John Wiswell's Reviews > Ender’s Game
Ender’s Game (Ender's Saga, #1)
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This is a novel that blows past conventional ideas like "disbelief." Apparently humanity, a species whose only real claim to fame is war, now stinks at war, and can only be saved by a child genius who is one part prophecy, one part bad science, and one part wish-fulfillment. Thanks to this plan, we are treated to a gaggle of super-intelligent children who seldom appear particularly clever (in fact many behave with adult maturity rather than abnormal intellect) and achieve greatness not through any great effort that we follow (rather you'll read recaps of their successful efforts), but because the author wants them to achieve these things. In this, the definitive edition of Ender's Game, there is almost nothing earned within the plot.
It's a decent story, but for a book with so many events there is very little consequence or risk, and the character development is so linear and stale. That last quality is particularly cloying considering that, prodigies or not, most of the characters are children and at least one of them should develop in an unexpected way. Instead the unexpected developments we get are humorlessly absurd, like two prodigies fooling the world with a fake op-ed column that earns them political power. The ending is predictable and deliberately anti-climactic, robbing the novel of its one true punch. The trade-off is, instead of getting the thing the book was building to, you get the opportunity for sequels and spin-offs. If you liked the infallible, mostly emotionless and paper-thin protagonist, then that's a good thing. If you were hoping to have the hours you put into the book validated with some real emotion at the end, well, neither this author's definitive edition nor any other is going to help you.
It's a decent story, but for a book with so many events there is very little consequence or risk, and the character development is so linear and stale. That last quality is particularly cloying considering that, prodigies or not, most of the characters are children and at least one of them should develop in an unexpected way. Instead the unexpected developments we get are humorlessly absurd, like two prodigies fooling the world with a fake op-ed column that earns them political power. The ending is predictable and deliberately anti-climactic, robbing the novel of its one true punch. The trade-off is, instead of getting the thing the book was building to, you get the opportunity for sequels and spin-offs. If you liked the infallible, mostly emotionless and paper-thin protagonist, then that's a good thing. If you were hoping to have the hours you put into the book validated with some real emotion at the end, well, neither this author's definitive edition nor any other is going to help you.
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Reading Progress
Started Reading
May 1, 2006
–
Finished Reading
August 13, 2007
– Shelved
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Vivian
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rated it 1 star
May 20, 2011 02:59AM
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![Winston](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1335530414p1/7268183.jpg)
"Oh hey, this kid is special and will save humanity!"
Where have I heard that before? You can't just make kids act like adults if you want them to look intelligent.
Earth Army vs Faceless Alien Army - wow!
Reading it gave me some pleasure but I just had to put it down about halfway through. There's nothing in it for me. I only read it because of the hype, I should have trusted my instincts.
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![Nick](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1333122964p1/7723461.jpg)
I'm lost as to what you're trying to convey with that sentence. Could you elaborate? Also, why do you say, "...at least one of them should develop in an unexpected way"? Their developments disappoint you, I take it, but that shouldn't mean there aren't unexpected ones. Peter doesn't turn out to be a villain; Ender's true nature as a killer isn't ever expanded; Graff actually cares greatly about the students; and Ender's parents aren't by any means idiots. There's plenty I could point to from other books in the series, but that would be a bit unfair as here we're limited to Ender's Game.
![Ross](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1346878207p1/12524027.jpg)
This review is a little off.
Not saying anything about your opinion
Just you got many facts wrong and included things that weren't in the story...
![John Wiswell](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1442531848p1/147818.jpg)
This review is a little off.
Not saying anything about your opinion
Just you got many facts wrong and included things that weren't in the story..."
Would you like to name some, Ross?
![Ross](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1346878207p1/12524027.jpg)
.?
Ender was always opposed to fighting and war. He just went along with what his commanders said.
The book wasn't even pro war.
And after the bugger war ended so did all war. Just because these kids enjoyed fighting in battle school doesn't mean it's a " claim to fame"
![Ross](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1346878207p1/12524027.jpg)
What I should have said is ur review may mislead some people who may end up enjoying this book
![John Wiswell](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1442531848p1/147818.jpg)
.?
Ender just following orders does not make war a species's claim to fame. The last three thousand years of human history does that. I'm sorry that my being flippant confused you about the plotting, but even then, my statement about the premise (we stink at war, we need a savior) stands.
![Ross](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1346878207p1/12524027.jpg)
Don't be sorry... and there is no need for an apology either. Lol.
And I didn't find your review disrespectful, tis your opinion.
![John Wiswell](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1442531848p1/147818.jpg)
The first book that comes to mind is Philip Reeve's Mortal Engine, which blends the YA adventure with SF/Steampunk quite well. On the Fantasy side, I can't recommend Ursula K. LeGuin's A Wizard of Earthsea enough - that is a book I honestly wish I'd grown up with. Both of those books start series, too.
But because I'm not much of a MG/YA reader, I asked friends on social networks and drummed up the following list. Hope it helps. To be fair, three people immediately recommended Ender's Game for that age group.
White Mountains by John Christopher (two recs)
The City of Ember by Jeanne DePrau
Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander
Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King
The Magnificent 12 by Michael Grant
The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman
Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett
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![Amol Gupta](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1362369767p1/18026147.jpg)
I think you are just over simplifying the book because that is the easiest thing in the world to do.
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