Ender's Game Alive: The Full Cast Audioplay

By: Orson Scott Card

Narrated by: Full Cast Recording

Length: 7 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award Finalist, Multi-Voiced Performance, 2014

Audie Award Finalist, Original Work, 2014

Experience Ender's Game as you've never heard it before! With an all-new, original script written by Orson Scott Card, Ender's Game Alive is a full cast audio drama that reimagines the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning classic.

Ender’s Game Alive puts you into Battle School with young Andrew "Ender" Wiggin, as he trains to become the general who will lead Earth against the Formics, the alien "buggers". Removed from his family at the age of six, Ender must prove his strength and his leadership, even as he fights his own doubts. The stakes are nothing less than the fate of humankind.

Ender's Game Alive is performed by Kirby Heyborne, Stefan Rudnicki, Theodore Bikel, Scott Brick, Samantha Eggar, Harlan Ellison, Susan Hanfield, Roxanne Hernandez, Janis Ian, Rex Linn, Richard McGonagle, Jim Meskimen, Emily Rankin, John Rubinstein, Christian Rummel, and a full cast.

Directed by Gabrielle de Cuir

Original Score by John Rubinstein

Valentine's Theme by Janis Ian

Additional music and arrangements by Mark Mitchell

©2013 Orson Scott Card (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Listeners will feel surrounded by Card's sophisticated, high-stakes universe. With a stately musical score and video-game sound effects, this "re-imagined" production sticks close to the novel while offering listeners an entertaining new way to enjoy one of science fiction's best loved stories.” ( AudioFile)

a pleasant surprise

I love Ender's game. I've read it a half dozen times at least and believe the concept, both of the training and the ending, is one of the most original and best executed in sci-fi (though, admittedly, I'm less well read in the genre than I am in fantasy). So, I saw this for free on audible and was ready for another read, but was happily surprised that it was heavily altered to accommodate the audio format. There's obviously a lot that overlaps with the original, but dives deeper into various parts and has characters speak out loud what was subtext or implied in the book. things like that.
I really enjoyed it. It's the same journey but as if the camera of our perspective is slightly altered at times or shown from a slightly different angle.

A beautiful and immersive listening experience!

I really love this story, and had not heard it for a long time. Listening to this recording makes you feel like your IN the story! The voice actors did an amazing job of telling this tale! Definitely worth the listen!

Super Entertaining!

I enjoyed this Audible book to the max! I have read the book many times as well as the prequels and sequels before I found audible. I want to hear all of Orson’s books now that I have Audible…

Loved it

Well done. I enjoyed it very much and would highly recommended. I hope there’s a next one to continue the story

Great performance of a classic

I’ve always loved this book since I first read it back in school, but this full cast audiobook takes it to a whole new level! Absolutely worth listening to again and again.

A movie in my mind

Perfect performance, delivery, audio effects to the point your mind can clearly see what and how it is all happening. It takes audio books to a whole new level!

Glad to Finally Read!

A quick, adolescent read that had a great background story, propelling me to want to continue the series.

I have issue listening to narration for anything that isn’t self help. But this is Great everything!!

I have a block listening to any audiobooks that isn’t self help and non fiction. This is full cast audiobook I’m surprised with how much you are able imagine the whole story without any back ground narration. It’s full on conversation between the characters in the story.

It worked for me and Enders game have always been one of the best science fiction story out there. This made be wishing there’s a sequel of full cast. Which there isn’t at the time of writing this review.

Great cast and sound effects, captivating story

I’ve read the books, seen the movie, but this brought the story to life in a whole new way. Couldn’t “put it down”. The full cast of voice actors, sound effects, everything just drew you in. If only all audio books were done as well as this one.

Well done! Something Very Different!

Where does Ender's Game Alive: The Full Cast Audioplay rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

First place, if we're just talking about audioPLAYS (like Zorro and the recent Gaiman). It's the most sophisticated audioplay style drama I have heard. The length (7 hours!!) itself puts it in a whole other category from basic radio drama, the sound effects and the rock solid performances make it a new kinda audio high for me. I love the fact that the author wrote this himself. It's different from the book cause the book is very internal, while this is very EXTERNAL. And yet, it retains the intimacy of the story; it's like you're a fly on the wall, eavesdropping on the whole story.

Who was your favorite character and why?

They were all very solid. Of the adults, Col. Graff was the best (he was the original Ender on the audiobooks I think). Ender (Kirby?) showed astonishing range; made me cry. Valentine was very moving, too. The villains were delightfully evil: Peter and Bonzo. My kids loved the villains. I loved the new British lady character. No one has mentioned the sound effects, which are AMAZING. OMG. When that door to the Battle Room opens, and you can actually FEEL the space. (Grammy winnerJanis Ian's Valentine theme is haunting, and all the music is very moving (not that synthesized stuff.) I looked up John Rubinstein (I'm a music teacher) who did the score; he's the son of freakin' ARTHUR Rubinstein!! BTW, I downloaded this at top quality, and on headphones, the sound is stunning. We have a family date night tonight to start listening to it together as a family, episode by episode. Popcorn and Ender!

Which character – as performed by Full Cast Recording – was your favorite?

Yes, yes, yes, as others have said, there are adults and women playing kids. But I suspect Card's writing is too sophisticated to find a dozen little kids to play them. Unlike other reviewers, I had no problem with women/adult voices. I thought they sounded wonderful. Like a musical ensemble; sort of Greek chorus mode. I thought the accents were well done, especially Alai and the head honcho East Indian Admiral. Can you imagine a bunch of real 12 year olds bungling Card's amazing dialogue? Please. And it's not like Bart Simpson acting, because that's a super hyped cartoon fake voice. This is drama. Plus, how do we know what kids will sound like in the future? I felt this was story-telling at it's best. It was awesome. YMMV.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

And now, for something completely different.

Any additional comments?

Don't expect this to be the book. Don't expect it to be the original audiobook (I loved and still love the original audiobooks, too). Purists may have problems with this version. I foresee that there will be mega review "trolls" who hate it. I say, throw out all the 5 stars (like mine) and throw out all the one stars, and consider this audioplay as a nice solid 4 star. And don't compare it to anything else you've ever heard. It's a different animal. And a very sleek and sexy one. When's the next one??? ;0)