Audio Books in Review

Ender’s Game

// January 7th, 2009 // Reviews

written by Orson Scott Card
read by Stefan Rudnicki (and a full cast)

I’ve heard “WOWs” about this book for years whenever lists of great books are brought up. But I didn’t know the first thing about it. It got high marks from listeners on Audible, so I thought I’d give it a shot.

WOW. Yeah, it’s really good. I don’t quite understand Audible…which has promoted this as another Audible Kids product. When I think of “kids”, I think of really young, small people. I rarely call teens “kids”. Yet, this book is not appropriate for pre-teen audiences, and certainly not for young children. But…having said that, it’s absolutely wonderful.

“Ender” Wiggin is a young boy…about 6 when the story begins, I believe. But he, his sister Valentine, and his brother Peter are not really normal kids at all. They are part kid (especially in their feelings)…but quite grownup in their thinking, aspirations and gifting. Nonetheless, the age and “kid-ness” of these kids is also central to the story. Ender is recruited to command the armies of Earth against “The Buggers”, an invading alien race. He doesn’t want to go…but his life at home (with a tyrannical, psychologically-twisted brother) is no picnic, either. And he doesn’t really have a choice.

He is trained at Battle School in preparation for the role of commander. He’s a lonely and tortured soul (and resented by many because he’s so much more able than they), but in addition to his empathetic gifts, he also shows some of the resilience of youth. He’s able to lay down most of his troubles when playing “the game” (battle prep). He’s small and young and threatened at the school as well…and really just wants to go home. But that’s never really an option. Instead, just when he is about to snap, he’s called upon for the adventure of a lifetime.

Orson Scott Card started writing this story over 40 years ago, at the age of 16. It was first published (in short story form) in the mid-70s, and then novelized (this current form) in the mid-80s. It’s a wild, glorious ride…and should be considered even by those who aren’t particularly sci-fi fans (I am a fan, but not a devotee…I don’t go out of my way to seek it out).

The audiobook really deserves a mention here. First, for the presence of Stefan Rudnicki. His name sounds vaguely familiar to me, but I don’t believe I’ve heard his work before. His voice is rich and magnificent (not terms I use lightly, I assure you), and his reading is simply…perfect. I can’t say that I’ve heard better anywhere. There are other readers who come in playing particular parts or representing certain perspectives. The lines didn’t seem clear to me in this regard. But everyone contributed. I’m not usually a fan of full cast productions (and because of their expense, they’re fairly rare anyway), but this was very, very good.

I don’t have enough thumbs to give this the numbers of thumbs I’d like to point upward at the moment. Let’s say…at least 4.