Reviews

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

alexan13's review against another edition

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I read this book for a science fiction class and would not have done so otherwise, as there is no way I would ever choose to support this author.

I'm also not going to rate the book because in this case I'm not really into separating art from artist. Objectively, I would have liked it a lot had I read it as a kid, but it's not worth recommending now given what I know about the author (as well as some misogynistic premises and casual racism in the novel)

renkf7's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

5.0

whimsicalmeerkat's review against another edition

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5.0

A cut above most "young adult" sci-fi. I love the characters. I do wish I had never learned anything whatsoever about Orson Scott Card though...

shandyt's review against another edition

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4.0

4.5 stars.

Formative to my childhood; like Harry Potter, it is difficult to look back on it with unadulterated fondness, given how deeply disappointed I am with its author.

lynmoore's review against another edition

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fast-paced

3.5

It was a very easy book to get through, but that’s also the reason it wasn’t the greatest- it’s essentially a middle grade book. The concepts dealt with are at a bit higher age, but the prose and story are middle grade level, mixed with a premise that can be a bit difficult to get behind. When the book ends, Ender is 11 and is titled “the greatest military general to ever live”. His 13-15 year old siblings are running the government/ news as shadow entities. It’s just a bit ridiculous. Enjoyable? Absolutely. But suspension of belief becomes more difficult the longer it goes on 

kingkarl's review against another edition

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adventurous medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

calhale1989's review against another edition

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5.0

5 Stars

I have read and re-read this book several times and this most recent was in tandem with the audio book. It remains one of my all-time favorite stories. I think one of the most amazing things about this book is that it is both a classic "Hero's Journey" of one lone individual battling against immeasurable odds, as well as a classic "Heroine's Journey" where the hero must slow and through struggle rally of a team around them to achieve a common goal.

It truly is a staple of the sci-fi genre.

kyliedoscope's review against another edition

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5.0

I love Ender's Game. Brilliant.

wibblethefisch's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

hungrybrainz's review against another edition

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5.0

I loved this book. From the moment I opened it and read the first few pages, I was intrigued. If I hadn’t been working on a few other books when I started it, I think I would’ve been able to finish it in just a couple of days.

I found it easy to follow, and I was actually invested in the training/battle scenes - but I could see how that might bore someone who wasn’t interested in that sort of topic.

I’ve read about some conflict regarding the author’s views/personality, but I didn’t personally go into reading this with any expectations or impressions other than “this was written in the late 70s-80s” and “this is a sci-fi novel”. So, I really enjoyed it.