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So today I read Enders Game. I didn't mean to read it today.

I thought I'd start it and just read a bit before getting out of bed and doing something productive today. I then stopped reading at about 11pm when there were no more words to read, had a shower, made differ, examined the internet a bit, ate dinner and began writing this post. Hello 1 am.

I'm not going to make a commentary on the book. I think I need to let my unconscious mind process it.

I think I feel an awe like you must feel in the "You are here" machine in HHGttG. The scale of such small things being such big things.


Looks like they're making a film (due November) with quite a good cast (as far as my ability to asses casts goes).

Suggestions on the other books in the series?

I don't plan to read them any time soon (I think I should pace my self a bit).

I've never understood the appeal of that book. This review pretty much summarizes my reaction to the book, especially the first section.

the books that follow ender's path turn into really dumb @#(! that doesnt make much sense. Think the Dune series. I heard the ones that follow bean are better but can't personally vouch for them

Haven't read them, I can't quite get over the fact that the guy is a certified asshat.

cashto wrote:QUOTE (cashto @ Feb 16 2013, 01:23 AM) I've never understood the appeal of that book. This review pretty much summarizes my reaction to the book, especially the first section.

That review could only have been written by a Brit

It does shed a new light on the book which I hadn't seen before. I certainly don't think (or at least I'd like to think, who knows) that as I was reading the book I was imagining myself in Ender's place as the chosen one, beating all the bullies and proving I'm the best, but at the time I did think that all the people who were saying that this book was a window into their lives (the letters to the author in the prologue of the edition I read come to mine) were a bunch of pretentious pricks.

Having said that, I still thought I was a smashing read. I didn't read the rest of the books though, they sounded somewhat underwhelming and other books soon took precedence. Maybe I'll come back to them one day.

Spunkmeyer wrote:QUOTE (Spunkmeyer @ Feb 16 2013, 03:33 AM) Haven't read them, I can't quite get over the fact that the guy is a certified asshat.

Ender's game is worth a read. His asshattery either hadn't developed yet, or he kept it on a tight leash.
It's a genuinely good book.

Card is though, as you imply a nasty social conservative head case. I think his success swelled his head up.


The sequels go quickly downhill, as per usual.

I could not shake the feeling that Card was deliberately trolling my willing suspension of disbelief. A six year old military genius who plays laser tag while his brother and sister sway the world by posting their opinions anonymously on the internet? ... you've got to be f-cking kidding me. It's the most ridiculous thing I've ever read.

After a certain point, I just had to write off the plot entirely, and tried to find something else worth salvaging from the book. But if you take story out, all you're left with is a repetitive series of adolescent geek revenge fantasy vignettes. It just didn't do it for me.

Yeah this book was incredibly mediocre.

I've read a ton of books by Orson Scott card. The only ones worth reading are Ender's game (which was fantastic) and the series that follows Bean after Battle School, instead of the books that follow Ender. After this book, if you want to skip the trash (speaker for the dead is okay, but not Xenocide), then go for Ender's Shadow.

I agree that some of the sciencey stuff is way out there. Later on in one of them, cant remember which one, some character transfers his consciousness into a flock of doves. The pequinino thing in Xenocide was terrible too.


EDIT: Even though those other books kinda suck, Orson's characters discuss a lot of interesting political science/philosopical stuff which is a huge turn on for me so i read em all despite the painful dialogue.

I've read Enders Game and Speaker For The Dead.

I thought both were very interesting. I felt Speaker For The Dead was a bit confusing initially, but the book develops pretty well and had kind of a surprising twist. I've wanted to read Xenocide, so I can find out what happens, but I can't find the damn book anywhere (and I refuse to buy books online).