Ender's Game

Special 20th Anniversary Edition

By: Orson Scott Card

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

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)

Words fail to adequately express my thoughts

I first read Ender's Game off of my parent's shelf when I was, I believe, around 12 years old. I remember loving it then for it's tight, wonderful story and amazing ending. In the intervening years I have read/listened to it a dozen times, and each time, I get something more out of it. From when I first really tried to visualize the battle room and what it signified, to when I tried to see the world from Colonel Graff's point of view (DON'T SCREW IT UP FORD), to when I came to realize just how tragic a hero Ender really is, it's a book that I can read until the end of my life and still find it not only entertaining (which is absolutely is), but enlightening.

The audiobook is amazing as well, since Stefan Rudnicki is far and away my favorite narrator on any audiobook I have ever heard, with perhaps the only exception being Jim Dale (who narrated the American versions of the Harry Potter series). Do yourself a favor-in anticipation of the movie, get this book now. You will not regret it!

Wonderful story, wonderful audiobook!

I enjoyed every minute of the story, and have yet to get tired of it. This is my go-to audiobook. The narration is solid, the story itself is well thought out and draws you in to the universe that Ender's Game plays out in.

AUDIBLE 20 REVIEW SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY

Loved it...again!

I read this book many years ago and loved it. Then saw and liked the movie. Afterwards I started listening to books on Audible and relived the story again! Extremely well written and joy to listen too!

Sucked me in and I was loving every minute of it!

What did you love best about Ender's Game?

The book sucked me in and I was loving every minute of it.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Ender Wiggin was my favorite character because... I can't put it in words... He is amazing.

What about Stefan Rudnicki and Harlan Ellison ’s performance did you like?

Great voices and really made me believe every minute of it.

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

The fate of humankind rests on the shoulders of a child...

Any additional comments?

Wonderful audiobook!

Audibly Delicious!

After hearing of this book series, and having strayed from Sci-Fi for a while, I wanted an easy way back in, something entertaining and surprising. Not a "Dune" (the only book so far I've read three times) but a meaty enough story to keep my interest. It's fun to "discover" a new author and I responded to other positive reviews as making this a "safe bet" for my very first Audible purchase.The reader has a voice that really worked for me and I liked the subject matter. I was happy that I could talk with my teenage nephews about this book (one had read it in HS English) and I would recommend it to anyone as a "see how different Sci-Fi can be" book. I know there are a bunch more Ender books out there and I will probably do at least one more.
My dog Maggie give it 5 bones because of all the extended walks she got as kept walking "just one more block..." to advance the story.

Best Science-Fiction book I have ever read.

Orson Scott Card has yet to fail me in his books. Ender kept me wondering what would happen next, and I plan to continue on in the series. I love that this kid is the most powerful underdog in the universe. You would expect a book about a child to read as if it were intended for children, but it is too powerful a story to be considered a children's book, although my kids would probably enjoy it as well.
I also liked the different voices for the narration; it really brought the characters to life.

not a sci fi fan

I am not a sci fi fan but I checked this book out because it was highly recommended. I was NOT disappointed! It is awsome no matter what genre you listen to. The narration is fantastic. It's one of those that you can't stop listening to until you reach the end and then you are ready for more.

Captivating

Orson Scott Card put a postscript in this audible version of Ender's Game. Although I would have liked to listen to it first, it would have made little sense until the novel had been heard. The evolution of the book, including through short story and screenplay, are fascination insights into why some authors seem to write for the "silver screen" when they put a novel together.

Altogether enjoyable and captivating--too soon over and hard to put away.

(optional) is not optional

took a bit to realize that different narrorators were meant to be different perspectives. after I realized that it was great

Intense

Great story, kept you on the edge of your seat. Very intense and wanting more