Ender's Game

I first read this book 6 years ago, and then re-read it to find out what I missed the first time after hearing so many people citing it as a great work of science fiction. I don't get it. While it was entertaining enough to hear about the innovative and creative tactics for me make it to the end twice without rejecting it, I was annoyed the entire time.

First problem, a minor one, is the clunky and trite dialogue. Especially the dialogues at the beginnings of the chapter. They made my eyes roll. “Is that an order?”

Bigger problem: I don't care how precocious a six year old is. He's not going to act like the kids in this book. I was looking for ways to give the author the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps they're not human? Maybe their ages aren't being measured in earth years? No. Kids don't act like this. Not even if you put them in situations like in the book. I never bought it, and that doubt stayed with me through the whole book.