Ender's Game (Ender's Saga, #1) by Orson Scott Card

 Ender's Game (Ender's Saga, #1) by Orson Scott Card-324 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Synopsis: 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.

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

Thoughts: I watched the movie a few years ago, but hadn't read the book before this. The book is a good, fast-paced read. I'm interested to watch the movie again and see how it compares with the book. 

Children of the Mind by Orson Scott Card

Children of the Mind by Orson Scott Card -- 370 pages


With this conclusion to his famous "Ender's Saga, " Card returns to the story of Ender Wiggin, hero of the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning Ender's Game, Speaker for the Dead, and Xenocide. Now his adopted world, Lusitania, is threatened by the same planet-destroying weapon that he himself used so many years before. Only Jane, the computer intelligence that has evolved with him over 3,000 years can save the three sentient races of Lusitania.

Ender in Exile by Orson Scott Card

Ender in Exile by Orson Scott Card -- 369 pages

Between Ender's Game and Speaker for the Dead, after Ender's Shadow and Shadow of the Hegemon, comes this story. Really, for having been an after-thought, an add-on, it was very well written and I enjoyed it very much! It made me want reread all of the Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow books.

Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card

Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card -- 382 pages

This is one of my favorite series and without meaning to, I started listening to it again. It's just as good the 3rd and 4th times!

Gatefather by Orson Scott Card

Gatefather by Orson Scott Card -- 384 pages


Danny North is the first Gate Mage to be born on Earth in nearly 2000 years, or at least the first to survive to claim his power. Families of Westil in exile on Earth have had a treaty that required the death of any suspected Gate Mage. The wars between the Families had been terrible, until at last they realized it was their own survival in question. But a Gate Mage, one who could build a Great Gate back to Westil, would give his own Family a terrible advantage over all the others, and reignite the wars. So they all had to die. And if the Families didn't kill them, the Gate Thief would—that mysterious Mage who destroyed every Great Gate, and the Gate Mage, before it could be opened between Earth and Westil.

But Danny survived. And Danny battled the Gate Thief, and won.

What he didn't know at the time was that the Gate Thief had a very good reason for closing the Great Gates—and Danny has now fallen into the power of that great enemy of both Earth and Westil.

Gatefather is book three of the Mither Mages series.

The Gate Thief by Orson Scott Card

The Gate Thief by Orson Scott Card -- 380 pages

Here on Earth, Danny North is still in high school, yet he holds in his heart and mind all the stolen outselves of thirteen centuries of gatemages. The Families still want to kill him if they can't control him…and they can't control him. He is far too powerful.

And on Westil, Wad is now nearly powerless—he lost everything to Danny in their struggle. Even if he can survive the revenge of his enemies, he still must somehow make peace with the Gatemage Daniel North.

For when Danny took that power from Loki, he also took the responsibility for the Great Gates. And when he comes face-to-face with the mages who call themselves Bel and Ishtoreth, he will come to understand just why Loki closed the gates all those centuries ago.

This is book #2 of the Mither Mages series. This one just didn't work for me. I'm hoping the third and final book in the series picks things back up. 

The Lost Gate by Orson Scott Card

The Lost Gate by Orson Scott Card -- 379 pages

Danny North isn't the typical mage, in fact, maybe he isn't a mage at all. While the rest of his family displays various gifts, Danny can't even control his outself, if he has an outself.

But Danny soon learns that he isn't quite as magicless as he thought. The fact is, he's been using his gift all along without knowing it, and that gift could get him killed.

Orson Scott Card will always be one of my favorite authors. I could point out SO many problems with this book, and others, and give you lists of reasons why I wouldn't expect to enjoy this, but I did.

Earthborn by Orson Scott Card

Earthborn by Orson Scott Card -- 430 pages

This is the conclusion of the Homecoming Saga, and of all the books, this was probably my favorite.
The only character from the previous books is Shedemei who, wearing the cloak of the Starmaster, watches over earth from the Starship Basilica, gardening the earth like she had in the dream that the Keeper of Earth sent her before she left her home city. But she has a pressing desire to know just who and what the Keeper of Earth is. It seems to have remarkable power, but only sometimes utilizes it. And besides that burning question, she is also tired of being alone and ready to be one with the humans again.
On earth, things have turned corrupt. Angels, Diggers, and Humans alike have difficulty getting along and each is persecuted by the others at different times. When the religion of the Keeper is challenged and starts to break down, evil breaks out on whole new levels.
And is the Keeper even there?

Earthfall by Orson Scott Card

Earthfall by Orson Scott Card -- 370 pages

The group that the Oversoul chose is now ready to head back to Earth on board the starship, Basilica, but the group is divided among themselves. Nafai, who wears the Cloak of the Starmaster, and Elemak, who never gives up and never forgets.

They must establish humans on Earth again, but it will be a struggle not to tear each other apart.

This is book 4 in the Homecoming Saga. I enjoyed this one more than book 2 or 3. Quite a bit actually happened, and it left me excited to listen to the last book.

The Ships of Earth by Orson Scott Card

The Ships of Earth by Orson Scott Card -- 351 pages

The City of Basilica has fallen. Now Wetchik, Nafai, and all their family must brave the desert wastes, and cross the wide continents to where Harmony's hidden spaceport lies silent, abandoned, waiting for the command to make the great interstellar ships ready for flight again.

But of these sixteen people, only a few have chosen their exile. The others, Rasa's spiteful daughters and their husbands; Wetchik's oldest son, Elemak, have been forced against their will. Their anger and hatreds will make the difficult journey harder.

This is book 3 of the Homecoming series.

Ender's Shadow: Ultimate Collection

Ender's Shadow: Ultimate Collection by Mike Carey (Text), Sebastian Fiumara (Illustrator), Orson Scott Card (Text), Giulia Brusco (Illustrations) -- 248 pages

This is the second book of the Ender's Saga Graphic Novels, although it can be read separately. See the story of Ender through the eyes of Bean. 

Like the Ender's Game Graphic Novel, this is very well made. 

The Call of Earth by Orson Scott Card

The Call of Earth by Orson Scott Card -- 352 pages

This is book 2 of "The Homecoming" series.

Nafai and his family have been chosen by the Oversoul to travel back to earth and repopulate it, but it won't be as easy as standing up and leaving. One problem is that they have no wives with them. Another is General Moozh, who deliberately fights any attempt from the Oversoul to guide him. Now General Moozh can tell that the Oversoul is trying to keep him from taking Basilica, but not even a mind-controlling computer can stop him.

I listened to the eaudiobook.

The Memory of Earth by Orson Scott Card

The Memory of Earth by Orson Scott Card -- 352 pages

The Oversoul wasn't built to last this long. For 40 million years, the Oversoul has orbited Harmony, keeping watch over the people and insuring that evil does not get out of hand, keeping humans from making war machines and weapons of mass destruction. But the Oversoul is wearing down. It can tell that its own reasoning is waning, and worse, its power over the human mind is weakening. It needs help, human help, from the people who can still hear from it.

So it was a little slow at times, but definitely interesting. I liked when the feeling is more Sci-fi and less religious. I don't mind that the story is based on Mormonism, just that the worship is to--a computer? I did go on to the next book, but (WARNING!) the book leaves off on a cliff hanger, so I didn't have much choice, did I?

This is book 1 of "The Homecoming" series. I listened to the audiobook.

First Meetings in Ender's Universe by Orson Scott Card

First Meetings in Ender's Universe by Orson Scott Card -- 212 pages

For anyone who loved the Ender's Game series and wants a little more, these are short stories about Ender and his gang.
The first story, "The Polish Boy" is about John Paul Wiggin, who became Ender's father.
"Teacher's Pest" is about John Paul meeting Teresa, his future wife.
"Investment Counselor" is how Jane introduced herself to Ender.
Also included is the original "Ender's Game," which evolved into the novel we have now.

I liked all of the stories. I can't really get enough of the Ender Universe.
I listened to the audiobook, and, as usual, narration was superb.

Shadow Puppets by Orson Scott Card

Shadow Puppets by Orson Scott Card -- 384 pages

Book #3 of the Ender's Shadow series

Shadow Puppets follows the stories of Bean, Petra, and Peter as governments on earth rage against each other.

While Bean and Petra struggle to understand their relationship and Bean's condition, Peter Wiggin has plans of earth and with Bean's help, he will make history, and maybe even rule the entire world.

I also listened to this on Overdrive.

Shadow of the Hegemon by Orson Scott Card

Shadow of the Hegemon by Orson Scott Card -- 451 pages

Book #2 of the Ender's Shadow series

The War is over. Ender has defeated the Buggers and has joined the group of colonists who have left to explore the Buggers' left-behind homes, but on earth, the crew of brilliant children who were with Ender during the 3rd invasion are scattered among the countries and continents.

As potential weapons and some of the most powerful resources in the world, it becomes apparent that these students won't be living normal lives. Ever. One by one the battle school students are being kidnapped, except for Bean, they simply dropped a bomb on his house.

After a narrow escape, Bean turns to Ender's brother, Peter Wiggin, for help.

I listened to this through Overdrive. The audiobook is well made.

Children of the Mind by Orson Scott Card

Children of the Mind by Orson Scott Card -- 370 pages


This is the conclusion of the Ender's Game saga. Several intelligent species are in danger, humans, piggies, buggers, Jane, and the descolata. The only person who has any chance of stopping the Lusitania fleet, sent to destroy the planet, is Jane, who in herself holds the capacity for instantaneous star-flight, and is herself about to be destroyed when all the ansible networks are turned off.

Card explores more theories in this book, especially near the beginning where Peter and Young Val are trying to figure out who and what they are. This thrilled me more than the action that happened later and resolved everything. Every once in awhile I was annoyed by how everything revolves around Ender -- like, everything. But I still enjoyed the read.

Hamlet's Father by Orson Scott Card

Hamlet's Father by Orson Scott Card -- 96 pages

We all know the story of Hamlet, how his father was murdered and made his son swear to avenge him. This is Orson Scott Card's retelling of the old Shakespeare play. He gives his own account as to why Hamlet acted as he did.

I enjoyed the beginning of this, seeing a bit of Hamlet's childhood and character, but the ending is even worse than the original. I ended up not liking the whole thing very much.

The Memory of Earth by Orson Scott Card

The Memory of Earth by Orson Scott Card -- 332 pages

The Master Commuter, The Oversoul, has always kept Harmony from vast destruction and war, as it was programmed to do millions of years ago. But The Oversoul is breaking down, losing memory, and losing power. On the planet Harmony, men are starting to think again about power, wealth, and conquest.

The Oversoul must seek help from the people who can still receive visions and signals. One of those people are Nafai's father, and perhaps Nafai himself.

I found this book interesting and intriguing. In the city of Basilica women are the rulers, and men cannot own property inside the city. Some people said that they knew exactly what was going to happen, but I must not be that smart, because I was intrigued and pleasantly surprised at the turns in the plot.

The Memory of Earth is the first book in the Homecoming series. I listened to the audiobook on Overdrive.

Ender's Game Graphic Novel by Chris Yost

Ender's Game Graphic Novel by Chris Yost -- 256 pages




The graphic novel of the book by Orson Scott Card.

Ender is 6 years old and being taken to battle school. He may be the only hope of survival for humanity, but he may not survive himself, and it will take everything he has.

The artwork was well done and I was pleased that the graphic novel followed the book pretty well. You can only put so much into a graphic novel, but it was well done.