Ender's Game

Special 20th Anniversary Edition

By: Orson Scott Card

Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki, Harlan Ellison, Gabrielle de Cuir

Length: 11 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

Winner of the Hugo and Nebula Awards

In order to develop a secure defense against a hostile alien race's next attack, government agencies breed child geniuses and train them as soldiers. A brilliant young boy, Andrew "Ender" Wiggin lives with his kind but distant parents, his sadistic brother Peter, and the person he loves more than anyone else, his sister Valentine. Peter and Valentine were candidates for the soldier-training program but didn't make the cut - young Ender is the Wiggin drafted to the orbiting Battle School for rigorous military training.

Ender's skills make him a leader in school and respected in the Battle Room, where children play at mock battles in zero gravity. Yet growing up in an artificial community of young soldiers Ender suffers greatly from isolation, rivalry from his peers, pressure from the adult teachers, and an unsettling fear of the alien invaders. His psychological battles include loneliness, fear that he is becoming like the cruel brother he remembers, and fanning the flames of devotion to his beloved sister. Is Ender the general Earth needs?

But Ender is not the only result of the genetic experiments. The war with the Buggers has been raging for a hundred years, and the quest for the perfect general has been underway for almost as long. Ender's two older siblings are every bit as unusual as he is, but in very different ways. Between the three of them lie the abilities to remake a world. If, that is, the world survives.

Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game is the winner of the 1985 Nebula Award for Best Novel and the 1986 Hugo Award for Best Novel.

Browse more titles in the Ender Wiggin series.

©1977, 1985, 1991 Orson Scott Card (P)2002 Fantastic Audio, an imprint of Audio Literature

Critic reviews

• Nebula Award Winner, Best Novel, 1985

• Hugo Award Winner, Best Novel, 1986

"'Intense' is the word for Ender's Game." (The New York Times)

Well worth it. Excellent book.

Well worth it. Excellent book, one of my all time favorites since my teen years. Primary narrator does well, but uses limited voices during chapters leading reader to sometimes guess who's speaking or rewind a bit to better determine from context.

AMAZING!

Would you listen to Ender's Game again? Why?

I still have this book downloaded to my phone and have started listening to it again already. The story itself is great and I have read the book once before, but the narration made this work come to life in a way that I never thought possible.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Griff by far at his best in this book. Got to love his attitude toward the world.

What does Stefan Rudnicki and Harlan Ellison bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Having read the paper back version of this book I found my self amazed by the ability of the narrators to bring the story to life in my mind. having the ability to sit back close my eyes and see the story in my mind made listen to this book an unbelievable experience.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Many of the books that I listen to brad my attention but the Ender Series for some reason do it more so then many others. I am always disappointed to look down and see the book is nearly half over, even though I know I still have about 6 hours of listening time left.

Any additional comments?

The narration and the work itself were great, together they rival with perfection!

Good for sci-fi

I'm not that into science fiction, but my son is reading this in paperback so I decided to give it a try. This turned out to be a good listen for my commute.

an old favorite

Would you consider the audio edition of Ender's Game to be better than the print version?

I'd say they are about the same. It's read pretty much word for word only dropping a small paragraph.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I like all the characters. It's a team. You can't have one excel eithout the rest to support them.

Which scene was your favorite?

Just about ant of them where Ender is involved. It is after all his story.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No. I do not have extreme reactions. Sorry. Just not how I am made.

Any additional comments?

An excellent something to listen to when going to sleep. I've taken to liking having someone read to me at night. this is perfect for that.

Sets the highest standard

This is without a doubt the best sci-fi audio book I've ever listened to. I've been searching for something to captivate me as Enders' Game has and nothing compares. Truly a work of art!

Surprisingly Good

Would you consider the audio edition of Ender's Game to be better than the print version?

I think I would have enjoyed reading this book more than I did listening to it. But like most people who listen, its a matter of convenience. Audiobooks allow me to listen to one or two books a week. I would never have the time for that many books if I was forced to sit and read them. Overall I enjoyed this autobook and will buy another of Orson Scott Cards titles to be sure.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Ender is easily the character that makes this whole story go. Watching him struggle with his brilliance and his sense of duty was engaging. You end up really liking and caring about him.

What three words best describe Stefan Rudnicki and Harlan Ellison ’s voice?

Stefan's Voice was a little too deep for my taste. He did a good job, but sometimes his voice was so deep it was hard to understand or hear words spoken. But once I got used to his cadence I enjoyed his reading overall. Harlan's voice was clear as a bell and actually pleasant to listen to, but she sounded like she was reading. I dont get too caught up on such things. Its still the story that matters and this story is a good one. If your lucky enough to get a good story along with a masterfull reading then even better.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I was so stoked by the End. I wont give anything away, but the end of this book makes the whole journey worth it. i was taken by surprise, which I loved.

Any additional comments?

Its impressive that after all this time, this book does not date itself. Not easy to do with Science Fiction. A Good Book. Enough said.

great story and great acting

What does Stefan Rudnicki and Harlan Ellison bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

They put a lot of emotion into the characters that I probably would't if I was just reading it normally.

Any additional comments?

This is an intense book and it's easy to forget that they are just kids.

wow

I wish I had heard of this book sooner. I hated for it to end. I will definitely download some of the other titles in the series.

Very entertaining!!!

Please take the time to listen to this

This is one of those stories that I think everyone needs to listen to. The voice acting is incredible and makes this one of the best novels I have ever listened to. This is the only book I have ever read/listened to that had my jaw on the floor at multiple times, not just the climax of the plot.It's the kind of novel that you wouldn't be able to stop listening to. Remember: The enemies gate is down.

Great story, almost great narration

I love everything about this book and the narration except for the actor voicing valentine. I basically skipped all her parts.