An Old Game
November 3rd 2006 09:42
There's only a few sci-fi authors out there that stick to the very basics and can keep them interesting. Frank Herbert and Orson Scott Card would be two of them (Asimov has his own kind of genius).
Ender's Game is probably the easiest to read of all the sci-fi classics I have ever picked up. It is easy because it largely doesn't touch on how everything works. It gives short, easy descriptions that remain the same throughout the book, with no cheating by suddenly using a new "prototype" (fantasy writers sometimes use magic this way, it's a cheap trick and doesn't impress anyone). Instead, he relies on the basics. Good characters, good dialogue and a nice simple plot with some excellent twists.
Admittedly, the only thing I don't like about the book is the lack of amusement throughout. There are perhaps one or two laughs in there, but all in all, it is quite a serious read. A young lady asked me what it was about. I told her that it is like today with terrorists, except that the terrorists in this case, are an alien race. Which is pretty true. The world is united because it was attacked twice by a race humans call "buggers" (originally this threw me a little because of my australian heritage) and the earth's military are striving to find a commander suitable to command earth's forces in the third invasion. The one they find is Ender. He's a kid. I'll stop there as far as plot goes, because you should just go and buy it.
One remarkable thing I did see was the author's perception of religion in the future. It is kind of like a worldwide communism. All the nations have a worldwide standard they must comply with as far as religion goes. Which is not to say that people can't have it, it is simply very disapproved. English is the universal language, and in order to control population families are recommended to only have two children.
To read as a standalone, Ender's Game is brilliant, with a lot of great twists and some excellent writing. To read the series is even better. A definete way of opening one's eyes to our common thoughts and question them.
Josh
Ender's Game is probably the easiest to read of all the sci-fi classics I have ever picked up. It is easy because it largely doesn't touch on how everything works. It gives short, easy descriptions that remain the same throughout the book, with no cheating by suddenly using a new "prototype" (fantasy writers sometimes use magic this way, it's a cheap trick and doesn't impress anyone). Instead, he relies on the basics. Good characters, good dialogue and a nice simple plot with some excellent twists.
Admittedly, the only thing I don't like about the book is the lack of amusement throughout. There are perhaps one or two laughs in there, but all in all, it is quite a serious read. A young lady asked me what it was about. I told her that it is like today with terrorists, except that the terrorists in this case, are an alien race. Which is pretty true. The world is united because it was attacked twice by a race humans call "buggers" (originally this threw me a little because of my australian heritage) and the earth's military are striving to find a commander suitable to command earth's forces in the third invasion. The one they find is Ender. He's a kid. I'll stop there as far as plot goes, because you should just go and buy it.
One remarkable thing I did see was the author's perception of religion in the future. It is kind of like a worldwide communism. All the nations have a worldwide standard they must comply with as far as religion goes. Which is not to say that people can't have it, it is simply very disapproved. English is the universal language, and in order to control population families are recommended to only have two children.
To read as a standalone, Ender's Game is brilliant, with a lot of great twists and some excellent writing. To read the series is even better. A definete way of opening one's eyes to our common thoughts and question them.
Josh
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Comment by The Daily Sonnet
The Daily Sonnet
Lots of Sonnets
Comment by JoshZ
A Simple Christian
Good how he ended it though.
I haven't read anything else of his other than the Ender saga.
JZ.