Rating:  Summary: A stunning gem of a book. Review: Years ago, I used to read a great deal of
science fiction, but I rarely read this genre
now. A friend recommended this book so I read
it, and it captured my imagination from the
start.
After many years of reading, I'm rarely fooled
by an author--they often telegraph plot twists
in some way. But I never dreamed, never had a
hint of the mind-blowing revelation at the end
of the book. I put it down (reluctantly) with
a deep appreciation of what Orson Scott Card
achieved with this first-rate story.
Rating:  Summary: Uncomparible!! Review: Orson scott card is one of the best authors ever.
Ender's game is the best book I have ever read.
Why else would it be the most stolen book in the library? People who give it a bad rating should pause before they do so since it gives a direct
reflection on their IQ. For those of us who
qualify for mensa, this is a must
Rating:  Summary: The best book ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Review: This is my favorite book of all time and i have read a lot of books. I've already read it three times. The characters are so interesting especially Ender. He is so cool. I love ever single page of this book it is so exciting. Once I start reading it I stay up all night untill I finish it I just can't set it down. Anyone who hasn't read this book yet, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!!!!! I can't wait for the movie to come out
Rating:  Summary: Worth it, but stop there... Review: A delightful book to read! One of Card's strengths is to put his characters in awkward or difficult situations. Ender's problems lie in different areas; his affection for his sister, his strained relationship with his older brother (who was "bred" to be what Ender became, but wasn't stable enough), and his constant pressure as one of the smallest and youngest boys in his "academy". Card writes well, showing us how a young child can prevail, under enormous external pressures, with skill, courage, persistence, and a little humanity.
It is something of a shame that his sequels were a nasty progression downhill, resembling more like a publisher's attempt to milk a cash cow than capturing Card's writing skills. My recommendation: Read Ender's Game, you will find it very enjoyable, but don't bother with "Speaker for the Dead", "Xenocide", or any future sequels.
Nuf sed.
Rating:  Summary: A 10 for "Coming of Age" novels in Science Fiction Review: I admit, this isn't the most mature novel you will ever read. However, if you remember the confusion of youth, or, better yet, are a young adult yourself, this book is a fascinating and engaging science fiction novel. If you have "progressed" beyond this stage, then I am truely sorry for you. In being so, you miss out on what must be one of the top ten science fiction books of all time. To put it frankly, not the absolute best science fiction book ever written, but very, very close
Rating:  Summary: Leadership in action Review: Perhaps we need to create a new genre for "Ender's Game." Set against the standard sci-fi backdrop (star battles, the fight to save humanity from an alien society), "Ender's Game" is actually "leadership fiction." Anyone who has studied leadership theory knows the debates: What is a good leader? What is a bad leader? Are the traits of good and bad leadership situational? Are good leaders born or developed? Scott tackles these tough questions in an amazingly entertaining and engrossing story. Through his training, Ender Wiggin encounters at least one representative from each of the Myers-Briggs types and Card explores the positives and negatives of each personality. In the end, each of these characters helps to create the Ender Wiggin we see in the final chapters. But is that character a hero or villain? Card leaves it up to the reader (and the sequels) to decide
Rating:  Summary: A book for those who like "fiction" more than "science" Review: Far and away the best single science fiction book ever written, and not because of the (sometimes questionable) science. (But then, if we're going to start criticizing unrealistic SF, every major SF author will have to stand in line.) Those who criticize this book seem to fall into two camps: 1) Don't like the science, e.g. "You call THIS science fiction? Doesn't OSC have any original ideas?" If you want wormholes and extensions of quantum dynamics, read a graduate physics text or any of numerous (and tiresome) SF authors who know a lot more about speculative physics than about human beings. 2. Don't like the fiction, e.g. "What a boring story! I could see the end from page 3!" Liar. Card explores the human psyche in a way few if any other SF authors, or authors of ANY genre, dare to. He willingly includes his sociological/philosophical/religious musings, without using a sledge hammer. Few authors open up to their audiences like this, and most of those who do expose little more than a soul cankered by cynicism and desperate for gratification at any price. Card makes the amazing statement that there really ARE some things that are sacred, and then builds stories around them. If my "review" has been somewhat less than informative regarding Ender's Game, that was intentional. Beg, borrow, or buy the book, and find out what all the fuss is about
Rating:  Summary: A great book, but not the best ever. Review: Many have given this book a 10, and written that it is the best ever. Other have given it 3's and written that is overly simplistic...
Well, they are both right. The book is a great read, especially for 9-14 year olds. It is also fairly simplistic in therms of plot. But the characters are great, and the rials and tribulations of Ender are fantastically written. I could not recommend this book enough for older children.
Adults should like this book as well, but the next book, Speaker For the Dead is much better for adults.
Rating:  Summary: A good entry level SF book Review: I enjoyed this book the first time I read it...When I was 11 years old. There was a good plot line and the writing was at such a level that I could understand it without becoming mired in "advanced" vocabulary. If you have a child or a relative 11-15 then this would be an interesting book to get them. For anyone else who happens to have more intelligence than the average 15 year old the word structure and plot line is too simplistic. I rate this at the same level as C.S. Lewis. A good beginner book
Rating:  Summary: Great but with plenty of flaws Review: A gripping read, BUT there are many flaws.
First, I object to Ender's unrealistic age.
NOT because of his intelligence. But because
physically no 6-11 yr. old is capable of doing
the things in the book. He's really more like
10 years older than he's supposed to be.
Even at age 25, I found it hard to believe in
Ender as a governor of a colony.
(Ironically, after a book worth of Ender as
as a youthful child, the next book makes him
practically immortal.)
Also I couldn't stand the Mormon subtext that
Card puts in the book (you've got to look VERY
close to see the sexism and the elitism).
Also, the language bothered me and prevented
me from giving this book to my child. (How many
times must Card use the word "bastard"???)
And some of the violence is very unnecessary.
I would have liked to re-edit this book for
Card yet another time and clean up all the flaws.
Also, the demise of Peter was oh so convenient.
And I always felt Peter was misunderstood.
Furthermore, the re-appearance of Mazar was so
very perdictable. One more re-write and this
book will rate a 10.
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