Like many other Americans, I recently went to see Ender's Game in the movie theater. I thought it was well done, and I was happy to see that it didn't deviate from the book too much. Some things were rushed, as almost always happens when a movie is made from a book. There is just too much happening in the book to put it all into the movie. Edits have to be made.
I will admit that I was not a big fan of the book. I read it with my book club and those dear ladies are all die hard science fiction fans. But I am not. I've never seen Star Wars, or Star Trek, or Star anything, really. And I don't care to. It's just not my thing. But I did want to see Ender's Game.
Why?
Because even though I didn't like the book, I felt like was an important story that needs to be read and needs to be shared. Science fiction, good science fiction, makes us take a look at ourselves and makes us demand answers to some very hard questions. Do you attack your opponent before they do, or should you wait for them to make the first move? What does your choice say about you? Exactly what is considered humane, and what is considered insane? Where do your priorities lie, and how far would you go to see them through?
Ender's Game may be nothing more than entertainment to some, but to me, it is one of those books that everyone should read at least once. The author uses the futuristic landscape of Earth and the Battle School to draw parallels to our own lives, forcing us to look inward. Ender may be a genius, but he is also human, and an imperfect one at that. He is relatable. He has many of the same concerns that most people do, and many that are, obviously, very different. But we can see ourselves in him, and so it makes his story more personal and more effective.
If you haven't read the book or seen the movie, I would recommend that you do so. If you have only seen the movie, you should definitely read the book. And visa versa.
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