From the Bookshelf of Sci-fi and Heroic Fantasy…

Ender’s Game (Ender's Saga, #1)

Orson Scott Card

Start date: January 1, 2013

Finish date: January 31, 2013

Discussion: Book Discussions

Why we're reading this: Group disucssion January 2013 Classic
Group discussion February 2013 Short Story
Hugo Winner 1985
Nebula Awa…more
[close] Group disucssion January 2013 Classic
Group discussion February 2013 Short Story
Hugo Winner 1985
Nebula Award Winner 1985
#3 on NPR's Top 100 SF/F novels of all time (2011 poll) http://www.npr.org/2011/08/11/1390858...
#2 on Locus Magazines Best SciFi novels of the 20th century http://www.locusmag.com/2012/AllCentu...

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What Members Thought

Feb 10, 2011 Tyrone rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi, reviewed, audiobook

It took me a while to get around to this, not least because it is always so highly rated on 'best of' lists but also because it won the top SF book awards and generally for me that makes a book unreadable. I'm finally beginning to get over myself and going back to some of the great books I might have missed because of this perversity. I picked this one up as an audio book and I have to say that it was wonderfully well narrated. Add to that, that this is a book full of wonderful ideas, well told It took me a while to get around to this, not least because it is always so highly rated on 'best of' lists but also because it won the top SF book awards and generally for me that makes a book unreadable. I'm finally beginning to get over myself and going back to some of the great books I might have missed because of this perversity. I picked this one up as an audio book and I have to say that it was wonderfully well narrated. Add to that, that this is a book full of wonderful ideas, well told in a compelling narrative and you have to feel for Ender through all his trials.

The book does require a certain suspension of disbelief that the children, especially Ender,are able to act at the level of intelligence and emotional maturity that many of the key characters in this story appear to; at least without being the result of some kind of genetic meddling. The same is true with the sub plot with Valentine and Peter and their alter-ego's. What this sub plot does however is predict the rise to prominence of the internet and blogging in the political sphere. As i said, many of the ideas in this book are quite wonderful.

The story is largely free from the personal views that Card's novels have become known for. What I do find difficult is the way that Card seems to find ways for Ender to remain 'morally clean', no matter what violence he resorts to. I would say that because of his superior intelligence and empathy Ender could have found ways to resolve those situations for which Card seems to suggest 'well he had no choice, did he?'. I think that he does have some culpability for the acts he carries out.

I suppose one of the things that most recommends this book is that it seems to appeal to non SF fans and that is probably because it is such a good read. It doesn't matter what genre you like if the ideas are good and the way they are told is compelling then people will enjoy it. That is the ultimate success of this book.

I'm quite excited that they are making this into a film and so far the cast and crew looks interesting enough to suggest that this could be worth seeing. ...more

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Jan 08, 2013 Komal marked it as on-hold

Shelves: science-fiction

More than 80 pages in and still no sign of a story... I'd have dropped this, but there's something which tells me to give it another chance. Later. ...more

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