Books - Review

Ender is a small boy born in a future Earth society under constant threat from an alien race, known, gratingly, as the 'buggers'. Ender is identified as having astonishing abilities at an early age, and is taken off to battle-school at age 6. His life then becomes a constant round of training and simulation games aimed to prepare him to lead the ultimate battle against the buggers on behalf of the whole of mankind. His similarly gifted siblings remain on Earth and carry out their own scheme for political world domination.

Excellent. Written in a simplistic style, but with a cracking storyline, and a great twist at the end!

It is 3,000 years since the end of the Bugger war and mankind has spread out to 100 different worlds. On only one have they found sentient life, an apparently primitive race known as the Piggies. One small human colony has been established on their planet but only minimal interaction is allowed with the Piggies to prevent any impact on their natural evolution. But when two xeno-biologists are the victims of ritualistic killings at the Piggies' hands (trotters?) their families call for a speaker for the dead - and who should turn up at their request? Our old friend Ender, who due to the relativistic effects of star-travel, is not 3,000 years old, but only 35.

Hmmm. Quite interesting.