Rating:  Summary: An unimaginably great book Review: In a world where a soldier of current day standards is no longer feasible, Ender has become enrolled in the boot camp of all time. This book is included in the category of books that when you read them, without even realizing it you feel more empathy for Ender than you ever thought imaginable. When Ender triumphs, you are overjoyed for him. When Ender is disheartened, you want to sleep for a week. Profoundly active in its implications of the future, Card writes as if this is a world drawn from an encyclopedia, while thrilling you with surprise plot twists, leaving you itching to read more and more. A must-read not only for teens, who will find this book amazing, but for all readers, Ender's Game will leave you hungering for more of the same genre. It is a guarantee that you won't put this book down until you've finished it.
Rating:  Summary: Absolutely perfect Review: When I started reading this book, I could not put it down. Literally. I read it at work, during breaks, during lunch, during work time by holding it under my desk. I read it at home, over breakfast, over dinner, during my favorite television programs. I finished it in two days, and it was worth every minute of lost sleep and then some. The novel is engrossing from the first page, a fascinating look at a future where exceptionally bright children are pegged at preschool age and groomed to be brilliant military commanders. Thankfully, Card lets his characters' actions describe their personalities, rather than filling the pages with needless exposition, so the end product is fast-paced yet simply lyrical in its delivery. A stunning novel that examines what it truly means to lead, to follow, and to be human, all seen through the eyes of genius adolescent. Fabulous for readers of all ages.
Rating:  Summary: The Story of Everychild. Review: Every child thinks he or she is the most intelligent creature who has ever lived. Ender is a child. The difference is that he really IS the most intelligent creature who has ever lived!Every child feels both challenged and enthralled by the prospect of growing up and becoming an acknowledged adult, and then feels betrayed when that acknowledgement turns out to have seemingly unfair strings attached. Ender is a child. The difference is that the strings really ARE unfair, and the betrayal he experiences will change him forever-- and, I promise, will change you the reader as well. Like the medieval drama Everyman, this book and this series take us beyond the story of an individual to the story of every individual who has ever lived, encapsulated in one remarkable and unforgettable character and his siblings. Like most people who like to think of themselves as experts, but aren't, I am much given to making up top five and top ten lists. (Regarding everything I come into contact with.) For years I had a top five list of science fiction works. Then I read Ender's Game and its sequel Speaker for the Dead. These connected and inseparable works were at least the equal of anything already in my list. The additional books in the series have done nothing to change that perception. Yet I was too attached to my Top Five list to displace anything in it. What to do? It became my Top Six list, and the Ender series is what forced me to change it. The moment when Ender realizes the enormity of the deception that has been perpetrated on him is one of the most powerful moments in all of literature. Someday Orson Scott Card, along with Ursula LeGuin, Frank Herbert, Vonda McIntyre, Alexei Panshin, and George R. R. Martin, will be admitted to the pantheon of Great Writers and the limiting and derogatory phrase 'of Science Fiction' will be dropped forever.
Rating:  Summary: Breaking the System Review: I'm not a big fan of science fiction. Actually, I shuddered away from it. The thought of reading about quantum physics, mechanics, psionic anything or disrupted quazars made me shudder. Reading was supposed to be for relaxation---not bashing you for your next science lesson. But my brother handed me Ender's Game anyway. He insisted I would like it (Perhaps because he notices my resemblance to Ender? j/k of course not...I'm no genius.) I was really preparing to go to sleep so I thought that reading it would help. Instead of helping I didn't get to sleep at all until my mother insisted me to. I LOVED it. It didn't bash you about your next science lesson (the science there was at least comprehendable...)and the introduction grabbed me right away ^_^ He sounded so--intelligent and so logical. He also has a rhythm to keep a sentence sound flowing. The next day I was telling my brother, "He sounds so intelligent!" And then I continued on to Ender's Game. The story itself is superb! What if children did think like that? And those incidents do happen. Those that are gifted or at least have something other people don't are usually hurt one way or another because of it...There are people like those in Battle School. Even though set in the future this book is a remarkable reflection of our society today. Not to mention how they keep the human emotions intact. They didn't become demi-gods just because of what time they are in. This book is quite deep and profound. I'd recommend it to anyone just as long as they don't take the words SCIENCE FICTION to heart while they read this book. Don't rate a book by it's genre, rate it by how it was written. Frankly, Ender's Game seems like a different genre from SF, an inch away from it. I hope you get to read it! And the following books after it as well! ^_^
Rating:  Summary: the psychology of it all Review: I don't normally read sci-fi (although I do watch it:) and I found this book to be more of an advanced read than I expected of a Sci-fi. Also, it is more captivating than Card's "Lost Boys" which I read about a year ago and found a bit simplistic. What was most interesting about this to me was the psychology of the book. The development of the prodigy, the training and techniquest that were used to challenge him to be what they wanted him to be, the character's perception of that "manipulation"... It was great! If you liked Starship Troopers you'll like this book as there were some similar themes between that movie and this book: psychology, preception, propaganda/training, invading space bugs... All in all, I found it to be an entertaining book that had deeper meaning. I hope to whiz right through the series!
Rating:  Summary: One of the great books Review: I have an eight-year-old son. When he's about 12, I will ask him to read this. I've read it three times now, and will read it again. Excellence is remarkable, but Ender's rise to greatness by taking responsibility for mare than himself reminds me a lot of "Dune." I recommend also "Songmaster," one of his lesser-known books, and "Saints The latter helped me to understand the Mormons; the former helped me to understand friendship. Read every book Card has wrtten, if you can. I'm working on it, and have not yet been disappointed.
Rating:  Summary: Ender as Marcus Aurelius Review: Six-year old protagonist, Andrew Wiggin, "Ender," is one of the most brilliant people ever born. His birth was predicted by scientist/king makers/politicans who were monitoring his gene pool, i.e., his equals in intellect but "flawed" older brother and sister. Monitored since his birth to see if he could live up to his destiny of becoming the most brilliant leader the world has ever produced, Ender seems to have the rare combination that the king makers/politicans/scientists were looking for: brilliance with compassion and heart, but a need that superceeds any compassion or ambivalence (heart), a need to always, but always, to win! Why? The world needs just such a person to lead the military in facing the third inter-gallactic war with the extra-terrestrial "buggers," the enemy. Or what? Or the Earth maybe in danger of becoming instinct. What makes "Ender's Game" the most entertaining, exciting and gratifying book to read is that it is not just a story of a battle with aliens, but a book of MEDITATION on what it is to be born a gifted human being, what it is to be someone who has the responsibility of the whole world on one's shoulders and must rise to the challenge of one's destiny. And what a challenge that is. There is enough to crumble a grown person but a six-year old child? The writer, Orson Scott Card, in forging Ender's inner constitution, intentionally or not, leads him and therefore the readers, through the peripathetic steps of the classic Stoic school of thinking of the real life military leader, Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius (AD 121-180). Marcus Aurelisu spent an entire life seeking wisdom and meditating on what it meant to be the kind of GREAT LEADER that in his case, in real life, he self-manifested to become. He was born a leader, but he made himself a GREAT ONE by self-examinations and seeking wisdom and greatness, like our fictional hero Ender. A brief intro to Stoicism: The Stoics believed that their philosophy on life should be to "strive after wisdom." Wisdom in turn was defined as "the knowledge of things divine and human"--"Ender's Game," sequel "Speaker for the Dead," deals with such issues, so I have been told, I have yet to read the sequel. Knowledge was then divided into three branches: Logic; Physics; Ethics, all of the areas that Ender struggles with as those of you who have read "Ender's Game," already know. Whether you are a CEO, a soldier or general, or even a megalomaniac, or whether you want to be these things, read this book. Or better yet, don't read this book because those who have the information have the power, and maybe I don't want to share this book with you. Just kidding. Since the logic and language is clear and clearly descriptive, even if you are not a sci-fi fan, this book is extremely entertaining to read. And if you are a Sci-fi fan, if you have not read it, then you are missing out on maybe the best book since "Do Androids dream of electric sheep."
Rating:  Summary: Best book I have ever read! Review: This has to be the best book I have ever read, I just got done ordering the other 4 books in the set, becasue this is such a good book. A must read for anyone!
Rating:  Summary: Captured the mind of a child scientist Review: I read Ender's Game when I was about 12 years old and was ready to build a Battle School (the place where Ender learns strategy). I just re-read the book and I found lots of weaknesses that I didn't see as a child. In this book, and more so in the next, it is amazing how little technology advances in thousands of years. Card is focused on people interactions and skips predicting what the future will be like. Overall, a captivating story about a boy and human interaction with new life, not about a prediction of the future.
Rating:  Summary: Forget Sci-fi, this is a lesson in leadership Review: Good vs. Evil? Action and Plot? Aliens and Spaceships? Battlerooms and Politics? Yes, yes, yes and yes. But set aside the elements that make this book a fun piece of Sci-fi. The scenes that absolutely captivated me were the ones illustrating the many techniques Ender used to lead those around him. There were bullies, introverts, rejects, prodigies and even superiors (the adults) and Ender has to find a way to successfully lead them all. He chooses to physically punish some while treating others with kindness and understanding. He is a master teacher and born leader. Which is why he is the chosen to save the human race. While I enjoyed the action and the plot, it is the lesson in leadership that makes Ender one of my all-time favorite characters. Card has created a wonderful vehicle to carry a very worthwhile message - a message CEOs, managers and even the average Joe would do well to heed. If you one day hope to call yourself a leader, in any capacity, read this book. Forget that it is sci-fi and appreciate it for what it says about social interaction and the enormous amount of wisdom and strength required to become a truly great leader.
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