Set in a futuristic world where the battle amongst an alien threat draws near, the Enders Game tells the story of a young boy called Ender and his journey through battle school training - a potential key to the survival of mankind.
For years and years, I have heard so many brilliant things about this novel and it truly does not disappoint. This book was incredibly thrilling and thought provoking. It explored the depths of human morality in the face of physical and ideological war. I have never felt so thoroughly amazed by a standalone - that had so much to give. This novel is incredible - and if you love dystopian fiction you need to read this now.
Highlights
This book blew my mind. I loved reading every minute of The Ender's Game. It was entertaining, thought provoking and completely thrilling. This world created by Scott has explored the ultimate dystopian future and the complexity of it. Earth coming under attack from an external alien force has united everyone together, as they search for someone who can protect them further devastation. The search for mankind's saviour is children - but is this morally okay? Risking a child's emotional and mental state to save the rest of humanity? On paper you could agree, but seeing the extensive damage the military caused Ender, and also denying his request to return to his home - even for reasons justified - makes you really reconsider. How fair is that? To use and abuse a child in this form?
But the truth is that this book discusses more than that. The political agenda of psychopathic liar, the everyday dynamics of families in these future towns, and the extensive training to find the saviour. Children - who are often thought to be the innocent - are thought to hold the solutions to humanity's existence, when pushed to their breaking point. It's amazingly evocative. I'm in utter awe of this novel, and what surprises me is no one really has discussed it. All the focus is on The Hunger Games, and yet this is just as incredible. This story needs more recognition, because it also has a reflective discussion towards the end of the novel, about how sometimes an external threat isn't necessarily evil. There are two stories to each side, and this novel did a brilliant way of illustrating that.
Shortcomings
I couldn't believe that the book didn't explore more of Peter's life on Earth. From childhood and teenhood, we the audience see him evolve into this manipulative politician with so much power. Where was the rest of his story? What happened to Earth? Seriously - where was a fragment of his adulthood? Surprising how the novel spent so much focus on him, developed into nothingness.
And as for Ender's parents - what happened to them? Wasn't that also worth mentioning in passing at least? It would have been nice to gain a snippet of their lives and their thoughts concerning their children.
Conclusion
Enders Game is one of the best dystopian novels out there. Exploring the depths of a political and military war, this novel explores issues that go beyond your average dystopian novel, especially by morally testing your ethics as a reader. It was an absolute pleasure! Every page was thrilling and engaging. I look forward to finally seeing Asa Butterfield after all these years take on the roll of Ender in it's movie adaptation counterpart.
So, what did you think of the Enders Game?
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