The near-destruction of mankind, mankind has indeed led to the creation of the International Fleet (IF), but by no means made any conflicts on earth forgot. Had to fight overpopulation be enforced in almost all countries, a two-child policy. To Russia, a second Warsaw Pact has formed and English was again the international standard language. Despite all the disagreements children from all over the world are on their potential investigated the next Mazer Rackham to be. So also the Third Andrew 'Ender' Wiggin, whose gifted siblings have already been rejected by the IF ...
- An unexpected success -
Similar to the IF leadership could not be sure in the novel that the third child of John Paul and Theresa Wiggin after sadistic Peter and the merciful Valentine possess not only the intellect but also the perfect blend of the traits of both siblings, so could also Orson Scott Card no idea what would be successful 'Ender's Game' granted.
'Ender's Game' was more by chance as author Orson Scott Card confesses in the preface and has again underpinned the Preface to continue 'Speaker of the Dead'. The book was initially only from the idea of the Battle Room and the training of young recruits in a weightless environment. That it ever came about thanks to the fortunate coincidence that card at the conclusion of the contract to 'Speaker of the Dead' already doubted the history of occurring in the novel Ender Wiggin there sufficient light and to be able to deal. He was then but for the planned as really central Buchwerk 'Speaker of the Dead' prehistory 'Ender's Game' to write.
But Ender's Game by need and developed a strong life of its own. With tributes like the Hugo and Nebula Award blessed worried Ender's Game that card was henceforth called precisely because of this one book in a series with a writers like Robert Heinlein. Reminiscent of Heinlein's Starship Troopers aspects Ender's Games brought the book then probably his 2013 published a film in which the plot to Valentine and Peter Wiggin did not even occur.
- A book for fans of the movie? -
Who is perhaps encountered 'Ender's Game' by the surprisingly profound film and wants to deepen now deeper into the backstory and the 'Ender Verses' is all right in the novel and should instead start here as well with one of the sequels.
The book, unlike the movie much more than just the manipulations that Ender had to go through, to finally become the supposed savior of mankind. Because the book is finished, only the youngest of three brilliant Wiggins and his two remaining on Earth siblings begin to develop on an end of the third Formic War throughout history their own ambitions with respect. This subplot that would have created the foundation for a cinematic Ender franchise inevitably in a film, however, was kept completely out of the film plot. Although the film may be extremely successful if you have the subplot as good hit would not have been guaranteed.
- Two people with similar problems -
Overpopulation, inter-state conflicts and the train into space as a single valve. At least in later chapters we learn more about the similarities between Formics and people, even if we and the aliens could not be more dissimilar biologically us.
People like Formics stood at the beginning of the invasions already at a similar crossroads, probably worked against the human losses during the first Formic War even in the short term. The Earth is overpopulated and even the external threat of a global apocalypse does not forget the old conflicts, no, it provides only for the postponement to a later date. The Formics came to gain new habitat and humanity remained earthbound because you do not have much advanced technologies possessed even permanent colonies to build outside our solar system.
The initial contact came first strike and as expected was the further course of the conflict thus already largely prefigured. As much as you feel as a human being confirmed by the fact that you are on the right page, it could have otherwise come, people would be the aggressor.
That is, however, slammed Formics first hallmark of the author card because all that serves the construction of moral dilemmas, in which he wants to put Ender Wiggin for the rest of his life.
- Tablets, smart fibers and blogs -
In 1985 Orson Scott Card as well as a Douglas Adams wrote about technologies that have become an everyday sight until about 20 years later. If one identifies the "desk" of Ender Wiggin as a Tablet PC, the solidifying Flashsuits recruits identifed the next stage of development of smart fibers and in Valentines and Peters online and bustle recognizes only the everyday life of many bloggers is the presence of white as far already again Science fiction has caught up.
This naturally raises the question of whether it will detract from the effect of the story if these still modern technologies will be obsolete in 10-20 years, when one thinks of typewriters speech input, among other things, in Isaac Asimov's Foundation- short story in occurred. That may not reduce the importance of history, but certainly affect their accessibility by future generations.
- A dystopia -
Ender's Game draws a dystopia of tomorrow's world, as we know it from Robert Heinlein's also similar Starship Troopers. However Cards drawn by war world is in some way dystopian than Heinlein's concept of a united humanity. Cards world moves such as in a still smoldering East-West conflict and is on the brink of a catastrophic ground war. People are just as far closer together to establish a common International fleet to beat the already wait decades to be transmitting space war with the Formics. Intern humanity remains torn and the like are also the years of relative peace since the Second Invasion.
Cards humanity is less perfect and has the earthly disputes only postponed, while Heinlein has selected at least more utopian version in this respect. Cards People are simply not outgrown itself and so the IF is unlike the military in Heinlein's Starship Troopers, where it has become a dominant force. The IF is a marriage of convenience to develop the so far seemed not to be able to a real life of their own. Probably because it is in spite of all her resources made available under control of earthly politics. An attempt by the IF would turn their weapons against the earthly governments fail, however, because of things that we know until the end of the book. Even after the third Formic War would the IF prior logistical problems (repatriation of troops from the front). Thus Cards Military proves true as ruthless in many other ways, but at least tamer and less glorified.
- They are only kids? -
The success of the novel Ender's Game might be because the book has just been placed in the young adult genre. A decision that Orson Scott Card the preface to not necessarily aware met. When he came up for the first time it was with ideas for the later work childhood and youth he simply believed still best understood. It has the work but never harmed. In addition to the opening forever new generations of young people, where an identification area for their own problems, fears and hardships is offered here, Card has the work awarded a agelessness because the age of the characters but plays only a cosmetic role in some places.
The use of adolescents makes Ender's Game also a whole corner credible, as the use of adult where rarely so pure motives are to be found. Ender and his classmates are, however, constantly manipulated by adults and that it is ever resorting to children also understandable when you consider that talents, inclinations and beliefs are still open at this than in adults. A child prodigy can drift into mediocrity and be overlooked as an adult entirely, as a child, however, it stands out from the crowd even more. And just looking for such child prodigies, the IF is committed.
Are motives and actions in adults shown often enough distorted, in children, it is usually quite clear what is the trigger when come to blows two. Children are less complicated and clearer in its intentions.
- Locke and Demosthenes -
The subplot about Peter and Valentine Wiggin now spans over several novels in the final verses. But the surprising thing about him is how fascinating he is, even if the primary story seems to revolve around Ender. Peter and Valentine are her little brother in every way, but they are recognized on the moral scale of two completely different points.
Peter is an aggressively acting sociopath, Valentine compassionate passive and yet, each of the two aspects of the other. Just as Ender has traits of his two brothers, also includes Valentine trains Peters, who can also act as Valentine reversed.
Enders success and chosen status, however, has his family brought nothing, partly because the IF kept secret to maintain their plans with Ender anyway. So it is for the two remaining Wiggins could not care less what her brother is chosen and they have to deal much more with each other. Without their third are the two opposing siblings only one pair and surprisingly just reduces the tensions between the two.
Just as Ender is chosen to be already as a teenager for the greatest military commanders of mankind, Peter sought after his proper place in human history. But unlike the little brother he does not enjoy government support its goals and ambitions. While the little brother even Valentine equal things can rather go through, Peter fights on your own to become even more important than Ender.
To this end, Peter closes then his pact with Valentine. As political commentators (and bloggers) both as Locke and Demosthenes are to attain power and influence in the political landscape of the Western Hemisphere. But here Peter is very clear that the more moderate Locke potentially the more powerful of the two could be. A role that would be tailored as to Valentine. But Peter persuaded to role reversal, as he is instructed as a moderate Locke on their advice (and secretly even teaches public a Valentine-esque façade to build), faces Valentine compelled to get inspiration for the paranoid Demosthenes of Peter.
Peters role reversal is one hand a brilliant idea, which once again underlines his genius, on the other hand but also something that seems all the more harmless, considering the age of the characters. Peters desire to emerge at the end as the better person and acclaimed politician from the affair means that he is also willing to deny self and to learn from Valentine. At the same time he is still a child that to get more recognition practically his favorite toy with the exchanges of the little sister, because he expects them to fulfill his desire. Since possibly infected, a certain envy of the elect and the final with their nature far better positioned behind Valentine. But both lack the will to power.
- Lessons from the Battle Room -
Orson Scott Card was and is not a scientist and gives in the preface also. He has as an author even himself asked the question, how to write science fiction, without having really understood the science aspect much. But like Ender's Game proves you do not have to be science or technology-savvy to bring a legendary science fiction story to paper.
But precisely Cards central idea, with all began, is something with which many later science fiction writers and creators of science fiction media so have their hands full. The Battle Room is the proof of how fascinating and difficult to understand may be weightlessness. Weightlessness refuses our earthly life experience and means that we still imagine spaceships as ships. But it is precisely this idea of the need for a Obens and untens is one of the main paradigms, which has broken Ender Wiggin. With Oscar-premierten films like Gravity there are already so many approaches we think in the future to pay more to Enders knowledge.
What Orson Scott Card's Ender Wiggin quickly reveals, in weightlessness our old reference system with top and bottom is totally unnecessary. To abide by them is a joke for Ender and adaptation difficulties an issue at the first Battle Room excursions of Launchies. The important lesson should we learn from it, if there is no gravity, there is no compulsion to comply with it. But exactly this adaptation difficulty in understanding the weightless space not only prepares the Launchies headache but has also been enticed generations of science fiction cinema in designers, TV and video games adapted spaceships and weightlessness to earthly realities. A spaceship resembles still more a ship as it should be appropriate for its environment. Weightless environments are still provided with Upside Downside elements, probably not to make dizzy to the audience.
A less technical lesson from the Battle Room is also the success of Enders strategies against the failure of so many of his classmates. Whoever takes for team or strategy games and the like interested in Enders experience much of what is likely to be a familiar self.
So we meet the authoritarian perfectionists Bonzo Madrid, who loves to sample all kinds of finely orchestrated maneuvers that make it prone to unforeseen however and exclude individual use or improvisation. Bonzo maneuvers are highly complex and, in his view too difficult simply someone to integrate it new. This inflexibility is to stand him dearly, as well as his authoritarian behavior.
Later it finally hits the laissez-faire Commander Rose de Nose, which is the exact opposite for perfectionists Bonzo. Nose is totally disinterested in mind to make his "appearance" provisions and delegated responsibility for maneuvers and coordination to his platoon leader. His happiness and success depended on doing more talented officers, as Toon Leader Dink Meeker, who has himself been denied a promotion to Commander repeatedly. Meeker is then also the Ender really introduced in the Battle Room maneuver and find ways to successfully employ the former Launchie. But Meeker's paranoia over the game makers and the teachers of the Battle School generally dim his successes.
Ender that ultimately proves to be the most successful Commander is partly also due to the influence of Meeker, who has informed him of the futility of the game. The game itself may be meaningless and be just a show for the teachers, but the victory is somehow different. Enders play refuses the conventions and even ensures that the rules are constantly being tightened in order to inflict a defeat him and his troops. But Ender play the game no longer and still wins or exactly why. Ender rejects the so-called Zerg. Instead of trying the army of the enemy to defeat (what a gross error is flat even after Sun Tzu's Art of War) sets final victory. If he succeeds in a player by the opponent's goal to promote it has won and so undertakes Ender everything necessary to meet these victories condition.
Ender denied a glorious battle to deliver (a good match), chooses often loss-making, but ultimately successful strategies and drives competitors such as teachers so to despair. They gave him the worst player and an inferior force, but instead to send it in a duel, he would lose. In a team sport you would expose him best of the fraud allegation, but as in football are the team goals and not what makes the square, the better figure. If the underdog can win with the right strategy and the best players out empty is fast times something that is called unfair. However, lackluster, dirty victories lead to success.
- Summary -
A masterpiece of science fiction that offers a lot of discussion and food for thought. A work that is so successful precisely because it is home to the Young Adult section and exactly because of the youth of his protagonists also offers such an impressive character drawings.
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