I have trouble in general with science fiction because I always feel that there is some crucial piece of information that I'm missing. Or I feel that the tale is an allegory for something in our present-day world. Either way, I need a reader's guide to understand the significance of what's happening in the sci-fi novel itself.

With "Ender's Game" I was able to follow the action and sequence of events enough to understand where the story was going. I also caught on that the novel was published in 1977, during the Cold War, so some of the politics and fear of war made sense. But again, I felt that I was missing something important. For example, what was the significance of the "soldiers" being children? That seems like a critical point for the novel, yet it's never clarified.

If the novel is making a larger statement about war or mutually assured destruction, unfortunately that point was lost upon me. Just didn't see it, sorry!

Overall, I'm happy to have read the book to see what all the fuss was about, but ultimately, I realize that no matter how much I try, science fiction will never be my cup of literary tea. ( )

This book was suggested by Megan to give us a different genre and introduce some of us to a book considered a canon of sci-fi. We discussed this title at Phyllis's house.

Ender's Game is, in my opinion, an excellent read for those very much into Earth future science fiction and the evolution of human society (especially when alien life is thrown into the mix). This book only introduces the main character, Andrew "Ender" wiggin, as the child prodigy who might be able to save humanity from the alien "Bugger" threat. It focuses on his training and encounters during Battle School where he will eventually lead the human fleets against the aliens. It also follows the actions of his brother, Peter Wiggin, and his quest for political power amongst a very socially different, and united (albeit fragile alliances), human race.

Follow the series to delve deeper into the philosophy behind human/alien interaction as well as the events of Ender's latter years as he seeks peace from his actions in the war against the Buggers. ( )

Always wondered what the hype was about. Now I know. This is one of the best books I can remember reading for a very long time, and I wish I had read it when it was published. I subsequently read the rest of the series (including the newest book, which comes between this one and Speaker for the Dead), and while they are all worth reading, this one stands head and shoulders above the rest. I could write reams about it, but I'll just say two more things: 1. It is easy to read, but there is lots to chew on. 2. Read it. ( )

This book was not at all what I expected. It's much more concerned with psychology and ethics than straight out sci-fi. The story revolves around a gifted child who is singled out by the government as a sort of Christ-like Superman figure who happens to be the human race's one chance at winning an intergalactic war. The novel's focus is not the war but rather Ender's journey through school and his progression from naive boy to world-weary young man. ( )