Ender's Game Review

Mini-review #11
This is a series of short reviews for military SF and mecha SF.  You will not see a review of something I don't like as it isn't worth writing about in that case, but I will tell you what works for me and what doesn't about the stories I did like.  

Ender's Game is a classic military SF novel by Orson Scott Card that was first published in 1985.  This novel won both the Hugo and Nebula Awards! It is the first of a series of novels set in the same universe involving a Ender Wiggin.  Ender is a genetically engineered / bred child who is taken from his parents at a young age to attend Battle School.  Here, the International Forces (I.F.) are trying to create the best miltary leader that humanity has ever had.  Why are they doing this?  Humanity has been attacked twice by the Buggers who are an insectoid alien race and almost wiped out.  The Buggers are numerous,quick on the attack, and able to adapt to human tactics with great ease.  The people of Earth need the best military leader ever to take on the bugs.

Much of the book is about the childhood development of Ender along with his two siblings.  Ender is the only one who makes it into the orbital station where the Battle School is.  Here he needs to prove himself and grow to be able to lead the best of the best in military minds.  The kids are organized into military platoons to learn zero-g combat and work in 3 D space versus 2D, and learn tactics and strategy.  Ender is also a very empathetic character who really doesn't want to hurt anyone, but his abilities are lethal when pushed, so his trainers push him hard.

This is a great character driven story.  You can empathize with Ender and the other kids who are losing their childhood to fight the greatest war ever.  Well written and a good read.  I also wanted to read this boof before I saw the movie and I'm glad I did.  I also am glad I wrote the first 10 chapters of Exocrisis Blue: Neo-Ace (which happens at a mecha academy) before I read this as I wouldn't want to crib from it.  For some reason I've had the paperback for more than 15 years but never read it!  About time I guess.

Does it have a cast of characters listing? 
No.  There are maybe half a dozen core characters.  Story is tightly woven.

What is the scope / scale of the story? 
Mainly about Ender and his squad or platoon.  Later it is about platoon on platoon training.  At the end - I did talk about the greatest war ever in space right? 

Does it have likeable characters?
You do like Private Andy and a few of his friends, but man, what a bunch of SOBs for squad mates and the NCOs suck.  While they provide good leadership in combat, you do not want this military life, as it seems to be run by bullies if you survive combat.  This is gutter trash in the army, the types that don't win the hearts and minds of the enemy in counter insurgency.  I do wonder if this "traditional" military culture would shift in the future with a more automated army.

Does it have an entertaining storyline?
Yes.  Much of the story is about the story of Ender and how he grows over a few years.  He makes friends and loses them.  He trains hard and is pushed beyond his limits by the instructors.  He grows in confidence, leadership, and other military abilities and it isn't just an easy slog for him.

How is the internal consistency / plausibility?
The story holds together very well and I'd be interested to see what the novella was like.  No complaints here.  The Battle School is pretty cool.  In 1985 there is no Internet and the nets are used in the story.  There are crude PCs and computer games in 1985, but the story uses personal desks that must be kind of like Note book computers and very advanced simulation games.  3D holographic war games and displays  too.  Warsaw Pact exists in the novel, but that was before the complete destruction of it in real life.

What cool bonus features are there?
Zero G infantry combat.  Lots of floating, pushing off, and shooting.  Well described battles let you visualize the action.  Very cool disintegrator type weaponry, FTL ansible communications.