The Sword and Laser

Arguably the best sci-fi novel of the past twenty-five years (although the sequels are, for the most part, pretty sub-par). Excellent choice; I haven't read this since I was in junior high school, so it's kind of tempting, as you say, to revisit it as an adult and see how it holds up.

I picked this book up at the local Von's (My smaall town had no boookstore!). I was in High school, bored on a week night, and read it straight through! Started late and finished it in the wee hours of the morning. I even remeber almost falling asleep in class. The next 2 books were pretty good, Speaker for the Dead and xen ocide? After that, the quality really suffered. But besides that, THIS IS ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITES. I can't wait for my kids to grow up and enjoy it also!

I loved this book, and I think the series only got better after this one. The later books in the series go down a completely different path and I though it was a good way to go. I just picked up the 20th anniversary version on the audio book and at the end of it Card gives a 30 or so minute talk about the book and how it came about and I found the part about the up coming Ender's Game movie really interesting. I've always been worried about trying to make this movie, what kid nowadays is a good enough actor to play Ender, or Bean or any of them for that matter. After listening to Card though I feel a lot more confident about the movie and I really look forward to reading it.

Wow. What an original idea! Discussing Ender's Game!

I found out about this site from a TWIT episode where the participants spent most of the show extolling the virtues of the iPhone. One of the participants on that episode is one of the primaries for this site so I thought I would give it a shot. What do I find? Ender's Game. Much like the iPhone, EG is an overrated book which boasts a pretty entertaining story with no real depth. It's not really ABOUT anything other than the story. Plus, the ending was so obvious that I anticipated the big reveal with more than half the book remaining.

Having said that EG isn't a bad book but is this site going to do anything to set itself apart from most other SF book clubs and take on challenging and perhaps lesser known works? Or, is it just going to re-hash the same old books that have already been talked to death? Is there really anything more to be said about EG, or Dune, or the Foundation books that has not already been said?

@Kafka - I'm the "primary" of the site that you heard on TWiT, and I wanted to point out that Ender's Game was chosen, in a site-wide poll, as the next book that we would read for the book club. It's a purely democratic process. You can see the other options here: http://swordandlaser.com/?p=10. If you don't like the book this coming month, please check back again and participate in the voting process, and maybe you won't be so disappointed.

I *love* this book. I first read it in high school as part of one year's summer reading (we had to read something by a North Carolina author, and this was one of the suggestions).

Hmmm, I'm new to this - Just put it on hold from the library so we'll see how it goes.

Might as well discuss the book now before the movie comes out and ruins things.

For those of you in a hurry, the book is available in audio form.

I've never read Ender Games, but I'm excited to find out what all the hype is about. I've always wanted to join a book club, this one looks promising.... but where is all the food and wine that they usually have at these kinds of clubs??

I read this book this summer (well actually I listened to it on audiobook) and loved it. I'm really looking forward to this discussion!

I only hear good things about this, so I am looking forward to reading it.

EG was a pretty solid read; a good page turner. Haven't read the follow ups but I may have to lay hands on them now.

Have it at home as I just re-read this series but happy to have an excuse to go though it again. This time I'll pick apart the details on it =)

I have never read Ender's Game. I am looking forward to discussing in this format.

Enjoyed this book very much! Have "listened" not read several books in this series but this book (the first) is easily the best. I read somewhere the author, "Orson Scott Card" wrote this book to "establish the character of Ender" for the next book in the series "Speaker for the Dead".

Wow, I just finished listening to the book.
I had never heard of it, but a friend recommended it.
I am a huge Heinlein fan but decided to try something different.

At the end of the audio there is an interview of Orson Scott which is veyr interesting. I am onto listening the next one.

CHEERS

p.s.
I also found my way here after listening to the a Twit episode with Veronica.

I truly envy all of you who are reading Ender's Game for the first time. I'm probably older than most of you. I read EG when it first came out.

I started reading SF in 1951 when I was 7 years old, and neither my mother (a librarian) nor the local librarian could figure me out. But they both felt that, as long as I was reading, it was fine.

SF has come along way in 56 years. The best ranks with the greatest classics of the modern era. While I loved early Asimov, Heinlein and Clarke, and others they became better writers over time. They have been passed by the likes of Gibson, Stephenson and Card (for this book).

I disagree with most correspondents in that I believe the immediate sequel to EG, Speaker for the Dead, is as great a book as the first. I strongly recommend that you read the two as a pairs. Ender's struggle for redemption is as moving a work as his struggle for victory.

Best wishes to all in their future reading. I will nominate a couple of classics later.

Rick York

I could enjoy that book 2 years ago and after reading your comments I'm going for it again

First time reading the book, and so far I'm impressed. Most of my entertainment reading has focused on the Fantasy genre, but this book is very engaging.

Love Ender's Game. The other books in series, not so much. I think over the course of it's release I've bought 3 copies of it. I kept "loaning" it out, and not getting it back!

But I notice there are a lot of people who claim that Card fills his books full of Mormon propaganda. I've never caught it, and I really feel that anyone who reads reviews that bring this up should still read the book for themselves....

I read this in 1 day. Great read. I go to a military academy and the parallels between battle school were endless. This was the first book I have read by Card but it was really enjoyable. It also made me really want to play Homeworld.

enders game is by far one of the best sci-fi books ever done. Each of the 3 siblings in the story bring their own unique "aspect" to the story. I havent read this book on over 20 years but it's still as fresh in my mind as it was when I read it the first time.

Is there a place where I can find this old episode to listen to it?