Card, Orson Scott. Ender’s Game.
Tor Science Fiction; 1994,
ISBN: 0812550706.
Reader’s Annotation
Ender Wiggin, the young boy who is the greatest hope to save Earth from destruction by the alien “Buggers”, must learn his lessons at Battle School quickly in order to be ready in time to lead the fleet to victory.
Plot Summary
The Buggers are coming! Seventy-five years since the last encounter with these alien invaders, and the Interplanetary Forces (IF) believes that another war is imminent. They decide that their best hope is to make a preemptive strike. Their whole strategy lies in finding a child who has what it takes to become the commander who can save the human race from annihilation. Ender Wiggin, the third child in a society where birth control is strictly enforced, just may be that one. So he finds himself swept off to Battle School—leaving his home, including his horrible bully of a brother and his sister Valentine, the one person in the world who loves Ender completely. Once in the space-based training school, Ender is no longer allowed to be a child, nor can he afford to be. He learns his lessons in pain and loneliness, little realizing that the strategists who have been monitoring his every move, weighing and evaluation its significance. For the IF, time is running out and they desperately step up Ender’s training—but will they push him too far? Can the human race be saved without destroying Ender?
Critical Evaluation
The human race has been attacked before by a hive-minded alien force, and the Interplanetary Force (IF) knows that another attack is coming soon. The IF believes that their only hope lies in finding a child—the right child—who will have the right blend of courage, creativity and compassion to command the IF forces. The irony of taking a six-year-old boy like Ender Wiggin and grooming him to be the commander of a great military force shows starkly as the IF uses “games” as a training tool. Life in the Battle School is a mixture of familiarity and isolation for Ender—just as he becomes familiar with his team and fellow students, he is whisked away and isolated yet again. Even Ender recognizes that his success in the Battle Room is a blessing and a curse—he is quickly recognized as being “the one to beat” and that generates both admiration and resentment in the Battle School. From the IF officials, however, it only earns Ender more work, seemly impossible challenges and a cold-hearted puppet/puppeteer relationship. The plot line is flawless as it takes the reader through Ender’s progress in Battle School, his longing for his beloved sister Valentine, and his ultimate understanding of what’s at stake. The IF finally lays down its cards with Ender, and explains directly what they want from him—or are they really telling the truth? Can Ender believe them? Who can he trust?
About the Author
Orson Scott Card was born in Richland, WA, and raised in Santa Clara, CA. He served as a Mormon missionary in Brazil and attended BYU where he was a theater major, but began his writing career primarily as a poet. Card first wrote Ender’s Game as a short story while working at the BYU press, and submitted it to several publications. The idea for the later novel, of the same title came from the short story and was eventually purchased by Ben Bova at Analog Science Fiction and Fact and published in the August 1977 issue. For more information, go to: http://www.hatrack.com/
Genre
Science Fiction
Curriculum Tie-ins
Bullying
Booktalk Ideas
- Do you think that the need of the IF to defend Earth justified the way they took Ender from his home and raised him in the Battle School?
- Discuss the relationship between Valentine, Peter and Ender.
Reading level/Interest age
Young Adult
Challenge Issues/Challenge Response Ideas
Violence
- 2008 Margaret A. Edwards Award
- Winner of both the Nebula and Hugo Awards http://www.nicholaswhyte.info/sf/nh2.htm
Why I included this work
It was recommended to me by some teenage boys who enjoy science fiction.
Winner of YALSA's Margaret A Edwards Award
Winner of the Nebula and Hugo Awards http://www.nicholaswhyte.info/sf/nh2.htm
Great Quote from the Book:
“This would not have a happy ending. So Ender decided he'd rather not be the unhappiest at the end.”
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