"A library doesn't need windows. A library is a window." – Stewart Brand

Nov 3, 2010

Read Something! _Ender's Game_ (Orson Scott Card)

Ender's Game

ORSON SCOTT CARD
1977
324 pp.
Science Fiction

Summary 

Decades ago, the buggers attacked. Then they attacked again. The next wave may spell the end of humanity's existence. Ender, a genius child, is in training to become the leader of the human forces in the next war with the buggers. But will the training itself break him -- or his enemies kill him -- before he graduates? And is even Ender enough of a leader and strategist to beat the buggers once and for all?

Appeal characteristics

  • Plot: One major plot, with one distinct subplot occasionally developed (and one semi-subplot, not really a plot but a trajectory followed by other characters that we see unfolding as well)
  • Characterization: Character-focused -- emphasis is on Ender's thoughts, emotions, and experience
  • Characterization: All major characters are genius children
  • Characterization: Most characters other than Ender (and Valentine?) seem a bit sketched out -- they feel like real people and yet we do not know a whole lot about them; Ender is very clearly the center of this book
  • Frame: Some ethical questions are raised (e.g. relating to destroying other species, the ethics of profoundly damaging one person to save the human race, etc.) but are not very deeply explored -- although the text is open enough to allow the reader to do that thinking/exploration on his/her own
  • Pacing: Card gives us several scenes from around the same time period, then skips forward by months to years at a time; as the book goes on the gaps in time are greater
Other notes
  • My Noting: Books entry on Ender's Game: (not available currently; at the time of this posting notingbooks.com was down)
Readalikes
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