a silver lining at the end that elevated the book for me. The themes of love, mercy, and forgiveness played small roles as well.
tizirk's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
digtritus's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
kathydavie's review against another edition
5.0
First in Ender's Saga, a science fiction series revolving around a little boy who saved the world.
Visit KD Did It Takes on Books for a chronological listing of the books in the Enderverse.
My Take
Graff, Anderson, and Rackham's chats behind the scenes clue you in as to what they're doing to Ender. It makes it both better and worse as we understand the why and want to scream in horror at the destruction of this lovely, little boy. Maybe this should be in the Science Fiction/Horror section…
Scott Card is really good at dragging you in. It wasn't until I started this review that I even wondered why it had to be a child.
The Battle School students are pretty amazing, but when you add in Valentine and Peter with their essays on the 'Net...the concept of their intellect will blow you away.
Ender's power is one of excellence. It's Peter who wants to rule the world, and Valentine who wants to save Ender.
After all that these kids have been through, the war is over and Alais wonders what they'll be made to do next. It's Petra's "We're kids. They'll probably make us go to school" that cracks me up...god knows there isn't a lot that's funny in this.
Instead it's horrifying, mindbending, and totally absorbing. If you enjoy military science fiction, tension, and drama, this is the book for you.
The Story
Earth is desperate for a Fleet Commander. Already they have fought off two invasions from the buggers and Earth is taking no chances. All efforts are focused on finding someone to lead a battle fleet and destroy the buggers. But time is getting too short and Ender is their only choice. There is no time to find and train another.
Meanwhile, Ender's parents have moved the family to North Carolina where Mother and Father hope that nature will have a calming influence on Peter and his...urges. But Valentine knows it's only helping him to hide them, and she is still in danger. Although, with more maturity, perhaps Peter is getting a handle on it. As part of his bid to take over Earth.
But the stress is getting to Ender. Nightmares of previous games, encounters with Peter, all play with his head. The only sympathy is from the other kids and even that is minimal for Ender is their leader. Not their schoolmate. Not their friend.
He just has to remember that the enemy's gate is down. And break the rules.
The Characters
Andrew "Ender" Wiggin is six years old when IF takes him to Battle School. He'll miss his sister, Valentine, but not his psychopathic brother, Peter.
Stilson is the first bully Ender confronts and is his ticket in. Bernard is another bully when Shen is Ender's first experiment followed by Alai.
Ender meets Petra in Salamander Army who teaches him enough to get up to speed. He faces up to Commander Bonzo Madris, another bully but with power, about free play. Then it's Rose de Nose (??) and his Rat Army and Dink Meeks' toon.
The teachers just keep cheating, and now Ender has his own Army at age 10. No trades and only Launchies and failures including Bean, Crazy Tom, Han Tzu, and Fly Molo. It's not long before Vlad and Dumper are added to the mix.
Colonel Hyrum Graff is in charge of Battle School and destroying Ender.
Admiral Chamrajnagar is in charge at Command School where Mazer Rackham, the man who saved the world in the First Invasion, takes over his training.
The Cover
The cover is a tilted view from the driver's seat of a video game, a cockpit of a fighter jet with a partial moon on the event horizon. All blues and blacks with a splash of pink and a spot of red.
The title is what it's all about. It's Ender's Game and how he changes it up.
Visit KD Did It Takes on Books for a chronological listing of the books in the Enderverse.
My Take
Graff, Anderson, and Rackham's chats behind the scenes clue you in as to what they're doing to Ender. It makes it both better and worse as we understand the why and want to scream in horror at the destruction of this lovely, little boy. Maybe this should be in the Science Fiction/Horror section…
Scott Card is really good at dragging you in. It wasn't until I started this review that I even wondered why it had to be a child.
The Battle School students are pretty amazing, but when you add in Valentine and Peter with their essays on the 'Net...the concept of their intellect will blow you away.
Ender's power is one of excellence. It's Peter who wants to rule the world, and Valentine who wants to save Ender.
After all that these kids have been through, the war is over and Alais wonders what they'll be made to do next. It's Petra's "We're kids. They'll probably make us go to school" that cracks me up...god knows there isn't a lot that's funny in this.
Instead it's horrifying, mindbending, and totally absorbing. If you enjoy military science fiction, tension, and drama, this is the book for you.
The Story
Earth is desperate for a Fleet Commander. Already they have fought off two invasions from the buggers and Earth is taking no chances. All efforts are focused on finding someone to lead a battle fleet and destroy the buggers. But time is getting too short and Ender is their only choice. There is no time to find and train another.
Meanwhile, Ender's parents have moved the family to North Carolina where Mother and Father hope that nature will have a calming influence on Peter and his...urges. But Valentine knows it's only helping him to hide them, and she is still in danger. Although, with more maturity, perhaps Peter is getting a handle on it. As part of his bid to take over Earth.
But the stress is getting to Ender. Nightmares of previous games, encounters with Peter, all play with his head. The only sympathy is from the other kids and even that is minimal for Ender is their leader. Not their schoolmate. Not their friend.
He just has to remember that the enemy's gate is down. And break the rules.
The Characters
Andrew "Ender" Wiggin is six years old when IF takes him to Battle School. He'll miss his sister, Valentine, but not his psychopathic brother, Peter.
Stilson is the first bully Ender confronts and is his ticket in. Bernard is another bully when Shen is Ender's first experiment followed by Alai.
Ender meets Petra in Salamander Army who teaches him enough to get up to speed. He faces up to Commander Bonzo Madris, another bully but with power, about free play. Then it's Rose de Nose (??) and his Rat Army and Dink Meeks' toon.
The teachers just keep cheating, and now Ender has his own Army at age 10. No trades and only Launchies and failures including Bean, Crazy Tom, Han Tzu, and Fly Molo. It's not long before Vlad and Dumper are added to the mix.
Colonel Hyrum Graff is in charge of Battle School and destroying Ender.
Admiral Chamrajnagar is in charge at Command School where Mazer Rackham, the man who saved the world in the First Invasion, takes over his training.
The Cover
The cover is a tilted view from the driver's seat of a video game, a cockpit of a fighter jet with a partial moon on the event horizon. All blues and blacks with a splash of pink and a spot of red.
The title is what it's all about. It's Ender's Game and how he changes it up.
slawler's review against another edition
5.0
This is nostalgic for me. It made a big impression in my teenage years. I still love a reread although I'm not a fan of Orson Scott Card's dogma.