Card, O. S. (1991). Ender's game. New York: Tor. ISBN 0312932081
Plot Summary Ender is a deeply precocious and talented child who wears a monitor, like his brother and sister before him, that allows the military to constantly watch him as he plays simulated games against the aliens who are fighting the human race. When his monitor is removed, he is relieved and disappointed that he has not been selected for battle school, and hopes that his deeply jealous and sadistic brother will stop hating him. But Peter’s hatred runs too deep and he continues to torture Ender, who is only protected by his loving sister Valentine. Despite the removal of the monitor, Ender discovers that he has been chosen and is taken from earth to a space station where he is put in battle school. There, just as with Peter, Ender’s talent and intelligence breeds resentment among his peers. Again and again, as he continues to find success, he must face opposition. Meanwhile, Peter and Valentine are seeking to change society on earth. Isolated from each other, Ender and Valentine are both depressed and grow apart. Ender is doing what he is best at, and he is rewarded by the approval of the military heads, but can he survive the constant psychological toll of the simulated games and the separation from his sister, the only person who really loves him?
Critical Analysis
Ender’s Game is a masterful and sophisticated work. Part science fiction, part coming of age, part examination of a family and the relationships within it, this book is fully satisfying on many levels. The cast of characters is comprised of children and Card does a remarkable job of telling this story through them in a way that is true to the minds of children but not condescending or unrealistic. Ender is a sympathetic and realistic character. His genius isolates him and causes him great unhappiness, and the reader feels his longing to be normal even as he continues to excel in ways that no other child ever has. There are bright spots of hope as Ender makes friends, but he moves upwards in the ranks of his school so quickly that these connections cannot be maintained and, as such, they are not enough for Ender. The only thing he excels at is the games, so he must bury himself in this world, which exhausts his brain and depresses him. His life is a lonely one. In contrast is Peter, who is sadistic and deeply ambitious and who eventually takes over the world. Valentine cannot reign Peter in. She is a sympathetic character as well in her affections for and protection of Ender, although comparably weak, and ultimately provides little comfort to Ender when she visits him. They have been apart too long and their relationship as well as their entire family has disintegrated even further than before. These characters are thrust into impossibly difficult situations and their reactions are genuine, making this a fairly dark book. The battle scenes are intense and well-depicted, compelling to read even for a reader who is not an avid fan of science fiction. Without spoiling the ending, suffice to say that the twist that occurs is effective and upsetting and comes as a surprise both to the characters and the readers. There are themes of betrayal and exploitation and death that are not lightweight. Card pulls no punches. Despite this heavy turn of events, there is ultimately hope for Ender and for the world he must inhabit. On the whole the book reads quickly and is deeply absorbing and will leave the reader wanting for the next two in the series.
Reader’s Annotation
Child prodigy Ender Wiggins rises quickly in the ranks of battle school as he wins one simulated battle against the aliens threatening to destroy humankind after another. But he is isolated in this world and continually searches for happiness and acceptance.
About the Author
Orson Scott Card was born in Washington and spent his childhood reading voraciously and moving between California, Arizona, and Utah. In the 1970s, he did missionary work in Brazil for his church. In addition to writing, he also directs plays and teaches workshops and writes a catch-all newspaper column called Uncle Orson Reviews Everything, published both online and by Rhinoceros Times. Currently he is working as a professor of writing and literature at Southern Virginia University. He lives in Greensboro, North Carolina with his wife and their youngest daughter.
Card is a celebrated author of science fiction but also writes biblical novels, contemporary and medieval fantasy, poetry, and books on writing. He has also written screenplays for animated children's videos on religious topics. Both Ender's Game and Speaker of the Dead, the sequel, have won the prestigious Hugo and Nebula Awards.
Genre
Science Fiction - militaristic
Challenge Issues
Possible challenge issues in this book include violence and profanity. In the event of a challenge, I would consult the challenge defense file prepared for this book. The challenge defense file would include: positive reviews from credible sources for the purpose of proving merit to the challenger; negative reviews in order to inform me on what might be challenged; a written explanation of my own rationale for including the book in the collection as well as a summary of the plot; the American Library Association Bill of Rights; a review of my branch’s selection policy; and, as a last resort, an explanation of the reconsideration policy for my library and an official reconsideration form.
Curriculum Ties
English and Writing, or Social Studies: for English and Writing, character development, prose, and story arc; for Social Studies, effects of war on society and the individual.
Booktalk
Who here plays video games? What if the military found out how good you are and put you in battle school so you could play these games against other prodigies? What if the video games you played were preparing you for real war, dangerous war with aliens? How would that affect your life? That’s what happens to Ender, and although he loves the games and is extremely good at them, he finds himself lonely and depressed and obsessed with the constant playing. What happens in the end of this book to Ender and the games he is playing will shock you.
Reading Level and Interest Age
Grades 8-12, and beyond, as this book deals with such adult themes.
Why I Included This Book
This book is a science fiction classic, but also simply a great work of fiction that deals with society, war, and many other weighty issues. Young adults who read this book will be sucked in by Card’s characters and plot, but will come away thinking about how we treat each other, how children are mistreated in society, and what war really does to the human race.
References
About Orson Scott Card. (2011). Hatrack.com. Retrieved from
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