Alai (Ender's Game)
Encyclopedia
Alai is a major character in Ender's Game series
by Orson Scott Card
. He appears in the novel
s Ender's Game
, Ender's Shadow
, Shadow of the Hegemon
, Shadow Puppets
and Shadow of the Giant
. He is a Battle School student of North Africa
n descent.
In Battle School, Alai is an exceptional student, adroit in the battle room, and is one of the first kids to befriend Ender, in one of the early battle room training sessions that they are both a part of. He also helps lead the special launchy training sessions Ender conducts. These training sessions developed the skills of students in the zero-gravity game that is played at Battle School. This game is designed to teach students military tactics and skills. Alai is considered to be almost as good strategically as Ender is.
However, when Ender becomes commander of Dragon Army, they have a falling-out of sorts. Ender attempts to rekindle the friendship by proposing "salaam" again; but Alai says it is not to be, and tells him of the meaning, which is "peace" Alai is also one of the final eleven commanders, Ender's Jeesh, that lead under Ender's command during the Third Invasion in which the Buggers are eliminated.
In Shadow Puppets, Alai has become a caliph
for the Muslim
nations: their chief military, political and spiritual leader. He then successfully orchestrates a combined attack against China
, removing from China's control both its recent acquisitions in India
and the rest of Southern Asia. He also divides up other provinces of China, such as Tibet
(independent now), Xinjiang
, and Inner Mongolia
(given to Mongolia).
In Shadow of the Giant
, Alai's empire starts to fall apart due to the actions of extremists. He faces a China under the control of Han Tzu, a fellow jeesh member; and India
under the control of the Battle School graduate Virlomi, who has declared herself a Hindu
Goddess
. Alai allies with India by marrying Virlomi, but turmoil leads the extremists and the Indian people to conspire against him. Alai flees his empire after narrowly escaping an assassination
attempt. After peace is restored, Alai leaves Earth with the help of the International Fleet to colonize another world.
Ender's Game series
The Ender's Game series is a series of science fiction books by Orson Scott Card. The series started with the novelette "Ender's Game", which was later expanded into the novel Ender's Game. It currently consists of eleven novels and ten short stories...
by Orson Scott Card
Orson Scott Card
Orson Scott Card is an American author, critic, public speaker, essayist, columnist, and political activist. He writes in several genres, but is primarily known for his science fiction. His novel Ender's Game and its sequel Speaker for the Dead both won Hugo and Nebula Awards, making Card the...
. He appears in the novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
s Ender's Game
Ender's Game
Ender's Game is a science fiction novel by American author Orson Scott Card. The book originated as the short story "Ender's Game", published in the August 1977 issue of Analog Science Fiction and Fact. Elaborating on characters and plot lines depicted in the novel, Card later wrote additional...
, Ender's Shadow
Ender's Shadow
Ender's Shadow is a parallel science fiction novel by the American author Orson Scott Card, taking place at the same time as the novel Ender's Game and depicting the same events from the point of view of Bean, a supporting character in the original novel. It was originally to be titled Urchin, but...
, Shadow of the Hegemon
Shadow of the Hegemon
Shadow of the Hegemon is the second novel in the Ender's Shadow series by Orson Scott Card. It is also the sixth novel in the Ender's Game series. It is told mostly from the point of view of Bean, a largely peripheral character in the original novel Ender's Game...
, Shadow Puppets
Shadow Puppets
Shadow Puppets , by Orson Scott Card is the sequel to Shadow of the Hegemon and the third book in the Ender's Shadow series . It was originally to be called Shadow of Death.-Plot summary:...
and Shadow of the Giant
Shadow of the Giant
Shadow of the Giant is the fourth novel in Orson Scott Card's Ender's Shadow series.-Plot summary:A belief is spreading in conquered China that the government has lost the Mandate of Heaven. Han Tzu meets up with Mazer Rackham, who passes him a blow dart pen, calling it the "Mandate of Heaven"...
. He is a Battle School student of North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
n descent.
In Battle School, Alai is an exceptional student, adroit in the battle room, and is one of the first kids to befriend Ender, in one of the early battle room training sessions that they are both a part of. He also helps lead the special launchy training sessions Ender conducts. These training sessions developed the skills of students in the zero-gravity game that is played at Battle School. This game is designed to teach students military tactics and skills. Alai is considered to be almost as good strategically as Ender is.
However, when Ender becomes commander of Dragon Army, they have a falling-out of sorts. Ender attempts to rekindle the friendship by proposing "salaam" again; but Alai says it is not to be, and tells him of the meaning, which is "peace" Alai is also one of the final eleven commanders, Ender's Jeesh, that lead under Ender's command during the Third Invasion in which the Buggers are eliminated.
In Shadow Puppets, Alai has become a caliph
Caliph
The Caliph is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the ruler of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah. It is a transcribed version of the Arabic word which means "successor" or "representative"...
for the Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
nations: their chief military, political and spiritual leader. He then successfully orchestrates a combined attack against China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, removing from China's control both its recent acquisitions in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and the rest of Southern Asia. He also divides up other provinces of China, such as Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
(independent now), Xinjiang
Xinjiang
Xinjiang is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. It is the largest Chinese administrative division and spans over 1.6 million km2...
, and Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China, located in the northern region of the country. Inner Mongolia shares an international border with the countries of Mongolia and the Russian Federation...
(given to Mongolia).
In Shadow of the Giant
Shadow of the Giant
Shadow of the Giant is the fourth novel in Orson Scott Card's Ender's Shadow series.-Plot summary:A belief is spreading in conquered China that the government has lost the Mandate of Heaven. Han Tzu meets up with Mazer Rackham, who passes him a blow dart pen, calling it the "Mandate of Heaven"...
, Alai's empire starts to fall apart due to the actions of extremists. He faces a China under the control of Han Tzu, a fellow jeesh member; and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
under the control of the Battle School graduate Virlomi, who has declared herself a Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
Goddess
Goddess
A goddess is a female deity. In some cultures goddesses are associated with Earth, motherhood, love, and the household. In other cultures, goddesses also rule over war, death, and destruction as well as healing....
. Alai allies with India by marrying Virlomi, but turmoil leads the extremists and the Indian people to conspire against him. Alai flees his empire after narrowly escaping an assassination
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
attempt. After peace is restored, Alai leaves Earth with the help of the International Fleet to colonize another world.