My very very favourite author...

I have an entire shelf on my bookcase dedicated to the Discworld novels of Terry Pratchett. I acknowledge in passing that he has written other things, but his place in the history of sci-fi/fantasy is assured with this series. He has been consistently prolific in terms of his number of books, and their global sales, and I have absolutely loved his work from the time I laboured through The 'Colour of Magic' and 'The Light Fantastic' and reached 'Equal Rites', where we first met Granny Weatherwax. His fourth offering, 'Mort' remains one of my favourite Discworlds although latterly I think the way he has grown the characters of the Watch (Vimes, Carrott, Nobby et al) over a series-within-a-series has been bordering on genius...

Until about a year ago, I would have said that Pratchett was the subject of this article, but he is not...

Strangely, although I have little or no interest in the science fiction genre, my very very favourite author is almost always categorised in this way - A couple of years ago, someone lent me a copy of Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card and I absolutely loved it; In a 30 year career, Card has written about 50 novels, half a dozen short stories, written countless reviews and established a passionate fan-base on his website, upon whom he often calls for advice and critique of his unpublished work.

I thought I'd just give you a plot outline of the book with which Card is most closely associated, in many ways his 'Landmark Novel', Ender's Game.

Ender's Game is set at some point in the future on an Earth that until recently has been bubbling with political unrest. Several Baltic nations had formed a 'Warsaw Pact', and were challenging to become the dominant global force. The 'old powers' of America and the UK were recognised as being sleeping giants, no longer capable of competing against ambitious countries such as Russia, China or India.
All of this, however, has been put to one side, and the whole world has united in its fight against another threat... The 'Formics' (or "Buggers") are an alien nation that has fought the people of Earth on two occasions. The most recent battle was won by the humans by virtue of the genius of an old, half-Maori soldier named Mazer Rackham. The Battle Fleet must now put together a force to defend themselves against the impending alien attack, and to that end have established the 'Battle School' - an off-planet facility where children are taught to read, write and most importantly.. to fight.
The dominant, ambitious Peter Wiggin was rejected for Battle School, as was his empathic but equally brilliant sister Valentine. The Wiggins, then, are requested to produce a 'Third', in a time when strict population laws prevent such a thing, and Andrew 'Ender' Wiggin is born. At the tender age of six he is selected for Battle School and whisked away from his family (not before he has to fight off a jealous bully in his old school) and thrown into the exhilarating, often frightening world of Battle School. He soon learns that grades in the classroom count for little. Status and prestige at the Battle School depends entirely on your performance in the 'Battle Room' - a zero-gravity arena at the core of the School, where the children 'fight' each other in their designated Armies, using lasers and suits that 'freeze' when hit.
At the same time, Ender becomes obsessed with the 'Mind Game' - a role-play adventure game that forces the children to come up with innovative solutions to difficult situations; and all the time, he becomes increasingly aware that he is completely on his own... that no-one will be there to help him out when he's up against the wall, and that the only person he can truly rely on is himself...

I cannot really say more than that without spoiling the story, but I will say this... If you haven't already read it - do so; it's well worth it!!