Thanks Finucane! Maybe I should tackle my idea more fully myself.
I think military sci-fi will take a few steps forward in the next decades. You saw the sorts of books written after World War II take a turn in one direction like say Starship Troopers, then after Vietnam you saw books like Forever War come out. I think the authors that come out of the Middle East will have a unique point of view. Maybe they will write the sorts of books I am thinking about, that deal with the brutal, messy reality of war.
Just so I’m clear I’m not saying O.S. Card is a bad writer or Enders Game is a bad story, but I think Card had a point of view in Ender that is interesting enough to deserve a counter argument. Maybe in my book the child general and the adult general would find they had a lot in common, except the adult general never had the shield of not knowing everything he choose meant people’s lives lost. What is worse to learn ‘only later’ you killed million of your own to win, or knowing it the whole time people died when you issued a command. Or is it just two sides of the same coin when they war is over?
I discovered Ender's Game when I was a fresh NCO in the Marine Corps, they developed reading lists for each rank. I was going over the lists for each rank (private all the way thru general out of curiosity). I was stunned to find a Sci-Fi book on the reading list, and it was under the Colonel rank. I was an avid reader of sci and fantasy, but up to that point, roughly 1989, I wasn't aware of OSC as a writer. The book was a wild ride and very good.
I have read Speaker for the Dead and Xenocide, nothing further. He goes off on more of a philosophical trek, then I cared for. Everyone has theyre interpretation, my take is that Enders Game is a great Sci-fi book(top 5 on my all time list),Military Sci-fi if ya like, stand alone. If you care to explore Ender beyond, its not a bad ride, just a big swing from the original story.
It is very akin to DUNE, by frank herbert, Unbelievable on its own, but as you move deeper in to the series, takes ya on a journey ya kind of get broadsided by. In comparison though, I am a HUGE HUGE HUGE Dune fan, and took the complete original journey with FH and love it, and even Brian Hebert and Kevin Andersons lessor tomes that extend and finish the duniverse. I have even read other works of FH and BH, I dont know maybe better authors, better characters, etc, just grabbed me in different way.
Starfist grabbed me in similar way that Dune has, Great story, great characters, great writing, cant get enough, wait like a 5 year old with legs crossed that has to go to the can, but doesnt want to miss anything. Im not comparing the two, cause they defiantly are different sci-fi, for sure, but both great in their realms.
Ender's game grabbed me also, the follow on left me kinda flat I guess.
Overall, I say, heartily, read Enders Game, you wont be let down, beyond that, well its your choice.
Trang