Full Title  Ender's Game

Author Orson Scott Card

Type of Work Novel

Genre Science fiction

Language English

Time and place written Begun in 1975 in Salt Lake City, Utah, the story was published in 1977 as a short story and completed in novel form in 1985.

Date of first publication 1977 (as a short story); 1985 (as a book)

Publisher Tom Doherty

Narrator Omniscient narrator

Climax The climax of the novel occurs when Ender fights what he thinks is his final test in Command School but what is actually the last battle of the Third Invasion.

Protagonist Ender Wiggin

Antagonist Mostly Peter Wiggin, but also the adults in the book

Setting (time) The future

Setting (place) The book starts on earth, and quickly moves into space, although earth plays a prominent role until the end.

Point of view Most of the book is presented from Ender's point of view, although we are occasionally allowed inside the head of a few other characters.

Falling action Ender finds the landscape that the buggers created for him and follows it to the message they left him—the last remaining bugger queen, still a mere pupa.

Tense Immediate past

Foreshadowing Each chapter starts with a conversation between two adults, usually members of the I.F. high command, and their discussion foreshadows the events of the chapter.

Tone The tone is increasingly urgent as the book progresses.

Symbols Ender as good; Peter as evil

Themes Games; the role of children; compassion; ruthlessness

Motifs Friend/enemy; humanity