Ender's Game series
Encyclopedia
The Ender's Game series (sometimes called Enderverse or the Ender saga) 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. The first two novels in the series, Ender's Game and Speaker for the Dead
, each won both the Hugo
and Nebula
Awards, and were among the most influential science fiction novels of the 1980s.
The series is set in a future where mankind is facing annihilation by an aggressive alien society, an insect-like race known colloquially as "Buggers" but more formally as "Formics
". The central character, Andrew "Ender" Wiggin
, is one of the child soldiers trained at Battle School (and eventually Command School) to be the future leaders of the protection of Earth.
. That novel takes place three thousand years after Ender's Game, although due to relativistic
space travel Ender himself (now using his own name, Andrew) is only 36, making him only 25 years older than he was at the end of the Formic Wars.
While the first novel concerned itself with armies and space warfare, Speaker for the Dead and its two sequels Xenocide
and Children of the Mind
are more philosophical in nature. They deal with the difficult relationship between the humans and the "Piggies" (or "Pequeninos
"), and Andrew's attempts to stop another xenocide from happening (after the one he unwittingly committed in the Bugger War).
A War of Gifts: An Ender Story
was released in October 2007. It is set during Ender's first year in Battle School.
A prequel to Speaker for the Dead
named Ender in Exile was released in November 2008. It involves Ender's journey to the first colony, as well as his meeting a character from the Shadow saga, effectively wrapping up the final plotline of the parallel series.
In a January 2011 interview Card hinted at a possible novelization of the soon-to-be-released comic book series The Formic Wars: The Burning Earth.
, four more novels have been released which tell the story of the people whom Ender left behind — this has been dubbed the Shadow saga (also known as the "Bean Quartet"). Ender's Shadow is a parallel novel to Ender's Game, telling many of the same events from the perspective of Bean, a mostly peripheral character in Ender's Game, while Shadow of the Hegemon
, Shadow Puppets
and Shadow of the Giant
tell the story of the struggle for world dominance after the Bugger War, in which the Battle School children, as well as Ender's brother, Peter Wiggin
, are involved. A sequel book to Shadow of the Giant
named Shadows Alive
is planned. It is said to start after Children of the Mind
rather than Shadow of the Giant
, tying up the two series, and explaining some unanswered questions. There is also book titled Shadows in Flight with a stated release date of January 17th, 2012 that will take place before Shadows Alive
. The first chapter of Shadows in Flight is published in Card's Intergalactic Medicine Show magazine.
should be read right before Children of the Mind
.
The books can be read in the order they were originally written in or in chronological order.
Spin offs
s Big Brother and the current form of American republicanism. The latter is an interstellar government known as Starways Congress.
.
. In the series, it is an interstellar government superpower of American root that becomes the primary antagonist in the events of Speaker For the Dead
. It consists of chairmen that vote on issues, like a Democracy
. It ruled by controlling the ansible. Various groups (religious, nationalities, ethnic groups, etc.) were granted permits to develop colonies and allowed to rule them according to their belief systems provided they followed the laws set by the SC.
by Orson Scott Card and in his webzine InterGalactic Medicine Show
. Card has promised to publish an Ender story with each new issue (although no new Ender stories have appeared since issue 8). The first four stories from his webzine: "Mazer in Prison," "Pretty Boy," "Cheater," and "A Young Man with Prospects," also appear in the paperback anthology Orson Scott Card's InterGalactic Medicine Show
. The webzine story "Ender's Stocking" appears in the novel A War of Gifts: An Ender Story, while the webzine stories "Ender's Homecoming," "Ender in Flight," and "The Gold Bug" find their way into the novel Ender in Exile. There is also a short story entitled Shadows in Flight planned, which will be the first in the Shadow series.
.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
books 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...
. The series started with the novelette "Ender's Game
Ender's Game (short story)
"Ender's Game" is a story by Orson Scott Card. It first appeared in the August 1977 issue of Analog magazine and was later expanded into the novel Ender's Game...
", which was later expanded into the novel 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...
. It currently consists of eleven novels and ten short stories. The first two novels in the series, Ender's Game and Speaker for the Dead
Speaker for the Dead
Speaker for the Dead is a science fiction novel by Orson Scott Card and an indirect sequel to the novel Ender's Game. This book takes place around the year 5270, some 3,000 years after the events in Ender's Game...
, each won both the Hugo
Hugo Award
The Hugo Awards are given annually for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was officially named the Science Fiction Achievement Awards...
and Nebula
Nebula Award
The Nebula Award is given each year by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America , for the best science fiction/fantasy fiction published in the United States during the previous year...
Awards, and were among the most influential science fiction novels of the 1980s.
The series is set in a future where mankind is facing annihilation by an aggressive alien society, an insect-like race known colloquially as "Buggers" but more formally as "Formics
Formics
The Formics, also known as Buggers, are a fictional insectoid alien species from the Ender's Game series of science fiction novels by Orson Scott Card.The term "Formic" is derived from formica, the Latin word for ant...
". The central character, Andrew "Ender" Wiggin
Ender Wiggin
Andrew "Ender" Wiggin is a fictional character from Orson Scott Card's science fiction story Ender's Game and its sequels , as well as in the first part of the spin-off series, Ender's Shadow...
, is one of the child soldiers trained at Battle School (and eventually Command School) to be the future leaders of the protection of Earth.
Ender series
Card first wrote Ender's Game as a short story, but went back and expanded it into a novel so he could use Ender as a main character in another novel, Speaker for the DeadSpeaker for the Dead
Speaker for the Dead is a science fiction novel by Orson Scott Card and an indirect sequel to the novel Ender's Game. This book takes place around the year 5270, some 3,000 years after the events in Ender's Game...
. That novel takes place three thousand years after Ender's Game, although due to relativistic
Special relativity
Special relativity is the physical theory of measurement in an inertial frame of reference proposed in 1905 by Albert Einstein in the paper "On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies".It generalizes Galileo's...
space travel Ender himself (now using his own name, Andrew) is only 36, making him only 25 years older than he was at the end of the Formic Wars.
While the first novel concerned itself with armies and space warfare, Speaker for the Dead and its two sequels Xenocide
Xenocide
Xenocide is the third novel in the Ender's Game series of books by Orson Scott Card. It was nominated for both the Hugo and Locus Awards for Best Novel in 1992...
and Children of the Mind
Children of the Mind
Children of the Mind is the fourth book of Orson Scott Card's popular Ender's Game series of science fiction novels that focus on the character Ender Wiggin...
are more philosophical in nature. They deal with the difficult relationship between the humans and the "Piggies" (or "Pequeninos
Pequeninos
The Pequeninos , or piggies, are a fictional alien species in the Ender's Game series by Orson Scott Card. They are first introduced in the book Speaker for the Dead. The Pequeninos are written as forest-dwelling and technologically primitive, but incredibly intelligent, able to learn languages...
"), and Andrew's attempts to stop another xenocide from happening (after the one he unwittingly committed in the Bugger War).
A War of Gifts: An Ender Story
A War of Gifts: An Ender Story
A War of Gifts: An Ender Story is a science fiction novel by Orson Scott Card. This book is set in Card's Ender's Game series and takes place during Ender Wiggin's time at Battle School as described in Card's novels Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow.-Plot summary:A War of Gifts begins in North...
was released in October 2007. It is set during Ender's first year in Battle School.
A prequel to Speaker for the Dead
Speaker for the Dead
Speaker for the Dead is a science fiction novel by Orson Scott Card and an indirect sequel to the novel Ender's Game. This book takes place around the year 5270, some 3,000 years after the events in Ender's Game...
named Ender in Exile was released in November 2008. It involves Ender's journey to the first colony, as well as his meeting a character from the Shadow saga, effectively wrapping up the final plotline of the parallel series.
In a January 2011 interview Card hinted at a possible novelization of the soon-to-be-released comic book series The Formic Wars: The Burning Earth.
Shadow saga
Starting with Ender's ShadowEnder'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...
, four more novels have been released which tell the story of the people whom Ender left behind — this has been dubbed the Shadow saga (also known as the "Bean Quartet"). Ender's Shadow is a parallel novel to Ender's Game, telling many of the same events from the perspective of Bean, a mostly peripheral character in Ender's Game, while 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"...
tell the story of the struggle for world dominance after the Bugger War, in which the Battle School children, as well as Ender's brother, Peter Wiggin
Peter Wiggin
Peter Wiggin is a fictional character in the science fiction novel Ender's Game and its sequels, written by Orson Scott Card. He has appeared in the novels Ender's Game, Shadow of the Hegemon, Shadow Puppets, Shadow of the Giant, Xenocide, and Children of the Mind and in an upcoming short story to...
, are involved. A sequel book to 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"...
named Shadows Alive
Shadows Alive
Shadows Alive is a planned science fiction novel by Orson Scott Card in the Ender's Game series. It will link the Ender's Shadow books back to the Ender Saga....
is planned. It is said to start after Children of the Mind
Children of the Mind
Children of the Mind is the fourth book of Orson Scott Card's popular Ender's Game series of science fiction novels that focus on the character Ender Wiggin...
rather than 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"...
, tying up the two series, and explaining some unanswered questions. There is also book titled Shadows in Flight with a stated release date of January 17th, 2012 that will take place before Shadows Alive
Shadows Alive
Shadows Alive is a planned science fiction novel by Orson Scott Card in the Ender's Game series. It will link the Ender's Shadow books back to the Ender Saga....
. The first chapter of Shadows in Flight is published in Card's Intergalactic Medicine Show magazine.
Novels in the series
To date, there are 6 novels in the Ender's Game series and 4 novels in the Shadow series. According to Card, there is no strictly preferred order of reading them, except that XenocideXenocide
Xenocide is the third novel in the Ender's Game series of books by Orson Scott Card. It was nominated for both the Hugo and Locus Awards for Best Novel in 1992...
should be read right before Children of the Mind
Children of the Mind
Children of the Mind is the fourth book of Orson Scott Card's popular Ender's Game series of science fiction novels that focus on the character Ender Wiggin...
.
The books can be read in the order they were originally written in or in chronological order.
Publication date
- Ender's GameEnder's GameEnder'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...
(1985) - Nebula Award winner, 1985; Hugo Award winner, 1986; Locus Award nominee, 1986 - Speaker for the DeadSpeaker for the DeadSpeaker for the Dead is a science fiction novel by Orson Scott Card and an indirect sequel to the novel Ender's Game. This book takes place around the year 5270, some 3,000 years after the events in Ender's Game...
(1986) - Nebula Award winner, 1986; Hugo & Locus Awards winner, 1987; Campbell Award nominee, 1987 - XenocideXenocideXenocide is the third novel in the Ender's Game series of books by Orson Scott Card. It was nominated for both the Hugo and Locus Awards for Best Novel in 1992...
(1991) - Hugo and Locus Awards nominee, 1992 - Children of the MindChildren of the MindChildren of the Mind is the fourth book of Orson Scott Card's popular Ender's Game series of science fiction novels that focus on the character Ender Wiggin...
(1996) - Ender's ShadowEnder's ShadowEnder'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...
(1999) - Shortlisted for a Locus Award, 2000 - Shadow of the HegemonShadow of the HegemonShadow 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...
(2001) - Shortlisted for a Locus Award, 2002 - Shadow PuppetsShadow PuppetsShadow 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:...
(2002) - First MeetingsFirst MeetingsFirst Meetings is a collection of Orson Scott Card's short stories from the Ender's Game series. The 2003 edition published by Tor Books also includes the story "Teacher's Pest", about the first meeting of Ender's parents.- Story list :The stories in this book are:*...
(2002) - short story collection - Shadow of the GiantShadow of the GiantShadow 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"...
(2005) - A War of Gifts: An Ender StoryA War of Gifts: An Ender StoryA War of Gifts: An Ender Story is a science fiction novel by Orson Scott Card. This book is set in Card's Ender's Game series and takes place during Ender Wiggin's time at Battle School as described in Card's novels Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow.-Plot summary:A War of Gifts begins in North...
(2007) - Ender in Exile (2008)
- Shadows in FlightShadows in FlightShadows in Flight is a planned science fiction novel by Orson Scott Card in the Ender's Game series. This story should not be confused with Shadows Alive, the big wrap-up novel that brings Bean's children together with Peter and Valentine from Children of the Mind. It is about Bean and his...
(planned for January 17th, 2012) - Shadows AliveShadows AliveShadows Alive is a planned science fiction novel by Orson Scott Card in the Ender's Game series. It will link the Ender's Shadow books back to the Ender Saga....
(forthcoming, originally planned as part of "Shadows in Flight") - Earth Unaware (forthcoming, prequel planned for July 17th, 2012)
Chronological order
The original tetralogy- Ender's Game
- Speaker for the Dead
- Xenocide
- Children of the Mind
Spin offs
- Ender's Shadow
- A War of Gifts
- Shadow of the Hegemon
- Shadow Puppets
- Shadow of the Giant
- Ender in Exile (Reveals plot elements of Shadow Puppets and Shadow of the Giant.)
- Shadows in Flight (forthcoming)
- Shadows Alive (forthcoming)
Governments in the Enderverse
There are two primary governments in the Ender series. The first (listed in Ender's Game) is the Hegemony, a futuristic mix of 1984Nineteen Eighty-Four
Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell is a dystopian novel about Oceania, a society ruled by the oligarchical dictatorship of the Party...
s Big Brother and the current form of American republicanism. The latter is an interstellar government known as Starways Congress.
The Hegemony
After the events of the first invasion (circa. pre-Ender's Game), the world unified against the buggers in an alliance termed the Hegemony. It consisted of three offices: the Hegemon, Strategos, and Polemarch. However, the Hegemony only had power and influence as long as the Buggers posed a threat. After the end of the Third Invasion, the Hegemony lost influence as various power blocs on Earth began jockeying for influence and territory. For five days after Ender's final battle, the League War raged, which was finally ended by the Locke Proposal, written by Peter WigginPeter Wiggin
Peter Wiggin is a fictional character in the science fiction novel Ender's Game and its sequels, written by Orson Scott Card. He has appeared in the novels Ender's Game, Shadow of the Hegemon, Shadow Puppets, Shadow of the Giant, Xenocide, and Children of the Mind and in an upcoming short story to...
.
Starways Congress
Starways Congress was formed some time after the colonization of the Hundred Worlds, over a timespan from Ender in Exile to Speaker For the DeadSpeaker for the Dead
Speaker for the Dead is a science fiction novel by Orson Scott Card and an indirect sequel to the novel Ender's Game. This book takes place around the year 5270, some 3,000 years after the events in Ender's Game...
. In the series, it is an interstellar government superpower of American root that becomes the primary antagonist in the events of Speaker For the Dead
Speaker for the Dead
Speaker for the Dead is a science fiction novel by Orson Scott Card and an indirect sequel to the novel Ender's Game. This book takes place around the year 5270, some 3,000 years after the events in Ender's Game...
. It consists of chairmen that vote on issues, like a Democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
. It ruled by controlling the ansible. Various groups (religious, nationalities, ethnic groups, etc.) were granted permits to develop colonies and allowed to rule them according to their belief systems provided they followed the laws set by the SC.
Short stories in the series
Shorter works set in the Ender's Game series can be found in the short story collection First MeetingsFirst Meetings
First Meetings is a collection of Orson Scott Card's short stories from the Ender's Game series. The 2003 edition published by Tor Books also includes the story "Teacher's Pest", about the first meeting of Ender's parents.- Story list :The stories in this book are:*...
by Orson Scott Card and in his webzine InterGalactic Medicine Show
Intergalactic Medicine Show
InterGalactic Medicine Show is an American online fantasy and science fiction magazine. It was founded by multiple award-winning author Orson Scott Card. An anthology also called Orson Scott Card's InterGalactic Medicine Show was published by Tor in August, 2008, featuring selected stories from...
. Card has promised to publish an Ender story with each new issue (although no new Ender stories have appeared since issue 8). The first four stories from his webzine: "Mazer in Prison," "Pretty Boy," "Cheater," and "A Young Man with Prospects," also appear in the paperback anthology Orson Scott Card's InterGalactic Medicine Show
Orson Scott Card's InterGalactic Medicine Show
Orson Scott Card's InterGalactic Medicine Show is an anthology edited by Edmund R. Schubert and Orson Scott Card.Originally published in paperback by Tor Books in August 2008 , It contains eighteen stories from Card's online magazine InterGalactic Medicine Show including four from Card set in his...
. The webzine story "Ender's Stocking" appears in the novel A War of Gifts: An Ender Story, while the webzine stories "Ender's Homecoming," "Ender in Flight," and "The Gold Bug" find their way into the novel Ender in Exile. There is also a short story entitled Shadows in Flight planned, which will be the first in the Shadow series.
First Meetings
- "Ender's GameEnder's Game (short story)"Ender's Game" is a story by Orson Scott Card. It first appeared in the August 1977 issue of Analog magazine and was later expanded into the novel Ender's Game...
" - "Investment CounselorInvestment Counselor (short story)"Investment Counselor" is a story by Orson Scott Card set in his Ender's Game universe. It tells the story of how Ender Wiggin first met the artificial intelligence Jane and became a speaker for the dead...
" - "The Polish BoyThe Polish Boy (short story)"The Polish Boy" is a story by Orson Scott Card set in his Ender's Game universe. It tells the story of how John Paul Wieczorek as a small child gets tested by the International Fleet and convinces them to get his family out of Poland...
" - "Teacher's PestTeacher's Pest (short story)"Teacher’s Pest" is a story by Orson Scott Card set in his Ender's Game universe. It tells the story of how John Paul Wiggin meets and falls in love with his future wife...
"
InterGalactic Medicine Show
- "Mazer in PrisonMazer in Prison (short story)"Mazer in Prison" is a story by Orson Scott Card set in his Ender's Game universe. It tells the story of how Mazer Rackham and Hyrum Graff started Battle School. It appears in Card's Webzine InterGalactic Medicine Show.-Plot summary:...
" - "Pretty BoyPretty Boy (short story)"Pretty Boy" is a story by Orson Scott Card set in his Ender's Game universe. It tells the story of how "Bonzo" Madrid got into Battle School. It appears in Card's Webzine InterGalactic Medicine Show.-Plot summary:...
" - "CheaterCheater (short story)"Cheater" is a story by Orson Scott Card set in his Ender's Game universe. It tells the story of how "Hot Soup" Han Tzu got into Battle School. It appears in Card's Webzine InterGalactic Medicine Show.-Plot summary:...
" - "A Young Man with ProspectsA Young Man with Prospects (short story)"A Young Man with Prospects" is a story by Orson Scott Card set in his Ender's Game universe. It tells the story of how Alessandra and Dorabella Toscano end up colonizing one of the former formic worlds. It appears in Card's Webzine InterGalactic Medicine Show.-Plot summary:"A Young Man with...
" - "The Gold BugThe Gold Bug (short story)"The Gold Bug" is a story by Orson Scott Card set in his Ender's Game universe. It tells the story of how Sel Menach steps aside as leader of a colony world to let Ender Wiggin take over as governor...
" - "Ender's StockingEnder's Stocking (short story)"Ender's Stocking" is a story by Orson Scott Card set in his Ender's Game universe. It tells the story of how Ender’s brother Peter figures out how he can get people to do what he wants. It appears in Card's Webzine InterGalactic Medicine Show....
" - "Ender's HomecomingEnder's Homecoming (short story)"Ender's Homecoming" is a story by Orson Scott Card set in his Ender's Game universe. It tells the story of how Ender's parents and sister conspire to keep him from returning to Earth so he will be safe. It appears in Card's Webzine InterGalactic Medicine Show...
" - "Ender in Flight"
Chronological order of stories
- "Mazer in Prison"
- "The Polish Boy"
- "Teacher's Pest"
- "Pretty Boy"
- "Cheater"
- "Ender's Stocking"
- "Ender's Game"
- "Ender's Homecoming"
- "A Young Man with Prospects"
- "Ender in Flight"
- "The Gold Bug"
- "Shadows in Flight"
- "Investment Counselor"
Comic books in the series
Comic books in the Ender Universe are currently being published by Marvel ComicsMarvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
.
See also
- List of characters in the Ender's Game series
- Concepts in the Ender's Game series
- List of works by Orson Scott Card
External links
- The official Orson Scott Card website
- The Ender Quartet, Ender's Shadow, and Ender series pages at Tor BooksTor BooksTor Books is one of two imprints of Tom Doherty Associates LLC, based in New York City. It is noted for its science fiction and fantasy titles. Tom Doherty Associates also publishes mainstream fiction, mystery, and occasional military history titles under its Forge imprint. The company was founded...
- The Ender Saga