Questions tagged [enders-game]

The first in a series of science fiction novels by Orson Scott Card as well as a 2013 movie of the same name. A child prodigy is trained nearly from birth to defend mankind from a formidable alien enemy. Use this tag also to refer to the whole series.

Ender's Game is the first in a series of science fiction novels by Orson Scott Card winning both the Hugo and Nebula awards. The book was made into a film in 2013 starring Asa Butterfield, Harrison Ford and Ben Kingsley.

It tells the story of a child prodigy and others like him, trained nearly from birth to fight an alien menace known as either the 'Buggers' (in the earlier novels) or the 'Formics' (in the later books and movie)

Book cover Film poster

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Why does Battle School train kids in physical combat when it's irrelevant to the ultimate goal?

In Ender's Game, promising children are taken to Battle School to be groomed as potential military leaders. The primary method of training is a team-based sport in zero-gravity. The kids train to fight effectively in this environment, mostly by…
Thunderforge
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Is anyone else not buying the Buggers' story?

I never really bought the Buggers' story that they didn't realize humans were thinking creatures. The quote the queen uses is something like "We never thought intelligence could arise in a species which cannot dream one another's dreams" or the…
akaioi
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Why didn't the IF want Peter Wiggin?

Why didn't the IF want Peter Wiggin? Ender's Game implies that they didn't want him for being too violent/aggressive (I believe the quote from Graff was something like "doesn't know half the time if he wants to be a human or a jackal"). But this…
DVK-on-Ahch-To
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Did Ender ever learn that he killed those two boys?

I have not read all the books, and those I read, I did so long ago. I just can’t find out whether Ender ever knew he killed Stilson and/or Bonzo. On the one hand, it would play along with his guilt feelings. On the other, it would be symbolically…
yrodro
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How does the 1991 edition of Ender's Game differ from the 1985 edition?

Can someone please summarize what changed in the 1991 edition of Ender's Game?
Joel Spolsky
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What does Ender's Game (the book) teach about strategy?

Ender's Game is required reading for some military organizations. What does it actually teach troops about tactics and strategy?
user144760
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Children in Ender's game

Why is there such a big focus on children in Ender's game and why are only children trained in the battle academy? Why can't teenagers or adults start training also if they have whatever skills the academy is looking for.
Sydenam
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In Ender's Game, why is having a third child discouraged?

One of my favorite childhood books is Ender's Game. Throughout the book, having a third (and beyond) child is greatly discouraged and frowned upon. Even going as far as the world sanctioning Poland for its beliefs. I don't believe they mention a…
ryekayo
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Is Ender's attitude shown to be wrong?

I only know the Ender's Game movie, so please use the movie as context. One of the first things we see about Ender is him defending himself against bullies. He wins, but keeps kicking the bully for way more than would be necessary for self-defence.…
kutschkem
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Jane's gender in Ender's Game series

Is there any reason Jane chose a feminine persona for herself? Did she choose at all?
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Why was the Bugger Queens of Second Invasion so close (in Solar System)?

According to Ender Canon, Mazer Rakham won a Second Formics Invasion by figuring out the pattern and finding and destroying the Bugger Queen's ship. But as we find out later: Formics' Queens can communicate with the "worker" buggers via philotic…
DVK-on-Ahch-To
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What does Mazer Rackham (Ender's Game) mean when he says that the only teacher is the enemy?

Mazer Rackham says “There is no teacher but the enemy. No one but the enemy will tell you what the enemy is going to do. No one but the enemy will ever teach you how to destroy and conquer. Only the enemy shows you where you are weak. Only the…
user138026
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Is Jane of the Ender series immortal?

In Orson Scott Card's Ender series (Speaker for the Dead, Xenocide, Children of the Mind), is Jane immortal? Once she moves into her human body, does that mean she will be subject to aging as normal humans are? If her body dies, will her aiua move…
Beofett
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In Ender's Game, why don't queen buggers need to communicate with one another?

My whole question is a spoiler, here. Ender's Game goes into great detail about how the buggers don't need to communicate because they all share one "hive" mind. In fact they appear to be completely unaware of the concept of communication, which…
Joel Spolsky
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Did any of the fleet survive the final attack in Enders Game?

I have not read all the books but did any of the space fleet crew come home after the final attack? Mazer Rackham comments about it being the last exercise could be interpreted as these are the only ships left.
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