MC reader: ‘Ender’s Game’
I am a big fan of reading books before seeing the movie adaption. Last semester, I discovered Summit Entertainment is releasing “Ender’s Game” as a movie in November 2013.
Sci-Fi is not my typical genre, so when a teacher assigned this book my freshman year of
high school, I was surprised by how much I loved it. The upcoming movie release gives me
the perfect excuse to re-read this novel and share my review of Orson Scott Card’s best-known
work.
“Ender’s Game” is set in a futuristic world that is still in recovery from a series of battles
with the “buggers,” ant-like alien creatures that hail from a different planet. In drastic measures
to prepare for another invasion, particularly gifted children are sent to space to attend military
preparatory schools.
One of these children is Andrew “Ender” Wiggin, who serves as the main narrator for the
book. In order to find these children with the most potential, they are fitted with monitors so the
government can watch them. While his older siblings, Peter and Valentine, did not pass, Ender is
chosen for Battle School at 6 years of age.
Once Ender is in Battle School, he and the other students are treated like miniature adults.
After all, they are all extraordinarily gifted. The students are educated in typical academic areas,
as well as military strategy through battle games. When students reach a certain point in their
education, they are divided into squads with ranks that are similar to military formation.
In order for Ender to be challenged in Battle School, he is promoted at ridiculously young
ages and forced to complete tasks that no other students must defeat. Ender works hard in the
hopes of finishing school and moving onto Command School, the next level up.
The entire time that Ender works through school, an omniscient narrator opens each chapter
that stresses the importance of Ender, either through the eyes of the army commanders or by
showing Ender’s siblings on Earth. Peter and Valentine are becoming influential political writers
who have the ability to affect the future of Earth.
Meanwhile in space, many of the commanders believe Ender is their last hope to save
humankind from the next invasion, and all eyes are on him as they plan the next challenge for
him to overcome.
The story is unique, fast-paced and Ender is a fascinating protagonist. It is difficult to wrap
your brain around the advanced minds that these kids have, because Ender’s narrative voice
sounds like a grown adult’s. You just have to keep reminding yourself that he is a young child,
which is important to the plot and theme of the story.
The descriptions of the battle room games can also be challenging to picture, because you are
reading explanations of a fight in zero-gravity, so that can be confusing. The book possesses a
complex story that is difficult to describe without giving away some serious plot points, so take
that into account for this book review.
“Ender’s Game” is 324 pages, but it is a bit more challenging language-wise, which requires
you to devote some time to reading this book. If you are a fan of Sci-Fi and space, you should
have read this book yesterday, and if Sci-Fi isn’t your usual thing, take a change and try
something new. Pick up a copy and find out who becomes the victor of “Ender’s Game.”