A War of Gifts

Ender's Saga #1.1

by Orson Scott Card, Scott Brick (Narrator), Stefan Rudnicki (Narrator)

Orson Scott Card offers a Christmas gift to his millions of fans with A War of Gifts , a short novel set during Ender's first years at the Battle School where it is forbidden to celebrate religious holidays.  The children come from many nations, many religions; while they are being trained for war, religious conflict between them is not on the curriculum. But Dink Meeker, one of the older students, doesn't see it that way. He thinks that giving gifts isn't exactly a religious observation, and on Sinterklaas Day he tucks a present into another student's shoe.

This small act of rebellion sets off a battle royal between the students and the staff, but some surprising alliances form when Ender comes up against a new student, Zeck Morgan. The War over Santa Claus will force everyone to make a choice.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction Fantasy, Audiobook, Short Stories

3 pages, Audio CD

First published October 30, 2007

About the author

Orson Scott Card is an American writer known best for his science fiction works. He is (as of 2023) the only person to have won a Hugo Award and a Nebula Award in consecutive years, winning both awards for his novel Ender's Game (1985) and its sequel Speaker for the Dead (1986). A feature film adaptation of Ender's Game, which Card co-produced, was released in 2013. Card also wrote the Locus Fantasy Award-winning series The Tales of Alvin Maker (1987–2003).
Card's fiction often features characters with exceptional gifts who make difficult choices with high stakes. Card has also written political, religious, and social commentary in his columns and other writing; his opposition to homosexuality has provoked public criticism.
Card, who is a great-great-grandson of Brigham Young, was born in Richland, Washington, and grew up in Utah and California. While he was a student at Brigham Young University (BYU), his plays were performed on stage. He served in Brazil as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and headed a community theater for two summers. Card had 27 short stories published between 1978 and 1979, and he won the John W. Campbell Award for best new writer in 1978. He earned a master's degree in English from the University of Utah in 1981 and wrote novels in science fiction, fantasy, non-fiction, and historical fiction genres starting in 1979. Card continued to write prolifically, and he has published over 50 novels and 45 short stories.
Card teaches English at Southern Virginia University; he has written two books on creative writing and serves as a judge in the Writers of the Future contest. He has taught many successful writers at his "literary boot camps". He remains a practicing member of the LDS Church and Mormon fiction writers Stephenie Meyer, Brandon Sanderson, and Dave Wolverton have cited his works as a major influence.

Reviews

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this novella in the library one day, thinking, hey, here's a story in the Enderverse that I haven't read yet. I read it in about an hour, thought, not great, not bad, maybe a 3-star read. I get on Goodreads, pull up "A War of Gifts," and there it is: I've already given this book a 3-star rating. And I didn't recognize it at all.

So this raises some interesting questions: Was I thinking about a different Ender story when I originally rated it? Was it so unmemorable that I read it a few years ago, rated it and then completely forgot it? Am I an unknowing time traveler? (I really want that last answer to be the right one.)

Anyway. I once read a quote from Orson Scott Card in which he said that he likes to find two unrelated ideas that grab him, and then combine them into one story. It seems pretty evident that that's what he did here. There's one plot thread about the religious fundamentalist preacher with feet of clay, whose obedient son is trying to get himself turfed out of Battle School, where the military is training kids and teens to fight the alien Formics (the main setting in Ender's Game). And there's the other thread about the kids in Battle School trying to find subversive ways to keep observing Christmas and, maybe, their religions ... which is against Battle School rules. These stories mesh reasonably well, but it's a bit awkward, especially when you add Ender saving the day (or at least the boy).

There's also a chapter about Peter Wiggin that has no real place in this story, though it's interesting and shows the seeds of his future character development.

Overall, it's a decent read if you're a fan of the Ender Wiggin books, but I wouldn't advise you to spend any significant amount of money on it.

[Jim C · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a novella that is part of the Ender's Universe saga. This one takes place during Ender's time in battle school. In this one we meet Zeck who comes from a very religious family and does not believe in war. There is also a minor plot about religious observances at battle school and these two plots eventually interact.

I liked this story but also had problems with it. The parts that I liked definitely outweighed the parts I did not. The meat of the story is good as we follow Zeck from his home to battle school. Viewing his home life before battle school was a nice way to get background information about his life and to see why the way he is. I really enjoyed the theme and plot of his story. What happens when someone is a pacifist and forced into the arena of war? I do wish the author went with this a little more. Instead he established a message behind the character's motives and this did not land with me. I could say the same about the secondary plot. I get the message and what the author was shooting for. But for me it sort of felt like he was preaching. I might be nitpicking here with this as I want a message from science fiction or fantasy books. But it felt like the author went a little too much on the side of preaching and it seemed like he was forcing his own personal opinion about religion on the reader.

This is worth reading just to see some of the characters from the original book and to see how their time was in battle school. Overall it doesn't add much to the complete arc. But as a side companion and allowing us to spend some more time with known characters while introducing new ones it definitely works.

[J-Lynn Van Pelt · Rating 5 out of 5]

For everyone who is a loyal Ender fan, this novella will not disappoint! In this interesting story of faith, we get to journey back to Battle School again. While the story centers on a new character from Rat Army, Zeck, many of my favorite characters from the original series are present, including Ender and Dink. I loved getting another glimpse at Ender's journey and Dink's non-conformity.

But, what makes this story compelling is the moral debates at its center. Zeck refuses to fight in Battle School because his zealot preacher father taught pacifism. But, the irony is that while Zeck was taught pacifism, his father brutally beat him. Zeck still holds the emotional and physical scars of those beatings and tries everything within his power to get the other students to hate him and the administration to send him home. Along the way, he inspires Dink to lead a rebellion against the school policy of no religious or cultural observances which is at the core of this book. A sort of morality play set in futuristic space, the short story brings up some interesting points about hypocrisy and zealotry within religious beliefs.

But, Ender fans will cheer the loudest when he figures out how to help Zeck face his past. Ender proves to us why he is the right leader to save humanity.

[Olethros · Rating 3 out of 5]

-De intrascendencias y otras brisas de invierno.-

Género. Novela corta.

Lo que nos cuenta. El libro Guerra de regalos (publicación original: A War of Gifts, 2007) agrupa en el mismo volumen una extensa presentación de Card, su obra, la saga de Ender y la importancia de la misma (al menos, su importancia para el editor), junto al primer capítulo de la novela Ender en el exilio y, por supuesto, la novela corta (o relato largo) que da nombre al volumen y en la que conocemos a Zack Morgan, un muchacho nacido y criado en una comunidad religiosa fundamentalista y pacificista que, con la intención de que lo echen de la Escuela de batalla, crea un malestar basado en supuestas discriminaciones religiosas. Trabajo perteneciente a la saga de Ender que se coloca, a nivel temporal de sus contenidos, dentro de la primera parte de la novela El juego de Ender.

¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:

https://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com...

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this one when it first appeared a decade ago and listened to the audio version last week during a long drive. It's a fine Christmas story even if Connie Willis didn't write it. It's set while Ender is at the Battle School during the first volume of his saga, but doesn't seem to me to conflict any with that story; this is a very short interlude. It seemed to me to highlight Card's own philosophy and perhaps conflicted perceptions, while making sage and subtle observations about the nature of abuse and friendship. I recommend it highly for the season.

[Nilo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Se podría decir que se trata de una especie de capítulo especial con el cual podemos adentrarnos un poco más al estilo de vida en la escuela de batalla y el cómo conviven unos con otro partiendo del hecho de proveenir de diferentes culturas y por supuesto, para ver más de Ender siendo el líder nato y empático que es al ayudar a Zeke, el protagonista de esta historia. El eje vertebrador del relato es la religión, especificamente centrada en las celebraciones decembrinas. Una pena que sea relamente corto como para servirce de una historia más profunda.

[Donna Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the opening scene, an overblown caricature of a sermon set in an overblown caricature of a fundamental Christian church, is hard to get through, it does give the reader needed insight into Zeck, one of the story’s main characters. I’m glad I stuck it out. After that, the plot rolls along into a peek at Christmas season amongst the Ender’s Game boys. All holiday celebrations and religious practices are forbidden to the trainees, but the Christmas spirit cannot be contained. The boys rebel by giving gifts.
A fun, quick little read about the triumph of the joy of giving. I wish I had read it closer to Christmas 🤓

[Marty Reeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is it with Orson Scott Card's Ender books, particularly the Battle School ones? Card is always an insightful author, but nothing ever rings as true and as strong as when he takes his readers up to that same spot where his ride to fame took him three decades ago. A War of Gifts isn't even a novel. It's an extended short story, really. And it should be commercial drivel, since it was specifically made for the Christmas season. There are a lot of things it should have been, but instead it was a succinct, powerful tale that legitimately makes Ender into as much a hero as any of his other stories. This is not a throwaway, seasonal fluff story, as far as I'm concerned. It belongs right up there along with the rest of Card's best works, as well as any other author's.

Sometimes, it seems as if Orson Scott Card refuses to give up on this Ender Universe, and certainly it has paid his bills for many years now, but I don't care what the motivation is, the results are extraordinary, and if he doesn't want to stop, then I will only encourage him more.

[Panda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook (2 hours) narrated by Scott Brick, and Stefan Rudnicki

The audio and narration are very good, with zero issues.

A War on Gifts is a short story in the Ender's Saga universe that was published in November, the holiday season. The overall setting is being away from home during the season of the different religious and non-religious winter holidays/celebrations that the cadets are forbidden to partake in while in training, and while away from their families. As in most things in the Ender's universe, it all comes down to the people, the perspectives, actions and reactions.

The story is both sad and sweet, while showcasing the inhumanity of the adults in the situation, and the resilience, creativity, and empathy of the children.

I wasn't really sure how to rate it, especially since it seemed like an addition that should have been included in the first book. Maybe it was and it was a bit too long?

I liked it anyway, so I gave it a 4.

[Relyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this tiny book late Christmas night because Jeffrey asked me to. So far, in nearly twenty years, I've only disliked three books he's asked me to read. He has a pretty good track record, I'd say.

I think Orson Scott Card is one of the greatest living writers. It doesn't matter what he writes, it is powerful and the characters feel like living, breathing friends (or enemies). I am not a sci-fi fan. In fact, I never read it. About seven years ago Jeffrey asked me and asked me to read Ender's Game. I finally listened to it and was amazed. This book is perfect. Surprising, compelling, living, and breathing all on it's own. The kind of book that you just know goes on without you as it sits on the shelf. The kind of characters that your thoughts repeatedly return to because you want to make sure you are doing well.

Back to A War of Gifts. Jeffrey asked me to read this tiny Ender book and I did. The only thing that bothered me about the book is that there isn't more. What happens to Zeck!!!??!??!?!?!

12/23/11
Still an excellent book. Still wondering what ever happens to Zeck.

7/17/14
Jeffrey is repainting our house and my contribution is reading aloud to him as he works. It keeps him motivated and I am on hand to fetch and carry and jump up and hand him things so he can keep working. Anyway, this is one of the books he chose for me to read aloud. We both love the Enderverse.

3/10/16
I love this book. I want more Zeck!

[Xabi1990 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leído en 2011

Cuento corto basado en la estancia de Ender en la Escuela de Batalla. Una delicia de relato.

[Christopher Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great stories sometimes crop up where you least expect them. I certainly did not expect to find one when I picked up Orson Scott Card’s A War of Gifts. At first glance, it seemed to be everything I hate in a novel. A thirteen dollar price tag for 126 pages of loosely-packed text. A layout designed to appeal to a young-adult audience. A storyline targeted only at diehard fans of a well-established series. A Christmas story, ostensibly meant for seasonal marketing. A title and cover blurb suggestive of specious right-wing histrionics about the Left’s “war on Christmas”. Normally I would consign such a book to the dust bin without thinking twice. But this was by Orson Scott Card, after all, so I decided to give it a chance. I was pleasantly surprised.

True, A War of Gifts takes barely an afternoon to read. But in that short space Card manages to create in Zeck Morgan a very sophisticated character, and to imbue his fairly complex storyline with several layers of allegorical meaning.

Zeck Morgan is a genius child who has grown up in a Puritan Christian cult of which his father is the prophet and leader. The cult, called the Church of the Pure Christ, is based in Eden, North Carolina. The name of the town is significant because in Zeck’s eyes it is a paradise. Although Zeck has scars and open wounds on his back from his father’s use of corporal punishment to “purify” his son, Zeck truly believes that his father is the holiest man in the world. When soldiers come to take young Zeck away to Battle School, he refuses to go on the grounds that he is a pacifist. When they take him anyway, he spends all his time there defying them in the hope that his teachers will give up and send him home.

Eventually, aided by Ender, Zeck comes to understand that his father taught pacifism only to talk himself out of compulsively beating his son, and that Zeck wants to go back home not out of love for his father but out of fear that his father will turn his violence on his mother. Eden was in fact never truly a paradise, but rather a place of ignorance. His mother had actually wanted him to go to Battle School, because she knew that he could only awaken and thrive if finally he was freed from his father’s influence. Latter-day Saints will hear echoes here of their Church’s teaching that the Fall from Eden was not really a Fall at all, but rather a fortunate and necessary awakening (2 Nephi 2:22-25; Moses 5:11).

There are other echoes of LDS teaching in the story, found in a surprising place: on the lips of Card’s arrogant, legalistic cultists. They teach, for example, that women deserve respect because they suffer to bring souls into the world (38), that ministers should be unpaid and should work to earn their living (20), that discipline is important for children’s souls (24), and even that Genesis was simply the best Moses could do in explaining Darwinian evolution to a pre-scientific culture (40-41). Yet Card is not, by placing these doctrines on hypocrites’ lips, polemicizing against the content of the teaching. Rather, he approves the doctrines but rejects the way they are flaunted in order to prove the superior holiness of the community. Card clarifies the sin of the community when he has Zeck proudly clarify that the cultists are not “fundamentalists”, but “Puritans” (41).

So why does Card place LDS doctrine on the cultists’ lips? Perhaps because he is polemicizing against self-righteousness and hypocrisy in the Mormon community, and wants Mormons to see themselves reflected in this fictional sect. Certainly when we are told that Zeck’s unhappy mother “always smiled when she knew people were looking … to show that the pure Christian life made one happy” (13), the scene is one that echoes a common liberal Mormon criticism of conservative Mormon culture.

Does the book intend to comment on the “war on Christmas” so lamented every December by conservative talking heads? Perhaps. But if it does, then it does not do so in a straightforward way. Certainly Zeck becomes angry when the leaders of Battle School forbid him to practice his Christian faith but do not forbid observation of traditions about Santa Claus (67)—basically the same complaint raised by the Religious Right. But the narrative seems ambivalent about whether the complaint is really a valid one.

For Battle School’s Santa-observers, the complaint is an illegitimate one because Santa Claus is not a religious symbol but an international and cultural one (72). The acts of love and generosity Santa inspires are especially distinct from Zeck’s Puritan brand of religion in that the former bring people together whereas the latter drives them apart (78-81). Card clearly sees fundamentalism as a divisive, false kind of religion that is often simply a cover for our own vices (114-17). When Zeck manages to rile some Muslim students and to get them to pray in open defiance of the rules, other boys chastise him for promoting potentially destructive religious sectarianism (93).

On the other hand, there are hints in the story that Card does see religious and cultural traditions as being on the same footing in at least some respects. As long as religion is peaceful and committed to values like love and generosity—which he indicates even Islam is capable of embracing (90)—religion, like culture, is part of what makes human life worth living. It makes us who we are, and gives us a reason to go on living (74). It is a good thing, and it should not be suppressed.

In the end, War of Gifts offers no clear verdict on the much-bewailed attempt of some Leftists to take Christ out of Christmas. If there is a “war on Christmas” that the novel clearly condemns, it is actually the attempt of some Rightists to make a Satan out of Santa. That crusade Card satirizes without mercy (17-19).

Cramming all this complexity into so few pages is no small feat. Whether it is worth thirteen dollars for three hours of enjoyable reading of course remains an open question, but if nothing else, A War of Gifts demonstrates Card’s dedication to his craft. For any other author the plan of this book would have been a recipe for drudgery. In Card’s hands it was a labor of love.

[Caleb M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another really great entry! A short story set in the Enderverse that is somehow just as appealing and intriguing as other novels that came before it.

It's been so long since I've read Ender's Game. I preface by saying that because I can't remember if Zeck or Dink are in that book, but regardless, they are here, and they are interesting! Especially Zeck! He reminds me of Hraethan from Elantris. A religious zealot that may think he knows all the answers, but does he? Is the fight for Santa really worth it?

There is some deep and tragic layers to peel off of Zeck as you go through this book. And it's fun to uncover this seemingly intolerable child's onion peel to get to the heart of the matter.

Pretty short, but definitely worth your time.

[Jeremy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I first read Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card when I was twelve or thirteen. It’s the story of a young kid who is taken to Battle School (where soldiers are prepared to lead fleets against an alien race) and his experience while he’s there. It’s one of the best books I’ve ever read. It has great characters, and the descriptions of fighting while in zero gravity are amazing. I read it every couple of years, and actually started reading it again after this week’s book.

Truly it’s difficult to create that magic over and over again. Card has written a few other novels that are almost as good as Ender’s Game, but none of them seem to capture that magic he had with the first novel. And a bunch are totally shoddy. He’s written more than one novel that I’ve given up on before I reach the halfway mark.


A War of Gifts would have been one of those that I gave up on, but it’s so short I figured I may as well finish it for the review. It’s the size of a novella, and probably would have been better off included with a group of short stories. Why do I keep going back to Card? I guess that demonstrates what an impact his first (actually first two or three to be honest) books had on me.

It takes place at Battle School during the same time period as Ender’s Game. Another young boy named Zeck is taken to start training. He’s a religious fundamentalist who has been raised as a pacifist, the story goes on to explore what happens to him.

Ender is a small part of the story, and ends up helping Zeck in the end, but that’s the only real tie into the universe. Even though it uses characters from the other stories, they’re all very flat. It includes one segment from Ender’s home on Earth that stands out and stops the flow totally. It doesn’t seem to serve a purpose other than to include more characters from the original book.

In the end Card seems to not be able to make up his mind what the message is supposed to be, and instead tries to cover all his bases. Should we admore Zeck for what he believes? Mock him? Is Battle Station making the right choice in being secular, or should they be allowing religious worship? Nothing is really answered. The dialogue seems stilted, the child characters are either talking like adults or like my seven-year-old.

[RJ - Slayer of Trolls · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Christmas-themed novella that takes place during Ender's Game, probably interesting only to those who have read the original story and definitely not required reading even for those who have read other books in the series.

[Renegade ♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 to 4 1/2 stars

[Daniel A. Penagos-Betancur · Rating 3 out of 5]

La saga de Ender, quizás la obra más conocida de Orson Scott Card se compone de un total de 9 títulos divididos en dos subseries, la segunda paralela a la primera y que procura ser una expansión del mundo, los personajes y las ideas ya exploradas en las cuatro primeras novelas. Guerra de regalos es una novela corta publicada luego de las primeras ocho novelas de la saga y justo antes de Ender en el exilio, la novela que promete unir las dos subseries publicadas antes.

Esta novela corta es sencilla de leer no solo para los fanáticos más fervientes de Scott Card, sino también para cualquier otro lector, pues la novela viene precedida de un resumen bien detallado de parte del editor de la colección en la ya desaparecida Ediciones B que sirve como un referente para situarse antes de leer la novela pues volver atrás en la cronología de la serie puede ser un poco confuso si se hubiera abordado sin un referente del tipo. En serio que el resumen que hace Miquel Barceló de la obra de Scott Card tanto en inglés como dentro de la colección NOVA de la extinta editorial, es una muestra de lo serio de su trabajo. Si sigue entre nos, y alguna vez ve esto: Gracias por el trabajo.

La Escuela de Batalla es un territorio libre de credos y costumbres terrestres, los niños que pasan por su entrenamiento en ella dejan atrás toda costumbre o creencia que hayan practicado antes de llegar a la Escuela. Esto, según cuentan lo hacen con fines netamente pragmáticos: sería muy difícil estar con alumnos que tienen que rezar 5 veces al día, con otros que cada 7 días tienen su día santo y todo lo demás. Pero esto, tiene más fondo del que se plantea inicialmente, en realidad responde a una crisis de nivel entre los “principios” que imponen tanto la religión como la vida militar. Esta tensa calma va a desembocar en un acto revolucionario por parte de los cadetes cuando Dick, un niño venido de Holanda, va a honrar la tradición del Sinterklass junto con compañero coterráneo. Esto va a llevar a que Zeck, un creyente extremista, hijo de un pastor con ideas bastante radicales sobre lo que es ser “buen cristiano”, los ponga en evidencia y desate la tan dichosa “guerra de regalos”. Acá Ender no es el protagonista, es en realidad el punto de inflexión y el que sirve como fin del conflicto en el que se vieron involucrados sus compañeros de entrenamiento.

Esta sencilla trama sirve para cuestionar algunas de las prácticas humanas. Este relato que se supone es un relato navideño de la Escuela de Batalla va a dar pie para que se medite sobre la prevalencia de uno grupo de principios sobre los otros; en este caso de los religiosos sobre los militares —a mí los dos me parecen igual de tontos y primitivos—, y sobre qué hace que un grupo de ellos esté por encima de otros. Paralelo a esto y gracias al hecho de que la Escuela de Batalla está orbitando la Tierra, se arma un debate entorno a las tradiciones en función del lugar de origen, esto da pie a la pregunta de si ¿vale la pena conservarlas una vez se deja el lugar de origen?, una pregunta que seguramente atormentará a las generaciones de humanos que logren salir de la Tierra y habitar otro mundo.

Un relato que, si bien se enmarca en una de las celebraciones más extendidas en sus múltiples variedades dentro del mundo occidental, se vale de las principales características del género y del marco histórico que tiene la saga para explorar el papel de nuestras tradiciones fuera del contexto original sobre el cual se desarrollan.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella is set while Ender is at Battle School in Rat Army. It is a story about how two Dutch students observing Sinterklaas Day sets off a war between the students and the faculty over religious observance.

I have found that the books in the Ender Series sort of fall all over the place in quality. Ender's Game and [boook:Ender's Shadow] are both really excellent books. Speaker for the Dead is alright, and I think that Xenocide and Children of the Mind fall off pretty fast quality wise. Likewise, I think that the shadow series quickly approaches Tom Clancy style military techno thriller status. And while I haven't read all of the short stories that Card has written in the Enderverse, The ones in First Meetings in the Enderverse are sort of hit or miss as well.

Orson Scott Card is certainly a good writer. And this book is well written. This novella is not as awesome as Ender's Game or Ender's Shadow. However, in the spectrum of books and stories in this series, it is much closer to the good books and stories, than the not so hot ones.

For classification purposes, I like to divide up the Ender's Series into Necessary Cannon and Unnecessary Cannon. This novella makes the Necessary Cannon cut.

Many of the books in the series have very grand plots, and the characters are caught up in epic struggles over the future of humanity. Certainly, the books are about the bugger wars and their aftermath. But the really good books in this series are about children, and how they are caught up in these epic story arcs. Ender's Game, Ender's Shadow, and this book all have one thing in common, which makes them so great. Specifically, they are about the small struggles that children face. They are about bullies, interactions with adults and other children, lessons, and games. The overarching plot just sweeps the children along, but they are focused on these relatively small things that they face in their (albeit extraordinary) day to day life.

I read this book because I am a big fan of Ender's Game and the series in general. I picked it up because I got a signed first edition, and there was a sticker saying that the proceeds were going to a charity.

[Shelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Merry Christmas to me! I loved Ender's Game and Ender in Exile( which I read last year) and when I saw this, decided to read it in December. I loved it. At first, I missed Ender in it, but I really enjoyed getting to know more about Dink. I really like him too. When Ender showed up in the story I was so excited and it did not disappoint. Can I possibly love Ender more than I already do? Thank you Orson Scott Card for this thought provoking little gem and for giving me more time to spend in Ender's world! If you are an Ender fan, give yourself a little gift this holiday season and read this!

[LemonLinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent book to read in December - a perfect Christmas visit with Ender, Dink and others in Battle School. It is a very short book packed with a lot of content regarding war, peace, religion, abuse, respect for other beliefs, tolerance, etc.

If you loved Ender as I did and would like a little more of him tied up in a Christmas package, then you should definitely treat yourself to this book. I did the audio version and was so taken with it that I listened twice back to back and was just as entrapped the second time!

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

More Christmas-themed stories should be like this. Smart, thoughtful, and brimming with a Christmas message that doesn't come across as being forced, unrealistic, or saccharine.
Of course, it helps that the whole thing is written by Orson Scott Card and set in the Enderverse. Hard to go wrong, in that regard.
A WAR OF GIFTS is also noteworthy for Card's deft handling of religious themes. Card is one of the few writers who can write deeply about religious issues without alienating half his audience.

[Jorge Criado · Rating 3 out of 5]

Este pequeño libro me ha desconcertado. Por un lado, el tratamiento psicológico de los personajes me ha gustado bastante, así como el empeño de los chicos de la Escuela de Batalla por celebrar la Navidad (o algo parecido, más bien basado en los regalos). El final me ha gustado también, pero quizá el que sea un libro demasiado corto como para profundizar más me ha dejado un poco frío.

[Chrissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book got me right in the feels. I disliked reading from the point of view of an unlikeable character and another from a minor one but it definitely gave me a clearer perspective of Battle School and what the kids had to go through. Loved it.

[Cam · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like the ended game series you will like this … it gives you some insight on other students and their background.

[Ed Erwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are many reasons I would expect to not like this. It is a small story set in a book series that I'm only lukewarm about. I would think there would be no need to add yet another story to a series that has dragged on and on. And it is a Christmas story, in which case the author could easily just "phone it in" and the fans would still appreciate it. And it deals (indirectly) with the "war on Christmas" which I think is a phony war. Furthermore I don't like the author's political positions in general. And I don't like Christmas stories. (Except the Heat Miser. Love him!)

And yet, I really enjoyed this. The characters are a little one-dimensional, but the ideas raised by the story are not. It gave me much food for thought.

The main question raised is this: if this military group forbids expression of religion, then should it also disallow any and all cultural practices that are remotely related to religion? Is allowing Dutch kids to put out their shoes for Sinterklas starting a slippery slope towards allowing Muslims to stop classes five times a day and others demanding rest for Sabbath (on 3 separate days depending on religion)?

It gets even more interesting because the main character objecting to Christmas gift-giving is Christian, from a sect that doesn't celebrate Christmas and considers Santa almost the same as Satan. And whose father is a preacher who beats him while quoting scriptures about peace.

I don't think the book answers any questions. But it raises them in an engaging way.

(I still think Ender Wiggins himself, who is not the main focus of this book, is an unbelievable character. And I will still say "Bah, Humbug!" when December rolls around.)

[Daniela Rosas · Rating 3 out of 5]

A opinião deste livro assim como de outros sairá nos próximos dias

[hotsake (André Troesch) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-written and entertaining tale.

[Kathie Yang · Rating 3 out of 5]

pretty average overall. kinda funny and a fun little side story to the main ender arc. but like not that interesting.

24 hour readathon book 7
rating: 2.5 stars

[Nadishka Aloysius · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I read this in the days leading up to Christmas...

[Perla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Es una reflexión acerca de nuestra humanidad inevitablemente circunscrita a la cultura de donde procedemos, los que están en la escuela de batalla y deben renunciar a su familia, a su lenguaje, a sus tradiciones, a su religión, renunciar a todo; excepto que estos brillantes genios han decido no renunciar a la esperanza y a la fraternidad, entonces inicia la guerra de regalos.
Es un cuento hermoso, y volver a encontrar a los niños de la escuela de batalla es como regresar uno mismo a la infancia y encontrarse en el patio de recreo esperando ver a los amigos. Me ha encantado.
Este relato no puede leerse independiente por lo menos del Juego de Ender.