"Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card was a novel that I initially had
my suspicions of but grew to love as the story unfolded. Set in an
unspecified future where space travel and colonization are
unremarkably part of human achievement, in the world of Ender's
Game, Earth has already repelled two alien invasions and is
expecting a third. In preparation, the worldwide government seeks a
great military strategist and tactician. A highly specialized
selection and education system is established. The military
monitors potential children for their first few years and send the
most promising to 'Battle School' at about the age of six.
Andrew 'Ender' Wiggins is one of those selected. A third child
allowed to be born - in a world where strict population control
restricts families to two children - because his two older siblings
also showed promise, Ender meets all the intellectual and
psychological requirements. He is sent to an orbiting space station
with other young candidates and begins a training regimen that will
last for years.
While a story of much action, twist, turns and physicality, Ender's
Game also confronts a number of themes. Ender is tormented about
doing harm to others, about being passive in the control of
authority figures, and about being driven to win above all
else.
However, there are a few things that distracted me. First and
foremost was the naked boys. I found this detail to be creepy. Why
did they have to be naked? Why mention it?
Second, the dialogue disappointed me. The short prologues of Col.
Graff's conversations in front of most chapters were stilted. The
tone and style of the dialogue of the young children were
off-kilter. And, the slang of the young children seemed badly
rendered: was it supposed to be a parody of 'Ebonics'?
Third, the novel seemed to suggest a philosophy where killing
without being personally aware was excusable. As long Ender as was
kept from knowing, then he was beyond guilt. Was he?
A short novel, Ender's Game nonetheless stays with you after the
last page: a very good read.