Monday, July 29, 2013

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card


5/5 Stars
Ender's Game
Author: Orson Scott Card
Publisher: Tor Science Fiction
Publication Date: January, 1985
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Review:
Initially I had no desire to read Ender’s Game. I’m not a very big fan of science fiction and the thought of pre-teens in space fighting aliens didn’t really appeal to me. After the urgings of my law school friend, okay actual friend, Melissa (=P) I decided to give this novel a try and boy am I glad I did! I actually can’t believe I put off reading this for so long.

Ender’s Game follows Ender Wiggins as he is plucked from his childhood home, loaded on to a space ship, and enters Battle School in case of an attack by the buggers, alien life forms that attacked Earth but were successfully repelled. At Battle School Ender is the youngest but he is constantly put in situations he doesn’t appear equipped to handle. Ender has to overcome isolation, loneliness, fatigue, and other psychological endeavors in order to become the person society needs him to be.

Does it make me a bad person if I say I enjoyed reading about Ender’s struggles? Ender is so young and yet he has to deal with so much. His character goes through so many turning points that I felt like I was growing up right along with Ender, readying for battle and defending against the buggers. The novel was completely engrossing and action packed. Saying that it was all action though belittles the plot itself. The story is about so much more then action, it is also ripe with political commentary, personal fears about turning in to someone we don’t want to be, and lessens on what it means to be a living being and a leader.

The supporting cast was just as amazing as Ender himself I loved Ender’s platoon and how those around him followed Ender and accepted him as their leader despite his age. Even if the other characters could not be his friends they still respected and admired Ender. This fact made me both happy and sad. I was happy to see Ender finding success but I was sad to see a very young boy without any friends to support and love him. This is something I feel a lot of career driven people have to deal with and I liked that parallel.

I must also say that the technology described in Ender’s Game was phenomenal. This novel was originally published in the 80’s and yet there was something akin to the internet, tablets, all manner of futuristic devices that are still futuristic despite this novel being written almost 30 years ago! This impressed me because I think it shows the depth of Card’s world building, he was truly immersed in this society.

I understand that at present there is controversy surrounding Orson Scott Card, the author, and while I do not agree with his personal opinions I really enjoyed this novel. The originality, and intricacy of the plot surprised me and I’m so glad Melissa talked me in to reading this novel! I am now super excited for the movie which is coming out November 1, 2013
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3 comments:

  1. Tonja DreckerJuly 29, 2013 at 1:34 AM

    I loved Ender's Game, although I cringed in a few spots. Enjoyed your review!

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  2. Becca @ Nawanda FilesJuly 29, 2013 at 4:39 PM

    If I rated this book back in middle school when I read Ender's Game, I probably would give it 3 stars, but I love science fiction so much now that I'd definitely give it 5. It's a brilliant book, and I totally agree about the technology and the world -- everything is described so vividly.

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  3. yaescapefromrealityJuly 29, 2013 at 8:35 PM

    I've had this book for awhile now, but I still haven't read it. I actually really like sci-fi, but I was a little put off by how young the characters are. After reading your review, I need to read it sooner! ~Pam

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