Ender's Game

This book is one of my favorites of all time I was doubtful at the beginning but I absolutely loved it

This book is totally amazing. It describes where imagination meets the next level. A book that combines human nature, religion, politics, ambition, and resignation.

Ender’s Game delivers a gripping and conceptually rich story that blends military training, psychological tension, and ethical dilemmas. While not hard sci-fi, the book presents a believable and immersive future where children are trained for interstellar warfare through intense simulations.The war games are a standout — fast-paced, high-stakes, and a showcase for Ender’s strategic brilliance. These scenes are both thrilling and intellectually engaging. Beneath the action, the novel explores serious questions about leadership, manipulation, and the morality of war — questions that feel just as relevant today as when the book was first published.

This is really a quite well written book. But it seems like it truly is a young adult book not something for adults. I understand that sequel decks may have been more adult I will find out as I need them.

In the aftermath of the Bugger Wars, Earth’s International Fleet searches for the chosen one who will lead them to victory in one final battle against the alien invaders. Due to the extreme physical and psychological toll this mission will take on the one leading them into battle, the I.F. has set up a battle school to train up a generation of the planet’s most deadly… *checks notes*… children. Enter Andrew “Ender” Wiggin. Ender is not your stereotypical military leader. For one thing, he is only six years old. However, he is also physically unimpressive, scared, and friendless. Despite all these obstacles, Ender possesses two great strengths: his strategically-inclined mind, and his empathetic heart. Will these two traits be enough to help Ender overcome his considerable disadvantages? The fate of the world may depend on that very answer.Ender’s Game is a young adult sci-fi novel that transcends its target demographic with ease. Card’s willingness to ask his small protagonists big questions gives Ender’s Game an appeal to readers of all ages, not just middle and high school students. Card thoughtfully weaves in themes of free will vs. destiny, desire vs. duty, and whether the ends justify the means to great effect. These themes are fleshed out in a way that made me forget I was reading a book intended for students half my age. In addition to being thoughtful, Ender’s Game is just plain fun. Who knew that an intergalactic battle school could be such an exciting setting? Ender is constantly moving from battle to battle to existential dread to battle, with hardly any room to breathe in between. This makes for an action-packed and engaging read from cover to cover.Onto the two aspects of the book that didn’t work for me. Firstly, the adults in this book are all dreadfully boring. Most chapters begin with a private conversation between two of the military brass. Largely, I thought these conversations were not very insightful. They occasionally provided additional context to the plot of the book, but ninety percent of them could have been left out, and I wouldn’t have missed a thing. Secondly, the third act felt rushed. Card sets up so many interesting subplots that don’t ever feel resolved. An extra fifty pages on the back end of the novel to wrap up Peter’s relationship with Ender and Valentine, and some additional time spent with Ender as he processes all that he has been through would have gone a long way. But hey, I guess that’s what sequels are for.In a word, Ender’s Game was exciting. There was no point where I wondered whether I should continue reading. From the point Ender arrives at battle school, I had a hard time even putting the book down to get some sleep. Some will accuse this book of being beneath them; a book for students with rudimentary philosophical ideas and low standards for literature. To those people, I would say, “Don’t be such a fart-eater.”4.5/5 Stars