ENDER’S GAME, by Orson Scott Card
[image: ccplic4teens.files.wordpress.com]
In honour of Where the Wild Things Are and children’s books everywhere, I’ve decided to post about my favourite childhood book, which is called Ender’s Game.
Ender’s Game is set in the future, in a world that has become united under a single government (the Hegemony) and which is quite advanced. The reason the world is united, however, is because they all have a common enemy– an alien race called the Buggers. The buggers came to attack the Earth twice in the past and, the world is gearing up for another all-out war.
Of course, to fight this war they need military officers. So, across the world, there’s a giant initiative to screen the smartest children and they’re all taken away to a military boarding school in space. Ender happens to be the best candidate they’ve found… so in order to preen him they literally make his life a living Hell– sacrificing his childhood and happiness for the good of humanity.
The reason this book is so incredible and influential (it’s won Hugo and Nebula Awards and is a favourite of children and adults worldwide) isn’t because of the backstory, however. I love it because it’s a real study in human psychology. What happens when you take the best and brightest of the world, stick them in a tin can in space, and endlessly f%&k with them?! READ THE BOOK and you’ll find out.
Interestingly enough, Ender’s Game is in development to become a film. It’s been a few years coming, and obviously it’s a mission to find child actors who can play the roles. As influential as the book has been, hopefully the film will be just as influential– I’m thinking The Matrix?!
–The Reader
I haven’t read this one yet, but have a copy waiting. I didn’t realise it is being made into a film – I’ll have to get round to it before that comes out.