Book review thread

[doc_bean]

Since we have a rather popular movie review thread here, i figure, why not try the same thing with books ? Most of us are literate, after all.

Greg recommended a book in the sci-fi vsfantasy thread:

doc, if you haven't already, give Orson Scott Card's Enders Game a read. Many people I've known have told me that it is the best or one of the best science fiction books they have ever read - and I agree with them.

So first of all I'd like to thank him for the recommendation

It's certainly an entertaining book. It's fairly traditional in set-up in that it's another "Only you can save us !"-type novel. But it is different enough. It concentrates mostly on the training of child prodigies who are being raised to command the intergalactic fleet of earth. The protagonist, Ender, is, of course, the best and brigthest student the school has ever had, and so they decide to push him to help him reach his maximal potential. This is somewhat the literary equivalent of the boot camp part of most war movies, except with kids, and laser tag in zero G. There are a few scenes focused on tactics, which most people on these forums will probably appreciate (don't expect Sun Tzu however, it's mostly in-game tactics, not grand strategy).

The book occasionally comments on the situation back on earth, and I think Peter, Ender's older brother is one of the most interesting characters in the book, I wouldn't have minded if the author had spent more time on his doings.

Overall it is a great book, especially because the 'environment' of the school just appeals to that little part in you that makes you think: 'cool !', like that word has never had gone out of style. The book does have its flaws, the children aren't very childlike, the backstory on eath feels a little tagged on and some tactical decision are questionable. But overall it's a very entertaining read.


BTW the short story of which parts still appear in the final book is available for free , in case anybody is interested. EDIT: For those who haven't read the book and would like to: the short story does spoil the ending of the book, and quite a few other important events, it's a condensed version of the novel.