Ender's Game

Special 20th Anniversary Edition

By: Orson Scott Card

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

Length: 11 hrs and 57 mins

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)

Forget the movie

Any additional comments?

If you read this I really hope you have not watched the movie yet.
Yes I am also one of them who often enough watches the movie instead of reading the book.

I am so glad that I did read the book. This book was in my wishlist forever. I always picked something else. At one time I said...what the h*&. Just buy it. And I did.

I did not regret it. I think the narrator is someone you need to get used to. But the story will capture you in a heartbeat.

From the beginning till the end I was drawn into the story...I love that in a bool...regardless if hardcopy or audiobook.

Awesome book.

Excellent audiobook!!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Already did. This is a great story that really draws you into a different time and place.

What did you like best about this story?

The background universe. I love the future painted here, with internet discussion boards as a major thing to follow, and schools with detailed hierarchy and games to teach the children. The author wrote it very well, and it's so similar to our present situation that you can really imagine it in our future.

What does Stefan Rudnicki and Harlan Ellison bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Both are amazing readers. They put a lot of passion into the dialogue, give it a roundness with meaningful expressions and tone.

Any additional comments?

This is the story of a child growing up a genius in a time of need. The feelings are raw, everything seems so real. An excellent listen, something I recommend to everyone!

Distracting Narration!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I'd definitely recommend this to a friend; but, I'd have to add that it would take some work to ignore parts of the narration.

Who was your favorite character and why?

While there are several standout characters in the book, Ender's sister.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Both narrators were too deadpan.

Truly outstanding, great characters!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This book was a pleasure to listen to. This was my first audiobook, and what a great way to start. The characters were very well developed and truly despicable at times. Reminiscent of "Lord of the Flies" in many ways.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Andrew (he calls himself Ender) was the primary character, and the story begins when he is a 7 year old boy. It is amazing what Card describes him as being capable of. The world around him is quite vivid.

Have you listened to any of Stefan Rudnicki and Harlan Ellison ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, this was my first audiobook ever.

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

Beware the Buggers!

I enjoyed this book start to finish!

Where does Ender's Game rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This story was told so well. I loved how there were more then one voice. The reading was exciting and not monotone like so many audio book FAILS I have listened to. You will not be bored!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Ender's Game?

I loved the private moments with just you and Ender. He is such a vulnerable boy, wise beyond his years. I grew very fond of sweet Ender.

Have you listened to any of Stefan Rudnicki and Harlan Ellison ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This was my first time

I'm a raving fan now

What did you love best about Ender's Game?

Ender's game grabs you at the beginning and holds you right to the end and leaves you wanting more.

What did you like best about this story?

I loved the fast pace of the story, the interaction of the characters and the battle of wits.

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

They brought the book to life.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The Ender and his group became as familiar to me as old friends.

Any additional comments?

I came to Ender's Game through another book by Orson Scott Card called The Gate. I enjoyed the writing style and the imagination of this author and looked for more works by him. Now, I have read several works by him and enjoyed all of them tremendously.

best audio book ever

seriously, best audiobook ever. amazing story told by amazing voice actors. I've listened to this about rently times in the last ten years.

Perfect Execution

Stefan's direction and narration, along with such talents as Gabrielle DeCuir and Scott Brick, breathe life into Orson's most famous work. Excellent reading of a modern Sci-Fi classic, and truly the way this story is meant to be experienced. Be sure to pick up The Speaker for The Dead on your way out!

Absolutely amazing!!!

my favorite book series ever written! I discovered this series in 7th grade and have been re reading then ever since and I'm 33 now.

Classic sci fi

Enders game is such a classic and is fully worth a solid read at least once every couple years.