The War of the Worlds and Ender’s Game – October CC Book Club Selection

<p>It’s time to explore strange new worlds, seek out new life and new civilizations, and boldly go where our CC book club has not gone before: science fiction, duet style. Our next selection will pair The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells with Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card.</p>

<p>Ender’s Game undoubtedly owes a debt of gratitude to Wells’ 1898 classic, which has been called the greatest of all alien narratives. The Guardian describes the The War of the Worlds as “far more satisfying than a straight, pulpy, alien invasion drama – a true classic that has pointed the way not just for science-fiction writers, but for how we as a civilisation might think of ourselves.”
[The</a> War of the Worlds by HG Wells ? review | Books | The Observer](<a href=“http://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/aug/19/war-worlds-hg-wells-review]The”>The War of the Worlds by HG Wells – review | HG Wells | The Guardian)</p>

<p>Ender’s Game will be our first foray into young adult fiction. If Card’s work isn’t your cup of tea, maybe Wells’ novel will draw you in. And when you are finished reading, you can rent the 1953 Academy Award winning film “The War of the Worlds” starring Gene Barry, and then check out the movie “Ender’s Game” starring Asa Butterfield, to be released November 1st.</p>

<p>Please join us! Discussion begins October 1st.</p>

<p>Slight quibble,* Ender’s Game* was not written as young adult fiction, though it’s been adopted by young adults. It was originally published as a novella in *Analog Science Fiction and Fact *in 1977 then expanded into a full length novel in 1985, when it won both the Hugo and Nebula awards. He revised some of it in 1991 to reflect the collapse of the Soviet Union and apparently more revisions are planned in Chapter 15, due to changes he made in subsequent novels.</p>

<p>^ Thanks for the clarification! I didn’t know that. Ender’s Game is shelved in the Young Adult Fiction department at my local library. After I read your post, I looked online at the libraries in surrounding towns, and found that sometimes the book can be found with YA fiction, sometimes with Adult Science Fiction, and sometimes the same library has a copy in both departments. </p>

<p>FYI, the Kindle version is fairly inexpensive, $4.59 on Amazon. I wonder if that price will creep up as the movie release date nears.</p>

<p>Count me in. </p>

<p>Hard to classify Ender’s Game as YA … hard not to:</p>

<p>In the Introduction to Ender’s Shadow, Orson Scott Card writes ” For many years, I have gratefully watched as Ender’s Game has grown in popularity, especially among school-age readers. Though it was never intended as a young-adult novel, it has been embraced by many in that age group…”</p>

<p>I intend to read both Ender’s Game and Ender’s Shadow since the movie comes from the perspective of both novels. </p>

<p>I also plan to read War of the Worlds.</p>

<p>I better not wait till the last minute this time. :)</p>

<p>Great pairing!!! Looking forward to " going boldly in new directions" !
Guests recently left, after two week stay, and I’m trying to get back to “normal” routine of checking CC! Sorry, I missed the next book selection discussion, am happy with interesting selections!</p>

<p>I am going to re-read Ender’s Game and read War of the Worlds in time for the discussion beginning Oct 1.</p>

<p>In the meantime, here is my interim reading report:</p>

<p>I am currently reading 1Q84 bu Haruki Murakami. It is just terrific! I can hardly put it down. It’s every bit as good as Cloud Atlas, I’d say, but very different.</p>

<p>I also read Murakami’s Wind-up Bird Chronicle. I liked it too, but not as much as 1Q84. </p>

<p>Murakami would be a great author to discuss, but it would have to be the right book by him; so far, I haven’t read any others. 1Q84, at over 900 pages, is too long! Some of you might want to check it out, though. Fortunately, I talked a friend into reading it, and I am going to be discussing it with her.</p>

<p>Sweet! I have Ender’s Game because DS had to read it for HS (and he enjoyed it). War of the Worlds is free for kindle edition on Amazon–So I better get reading!!!</p>

<p>Ender’s Game and the following books led me into al of O.S.CARD books. such a treasure.</p>

<p>I began The War of the Worlds only yesterday, having just finished The Light Between Oceans. (It’s probably not to everyone’s tastes [waving at NJTheatreMOM :)], but I can see why it’s a popular book club choice – plenty to discuss. One part brought back memories of four-year-old Baby Richard’s experience, which was a big story around these parts [Chicago, circa 1995]).</p>

<p>Looking forward to discussing The War of the Worlds and Ender’s Game on October 1st!</p>

<p>Just finishing Ender’s Game. My only problem is that now I have a BUNCH of other books that I can’t wait to start but don’t have time to read! But other things will have to wait…</p>

<p>I’ll happily reread Enders Game…love love love.</p>

<p>Read both years ago. Can see where the discussions can go. I took a Fantasy and Science Fiction 3 credit lit course back in college (early 1970’s, P/F) for an excuse to read the genres. I can academically look for themes, different levels et al but likely won’t. I found Enders Game a bit scary in its implications. The genre has books as good as any others studied in college.</p>

<p>Anyone interested in a more frivolous thread about the genres? I like many well written but less depthful books. My history with starting threads is that they fizzle.</p>

<p>Me too, TempeMom!</p>

<p>Read War of the Worlds a few years ago and found it a difficult read.</p>

<p>I read tons of sf/f and would be interested in a “check out this author” type thing more than a “let’s examine the historical analogy of…” type thread because I favor the escapism part of sf/f.</p>

<p>LakeWashington - You can get a free audio version of War of the Worlds on Audiobooks. I liked listening to it more than reading it. </p>

<p>I’m starting my reread of Enders Game this weekend.</p>

<p>Mary - I just read The Light Between Oceans too! I liked it and agree it is a good book for discussion.</p>

<p>^^^ I also read and liked A Light Between Oceans. I understand why it’s a popular book club choice. (Main character Tom Sherbourne reminds of Talmadge in The Orchardist.)</p>

<p>Started Ender’s Game yesterday. War of the Worlds has to wait till next week.</p>

<p>I just finished The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling) and liked it! I’m on a roll at the moment reading books that turn out to be really good - at least, I really like them. :)</p>

<p>

Meh. I read Ender’s Game and was not overwhelmed and not motivated to pursue the sequels. When I found out who profited from the stories, I was glad I had not contributed any money.</p>

<p>The Light Between Oceans was discussed at our bookclub last night. We had largest crowd all year.</p>

<p>Cosmicfish, could you explain more about your dislike of Ender series and profits? That was my favorite series of OSC.</p>

<p>Bookworm we discussed Orson Scott Card and his political leanings in our last book club discussion. It starts with post #165 - <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/1516433-stockholm-octavo-august-cc-book-club-selection-11.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/1516433-stockholm-octavo-august-cc-book-club-selection-11.html&lt;/a&gt; .</p>