Ender's Game

---BOOK REVIEW-----
Title: Ender's Game
Author: Orson Scott Card

Reviewed by: Jessica Jia

-February 13, 2008-

Orson Scott Card begins the book “Ender’s Game” with the government. They know what’s in Ender Wiggin’s head. They’ve seen through his eyes, listened through his ears, and they say that he is the one.

“Ender’s Game” was the novel that essentially launched Orson Scott Card’s writing career. Produced in 1985, the adventure is timeless. “Ender’s Game” is a science-fiction original that portrays the savage human instinct to fear the unknown, annihilate all competitors, and the impulse to wipe out all threats before they even have a chance to repent.

The storyline follows a boy genius named Ender Wiggin, a prodigy born for one purpose; war. As we see through Ender’s eyes, he is just one of many selected in hopes of becoming the next great general of Earth’s military. The whole world is preparing for war, but not with each other; for over 70 years mankind has been getting ready for the third invasion. The first two invasions of aliens descended upon Earth ruthlessly, and almost killed the entire human race. Fortunately for Earth, a miracle saved mankind – it was the General named Mazer Rackham.

But Rackham’s gone. And Earth’s fervently churning out its geniuses and strategists hoping for one that could match his cunning before they’re attacked again. The hopefuls are the young; each candidate taken before adolescence and shipped to Battle School – where the government can cultivate their minds and mold them into the shoes of a military genius. Ender is six years old when he is plucked from his family and flown to the orbiting school in space. They tell him that the next time he can see Earth will be when he is twelve, under special circumstances. However, Ender’s case is already special. Ender is smarter than the other children, he is more resourceful, and his capabilities far exceed even the seniors of the school.

Colonel Graff is assigned to the special task of developing Ender. Any time Ender solves his problems, it’s Graff’s job to develop new ones for him. Ender must be able to overcome anything thrown his way. The troubles that Ender deals with don’t just refer to the games, it’s his whole life. Merciless, Graff moves Ender up and promotes him into new age groups every time he solves his disputes. The odds must always be against Ender. For, that is how the war will be – mankind against all odds of winning.

The real question that sets us on the edge of our seats is – Will our beloved protagonist make it to live up to the expectations set for him?

Orson Scott Card depicts the messed-up life of a child who is isolated from all comforts; a child that carries the weight of billions on his shoulders. Card pulls at the sympathy and compassion of the reader, where you can almost feel Ender’s frustration and sadness burning through your own chest. “Ender’s Game” takes you to a depth of losing the will to go on, and the small miracles that make humans worth fighting for.