31st July 2004, 8:59 PM
Has anybody read Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card? Wow. I never read sci-fi (fantasy is NOT sci-fi) and have never been a big fan of all the alien stuff, but this book was incredible. I couldn't put it down, and if not for the wierd philisophical last chapter it would be one of my favorite books. Still, the rest of the book more than makes up for the end wierdness, and it's only a couple minor details.
The story is not extremely original. Aliens have attacked earth twice, and we've only won by luck. So to make sure we win the next war, the government begins searching for genius children, and trains the best to be unbeatable commanders by playing war games. Ender is one of these kids, and is the most talented they've ever found. So with time running out, he Earth's last hope for survival.
It's not just fun sci-fi, but takes a hard look at stuff like war and the value of one life over another and is very interesting. I really enjoyed that, but takes a plunge off the deep end in the end.
It is very well written and I feel like I can completely relate to Ender in so many ways which only made it more exciting. If you like to read anything, I highly recomend it. I am definently going to be reading more of Card's stuff, but I think I may not read the next book in the series right away. From what I've heard, it picks up where Ender's Game left off, with the wierd philisophical pseudo-religious stuff that I didn't like. There is a parallel novel to this, called Ender's Shadow, which follows the same story but from the point of view of one of Ender's friends, Bean. I've heard it is very good, so I think I'll pick that up next.
The story is not extremely original. Aliens have attacked earth twice, and we've only won by luck. So to make sure we win the next war, the government begins searching for genius children, and trains the best to be unbeatable commanders by playing war games. Ender is one of these kids, and is the most talented they've ever found. So with time running out, he Earth's last hope for survival.
It's not just fun sci-fi, but takes a hard look at stuff like war and the value of one life over another and is very interesting. I really enjoyed that, but takes a plunge off the deep end in the end.
It is very well written and I feel like I can completely relate to Ender in so many ways which only made it more exciting. If you like to read anything, I highly recomend it. I am definently going to be reading more of Card's stuff, but I think I may not read the next book in the series right away. From what I've heard, it picks up where Ender's Game left off, with the wierd philisophical pseudo-religious stuff that I didn't like. There is a parallel novel to this, called Ender's Shadow, which follows the same story but from the point of view of one of Ender's friends, Bean. I've heard it is very good, so I think I'll pick that up next.