Ender’s Game Book Club Questions
Welcome to the Buddy Book Club – we have a light-hearted comedic podcast that covers a variety of books. Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card is one of the best science fiction novels ever written. It helped pave the way for many of the YA SciFi books that proceeded it. Books that take place in elite schools with special training (so pretty much every YA SciFi book).The Buddies are not the only ones that strongly recommend reading it but, organizations such as the US Marine Corps also agree it’s a must read. Ender’s Game follows Ender Wiggin a talented adolescent who is recruited into the Battle School to help fight an alien race.
We did a full breakdown of Ender’s Game on our podcast episode. On the episode the Buddies touch on some hot button topics such as: bullying, working from home, video games, and motivation through dire consequences, namely: starvation, torture and violence. Check it out if interested.
Our book club questions try to be a little more outside the box/comedic than your typical book club questions – hopefully you enjoy them.
Book Club Questions – Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
-> Do you think we’re treating our kids today a bit soft? Do you think that treating kids more like adults would would have a positive impact on our society (like Ender) or just cause less joy in the world?
I think the answer is somewhere in between. Maybe we treat kids like adults Monday-Friday. And then during the weekend they’re allowed to act like kids again. Which is basically how I lived my life in my 20’s (and to this day if we’re being honest).
-> Is bullying actually good? Ender getting bullied saves the world. Without Stillson and Bonzo trying to murder Ender, humanity dies. Discuss the ethics of strategic bullying.
Most of the worlds best athletes and most successful people faced hardships when they were young. We’ve all come across a few people that needed a good bullying when they were younger.
-> There didn’t seem to be much consequences for losing at battle school. Kids took it very seriously, but the stakes seemed low. Would showing videos of parents being tortured or killing the bottom 10% of the class get the best out of more of these kids? Too dark?
Would you need your parents threatened to care about a leaderboard? I think they should have taken the same action at Hogwarts as well.
-> Can you kick someone in the groin and murder them? Ender headbutts Bonzo (nose into brain) then kicks him in the nuts for good measure. Which one actually killed him?
While reading I thought it was the kick to the nuts, I winced when I read that part.
-> Do you like the compassion that Ender showed the Buggers at the end?
Not a fan. They attacked Earth multiple times with starships and advanced technology, but claim humans weren’t “sentient” because no hive mind. Should earth have waited for a third attack?
-> Is saving humanity before you even become an adult the ultimate “peak too early” story? What can Ender possibly do to follow this up?
I almost feel bad for him, everything will be downhill for him from here.
-> Is the argument that video games are actually violent proven by this book? Ender ends up mudding an entire species via video game.
Or are video games are actually good training for future soldier-gamers? Should our military be recruiting at esports tournaments?
-> For someone training to save humanity, does it seem like Ender is complaining a bit too much about the unfairness of the games?
The real world isn’t fair Ender and when attacking massive alien species it’s not going to be fair, buck up.
-> Ender’s brother wasn’t chosen to be the leader because he is a sociopath. In the book they describe him as someone that understands weaknesses and is ruthless. Isn’t that exactly what they need to defeat the enemy? Could psychopath Peter have won the war faster?
Would you rather have Ender or Peter commanding your fleet? Do you want compassion or someone that only cares about winning?
-> Mazer comes in super hot and immediately starts beating up an eleven-year-old for no reason and calling him a pussy. Is this the best teacher introduction ever, or child abuse?
How does Mazer compare to other popular mentor figures (Miyagi, Dumbledore, etc.)?
-> Would Ender be the best Survivor player of all time?
He’s observant, trusted enough to be governor, works around camp, and knows when backstabs are coming.
-> Dylan’s love for reading was sparked by this book, what book saved your relationship with reading? Or was it never in question?
Is Ender’s Game actually the perfect gateway drug to sci-fi?
-> If you were designing battle school, what would you change or add to get the best out of your students?
See note above about adding more dire consequences for losing.
-> What did you think of the Ender Game movie and casting choices? Who would you cast if you had to do a new movie.
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