Just like Pooswife, I am scared to even begin this review. Orson Scott Card is one of my favorite authors, and I just don't know where to begin. He's inspired me to be more creative, and he's the best science fiction writer in my opinion. Here goes nothing:

Ender (nicknamed from his real name Andrew) is only six years old when this book begins. He is a brilliant child. He is wearing a monitor on his neck so the military intelligence can verify if the Earth will be safe from the Buggers. Ender is so young, and yet so important. Ender might be the only hope his world has for survival.

The book follows Ender's delicate life through each and every one of his endeavors. From his first brush with danger, to his final breakdown, this book has you glued to the text within the first few pages.

The world created by Orson Scott Card is breathtaking. Every minor detail about the future is covered. Every clever insight into the future is conferred. Every future war tactic is explained. Every single emotion Ender experiences is shown.

About 5 years ago, my brother recommended this book from a professor that recommended it to him. I didn't think too much about it, in fact, I didn't read it when he told me to. I took a trip with my family, and I told him to bring it. As soon as I got to our place, I lied down on my bed and starting reading. While they were watching TV, I was reading. While they were eating lunch, I was reading. While they were playing tennis, I was reading. And finally, when they were eating dinner I was reading.

I cut through that book as if nothing mattered. I just read and read till I was finished. Once I was done, I just sat there in reflection. I was dumbfounded by the fact that someone could come up with such an amazing, entertaining, and alternative world.

The characters were just so different. I mean, they shared the same emotions that kids today have, but they were just different. They were more violent, and more mature, but at the same time they were less mature. They would speak in slang, but they would know entire history lessons by heart. They would fight over video games, but they would know how to hack an entire computer network.

This book was so astounding to me. I had never even thought of the possibly that kids could be trained that early for intergalactic battles. I never thought about kids having to leave their families at such an early age. I never thought that something as profound as Ender's Game could ever be imagined.

The conflicts were similar, but they were set in the future, so their meanings were altered. People would fight with each other, but it would be about who's Army was better than who's. The people would have more complex issues to deal with. For example, Ender had to switch back and forth from his brilliant military-leader life, to his life with his dysfunctional siblings. He had to establish his feelings for his family. He had try and remember what it was like to be a family because his family life was short-lived.

Ender's Game is like no other book I've come across other than the other installments to the Ender's Game series. If you liked Ender's Game, the only other books I can recommend are Speaker for the Dead, Xenocide, Children of the Mind, Ender's Shadow, and Shadow of the Hedgemon. The only other prerequisite for reading Ender's Game is being a fan of science fiction and adventure.

The story in Ender's Game is one of the best I've ever come across. There are so many things that tongue-twist me to this very day. If I could explain everything I felt when reading this book, I would. The truth of the matter though, is that everyone needs to read this book for themselves. Everyone is going to feel different emotions toward Ender's Game. In conclusion, Ender's Game is one of the most well-done books I have ever come across. Check it out for yourself.

Recommended: Yes