Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card (Ender’s Saga #1) ★★★★☆ Once again, the earth is under attack. An alien species is poised for a final assault. The survival of humanity depends on a military genius who can defeat the aliens. But who? Ender Wiggin. Brilliant. Ruthless. Cunning. A tactical and strategic master. And a child. Recruited for military training by the world government, Ender’s childhood ends the moment he enters his new home: Battle School. Among the elite recruits Ender proves himself to be a genius among geniuses. He excels in simulated war games. But is the pressure and loneliness taking its toll on Ender? Simulations are one thing. How will Ender perform in real combat conditions? After all, Battle School is just a game. Isn’t it? This book came to me highly recommended, and it was pretty good. The plot kept me interested throughout, even though it did get a little slow at times. Card’s knowledge of strategy and tactics in battle was extensive and made the book a lot better - I would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves scifi, war, or psychological books. Watching Ender react to the way the teachers were manipulating him was probably the most interesting part of the book, and it made his character really well developed. Some of the other characters were underdeveloped and more like props than people, though. It was also really hard to believe that kids as young as six could be doing the things Card had them do. Maybe not impossible, but really improbable, especially to have that many kids with that much ability. At times, Card’s worldbuilding was a little bit shaky, and not just with the kids. We never find out what the Warsaw Pact is, even though it’s incredibly important to the story; same with the League and Hegemon (although it’s obvious they have to do with government.) We also don’t find out what buggers actually are until halfway through the book, and know little about life during Ender’s time period beyond the bugger wars and Battle School. That’s not to say I didn’t like Ender’s Game. I enjoyed it a lot,and got really into it, there were just a few things that stuck out to me as not right. Overall, Card’s book was an intricate story with killer plot twists and an intriguing world. It would be a great book for discussion groups.
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Once Upon a Time...As a longtime lover of stories and a believer in the power and magic of books, I've spent my life seeking out the best reads. This blog is dedicated to reviewing the books I read - good, bad, or magnificent - to help other readers find their next favorite books. Currently ReadingKing Zeno
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