Review: “Ender’s Game” by Orson Scott Card

By Orson Scott Card

Read the Book Rating Scale.

• Realism: 6. The idea of pushing genius children to the brink of their abilities is something I can see happening in the real world. At times, the gifted and talented children are treated as if they have the psyche and emotional fortitude of an adult, simply because they are brilliant. This assumption is unfair to the children. The medium grade comes from some of the more intricate details within the story: child soldiers, futuristic setting, etc. This could be seen as unfair on the book, and I agree with that, but in my defense: life isn’t fair, and books don’t exist in a vacuum.

• Enjoyment: 7. Card’s writing style suits the book well. The story can survive without any flashiness on Card’s part. The details he gives concerning the phenomenon of the circular station and anti-gravity battles – both experiences absent in the real world – are done beautifully and place the reader in these new and unreal situations with a feeling of reality.

• Entertainment: 10. I could not put this book down. The plot and storyline were both well thought out and intriguing. I was pulled into Ender’s life.

• Impact: 7. I believe this book has a wide range of discussion topics, despite it being a science fiction novel. After reading this book my views on total genocide in the name of war and preemptive strikes changed. My thoughts on child soldiers and video games as training simulators were influenced after reading this book. The book causes me to want to write a book better than it; almost like a challenge.

Score: 30/40

The detailed plot and pace of the book makes it an entertaining read, and it masks some of the book’s deficiencies. The only memorable characters to me are Ender and the military guy that first scouts him out. The other characters appear to me to be mere plot devices.

Order the book from Amazon.com.

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