Ender's Game

I hadn't picked up a sci-fi/fantasy book in over 15 years before I went looking to have something to read while on vacation. When I was younger I mostly read Dragonlance and Star Wars books. While browsing on Amazon I came across this book due to the number of positive reviews and the story being based around futuristic space combat. I have to say this has been one of the best and easiest to read books I have ever opened. Once you pick the book up it's difficult to put down. I finished reading it in less than two days and wished it'd been another 300 pages longer once I'd flipped over the last page. I won't go through the summary of the book since this has been done in countless reviews so I'll just add my thoughts on points of the book that stick out to me. One of the biggest positives for me was the ease of reading of the book. I don't remember having to re-read any sentences in the book to grab the meaning and I didn't even notice myself turning the pages as I read. There wasn't a bunch of characters to keep up with and the side characters were written in a way that they were easily identifiable when they showed up each time in the book. One reason for this is the book stays mostly focused on Ender's point of view and doesn't try to write a point of view for each friend/enemy he comes across. The ending has two twists that I thought fit very well with the story and unfortunately I ruined one of them for myself by reading too many Amazon reviews and reviews of other books in the series. Without spoiling it for someone else I will say I really liked how the author used the dream sequence throughout the book and tied a meaning to it near the end. Something I found different about this book compared to the books I'd read as a kid was the books I was used to reading had an adult/adults protagonist and antagonist. The protagonist of the book starts out at 6 years old but acts like and is written more as an adult. It took a few chapters of reading to suspend disbelief of this concept and treat the character as a special case (The author on countless occasions makes sure you remember the age of the characters). The book makes references to Ender and his siblings being "special" but doesn't go into detail whether it's through genetic manipulation or something else; only that his parents were authorized to have a third child when the first two didn't pan out (couples by law weren't allowed more than two children). His two siblings are also written more like adults than kids and end up manipulating world politics in their pre-teen years. The main character is also portrayed as having ruthless fighting tactics which was hard to picture for a 6 year old hero (or maybe I should say anti-hero) character. His fights weren't knocking someone out, rendering them unconscious or blooding someone's nose but to permanently put kids (close to his own age) out of commission. The writer tries to justify this by dropping the hero in "odds stacked against him" situations but it's still hard picturing a 6 year old launching killing maneuvers against other kids less than ten years of age; regardless what they did to him. The ending to the book wraps up a little abruptly and due to one of the twists near the end there isn't much suspense built up when the climax of the book comes. I haven't yet decided if I'll read the other books in the series. From reading reviews of those books they don't appear to live up to the first in the series and the writing style seems to be more about political and social issues as opposed to interstellar war. Overall I highly recommend this book to anyone that likes science fiction/fantasy and especially futuristic fiction.

Ender's Game, a science fiction novel by Orson Scott Card, is a grandly written and stylish story that asks if any is truly innocent and who is the real bad guy. This story is told mostly through the eyes of the protagonist Andrew Wiggins (nicknamed Ender) and partially through the perspective of his loving older sister Valentine. Ender is a devilishly intelligent 3rd child in the near future after most of the human population has been destroyed by a war in space with an alien species nicknamed Buggers. Ender has been chosen by those in his government to become the savior of humankind by becoming the young commander of their fleet to protect humanity from the buggers. As this book progresses and Ender is put through more and more tests and training he begins to question whether he is the hero or the villain of the story. This questioning becomes one of the biggest themes of the novel. Ender's Game is a greatly written and Orson is one of the few writers who can capture how maniacal and brutish children really can be. Ender's Game is truly in a league of its own when it comes to teen science fiction novels. Throughout Ender's Game Orson Scott Card was able to make the character of Ender easily connected to and one of the ways he did this was through Enders fear of who he is and what he is becoming. This is a fear that many people, children and adults sometimes worry over and through this fear readers could easily connect with Ender. One of the times Ender showed his fear of himself was in the beginning of the book after he had badly injured a classmate of his who had been bullying him, "Ender leaned his head against the wall of the corridor and cried until the bus came. I am just like Peter. Take my monitor away, and I am just like Peter," (Card 8). Peter was Enders older brother and very evil to everyone he felt was weaker than him and he couldn't get something from. Peter hated his brother, but has always been afraid of becoming like him, a feeling many can comply to. The other way Orson made Ender so easy to be connected to was his style of writing the thought pattern of Ender. Unlike many other authors before him who gave young protagonist an innocent and baby like mind, Orson dared to make Ender a meticulous and cunning boy, even though he wasn't even 14 by the end of the book. Ender was a character that unlike those before him seemed more real and alike those young, intelligent children out there who faked their sweetness. This made Ender all the more real and easy to connect to. This can be best seen near the end of a fight scene near the middle of the book "Ender knew that at this moment he might be able to walk out of the room and end the battle. The way ha had escaped from the battleroom after drawing blood. But the battle would only be fought again. Again and again until the will to fight was finished. The only way to end things completely was to hurt Bonzo enough that his fear was stronger than his hate," (Card 211). This cold, calculating and meticulous side of Ender was so truthful and dark that it reminded the reader that children are not really innocent. At least not today. They can be dark and controlling and ulterior reasons for everything. Even at first, this side of Ender doesn't seem right for a child, but readers who really think back to their childhood can remember moments when they thought like this, connecting them and Ender even more. Ender's Game was beautifully written and gave a great insight into a dark world through the eye of a child. It didn't stop to try to tell a story about a boys mind like normally; rather it slashed through those norms and gave the true grit of who Ender was. Because of the way Orson wrote this story, readers are able to see a more truthful world and he's respected for that. With his writing style Orson seemed to connect Ender to everyone, giving him the definite right to win both the Hugo award and the Nebula. Orson Scott Card was able to write such a raw and powerful story that it needs to be bought, before the buggers get to it first!

Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game details humanity fighting for its place in the universe against a force they don't understand. The intelligence of younger generations is honed and seen as their only hope of salvation. That hope soon forms itself into a small boy called Ender, who must deal with the weight of the people of Earth on his shoulders. The Summary Andrew "Ender" Wiggin is a young boy of six when he is recruited to go to battle school. He leaves behind his compassionate and intelligent sister Valentine and his malevolent-genius brother Peter, not to mention parents that play little role in his life. At battle school, he endures training meant to prepare him to save the human race from the alien Buggers, with whom humanity is at war. Through various trials, Ender is faced with hardship and overcomes each problem with a cunning solution. As Ender ages, the Bugger war advances, and it becomes more apparent that humanity is counting on him as a savior. Also revealed is the extent to which Ender's life has been manipulated. The book comes to a crescendo when Ender is in his early teens. He and the friends he has made at battle school must put to the test what they have learned in order to prepare for saving humanity - if they can make it in time. My Thoughts Ender is an admirable main character that you can't help but root for. Again and again, he is forced to deal with things that no one should deal with, much less a little boy. Time after time, though, he comes through. The intelligence of children in this future world scenario is a very good thing to hope for. If only our children become the smarter and quicker of our race, then we will keep advancing. The book is dull to me at some points because of all the military influence. It isn't bad, but I have a distaste for anything that involves military references. I know that armies and such are often great things, I just often don't care to read about them. The "big reveal" in the book is surprising, but I half-expected it to happen. Others that have read the book I know have reported that it was stunning and amazing, but it did not leave me baffled. It was a very good twist, nonetheless. I would recommend Ender's Game based on a number of things. It is a good book, well written and marvelously put together. It is an excellent sci-fi tale and takes a great look at humanity and our future. I would advise people that this is definitely a book worth reading, but reserve the right to say that it will effect everyone differently. I also think it has a different effect on males, as they have the experience of growing up as a little boy, whereas I do not. For more book reviews, visit [...]

I had some very high expectations going into Ender's Game. The novel has been decorated with several awards including the Nebula in 1985, and the Hugo in 1986. To this very day it is considered one of the most intellectual and revered science fiction novels of all time. So needless to say, it has some very big shoes to fill. After reading Ender's Game I can safely say that it not only lives up to all its praise, but it's also one of my favorite books of all time. The future depicted by Orson Scott Card is a frightening one. Humankind has been under siege by a mysterious breed of insect life-forms, crudely dubbed "Buggers" out of sheer terror. After barely surviving two catastrophic invasions by the Buggers, the world is under constant military martial law out of the fear of a third invasion. The military's one and only trump card for surviving the second invasion was the strategic prowess of Mazer Rackham. Due to his example, the military has made it their top priority to find promising new tactical geniuses and train them at a very young age. This is done by monitoring their every action and progress via devices placed in their necks. The atmosphere in Orson's vision of the future is very reminiscent of a totalitarian government, exercising its power by monitoring and controlling the population. The difference here is that these measures have been taken out of fear and desperation for the very survival and preservation of the human race. Which brings up an over-arcing theme that I found in Ender's Game. When the Buggers attacked, they didn't break our spirit or morale. They struck deeper, they destroyed our sense of humanity. The leaders are more then happy to sacrifice the childhood and overall happiness of children for the sake of the human race. To steal a quote from Mr. Spock, "the needs of the many, outweigh the few." What's really disturbing about this is that we'd all most likely turn a blind eye towards their heinous acts if this was reality, it's horrible but it's unfortunately true. Yet the quote is really put to the test in this book. This brings me to the focus of Ender's Game: Ender himself. Orson Scott Card has been described as a very strong character driven author, focusing more on the individual's problems and how they solve them. In this case, it's a little boy with the fate of the world resting on his shoulders, no pressure. The protagonist Ender Wiggin is easily one of the most well realized and unique characters that I've ever seen in literature. From the very beginning, the military recognizes Ender as the genius child who has the wisdom and tactical knowledge needed to defeat the Buggers and ultimately save humanity from annihilation. Because of this, he is given the option to leave his family and join Battle School, an orbital station in space. There he is to learn to become a soldier and if he plays his cards right, will eventually discover what it takes to become a leader. At the same time though, he must contend with the harassment of the other children and the administration constantly putting the odds against him. One thing I quickly learned about Ender's Game is that this isn't some typical inspirational underdog story. From the very beginning to the very end, both the reader and the officers in charge know that Ender is the best there is. He showcases his superiority through his deep evaluation of people's mannerisms, strengths, weaknesses, and overall state of mind. Another large example is his tendencies early on to befriend people for the sake of forging alliances that he can call upon. Nearly every move Ender makes has some ulterior motive behind it. At times, it's quite disturbing to see these kinds of dark thoughts coming from a mere child. Which brings me to another point. As the story progresses and as he deals with more inhumane harassment from the senior officers and the other children; the child inside Ender slowly begins to die. His childhood slowly fades away, until there's nothing left but a cold leader of men. The exact leader that the military needs Ender to be. Yet you'll constantly be asking "was it worth it?" The supporting characters are also very well realized thanks to Mr. Card's prowess. The most interesting ones were Ender's siblings Valentine and Peter. The relationship between these three characters was very unique; the two of them acting as personifications of Ender's personality. Both Valentine and Peter were turned down as Battle School candidates for differing reasons. Valentine was to compassionate and humane, while Peter was to cruel and heartless. Ender fits in the middle of the spectrum, possessing their strengths but neither of their shortcomings. He possesses the kindness of his sister, but not the hesitation and mercy. From Peter, he possesses the will to destroy his adversaries, but not for pleasure and sport, instead he does it for self-defense. This causes Ender to constantly fear that he may one day become like his brother if he continues down the wrong path. Ender's Game is truly worthy of all of its acknowledgement and easily stands up today. It's a truly entertainment and thought-provoking science fiction story that makes you think and question our own humanity.

Being a first-time reader of Ender's Game at the age of 26 (perhaps late to the party), I soon came to find that this book is not by any means easy to put down. In fact, I read most of it between customers at work on my iPhone. I recall reading sci-fi quite a bit when I was in junior high and high school, but most of the novels I read were just expansions on already popular film works such as Star Trek, Star Wars, Aliens, etc. None of those were particularly memorable in having a great degree of depth, but the stories were still enjoyable. That being said however, Ender's Game is far more than just a science fiction novel. Unlike other books in the sci-fi genre, I felt compelled to pay close attention to every detail. I'm actually glad I picked it up now that I'm older and able to comprehend the complexity of emotion and ideas present in such a book--a feat which I'm sure would come at a much younger age for Ender himself. From the very first page, it's obvious that Colonel Graff is the "bad guy", until you later come to realize that in this book, such terms make about as much sense as floating in nullo gravity. In fact, Card's entire description of the like combined with his emphasis on the reorientation and breaking down of a young, impressionable mind through such tactics as surrounding Ender with enemies, constantly moving and pushing him, forcing him into positions that demand the most of abilities he is still too naive to realize are within him--much as he may deny them--all of it creates a constant tension. What you eventually discover about the story itself is that this tension provides just enough gravity by which to anchor the reader down before hurling you into the Battle Room, where you must then abolish your preconceived notions of what it means to be good or evil and right or wrong. In Ender's Game, these ideas are frequently challenged, frequently protested, but always justified. Everything depends on Ender's abilities as much as his willingness to continue. Whether the imminent destruction of Earth will occur or not is irrelevant to him. What matters most is his personal desire for love, happiness, and comfort, yet even these are often stripped away as inconsequential--be they from higher authority or at rare points, even by Ender himself--when it comes to his deep underlying NEED, above all, to UNDERSTAND--and therefore LOVE, in its highest form--that which he hates most. Sometimes, it is himself he hates the most. Sometimes it is Graff, other times it's the enemy of the chapter or scene. Stilson, Bonzo, Rose the Nose, etc. From any perspective you view it however, he is constantly learning and understanding more about himself as much as he understands the system. That's his journey. He knows that he entered the Battle School willingly, perhaps in order to understand himself, though he may grow to hate it. In this way, it should have been clear to him from the start that it is meant to crush him. Because he strives to understand things, because at heart he is pure. He wants to learn, to understand, and to love. But he will also crush that which he loves if he allows himself to be pushed by the wrong people. Ender is easily manipulated because of his willingness and desire to understand, and in this way, he perhaps retains a bit of his childhood innocence. He is not completely naive however, and his most brutal actions are either committed out of frustration in not being able to understand or not being able to communicate on the same level--this is consequentially the same plight the Formics faced in their first dealings with the human race, and so it comes as no surprise that Ender is able to relate to them. Above all, it hits on some age-old questions. Why can't we communicate with each other? Why can we not understand? And is it sometimes futile to attempt to understand? For when you believe you have the answer to everything, it's not always so obvious as you thought. Can evil actions be justified in the name of self-preservation and war? What happens to soldiers when the war and its intensity are over, how can they re-adjust from such a grueling life, and how can they live with the lives they have taken? There are many questions this book both asks and answers, and of course such answers will all depend on how you are able to reorient yourself in a zero-gravity environment. This book has made me look at life and human interaction in a very different way, and despite that I may not agree with the author's personal views, I can sure appreciate his talent in crafting such a great story...especially one that renews and strengthens my own desire to both understand and love that which I've hated most. I was absolutely obsessed with this story, and I'll definitely be purchasing the rest in the series.

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card (Now a Major Motion Picture) By Alexander Casillas Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card is an exhilarating fast paced steep into the future of tactical space combat and the troubled life of a young soon to be Admiral of Earth’s greatest defense weapon, the International Fleet. Years prior to the story there was an invasion of Earth that sealed a bond between the countries of the world. After eighty years the bond that was once strong is starting to shred and the scraps it is becoming are being tested with every passing day. In its prime the bond gave the humans of Earth a fighting chance in their defense against the alien foe known only as the Buggers. After the successful defense of the planet the International Fleet started taking measures to ensure that the Earth was safe from any future assaults. The Second Invasion came and went, but still the International Fleet is unsatisfied. Ender Wiggin is a Third in a world where parents are only permitted two children, with few exceptions. Though he is a very lonely Third, Ender is an extremely intelligent six year old on his way to finishing his basic training on Earth when he is whisked away from his family and launched into orbit by Colonel Graff to train in the renowned Battle School. Upon entering Battle School Ender is socially isolated from the members of his team and the members of all of the other teams. He doesn’t let his isolation stop him in the slightest as he proves his worth in class and in the competitive team based battle game of the Battle Room. After years of battles and endless torment from his superiors and other soldiers alike Ender is assigned to command his own army, Dragon Army, comprised of a ragtag group of outcast veterans and inexperienced launchies. Though the infamous name holds an inevitable season losing streak Ender works his tactical mind and turns his downcast team into a superpower that works its way up to the top of the Battle Room roster. After proving himself a worthy candidate for Admiral of the International Fleet he is promoted to Command School on a once bugger-infested asteroid called Eros where he becomes the apprentice of the greatest war hero from the Second Bugger War, Mazer Rackham. During his apprenticeship Ender conducts fleets of starships in simulation battles to prepare himself for the his greatest task: To make it impossible for the Buggers to ever attack Earth again. Throughout the entire story Ender is continually pushed to his limits and his grasp on his mental and physical stability wears down until he is left questioning everything and everyone. As Ender fights for peace in zero gravity his brother and sister, the First and Second children of his family, stay very much grounded on Earth fighting for the salvation of the peace between the nations through the use of a couple of pseudonyms and many articles and debates in political forums. This part of the story takes up a much smaller portion of the book, but it is a nice treat that strengthens that storyline and the world that Orson Scott Card creates. This story pays a great deal of attention on the character and personality of Ender. It has a strong emphasis on why Ender makes the choices he does rather than the choices alone, and the why is often the more important factor in the story and in life in general. I like how this story promotes a lot of character analysis, and how it offers a great deal of political and military tactical reasoning. The futuristic world Orson Scott Card makes is very creative, well thought out, and easily believable. It simply feels real. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. The character and world building is impeccable, and the plot is so tight and complete that there is an answer to everything in the end.

In the aftermath of the Bugger Wars, Earth’s International Fleet searches for the chosen one who will lead them to victory in one final battle against the alien invaders. Due to the extreme physical and psychological toll this mission will take on the one leading them into battle, the I.F. has set up a battle school to train up a generation of the planet’s most deadly… *checks notes*… children. Enter Andrew “Ender” Wiggin. Ender is not your stereotypical military leader. For one thing, he is only six years old. However, he is also physically unimpressive, scared, and friendless. Despite all these obstacles, Ender possesses two great strengths: his strategically-inclined mind, and his empathetic heart. Will these two traits be enough to help Ender overcome his considerable disadvantages? The fate of the world may depend on that very answer. Ender’s Game is a young adult sci-fi novel that transcends its target demographic with ease. Card’s willingness to ask his small protagonists big questions gives Ender’s Game an appeal to readers of all ages, not just middle and high school students. Card thoughtfully weaves in themes of free will vs. destiny, desire vs. duty, and whether the ends justify the means to great effect. These themes are fleshed out in a way that made me forget I was reading a book intended for students half my age. In addition to being thoughtful, Ender’s Game is just plain fun. Who knew that an intergalactic battle school could be such an exciting setting? Ender is constantly moving from battle to battle to existential dread to battle, with hardly any room to breathe in between. This makes for an action-packed and engaging read from cover to cover. Onto the two aspects of the book that didn’t work for me. Firstly, the adults in this book are all dreadfully boring. Most chapters begin with a private conversation between two of the military brass. Largely, I thought these conversations were not very insightful. They occasionally provided additional context to the plot of the book, but ninety percent of them could have been left out, and I wouldn’t have missed a thing. Secondly, the third act felt rushed. Card sets up so many interesting subplots that don’t ever feel resolved. An extra fifty pages on the back end of the novel to wrap up Peter’s relationship with Ender and Valentine, and some additional time spent with Ender as he processes all that he has been through would have gone a long way. But hey, I guess that’s what sequels are for. In a word, Ender’s Game was exciting. There was no point where I wondered whether I should continue reading. From the point Ender arrives at battle school, I had a hard time even putting the book down to get some sleep. Some will accuse this book of being beneath them; a book for students with rudimentary philosophical ideas and low standards for literature. To those people, I would say, “Don’t be such a fart-eater.” 4.5/5 Stars

Plot: It is the future. Earth has survived an attack from an insectile alien race - barely. Population control laws are in effect. Families are limited to 2 children. Young children are monitored to see if they have military potential, and those that show promise at an early age are whisked away to train in the military's Battle School, in the hopes that by the time they reach adulthood, they will possess the necessary skills to defend the Earth, if the aliens - "buggers" - ever return. Andrew "Ender" Wiggin is a rare third child in his family. His older brother and sister showed intellectual promise, but his brother was too ruthless and his sister too compassionate to qualify for Battle School. So the Wiggin parents were permitted a third chance to produce a military prodigy. And they succeeded. Ender is whisked away to Battle School at the ripe old age of 6. The School, located on a space station orbiting the Earth, is populated by military officers and child prodigies. Ender is one of the youngest. And these are not your average children. They train daily in space military tactics, weaponry, and combat. Although they are all at an age that we associate with Dora, Spongebob, and Hannah Montana, these kids are nothing like the children currently roaming your local elementary school hallway. They are calculating, intuitive, sometimes ruthless, always dangerous. One of the main focuses of the School is the battleroom, where the children are equipped with special suits and laser guns that allow them to fight each other in zero-gravity. On Ender's first trip to the battleroom, it becomes quickly apparent that he is a cut above the other students. Some of his peers respect this. Some are threatened by it. And as Ender works his way up through the ranks of Battle School, his teachers take notice, and wonder if perhaps Ender is the child they've been waiting for. The child who can change everything. The child who can save Earth. Why I Love It: Don't let the summary throw you off. Ender's Game may be a book about children, but it is by no means a book for children. The children in this book are nothing like how we picture children (as the mother of an almost-6-year-old, I can say this pretty definitively). Everything about this book is aimed at an adult audience. Ender's Game is not a thriller or adventure story, although some of the battleroom scenes are exciting. More than anything, it's an examination of the mind of Ender Wiggin, the culture he lives in, and a world under military rule. And it's all fascinating. Mr. Card writes Ender in a way that while you understand he is just a child, you can still be awed, chilled, and amazed at his thoughts and actions. As a matter of fact, all of the characters are interesting and intriguing, from his friends at the Battle School, to his sociopath brother Peter, to the Commander of the Battle School, Colonel Graff. There is a twist at the end of Ender's Game. You may see it coming; you may not. I did, but it didn't lessen my enjoyment of the book one bit. The fact that I have read this book over and over again, in spite of knowing the twist ending, speaks to the strong writing of the rest of the book. The book doesn't exist just to throw you off at the end. The book exists to make you think, to draw you completely into the character of Ender, and to absorb you in the science-fiction world he lives in.

La historia es increíble, nos introduce a un mundo que fue azotado por una especie alienígena, y se ha levantado nuevamente para asegurarse de que no vuelva a suceder un ataque similar. Nos presentan a Ender, el protagonista, que ya no les diré más por que deben leerlo.

There is a reason Ender’s Game is considered a classic of the genre. The world-building is seamless, and the concept of Battle School—training child geniuses through high-stakes games to save humanity—is addictive from page one. ​The pacing is perfect. I loved watching Ender evolve from a bullied six-year-old into a master tactician. The way Card describes the tactics and the 'Mind Game' computer simulation is years ahead of its time. Even if you aren't a huge sci-fi fan, the character development of Ender and his siblings, Peter and Valentine, provides a grounded, human core to the interstellar conflict. I couldn't put it down!

Zwei Invasionen durch die Formics musste die Erde bereits ertragen und nur dank des militärischen Genies des Commanders Mazer Rackham konnte die Vernichtung der Menschheit im Zuge der zweiten Invasion verhindert werden. Doch Rackhams Heldentat liegt 80 Jahre zurück und die dritte Invasion könnte jederzeit über die Welt hereinbrechen. Der Beinahe-Untergang der Menschheit hat die Menschheit zwar zur Gründung der International Fleet (IF) geführt, doch längst nicht alle Konflikte auf Erden vergessen gemacht. Um Überbevölkerung zu bekämpfen musste in fast allen Ländern eine Zwei-Kind-Politik durchgesetzt werden. Um Russland hat sich ein zweiter Warschauer Pakt formiert und Englisch wurde wieder zur internationalen Standardsprache. Trotz aller Zerwürfnisse werden Kinder aus allen Herren Länder auf ihr Potential untersucht der nächste Mazer Rackham zu werden. So auch der Third Andrew 'Ender' Wiggin, dessen hochbegabte Geschwister bereits von der IF abgelehnt wurden... - Ein unerwarteter Erfolg - Ähnlich wie sich die IF-Führung im Roman nicht sicher sein konnte, dass das dritte Kind von John Paul und Theresa Wiggin nach dem sadistischen Peter und der barmherzigen Valentine nicht nur deren Intellekt sondern auch die ideale Mischung aus den Charakterzügen beider Geschwister besitzen, so konnte auch Orson Scott Card nicht geahnt haben, welcher Erfolg 'Ender's Game' beschieden sein würde. 'Ender's Game' entstand mehr aus Zufall wie Autor Orson Scott Card im Vorwort gesteht und dem Vorwort zur Fortsetzung 'Speaker of the Dead' noch einmal untermauert hat. Das Buch bestand zunächst nur aus der Idee des Battleroom und dem Training der jungen Rekruten in einer schwerelosen Umgebung. Dass es überhaupt zustande kam ist der glücklichen Fügung zu verdanken, dass Card beim Abschluss des Vertrages zu 'Speaker of the Dead' bereits bezweifelte die Vorgeschichte des im Roman vorkommenden Ender Wiggin dort ausreichend beleuchten und abhandeln zu können. So erhielt er dann doch für das als wirklich zentrales Buch geplante Werk 'Speaker of the Dead' die Vorgeschichte 'Ender's Game' zu schreiben. Doch Ender's Game brauch durch und entwickelte ein starkes Eigenleben. Mit Würdigungen wie dem Hugo UND Nebula Award gesegnet sorgte Ender's Game dafür, dass Card fortan gerade wegen dieses einen Buches in einer Reihe mit einem Autoren wie Robert Heinlein genannt wurde. Die an Heinleins Starship Troopers erinnernden Aspekte Ender's Games brachten dem Buch dann wohl auch seine 2013 veröffentlichte Verfilmung ein, in welcher der Plot um Valentine und Peter Wiggin erst gar nicht vorkommt. - Auch ein Buch für Fans des Films? - Wer vielleicht gerade durch den überraschend tiefgründigen Film auf 'Ender's Game' gestoßen ist und sich nun tiefer in die Hintergrundgeschichte und das 'Enderverse' vertiefen möchte ist bei der Romanvorlage schon richtig und sollte auch hier anstatt mit einer der Fortsetzungen beginnen. Das Buch behandelt im Gegensatz zum Film weit mehr als nur die Manipulationen, welche Ender durchlaufen musste, um schlussendlich zum vermeintlichen Retter der Menschheit zu werden. Denn im Buch ist Ender nur der jüngste von drei brillanten Wiggins und seine beiden auf der Erde verbliebenen Geschwister beginnen im Verlauf der Geschichte ihre ganz eigenen Ambitionen in Hinsicht auf ein Ende des dritten Formic-Krieges zu entwickeln. Diese Nebenhandlung, die in einem Film unweigerlich das Fundament für ein cineastisches Ender-Franchise geschaffen hätte, wurde jedoch gänzlich aus der Filmhandlung gehalten. Auch wenn der Film äußerst gelungen sein mag, ob man die Nebenhandlung auch so gut getroffen hätte wäre nicht garantiert gewesen. - Zwei Völker mit ähnlichen Problemen - Überbevölkerung, zwischenstaatliche Konflikte und der Zug ins All als einziges Ventil. Zumindest in späteren Kapiteln erfährt man mehr über die Ähnlichkeiten zwischen Formics und Menschen, auch wenn wir und die Aliens uns biologisch nicht unähnlicher sein könnten. Menschen wie Formics standen zum Beginn der Invasionen bereits an einem ähnlichen Scheideweg, der die menschlichen Verluste im Zuge des ersten Formic-Krieges wohl auch nur kurzfristig entgegen wirkten. Die Erde ist überbevölkert und selbst die externe Bedrohung durch eine globale Apokalypse macht die alten Konflikte nicht vergessen, nein sie sorgt nur für deren Vertagung auf einen späteren Zeitpunkt. Die Formics kamen, um sich neuen Lebensraum zu verschaffen und die Menschheit blieb erdgebunden weil man noch nicht über weit fortgeschrittene Technologien besaß selbst permanente Kolonien außerhalb unseres Sonnensystems zu errichten. Der Erstkontakt geriet zum Erstschlag und wie zu erwarten war der weitere Konfliktverlauf damit bereits weitgehend vorgezeichnet. So sehr man sich als Mensch dadurch bestätigt fühlt, dass man auf der richtigen Seite steht, es hätte auch anders kommen können, wären die Menschen der Aggressor. Dass die Formics allerdings zuerst zuschlugen ist ganz im Sinne von Autor Card, denn all das dient der Konstruktion des moralischen Dilemmas, in welches er Ender Wiggin für den Rest seines Lebens versetzen will. - Tablets, intelligente Fasern und Blogs - Schon 1985 schrieb Orson Scott Card wie auch ein Douglas Adams über Technologien, die erst über 20 Jahre später zum alltäglichen Anblick geworden sind. Wenn man den "desk" eines Ender Wiggin als Tablet-PC identifiziert, die erstarrenden Flashsuits der Rekruten die nächste Entwicklungsstufe intelligenter Fasern identifziert und in Valentines und Peters Online-Treiben nur noch den Alltag mancher Blogger erkennt weiß man wie weit sich die Gegenwart bereits wieder die Science Fiction eingeholt hat. Das wirft natürlich auch die Frage auf, ob es die Wirkung der Geschichte schmälern wird, wenn diese heute noch modernen Technologien in 10-20 Jahren bereits veraltet sein werden, wenn man etwa an Schreibmaschinen mit Spracheingabe denkt, die unter anderem in Isaac Asimovs Foundation-Kurzgeschichte in vorkamen. Das mag zwar nicht die Bedeutung der Geschichte reduzieren, durchaus aber ihre Zugänglichkeit durch künftige Generationen beeinträchtigen. - Eine Dystopie - Ender's Game zeichnet eine Dystopie der Welt von morgen, wie man sie ähnlich auch aus Robert Heinleins Starship Troopers kennt. Doch Cards von Krieg gezeichnete Welt ist auf gewisse Weise dystopischer als Heinleins Konzept einer vereinten Menschheit. Cards Welt bewegt sich so etwa in einem immer noch schwelenden Ost-West-Konflikt und steht am Rande eines katastrophalen Bodenkrieges. Die Menschen sind nur soweit zusammengerückt, eine gemeinsame Internationale Flotte aufzustellen, um den bereits Jahrzehnte auf sich warten lassenden Raumkrieg mit den Formics zu schlagen. Intern ist die Menschheit weiterhin zerrissen und das mag auch von den Jahren des relativen Friedens seit der Zweiten Invasion liegen. Cards Menschheit ist weniger perfekt und hat die irdischen Streitigkeiten nur vertagt, während Heinlein eine in dieser Hinsicht zumindest mehr utopische Variante gewählt hat. Cards Menschen sind schlicht und einfach nicht über sich hinausgewachsen und so ist die IF anders als das Militär in Heinleins Starship Troopers, wo es zur dominanten Macht geworden ist. Die IF ist eine Zweckgemeinschaft, eine die bisher nicht in der Lage zu sein schien ein wirkliches Eigenleben zu entwickeln. Wohl weil sie trotz aller ihr zur Verfügung gestellten Ressourcen fest im Griff der irdischen Politik ist. Ein Versuch der IF ihre Waffen gegen die irdischen Regierungen zu richten würde scheitern, allerdings aufgrund von Dingen, die wir erst gegen Ende des Buchs erfahren. Selbst nach dem dritten Formic-Krieg stünde die IF vor logistischen Problemen (Rückholung der Truppen von der Front). So erweist sich Cards Militär zwar als skrupelloser in manch anderer Hinsicht, aber zumindest zahmer und weniger glorifiziert. - They are only kids? - Der Erfolg des Romans Ender's Game mag auch daran liegen, dass das Buch eben im Young Adult-Genre platziert wurde. Eine Entscheidung die Orson Scott Card dem Vorwort nach nicht unbedingt bewusst traf. Als er zum ersten Mal mit Ideen für das spätere Werk aufkam war es Kindheit und Jugend die er einfach noch am besten zu verstehen glaubte. Es hat dem Werk jedoch keinesfalls geschadet. Neben der Öffnung für immer neue Generationen von Jugendlichen, denen hier eine Identifikationsfläche für ihre eigenen Probleme, Ängste und Nöte geboten wird, hat Card dem Werk eine Alterslosigkeit verliehen, weil das Alter der Charaktere an manchen Stellen doch nur eine kosmetische Rolle spielt. Die Verwendung von Heranwachsenden macht Ender's Game auch um eine ganze Ecke glaubwürdiger, als die Verwendung von Erwachsenen, wo selten so reine Motive anzutreffen sind. Ender und seine Mitschüler werden hingegen von den Erwachsenen fortlaufend manipuliert und dass man überhaupt auf Kinder zurückgreift ist auch verständlich, wenn man bedenkt, dass Talente, Neigungen und Überzeugungen bei diesen noch offener liegen als in Erwachsenen. Ein Wunderkind kann in die Mittelmäßigkeit abdriften und als Erwachsener gänzlich übersehen werden, als Kind jedoch sticht es noch aus der Masse heraus. Und genau der Suche nach solchen Wunderkindern hat sich die IF verschrieben. Werden Motive und Handlungen bei Erwachsenen oft genug verzerrt dargestellt, bei Kindern ist es meistens ziemlich klar, was der Auslöser ist, wenn sich zwei in die Haare geraten. Kinder sind unkomplizierter und deutlicher in ihren Absichten. - Locke und Demosthenes - Der Nebenplot um Peter und Valentine Wiggin spannt sich mittlerweile über einige Romane im Enderverse. Doch das überraschende an ihm ist, wie faszinierend er doch ist, auch wenn sich die primäre Erzählung um Ender zu drehen scheint. Peter und Valentine stehen ihrem kleinen Bruder in nichts nach, doch sie sind auf der moralischen Skala an zwei völlig verschiedenen Punkten angesetzt. Peter ist ein aggressiv handelnder Soziopath, Valentine die mitfühlende passive und doch besitzt jeder der beiden Aspekte des anderen. Genauso wie Ender Charakterzüge seiner beiden Geschwister aufweist, weist auch Valentine Züge Peters auf, der umgekehrt auch wie Valentine handeln kann. Enders Erfolg und Auserwählten-Status hat seiner Familie allerdings nichts eingebracht, auch weil die IF ihre Pläne mit Ender ohnehin geheim halten zu pflegt. So ist es für die beiden verbliebenen Wiggins völlig egal, wozu ihr Bruder auserkoren ist und sie müssen sich viel mehr miteinander auseinandersetzen. Ohne ihren Dritten sind die beiden gegensätzlichen Geschwister nur ein Paar und überraschenderweise mindert gerade das die Spannungen zwischen beiden. So wie Ender auserwählt ist schon als Teenager zum größten militärischen Kommandanten der Menschheit zu werden, strebt Peter auch nach seinem rechten Platz in der Menschheitsgeschichte. Doch anders als der kleine Bruder genießt er keine staatliche Förderung seiner Ziele und Ambitionen. Während der kleine Bruder noch Valentine gleich die Dinge lieber über sich ergehen lässt, kämpft Peter auf eigene Faust sogar noch bedeutender zu werden als Ender. Zu diesem Zweck schließt Peter dann auch seinen Pakt mit Valentine. Als politische Kommentatoren (und Blogger) wollen die beiden als Locke und Demosthenes zu Macht und Einfluss in der politischen Landschaft der westlichen Hemisphäre gelangen. Doch dabei ist Peter ganz klar, dass der gemäßigtere Locke potentiell der mächtigere von beiden werden könnte. Eine Rolle die wie auf Valentine zugeschnitten wäre. Doch Peter überredet sie zum Rollentausch, während er als gemäßigter Locke dabei auf ihren Rat angewiesen ist (und sich insgeheim selbst lehrt öffentlich eine Valentine-eske Fassade zu errichten), sieht sich Valentine genötigt sich Inspiration für den paranoiden Demosthenes von Peter zu holen. Peters Rollentausch ist einerseits eine brillante Idee, die einmal mehr sein Genie unterstreicht, andererseits aber auch etwas, das umso harmloser erscheint, wenn man das Alter der Charaktere bedenkt. Peters Wunsch am Ende als der bessere Mensch und umjubelte Politiker aus der Affäre hervorzugehen führt dazu, dass er auch bereit ist sich selbst zu verleugnen und von Valentine zu lernen. Zugleich ist er noch ein Kind, dass um mehr Anerkennung zu erhalten praktisch sein Lieblingsspielzeug mit dem der kleinen Schwester tauscht, weil er sich davon die Erfüllung seines Wunsches verspricht. Da steckt womöglich auch ein gewisser Neid auf den auserwählten Ender und die mit ihrem Wesen weit besser positionierte Valentine dahinter. Doch beiden fehlt der Wille zur Macht. - Lessons from the Battleroom - Orson Scott Card war und ist kein Wissenschaftler und gibt das im Vorwort auch zu. Er hat sich als Autor sogar selbst die Frage gestellt, wie er Science Fiction schreiben kann, ohne vom Science Aspekt wirklich viel verstanden zu haben. Doch wie Ender's Game beweist muss man nicht Wissenschafts- oder Technologie-affin sein, um eine legendäre Science Fiction Geschichte zu Papier zu bringen. Aber ausgerechnet Cards zentrale Idee, mit der alles seinen Anfang nahm, ist etwas womit viele spätere Science Fiction-Autoren und Schöpfer von Science Fiction-Medien so ihre liebe Not haben. Der Battleroom ist der Beweis dafür, wie faszinierend und schwer verständlich Schwerelosigkeit sein kann. Schwerelosigkeit verweigert sich unserer irdischen Lebenserfahrung und führt dazu, dass wir uns Raumschiffe auch immer noch als Schiffe vorstellen. Doch genau diese Vorstellung von der Notwendigkeit eines obens und untens ist eines der wichtigsten Paradigmen, welches Ender Wiggin gebrochen hat. Mit oscar-premierten Filmen wie Gravity gibt es bereits so manche Ansätze unser Denken in Zukunft mehr auf Enders Erkenntnis zu lenken. Was Orson Scott Card seinen Ender Wiggin schnell erkennen lässt, in der Schwerelosigkeit ist unser altes Bezugssystem mit oben und unten völlig überflüssig. Sich daran zu halten ist für Ender ein Witz und die Anpassungsschwierigkeiten ein Thema bei den ersten Battleroom-Exkursionen der Launchies. Die wichtige Lektion die wir daraus lernen sollten, wenn es keine Schwerkraft gibt, gibt es auch keinen Zwang sich an sie zu halten. Doch genau diese Anpassungsschwierigkeit im Verständnis des schwerelosen Raums bereitet nicht nur den Launchies Kopfzerbrechen, sondern hat auch bereits Generationen von Science Fiction-Designern in Kino, TV und Videospielen dazu verleitet Raumschiffe und Schwerelosigkeit an irdische Gegebenheiten anzupassen. Ein RaumSCHIFF ähnelt immer noch mehr einem Schiff als es für seine Umgebung angemessen sein sollte. Schwerelose Umgebungen werden immer noch mit Upside-Downside-Elementen versehen, wohl um das Publikum nicht schwindelig zu machen. Eine weniger technische Lektion aus dem Battleroom ist auch der Erfolg von Enders Strategien gegenüber dem Scheitern so vieler seiner Mitschüler. Wer sich für Team- oder Strategiespielen und dergleichen interessiert findet in Enders Erlebnissen vieles was einem selbst vertraut sein dürfte. So treffen wir auf den autoritären Perfektionisten Bonzo Madrid, der es liebt allerlei fein orchestrierte Manöver zu proben, die ihn allerdings anfällig für Unvorhergesehenes machen und individuellen Einsatz oder Improvisation ausschließen. Bonzos Manöver sind hochkomplex und aus seiner Sicht zu schwierig einfach jemand neuen darin zu integrieren. Diese Inflexibilität kommt ihn teuer zu stehen, wie auch sein autoritäres Gehabe. An späterer Stelle trifft man schließlich auf den Laissez-faire Commander Rose de Nose, der das exakte Gegenteil zum Perfektionisten Bonzo darstellt. Nose ist völlig desinteressiert daran seinen "Mitspielern" Vorschriften zu machen und delegiert die Verantwortung für die Manöver und Koordination an seine Platoon Leader. Sein Glück und Erfolg hingen dabei von talentierteren Offizieren ab, wie Toon Leader Dink Meeker, der sich selbst bereits mehrfach einer Beförderung zum Commander verweigert hat. Meeker ist es dann auch, der Ender wirklich in die Battleroom-Manöver einführt und Wege findet, den ehemaligen Launchie erfolgreich einzusetzen. Doch Meekers Paranoia gegenüber den Spielemachern und den Lehrern der Battleschool generell trüben auch seine Erfolge. Dass sich Ender schlussendlich als der erfolgreichste Commander erweist ist zum Teil auch dem Einfluss Meekers zu verdanken, der ihn über die Sinnlosigkeit des Spieles aufgeklärt hat. Das Spiel selbst mag sinnlos sein und nur eine Show für die Lehrer sein, doch der Sieg ist irgendwie anders. Enders Spielweise verweigert sich der Konventionen und sorgt dann sogar dafür, dass die Regeln immer weiter verschärft werden, um ihm und seiner Truppe eine Niederlage zuzufügen. Doch Ender spielt das Spiel nicht mehr mit und gewinnt trotzdem oder genau deshalb. Ender verweigert sich des sogenannten Zergs. Anstatt zu versuchen die Armee des Gegners zu besiegen (was eben auch nach Sun-Tzus Kunst des Krieges eine grober Fehler ist) setzt Ender auf den Sieg. Gelingt es ihm einen Spieler durch das gegnerische Tor zu befördern hat er gewonnen und so unternimmt Ender alles was notwendig ist, um diese Siegesbedingung zu erfüllen. Ender verweigert sich eine glanzvolle Schlacht (ein gutes Match) zu liefern, wählt oft verlustreiche, doch schlussendlich erfolgreiche Strategien und treibt Konkurrenten wie Lehrer damit zur Verzweiflung. Man hat ihm die schlechtesten Spieler und eine unterlegene Streitmacht gegeben, doch anstatt diese in einen Zweikampf zu schicken, den er verlieren müsste. In einem Mannschaftssport würde man ihn bestenfalls des Betrugsvorwurfs aussetzen, doch wie im Fußball zählen die Tore und nicht welche Mannschaft auf dem Platz die bessere Figur macht. Wenn der Underdog mit der richtigen Strategie gewinnen kann und die besten Spieler leer ausgehen ist das schnell mal etwas, das unfair genannt wird. Aber auch glanzlose, schmutzige Siege führen zum Erfolg. - Resümee - Ein Meisterwerk der Science Fiction das viel Diskussionsstoff und Anregungen zum Nachdenken bietet. Ein Werk das gerade so erfolgreich ist, weil es im Young Adult-Bereich beheimatet ist und genau wegen der Jugend seiner Protagonisten auch derart beeindruckende Charakterzeichnungen bietet.

Lessi questo libro per la prima volta quasi 20 anni fa, non ricordavo molto ma ricordavo che mi era piaciuto; così ho deciso di rileggerlo (in inglese) e confermo essere un ottimo libro. Ambientato in un futuro indefinito, ma piuttosto lontano, è la storia di un ragazzino arruolato dall'esercito per le sue spiccate doti di intelligenza e abilità tattica; lo scopo è quello di farlo diventare il comandante dell'esercito che dovrà affrontare una invasione aliena. Al di la della trama che apparentemente potrebbe apparire banale, quello che rende veramente gradevole questo libro è la caratterizzazione psicologica dei personogii e delle vicende che questi vivono. Non mancano i colpi di scena che rendono il libro veramente avvicente

Very interesting read! Even though I've already watched the movie, I found the book very engaging and fascinating. If anything, the movie helped me visualize some of the characters even better. Overall the book is far better than the movie IMHO.