Ender's Game

[Brickbat]

Have you read it? Tell me about it. I usually read what my kids are reading so I can talk to them about it, but this one didn't grab me at all and I don't feel like reading it. Anyone got a Cliff Notes version?

[Dr. Strange]

1. There is a novella version.

I actually read that first, and liked it so much that I read the full novel.
Here's SparkNotes: http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/endersgame/

[Brickbat]

2. I've found a lot of good things about it online

and maybe I should just try reading it again on another day. This is one of the first real young-adult books my kid is reading, and a few things are throwing him, but he loves the book. He doesn't want it to end. I see there's a series; I haven't told him that yet.

[Cid_B]

4. Great book...

The rest of the series didn't grab me as much. As for EG, what's not to love about a child Napoleon kicking ass across the galaxy (unwillingly at times.)

[Brickbat]

13. Yeah, I think that's the appeal to my son.

Who's a bit of a Napoleon himself. :)

[trof]

26. That has to be one of the most convoluted things I've ever read.

I'll stick to Twain and Fitzgerald.
;-)

[JTG of the PRB]

3. I loved it. I read it for the first time last year and I loved it.

The only thing that was kind of tough was separating the book from the author, because the author is a fairly hard-core right winger.

But the book was great. It's long, but it's completely worth it.

[Brickbat]

14. I should just buckle down and read it, it sounds like.

Now he's reading "The Lightning Thief" and wishes he were the son of Poseidon. He's usually got four or five books going on at one time.

[TCJ70]

5. I downloaded it on iTunes...

...so I could listen to it on my commutes. It was really good. I haven't tried to read it, that may be more difficult, but it was not hard to get through in audio format.

[Brickbat]

15. Ah, interesting!

I don't enjoy audiobooks, but I do know a lot of people listen to them on commutes (I don't have a commute, either). My children, however, LOVE audiobooks and listen to them as they fall asleep -- after I've read to them first, of course! I'll see if he's interested in the iTunes version...

[MicaelS]

6. Wikipedia has good synopsis.

Ender's Game.

I've read it numerous times and loved it, however.....criticism I later found, and read to be quite valid, has diminished the enthusiasm I once had for the book.

Creating the Innocent Killer: Ender's Game, Intention, and Morality

[Brickbat]

7. Yes, I've found some of that criticism, too.

My son has been trying to articulate to me his thoughts about a protagonist who uses violence in such a supposedly morally "clean" way. It's interesting, and I really should just get off my ass and read the book so I can draw out what he thinks about it.

[MicaelS]

11. You really should....

If you turn off your critical thinking, and just read the book as Card intended it's quite enjoyable.

[lazarus]

8. child abuse

I liked it a lot when I first read it, but later it just seemed to be child abuse.

[Brickbat]

16. I got the same feeling on some of the stuff I read.

I'm familiar with dystopian science fiction, but it's hard when it's kids.

[Richard Steele]

9. It was OK, but he really brought it all together with "Speaker For the Dead"

He was about the FIFTEENTH whr9ter to beat that lame premise
into a "novel" when he cranked out "Ender's Game"...
but he took it to heart and actually wrote a decent novel
to follow it up.

Sadly , after that, someone backed a dump truck full of cash
up to his front yard, and he eagerly threw his IDEAS
into the fireplace to make space for the tons of 2-pence banknotes.

[Brickbat]

18. Hee!

"Tons of 2-pence banknotes." :rofl:

[frogmarch]

10. Orson Scott Card,

while calling himself a Democrat, supported many of Bush's policies and voiced his support for the Iraq War and the republicanz' war on terrorism. Card is vehemently opposed to gay rights and is a frothing-at-the-mouth homophobe. He scoffs at evolutionary theory and defends ID, which in itself is enough to turn me off.

I read Ender's Game before I knew anything about its author. The book was okay, but reading it made me tired.

[Brickbat]

19. I have the same problem with one of my (formerly) favorite authors, Mark Helprin.

Not Mark Halperin. A fiction writer named Mark Helprin. Gorgeous if often overblown prose...aaaand Bob Dole's speechwriter.

[Blue-Jay]

25. Yeah, Card is a real dickhead.

But, I really enjoyed the Ender novels (up until the last two) and I also enjoyed the Alvin Maker series. After that, he went nutso by injecting his whacky political beliefs into his fiction.

[MissMillie]

12. loved it

I've been reading the other Card series written from the point of view of Bean. Also quite good.

[Brickbat]

20. I'll make a note of the other series.

The kid can't get enough of books.

[Fire Walk With Me]

17. Great author, hideous politics.

"Empire" made me want to puke. Stick to the Ender/Bean sagas..

[Brickbat]

22. I'll make a note of it.

My son is a strong reader AND political, and I'm sure it will bug him when I tell him about the author's views...

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

21. It's a good book.

Some good sequels too.

Rest of his shit sucks though.

[Brickbat]

23. That's the impression I'm getting, for sure.

I'll make a note of it.

[Brickbat]

24. THANKS TO YOU ALL FOR RESPONDING! I really appreciate the input.

Like I said, I usually read what my kids are reading, but this one just didn't grab me. I really appreciate your views and opinions.

[Orsino]

27. He made a couple of good sequels, which you should check out from the library...

...rather than giving another penny to support his anti-gay ramblings.

[Brickbat]

28. The one book came from a library book sale.

I know where you're coming from. :)