Ender's Game is a 1985 military science fiction novel by American author Orson
Scott Card. The book follows the journey of Andrew "Ender" Wiggin, an exceptionally
gifted child who is trained in battle tactics and leadership skills at Battle
School to prepare for an impending alien invasion. Set in Earth's future, this book
explores themes such as morality, empathy, and friendship while following Ender on
his mission to save humanity from destruction.
This classic work of literature has been widely praised for its compelling
characters and plot that blend action with thought-provoking philosophy. It won
both the Hugo Award and the Nebula Award for best science fiction novel when it was
first published in 1985; since then, it has become one of the most influential
books in modern speculative fiction. Its success led to multiple sequels, prequels,
video games, comic book series, and even a film adaptation released in 2013
starring Asa Butterfield as Ender Wiggin himself.
The story begins when six-year-old Andrew "Ender" Wiggin is recruited by Colonel
Graff into an International Fleet (IF) training program designed to produce
commanders capable of defeating their enemies: an insectoid species known as
Formics or "Buggers". In order to hone his combat skills, he is sent off to Battle
School, where he must navigate social interactions with other students while also
mastering complex military strategies taught by IF officers, including Mazer
Rackham, a veteran commander from previous Bugger wars, all under intense scrutiny
from Colonel Graff himself. During these struggles, he meets friends like Petra
Arkanian, who help him develop empathy towards others despite being pushed away due
to many students viewing him as competition rather than someone they can trust or
rely upon during missions against simulated enemies outside the school walls.
As events unfold throughout this gripping tale, readers witness how powerful
emotions such as fear, anger, loyalty, hope, faith, etc., are used throughout
different situations, whether it be facing adversity inside Battle School or
confronting real-life adversaries later on, which ultimately make up not only
aspects within each character but also contribute largely towards forming strong
bonds between them, allowing them to come together to overcome any obstacle placed
before them. This makes us realize what true power really lies within us.
Overall, Ender's Game continues to stand the test of time, being one of those
novels that never fails to capture the reader's imagination whilst also teaching
valuable lessons along the way, making it a great addition to the library for
anyone looking to delve deeper into the sci-fi genre.
