Ender's Game
Orson Scott Card (1985)
“A six-year-old military genius is trained to save humanity — without ever being told that the war games are real.”
Short Summary
In a future where Earth has survived two alien invasions by insectoid Buggers, child prodigy Andrew 'Ender' Wiggin is recruited by the International Fleet at age six and sent to Battle School, a space station where gifted children compete in zero-gravity war games. Manipulated by the military hierarchy at every turn, isolated from his peers, and pushed to psychological breaking points, Ender rises through command ranks to become the commander every adult hoped he would be. In the novel's devastating climax, Ender annihilates the Bugger home world during what he believes is a final training simulation — only to learn the battle was real, the war is over, and he has committed xenocide.
Detailed Summary
Earth has been attacked twice by an alien race humanity calls the Buggers — insectoid, hive-minded creatures that nearly destroyed civilization. Preparing for a third invasion, the International Fleet has built Battle School, an orbital station where the most gifted children in the world are sent to...