By Orson Scott Card
A Review by Tommy N. Jeffers
There has been a few times in my life that a book has hit me so hard that it almost left me staggering from the blow. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card is one of those books. It is so full of insight and amazingly developed characters that it feels real. This is despite the fact that the main characters are very young children with intellects that are higher than your average adult.
The story takes place in Earth's future. The planet has been attacked several times by an alien race known as the 'buggers'. The attacks took place years before the novel opens, and the surviving humans fear that another may occur soon. Since humanity won the last war by a stroke of luck, they are trying to find a leader that will have the fortitude and skill to win the next war. They search for these leaders among the children of Earth. This is where Ender Wiggin comes into play. It is determined that he might have the ability to be 'the one' that could rise up to defeat the aliens. The book is all about this discovery.
I would not want to give away any of the delicious plot of this incredible novel. Suffice it to say that it is a dark and sinister work full of suspense. It is not a book to begin at night in bed unless one plans on getting no sleep. It is simply impossible to put down. The premise almost sounds laughable. Believe me, it isn't. Card's greatest strength is character development. If a reader goes into this book expecting typical 'action' they will not get what they are anticipating. It is not a simple 'fight the aliens' book. It is full of deep meaning, and it spoke straight to my heart. I identified with the main characters so much it was personally edifying. The themes and motifs in this novel stay strong in the mind long after the last page has been read. It is impossible for this review to do the book justice. I, honestly, often tell people about it when I am browsing in a bookstore and find another person looking for a novel standing beside me. I have caused several strangers to by the book because of the praise I give it. I think everyone should read it. Even if an individual is not a science fiction fan, it is likely that they would like this book. It could honestly be my second favorite book of ALL TIME, and trust me I have read more than your average bookworm.
