by First Mate Keira, guest reviewer
Title: Ender’s Game
Author: Orson Scott Card
Narrators: Stefan Rudnicki, Harlan Ellison
Format: Unabridged Audio Book
# CDs + Minutes: 9 CDs (11 hours, 11 minutes)
Grade Reading Level: 9th Grade
Summary: In a near-future society, the human race is in a war against the buggers, a hostile alien race, who nearly won twice in two wide scale confrontations against humankind. Fearing a third invasion, a system was put in place to discover and train child prodigies in the art of war. This system found Ender Wiggin, and set a course for him unlike any other kid that has gone before. Is Ender the general humankind desperately needs?
Meanwhile a second (side) plot revolves around Earth, Ender's siblings, and it's three separate governing bodies. The Hegemon, Strategos, and Polemarch, all struggle for supreme control and threaten humankind on the home front. Peter and Valentine are determined to make the world over in their image and work to achieve this through the "Nets" to influence how the masses think. Are two kids capable of achieving that sort of influence?
Why I Started This Book:
I can name approximately half a dozen boys over the last several years telling me I had to read this book. It was essential, a must read! I caved. Got it in audio format, because I’m grooving it right now and settled in for the long haul. I now have to apologize to the first five guys who said to read it and I ignored. Great book!
Likes:
- Orson’s style of writing. It’s obviously a style meant to be read aloud; in fact audio format is the best version to meet this book and is something the author mentioned at the end of CD #9.
- Orson’s writing is very evocative. You see pictures and feel emotions and think thoughts as if you were a part of the book itself.
- Battle School is fantastic. I loved it when Ender finally goes up in rank and starts commanding. The mock battles are some of my absolute favorite moments.
- The surprising twist at Command School. It was an ending I did not expect it. I liked it even more when Orson took the story further and explained the aftermath. That too did not go how I pictured it might. Frankly, I was expecting that Ender was going to have to watch out for Peter.
Dislikes:
- Very little. I was going to say the graphic nature of some of the fights or the violence but as Orson pointed out in his ramble at the end of the CD #9 the language is in fact very plain. All graphic nature is rendered through the reader.
Last Minute Thoughts: It’s definitely a book for boys as it deals on many fronts issues boys face more often than girls such as bullying and warfare. Ender also goes through a crisis of identity of self. He does not want to be a killer (or hurt others) but is forced to become one. I think the following quote explains this very well:
Unlike his brother, Ender does not take pride in destroying others and commits this action because he is often pushed into situations which demand physical defense. This portrayal and situation in the novel justifies Ender's actions. (Nick M. on Amazon.com)
I am glad I came to this book now instead of earlier in my life. I don’t think I would have appreciated it then. I do now. It’s terrific! I’m giving the audio book to my dad and telling him to listen to it. He’s on CD #2 and loves it so far.
Buy: Ender's Game (Unabridged Audio Book)
, Ender's Game (Paperback)
, The Ender Quartet Box Set (Ender's Game, Speaker for the Dead, Xenocide, Children of the Mind)
Find books by Orson Scott Card on ebay.
Book Rating: 5 Treasure Chests.
Keira runs a book review blog for readers by readers on romance novels entitled Love Romance Passion. She’s been reading romance since she was in her teens and began blogging about romance so she could share her passion for her favorite genre. She loves reading paranormal, Regency, historical America, and highlander most of all and completely adores blind and wounded heroes.
Originally posted 2009-10-30 03:09:28.
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6 comments ↓
I like what you have done to the website it looks fantastic
Thanks Cellofreak. What type of books do you like to read?
I absolutely love this book. Have you read the extended series? It actually branches out in two directions. I read the whole series at least once a year and a half
Not yet.
I was told to start Ender’s Shadow next even though it’s the first in Bean’s story not the second in Ender’s. Do you agree?
I was told Ender’s continuing story is more adult than YA and that Bean’s stays pretty YA.
I got Ender’s Shadow in audio from the library recently and plan to start it soon.
Either start with Ender’s Shadow or with Speaker for the Dead… the series branches off into two directions (Ender’s Shadow, Shadow of the Hegemon, Shadow Puppets —OR— Speaker for the Dead, Xenocide, Children of the Mind) The shadow branch follows Bean’s story, the speaker branch follows Ender’s story. I liked the speaker branch more – but they’re both excellent. And yes, I do think the speaker branch is more adult – but there are certainly YA aspects to it.
You can’t go wrong either way
I just finished reading this book after several recommendations from friends, and like you, I wish I had picked it up earlier when it was first recommended. So good!
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