Rating: 
Summary: Intense, accelerating, but has troubled aspects
Review: Ender's Game is so full of excitement, intelligence, realism, and with such an interesting cast of main characters and a conclusion that evokes such mixed feelings, nominally triumphant but really tragic, it's hard not to love it. The battle room scenes were especially gripping with their detailed explanations rather than just generalizations. For that, and excellent science fiction, 3 stars.There were at least a couple parts that were disturbing (Card argues in his intro to this 1991 edition that some childran really DO think and talk like Ender and the others, and I'm willing to accept that). Without spoiling things, the world is not democratic; evil forces are in control is almost justified with descriptions of "peace and prosperity". Don't get me wrong but I wouldn't like a book describing a future under communism or facism and putting hope into that, saying that humanity experiences "peace and prosperity". Would you? The ultimate "hegemon" has quite a bit of blood (partially) on his hands. There are other characters who do some reprehensible things and get away with it. In the end, a crushing look at politics (as with war). A supposedly more sympathetic character, Ender's sister Val, allows herself to be used by evil and never seems to completely atone for her actions. She runs away, is still the smiling kid who asks why she shouldn't be allowed to have fun, and doesn't seem to be bothered by the fact that she was so easily, hopelessly repeatedly, controlled, and helped mislead millions of people. This should have been better developed. She even partially justifies it, claiming that we all "fill roles" given to us by others. While this may be true, they are not the right words to be coming out of this particular character's mouth. Well the book is entertaining enough but that entertainment seems overshadowed by pain and tragedy, all well represented within the character Ender, and the ironies that result. It draws in the reader very personally. I think it has to, because we are enjoying the "games" which lead to the killing, by reading the book, in that sense we are like Ender who is the actual doer. Add these elements together, sometimes I think the troubled consquences are simply suppressed or put aside one too many times; the last chapter didn't happen soon enough and wasn't long enough; things went on too long too complacently when evil ruled politics and while Ender followed violence so far (wittingly or not). This is very troubling, because it suggests, despite evidence to the contrary, that the war was after all the centerpiece of the book, and that the other factors were simply the decoration, the after-thought, the accompanying philosophy that cannot exist without first military priorities or military victory. Which would make it a glorification, intentional or not, of violence, and evil. If you think I am crazy judge for yourself. I suppose I am sensitive to such subtleties because I have read one too many biased writings, and know how subtle and troubling these biases can be, even unconscious ones, despite facades that are presented..
It was honestly that thought that kept me awake at night long after I had finished this book. Well, you can come to your conclusions, but while I am unwilling to certainly condemn, and can only express doubts, those doubts are enough to keep me from ever being completely comfortable with this book.
Rating: 
Summary: A Successful and Exciting Novel
Review: "Ender's Game" was an exciting novel that kept me wanting to read more after every page that I turned. I thoroughly enjoyed reading "Ender's Game", because it was well written. At some parts you could feel exactly how Ender felt, because of the author's wonderful description. You also felt like you were in the story watching this young hero grow up and become a man. As Ender makes his way through Battle School with all of theother geniuses of the world,he over comes many obstacles, and becomes a hero, Ender makes many trustworthy friends who help him along the way. I would recommend this book,and the sequel "Ender's Shadow" to anyone who is interested in things like space, science fiction, and stories with magnificent heroes!
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: Before reading this book, a friend of mine had me under the impression that this book presented a cogent science fiction realm where intellect could thrive. I, unfortunately, did not find quite what I was hoping for. The literature itself was an annoying read for the writing style was lacking in clariy or simply bogged down with overly childish cant. More importantly, however, I felt the book only lightly skimmed over the constituents of the philosophic implications of the technology or situations of the presented time, despite the fact that this, primarily, should be the essence of expression via science fiction. From other praise, I see that many derive philosophic significance from some part of this book, but I am quite confused as to its source. I felt there was quite a platform for the presentation of ideas of huge significance in both saving a world and living day-to-day life, but Card did not seem to actually probe these ideas to any extent. Simply put: the ideas that could have been were not developed. In the book's defense, I will say that a couple of entertaining twists were thrown and that, if one were to take some of the ideas that were almost planted herein and run with them through several conversations, something interesting might crop up on occasion that is, indeed, worthy of consideration. Lastly, I am no major fan of contemporary science fiction; I read mostly non-fiction, so my opinion might be jaded by the thrills I find in our own non-fictional world. Overall, the book was probably a waste of time. I seek higher intellectual thrills than this book was able to give me.
Rating: 
Summary: A very satisfying work of social science fiction
Review: I picked up _Ender's Game_ with few expectations. After all, I had abandoned science fiction (with a few exceptions, such as Isaac Asimov's oeuvre) long ago for more varied climes, and the long list of books in the Ender series made me very suspicious of Orson Scott Card as a writer. Well, my suspicion of Card was justified, but my wariness towards the book was not. _Ender's Game_ presents the reader with a not-exactly dystopia inhabited by a frighteningly bright six-year-old boy, Andrew "Ender" Wiggin. He is tested relentlessly and in the end comes through. I vastly simplify things, yes, but that's the essential story. The ending is extremely moving, and the path there is filled with intriguing plot twists, character development, and quite a few viscerally emotional scenes. Why only four stars? Well, it's not a perfect book. I am prepared to grant Ender genius status, for example, but I just can't believe in a station full of eight-year-olds who talk and act like adults. A station full of teenagers, okay, but the existence of so many adult-minded prepubescents strains my suspension of disbelief a bit too much. Not much to nitpick otherwise; besides some inexplicable scenes, it's a very solid, well-written book. Unfortunately, Mr. Card couldn't leave well enough alone, but insisted on tying up every last loose end over the course of the next books (_Speaker for the Dead_, quite good but very different; _Xenocide_ and _Children of the Mind_, which I haven't read but which sound rather lacking; and the "Shadow" series, focusing on one of Ender's co-trainees, Bean, which contradicts Ender's Game and almost threatened my liking for the series). Ender's Game has a fantastic ending, Speaker a good one, but Card insisted on fleshing out the series, and thus killed the creative, imaginative process that great fiction spawns between author and reader. Definitely read _Ender's Game_; if you need more, read _Speaker for the Dead_. If you need to know the rest, your own imagination may serve you better than Card's.
Rating:
Summary: Ender's Game
Review: Ender's Game is a book that can be read every year and each time find new meaning. The story focuses on a young boy named Andrew (Ender) through out his training to become a military leader in the war against the alien buggers. For years the government has been trying to create the perfect military leader. Ender's brother, Peter, and sister, Valentine, were both thought to be that commander, but Peter was too aggressive, and Valentine too passive. Ender is considered the worlds only hope of winning the upcoming war. Two men discussing Ender and the progress he has been making precede each chapter. They decide to manipulate Ender's surrounding in order to mold him into the military leader they want him to be. When Ender becomes skilled enough to be a commander, he made to believe that he only is practicing an attack when in reality he is leading an army against the real buggers. Ender realizes that the only way to beat what he thinks is a game is to attack the bugger's planet and kill billions of innocent buggers. When he is told that the program was in fact a real attack and he just won the war, Ender feels guilty for the death of billions. This book is recommended for a science fiction reader of any age. Full of memorable characters and a lot of action, Ender's Game leaves the readers asking themselves this question: is the manipulation of one life worth the lives of many?
Rating:
Summary: The Best
Review: I read Ender's Game last year and can say with all honesty that it is a book you will not want to put down. I didn't, all through that school day and into the early hours of the morning...with school the next day. I am a fan of science-fiction and a voracious reader, so when I heard about this story it was natural that I would read it. However, I can see how this book will appeal to more than sci-fi fans because the story here, while taking place aboard and orbiting school where children are trained as commanders for an upcoming war against an alien race, is a human story. It is not littered with technical jargon or futuristic weapons, nor weighed down by descriptions of a future world. No, the story is a human one, about a child sent away at six-years-old. About the experiances of this child, Andrew "Ender" Wiggin, and the others at Battle School. The children, though brilliant, have the same thoughts and impulses that normal kids do. The pace is slow enough to take the events to heart, and quick enough that the years of Ender's childhool fly by. "I've watched through his eyes, I've listened through his ears, and I tell you he's the one."
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: Orson Scott Card, Ender's Game (Tor, 1985) Orson Scott Card says in his preface to Ender's Game that one of the main criticisms with the book people have is that gifted kids just don't act and talk like Ender and his battle school mates. To which Card usually responds with something like "they're just smart enough not to talk that way around adults." Been there, done that. He's right. The main criticism of the book dispensed with, Ender's Game focuses on young Andrew "Ender" Wiggin, a genetically-engineered genius recruited by the army at the age of six as a potential battle commander in a war against another race of beings from far off in the galaxy. But, as with most good science fiction, the actual science fiction parts of the book are tangential to the main thrust of the book at best; take out the stuff we can't do in modern-day society and put Ender and pals in a present-day prep school, and the human drama at the book's core remains credible. This is a necessity in any novel written in any genre, and Card carries it off with grace and dexterity. The book's only real failing is that some of the minor characters (a number of Ender's schoolmates with small, but key, roles throughout his life) could have been better developed. But what is there is good; unlike most underdeveloped characters, Card's aren't there solely to advance a specific political or philosophical point of view; think of this particular set of underdeveloped characters as paler than usual rather than cardboard cutouts. They also don't get introduced with the words "kill me" already branded into their foreheads a la Stephen King or Joe Lansdale. It just would've been nice to see more of them, though that probably would have required a change in narrative perspective. Other than that, everything works here. The book is eminently readable, the characters are believable, the plot flows along. I didn't find myself with the same obsessive devotion to it as many of the book's fans have, but it certainly put me in the mood to continue on with the series, and that can never be a bad thing. Highly recommended. ****
Rating:
Summary: One of the best books I've ever read.
Review: I read this novel about 5 years ago and it is still in my Top 10 of best fiction. I read "Ender's Game" in one night. I could not put it down! Yes, it's "sci-fi" but - more than that - it is an intense character study of a boy under stress we cannot imagine. However, Mr. Card puts us in the heart and soul of Ender Wiggin, we experience his ordeal with him, and when it's all over the reader is left gasping for air. In my opinion, the ending of this book is one of the best ever conceived in the history of fiction.
Rating:
Summary: Ender
Review: Ender's game is a wonderful book full of adventure, love, friendship and courage. It's all about a young six year old boy who has a genius, but agressive brother, and loving, kind and genius sister.... which of coruse makes him in between. He is taken from his house and set to a planet to train to fight the buggers (Aliens). This book is full of excitment... and i promise everyone will love it. At first i thought it soulded stupid, and i really didn't like it, but 10 pages later i declared it was my favorite book, and now i'm trying to get everyone to read it.
Rating:
Summary: Ender's Game Review
Review: Ender's Game is a very good book. I enjoyed reading it. The plot is far fetched, but that's alright because it's a sci-fi book. I thought Ender was a realistic character. He was a very interesting character. The book isn't very hard to read and about 300 pages long. I would recomend this book to anyone who likes sci-fi and some people who don't like it.
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