Rating: 4 stars
Cover synopsis: The war with the Buggers has been raging for a hundred years, and the quest for the perfect general has been underway for almost as long. Is Ender Wiggin the general Earth so desperately needs? The only way to find out is to throw him into ever-harsher training at Battle School, to chip away and find the diamond inside, or destroy him utterly. Ender Wiggin is six years old when his training begins. He will grow up fast.
I keep insisting I'm not much of a sci-fi fan, but then my friend keeps giving me sci-fi books to read and keep liking them. Not loving them, but enjoying them enough to give them 3- and 4-star ratings. So perhaps I need to change my assessment of myself...
Anyway, Ender's Game is THE sci-fi book. Every sci-fi fan has read it. It recently made NPR's top 3 list of science fiction and fantasy novels. And for many people I talk to, it's the book they read as a kid that turned them on to the genre. And I can see why.
This is a fascinating look into the mind of a soldier, Pair it with mind-blowing video games, contests, and worlds, and it's a pretty awesome read. I had a hard time visualizing some of the games, though I most enjoyed the political backstory and character psychology. Looking forward to a deep discussion at my book group this week.
