Ender's Game is a science fiction novel by Orson Scott Card that was originally published in 1985 and was updated in 1991.http://www.hatrack.com/osc/books/endersgame/endersgame.shtml It was adapted from a short story of the same name Card wrote for an issue of Analog Science Fiction and Fact, which was published in August 1977.http://www.hatrack.com/osc/stories/enders-game.shtml Card relays in interviews that he decided to expand the story of Ender while writing its sequel which would eventually become published as Speaker For The Dead. In total there have been eleven books set in the “Enderverse” so far with more expected in the future. Ender's Game won both the Hugo and Nebula awards which are considered the highest accolades in the genres of science fiction and fantasy.http://www.hatrack.com/osc/books/endersgame/endersgame.shtml Speaker For The Dead, accomplished the same feat the following year.http://www.hatrack.com/osc/books/speakerforthedead/speakerforthedead.shtml

The appeal of Ender's Game has been attributed to to the main character, Ender.http://www.ender.com/ender/ For most of the novel Card places the reader inside his head. This “point of view” technique allows the reader to get to know Ender's motivations on a very personal level and identify with the choices he makes throughout the story. So even though Ender is seen as a brilliant strategist and super soldier by his teachers and peers, Card helps the reader realize he's still just a kid with the same insecurities and misconceptions common to others his age.http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/endersgame/canalysis.html

In the future an alien invasion has narrowly been repelled. Andrew “Ender” Wiggin is a boy under scrutiny twenty-four hours a day. He was allowed to be born specifically that he might have just the right traits to help protect the earth from another invasion. He is constantly being watched by the military via a device implanted at the base of his skull. They do nothing, however when he is tormented by bigger classmates or his psychotic brother, Peter. Only his sister, Valentine seems to be on Ender's side. At the age of six it is decided that Ender should attend Battle School, an isolated station in outer space where the primary learning tool is a complex war game. Ender is separated from his parents, Valentine, and everything else he knows to go to this place in preparation of facing the aliens commonly know as “the buggers”.http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/endersgame/summary.html

While at Battle School Ender faces many challenges both within the war game and among his fellow students. He even has to face his own inner fears while playing what he thought was a casual computer game, but is really the military's primary tool in psychoanalyzing its young soldiers. In the meantime Peter and Valentine embark on a course of action that will affect the political climate on earth for years to come. Eventually, Ender is sent to Command School where the biggest challenge in the known universe awaits him and the weight of the world will be placed on his child sized shoulders.http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/endersgame/summary.html

• Andrew “Ender” Wiggin (Protagonist): A brilliant young boy tapped by the military to be the strategical savior of earth. He is burdened, however by these expectations and the hostility shown to him by his brother and peers who are jealous and resentful of the attention he gets.http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/endersgame/characters.html
• Peter Wiggin (Antagonist): Ender's older brother and the source of many of his fears. Peter can be incredibly sadistic. After Ender leaves for Battle School Peter begins to channel his own brilliance toward unifying the world under one ruler, him.http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/endersgame/characters.html
• Valentine Wiggin: Ender's older sister and his early protection. Valentine also serves as an emotional connection and primary motivation for many of Ender's heroic exploits. She also helps Peter make the transition to serving a cause bigger than himself. She learns much about herself in the process.http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/endersgame/characters.html
• Colonel Graff: The commander of Battle School who monitors Ender very closely. With the goal of molding Ender into the perfect soldier, Graff manipulates circumstances that push him beyond his limits. The constant pressure applied to Ender also takes its toll on the humanity of Graff.http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/endersgame/characters.html
• Bean: A soldier in Ender's army who Ender treats as he was treated. Ender comes to rely on Bean at key points in the story. Bean will end up playing a major role in several of the sequels.http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/endersgame/characters.html
• Alai: Ender's best friend in Battle School. Whether as training partners or rival commanders there is always salaam (peace) between them.http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/endersgame/characters.html
• Petra Arkanian: One of the few girls in battle school. She adopts a mentor role with Ender early on. Later she is one of his most trusted allies, even after she fails him at a critical moment.http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/endersgame/characters.html
• Bonzo Madrid: Ender's first Army commander in Battle School who eventually emerges as a hostile rival. Bonzo's pride motivates him to oppress Ender, who is smarter and a better tactician.http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/endersgame/characters.html