Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Ender's Game  By  cover art

Ender's Game

By: Orson Scott Card
Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki, Harlan Ellison, Gabrielle de Cuir
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $20.24

Buy for $20.24

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

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)

Featured Article: 35+ Quotes About Hard Work to Keep You Motivated and Moving Forward


The things most worth doing require the most from us—it takes hard work to accomplish important tasks, achieve major goals, and realize your dreams. Commitment, sweat, exhaustion, frustration, and a willingness to fail are all necessary parts of taking on challenges. When you’re in the middle of a difficult project, there will be times when you’re tempted to simply give up. In such moments, look to these quotes about hard work to keep you going.

What listeners say about Ender's Game

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    31,909
  • 4 Stars
    8,939
  • 3 Stars
    2,234
  • 2 Stars
    508
  • 1 Stars
    393
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    23,488
  • 4 Stars
    7,252
  • 3 Stars
    1,810
  • 2 Stars
    337
  • 1 Stars
    228
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    25,000
  • 4 Stars
    6,050
  • 3 Stars
    1,663
  • 2 Stars
    371
  • 1 Stars
    275

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Ender's Game

Since I don't play video games, at first I was baffled by the story. But before long I found I was eager to hear how Ender was going to get through his next challenge. The performance was excellent. One of the best features was hearing Orson Scott Card talk about his writing of Ender's Game after the story ended. I find Sci-Fi either totally engaging or not at all. There's no middle ground for me and this was fantastic. I want to read Ender's Shadow now.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

too many narrators

the narration for so many people i a little
confusing. but the story is great

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A audiobook masterpiece!

If you could sum up Ender's Game in three words, what would they be?

Perfect audiobook performance!

What did you like best about this story?

The concept of children deciding the fate of a world. Brilliant.

Which character – as performed by Stefan Rudnicki and Harlan Ellison – was your favorite?

Ender, of course.

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

This child will save our world.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

great book, thank you.

a friend referred me to this book years ago, now I have completed the book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

humanity pins its hopes on one boy

Twice devastated by an alien race, Earth establishes a school to train children in battle strategies. Endlessly playing strategic games, the children are groomed to be the future commanders of Earth's fleet. Ender Wiggin is forced to undergo isolation, physical and emotional hardship, and separation from all he has loved. As humanity pins its hopes on one boy.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

the author's talent humbles me

I loved this, my first book from audible. I plan to finish my Sci-fi fiction novel and I have truly been inspired. I will learn how to write from Orson Scott card.
Thank you

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

awesome

loved it way better than the movie. was hooked from start to finish. can't wait to get the next book :-)

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Great Reading

One of the best readings I've heard. I really like the story, but it was a little slow at times. The interview commentary at the very end is awesome.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Fabulous

This is a great story with captivating narration. I highly recommend this audio book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

One of the best books I've ever heard / read

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

The performance, and story for this book are amazing. I am now a huge fan of Ender's Game!

What did you like best about this story?

Great action, and unique story

Any additional comments?

I highly suggest this book!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!