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Summary: Worthy of my favorite book
Review: I read this book 7 years ago and it has stuck with me to this day. I just recently realized that it was my favorite book and I reread it to figure out why. Orson Scott Card's writing style is smooth and easy, walking the reader through the story of Ender, up until the point of destroying the character and rebuilding him anew. It is a beautiful book.
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Summary: You won't be able to put this book down!!
Review: Orson Scott Card wrote a book about life and it's meaning. He sets it in the far away future where rules of the world have changed. The book was written way before computers and the internet and Scott Card talks about those things which were not even invented yet. You will get so involved with this book that you won't be able to put it down it's so good.
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Summary: For All Ages and For the Ages
Review: This is the masterpiece of one of the best science fiction and fantasy writers of all time. Orson Scott Card is the only writer whose work equals that of J. R. R. Tolkien for its emotional impact. Only the most obtuse of readers will not find this book remarkable. It is a very simple book, and can easily be read in a couple of days (or even in a single sitting), and yet the complexities of character are incredibly sophisticated. The loneliness felt by Andrew Wiggin is heart-rending, as is the feeling of betraying felt by Valentine when she cows to the military's request for aid with Ender. The fear felt by Ender towards his older and malicious brother is very believable, and I think it is telling that it is children who most often remark how close to home the bullying within this book hits. An often overlooked aspect of the book is the anguish felt by Graff and Anderson at what they are doing to this pre-adolescent child. They are well aware that they are potentially destroying a sensitive child of overwhelming decency, but they see their need (which is humanity's) as the overweening demand. Still, it hurts them immeasurably despite the necessity. More than any other book I have ever read, "Ender's Game" treats children like human beings. Card treats the child characters with respect, which not only makes them worthy of the reader's respect but also makes them much more real and believable. Lastly, while this book is a great book and immediately worthy of five stars, it is the ending (the genesis of the concept of Speaker for the Dead) that moves this from being a great book to an elite pantheon.
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Summary: Not Just A Novel...
Review: We've all seen Star Wars, the science fiction classic of the big screen. And many of us have also read Dune, thought to be one of the most famous sci-fi books in history. Both of those, Star Wars and Dune, led to what the Sci-Fi movies and novels of today are. Unfortunately, many times that means that new science fiction books are just repeats of the older ones, never seeming to break out of the stereotypical science fiction genre. But Ender's Game enters the genre marvelously, and redefines the stereotype of what sci-fi books should be.Ender's Game start's out as many science fiction books do, with the threat of a possible alien invasion to Earth. Now, with the threat of the third invasion, the world begins to train generals to command their fleet of spaceships and army's in the hopes of being able to fend of the attack. But that's where the similarity to any other books ends, as the new trainees for general are nothing more than children. That's right, children. The world sends it's smartest kids to train for war in an orbiting space station, known as Battle School, where the kids have lessons in everything from strategy to communication, fast thinking to actual combat training. The "students" participate in regular mock battles in a no gravity environment, to help them understand the art of war. Each student try's to get the most number of kills they can per battle, to raise their total score. But there's one student who surpasses them all. Little Ender Wiggin enters battle school at age six, but is quickly moved up, as he is the smartest kid in his launch group. Soon, he becomes the best student in the school, since his talents and ability's surpasses everyone else's. Simply put, he's the best. And he needs to be, as he'll find out as he grows up through tougher and tougher challenges. Ender's Game is one of those few books that show you something so strange and unreal, yet for some reason, inclines the reader to believe it. The situations that Battle School students face force the kids to act like adults, putting a sick twist on maturity. The children face adult problems, and therefore try to act like adults with naïve, childish views. It can almost be compared to Lord Of The Flies, in the way that the children are forced to act like adults, but still retain kid habits. Ender's Game is such a deep and indulging book to read, that once you finish it, you instantly buy or borrow its sequels. This novel, I believe, is the best book I have ever read, and if you read it, you'll know why.
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Summary: Very good, thought provoking book
Review: I finished this book last night and was still asking myself "What if something like this really happened?" I was thoroughly intrigued by this story and having to use children and their thoughts and plans to win a battle against an alien race that is absolutely nothing like humans. This story also had me thinking about how races relate to each other, with all the conflicts Ender had to deal with. This is a book I would recommend and that I will probably read again at a later date and get some other thoughts out of. A very enjoyable book that makes me want to read more about this amazing character.
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Summary: Intense and Grabbing
Review: Orson Scott Card is an absolute genius, as displayed in this book, along with Ender's Shadow. Those two books have become my favorite books, and I read them every so often- just pull them off the shelves and read them. I have heard there is another one about Bean, and look forward to reading it. Although there are other books in the "Ender Series," this book and Ender's Shadow, are the best. From the beginning, as a six-year old boy grabs your attention, you can't put the book down. My copy is worn at the edges, and the pages are dogeared. I have my favorite passages, and could probably go on forever raving about the book. Through to the end, it provides intense action and insights into Ender's mind as he plays his "games."
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Summary: Wow... what a book! What a series!
Review: Having never read an Orson Scott Card novel before and not being a particular fan of SciFi, I was doubtful when my daughter suggested I read it. But she insisted, and so I did-- in one sitting! I won't waste your time telling you about the plot. You can read the main review above, but after now having read several of Card's books, here are my thoughts. Some might disagree, but I think there's an order to reading these books: (1) Ender's Game - Don't read the teaser chapter for Shadow of the Hegemon if it's in your copy or it will spoil parts of Ender's Shadow. (2) Ender's Shadow - not next in the series (actually, not in the series) but read 'Shadow' while 'Game' is still fresh in your mind. (3) Speaker for the Dead - Part 2 of the series. (4) Xenocide - um, part 3. (5) Children of the Mind - well, this would be part 4. (6) Shadow of the Hegemon. Then, once you understand the workings of Card's mind and writing style, you might try 'Lost Boys' even though it is a completely different type of story. Just a thought. P.S. Don't ruin this book by reading all the reviews. Some of these reviewers don't understand it's impolite to give away the ending.
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Summary: Wonderful... For All the Right Reasons.
Review: Ender's Game is a wonderful work of science fiction. I'll leave the overall synopsis to the thousand or so other reviewers who've come first and focus on a few main points. It's imperative that the universe in which a scifi novel takes place be well developed. Card does a wonderful job of developing a world different and fascinating and yet so familiar. It's not hard to imagine, given the threat of alien invasion and the challenges faced in Ender's universe, the governments of the world developing such a battle school and strike first mentality as Card envisions. The tactics used to develop children into capable soldiers, while at first a shock to the senses, don't seem so much so as the novel progresses. Of course we feel for Ender as he faces various challenges, some threatening his very survival, but we never question the validity or plausibility of those challenges. That is the real beauty of this book. Card creates a very believable world and populates it with characters we genuinely care about... and we do care about Ender. In Ender, Card creates a wonderful mix of intelligence, innocence and strength. He's a child, not only tasked with saving the world, but doing so while struggling to retain not his innocence, but his very humanity. What is more interesting than watching a child, the very symbol of innocence, try and remain human as the pressures of a world terrified of invasion, desperate for a savior, weigh in upon him? Card's use of a child as the focal point in the timeless duty vs. personal morality struggle is simply wonderful. A beacon of light in a world full of serialized Dungeons and Dragons novels and video games turned books trash
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Summary: Here is the best book you'll ever read!
Review: I was first given this book in the seventh grade. I was mesmorized and finished in a night. Right after, I bought all the sequals and read them too. Since then I have read the book several times and have joined the Philotic web to talk with others who loved this book as well. Trust me. When you read this book you will love and most likely think it's the best book you have ever read.ENDER'S GAME ROCKS!
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Summary: MENTAL BOOT CAMP
Review: This is a very original, very thought-provoking book. Even halfway throught it, I could see why it got the Hugo and Nebula awards. The way the book is structured is very much like Pohl's Gateway, jumping back and forth between two seperate yet pertinent events. Don't let the front cover fool you, though. Most of the warfare in this book is psychological, which is a fresh departure from the norm. Not only are the characters and their actions/reactions interesting, they also make sense, too. At every page in this book you feel like YOU are Ender Wiggins, being slowly crushed by the ludicrous commands of his superiors. In that way, this book is like my title suggests--a mental boot camp. You will finish reading this novel and be a changed person. There is some humor in the book, as well as some really witty sayings--stuff that would make Yoda jealous. But the reason why I gave it one star is because the book is rather slow. Slow compared to the other 188 books I've read since 8th grade. The book is a little over 200 pages long, but more than half of that is strictly about Ender Wiggins in Battle School or Command School, fighting mock battles. I felt that OSC could have added another thread or two going through his work to make it read faster. But don't let the pacing scare you away. This book should be required reading and I'm very very glad that I read it.
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