Ender's Saga Ender's Game
Type
Book
Authors
ISBN 13
9780812550702
Category
Science Fiction/Fantaisie
[ Browse Items ]
Publication Year
2010
Publisher
Volume
1
Pages
264
Subject
English Novel
Tags
Series Name
Abstract
Andrew "Ender" Wiggin thinks he is playing computer simulated war games; he is, in fact, engaged in something far more desperate. The result of genetic experimentation, Ender may be the military genius Earth desperately needs in a war against an alien enemy seeking to destroy all human life. The only way to find out is to throw Ender into ever harsher training, to chip away and find the diamond inside, or destroy him utterly. Ender Wiggin is six years old when it begins. He will grow up fast.
But Ender is not the only result of the experiment. The war with the Buggers has been raging for a hundred years, and the quest for the perfect general has been underway almost as long. Ender's two older siblings, Peter and Valentine, are every bit as unusual as he is, but in very different ways. While Peter was too uncontrollably violent, Valentine very nearly lacks the capability for violence altogether. Neither was found suitable for the military's purpose. But they are driven by their jealousy of Ender, and by their inbred drive for power. Peter seeks to control the political process, to become a ruler. Valentine's abilities turn more toward the subtle control of the beliefs of commoner and elite alike, through powerfully convincing essays. Hiding their youth and identities behind the anonymity of the computer networks, these two begin working together to shape the destiny of Earth-an Earth that has no future at all if their brother Ender fails.
But Ender is not the only result of the experiment. The war with the Buggers has been raging for a hundred years, and the quest for the perfect general has been underway almost as long. Ender's two older siblings, Peter and Valentine, are every bit as unusual as he is, but in very different ways. While Peter was too uncontrollably violent, Valentine very nearly lacks the capability for violence altogether. Neither was found suitable for the military's purpose. But they are driven by their jealousy of Ender, and by their inbred drive for power. Peter seeks to control the political process, to become a ruler. Valentine's abilities turn more toward the subtle control of the beliefs of commoner and elite alike, through powerfully convincing essays. Hiding their youth and identities behind the anonymity of the computer networks, these two begin working together to shape the destiny of Earth-an Earth that has no future at all if their brother Ender fails.
Number of Copies
1
RELATED ITEMS
REVIEWS (1) -
TORTEROTOT Thomas
This is a review for the 2010 final edition (this one) of Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card; I'll try to keep it as spoiler-free as possible but be warned of potential mild spoilers and comparisons with the movie adaptation. In addition, this review obviously contains a lot of my personal opinions and may not be very objective.
For a short summary, the novel follows the gifted child Ender Wiggins as he rapidly ascends through his training to become a military strategist in the upcoming war against a bug-like alien species that attacked Earth decades prior, as well as his older siblings.
I didn't first intend to read this book since I chose it because our teacher told us to read one, but having watched the movie adaptation, I was curious to see what the differences were between it and the novel. We didn't have to read our book in its entirety but I still went through a delightful nine-hours reading session on a week-end to finish it because of how good it was.
So how did I enjoy it so much even though I already knew most of the plot? Well, for a few reasons.
First of, it has more content than the movie, obviously, but with consistent quality and whole plotpoints that the movie just skips over entirely or simplifies, especially towards the end of the story. So you'll still discover things and be surprised if you've watched the adaptation already.
Then, as a fan of science fiction and fantasy, I was pleased by the universe, even if it wasn't new to me, and by how the technology just makes sense in how it's used by the people - but that's a really minor detail. Also, this novel doesn't rely on sci-fi tropes to be interesting and tries another approach than the classic "dumping as much futuristic stuff and aliens as possible in the book".
Finally, I really appreciated how the novel tackles the psychology of the characters. Card did a really good job at analysing what was going on in the characters' heads to make the reader understand them and feel the tension rising. Even the most laid-back moments of the story were interesting because his style isn't boring - well at least for me it wasn't - and you have Ender, Valentine or Graff's thoughts to keep you company, and they're interesting and mature thoughts, which is really nice.
There were few things I didn't like, but not many. The pacing, for example, was too fast for an optimal reading experience, with huge skips of whole months in the story making the reader feel like Ender moves in the battle school hierarchy constantly. Towards the end of the story, the book seems kind of rushed with too little emphasis put on the events in command school. However it was clear that it was intentional and aimed at communicating Ender's feeling of being permanently pushed beyond his limits, I just didn't like the impression it gave me that parts of the story were forgotten, but it wasn't a really big deal.
Now let's adress the elephant in the room, yes, indeed, Ender's Game and its sequel got both the Hugo and Nebula awards back-to-back in 1985, which was unprecedented. That sequel (Speaker For the Dead) was followed by a plethora of other books set in the same universe, before, during and after the events of Ender's Game, but you don't have to read them to enjoy this novel because its story is self-sufficient.
I would recommend this book to readers that prefer the character development side of things, because there isn't a lot of dramatic battles, however if you don't need much action to enjoy a story, and like science fiction, then this novel should fulfill your expectations.
For a short summary, the novel follows the gifted child Ender Wiggins as he rapidly ascends through his training to become a military strategist in the upcoming war against a bug-like alien species that attacked Earth decades prior, as well as his older siblings.
I didn't first intend to read this book since I chose it because our teacher told us to read one, but having watched the movie adaptation, I was curious to see what the differences were between it and the novel. We didn't have to read our book in its entirety but I still went through a delightful nine-hours reading session on a week-end to finish it because of how good it was.
So how did I enjoy it so much even though I already knew most of the plot? Well, for a few reasons.
First of, it has more content than the movie, obviously, but with consistent quality and whole plotpoints that the movie just skips over entirely or simplifies, especially towards the end of the story. So you'll still discover things and be surprised if you've watched the adaptation already.
Then, as a fan of science fiction and fantasy, I was pleased by the universe, even if it wasn't new to me, and by how the technology just makes sense in how it's used by the people - but that's a really minor detail. Also, this novel doesn't rely on sci-fi tropes to be interesting and tries another approach than the classic "dumping as much futuristic stuff and aliens as possible in the book".
Finally, I really appreciated how the novel tackles the psychology of the characters. Card did a really good job at analysing what was going on in the characters' heads to make the reader understand them and feel the tension rising. Even the most laid-back moments of the story were interesting because his style isn't boring - well at least for me it wasn't - and you have Ender, Valentine or Graff's thoughts to keep you company, and they're interesting and mature thoughts, which is really nice.
There were few things I didn't like, but not many. The pacing, for example, was too fast for an optimal reading experience, with huge skips of whole months in the story making the reader feel like Ender moves in the battle school hierarchy constantly. Towards the end of the story, the book seems kind of rushed with too little emphasis put on the events in command school. However it was clear that it was intentional and aimed at communicating Ender's feeling of being permanently pushed beyond his limits, I just didn't like the impression it gave me that parts of the story were forgotten, but it wasn't a really big deal.
Now let's adress the elephant in the room, yes, indeed, Ender's Game and its sequel got both the Hugo and Nebula awards back-to-back in 1985, which was unprecedented. That sequel (Speaker For the Dead) was followed by a plethora of other books set in the same universe, before, during and after the events of Ender's Game, but you don't have to read them to enjoy this novel because its story is self-sufficient.
I would recommend this book to readers that prefer the character development side of things, because there isn't a lot of dramatic battles, however if you don't need much action to enjoy a story, and like science fiction, then this novel should fulfill your expectations.
4 years ago