Hi frens! 🌍

Did you get a chance to rest this weekend? I hope so! While my cat naps away in his window hammock (and I’m a bit jealous of his endless snoozing), I found myself reflecting on a book I almost forgot I read years ago: Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card.

I knew Ender’s Game was part of a larger series, but since Card originally wrote Ender as just a “novelette,” I was never sure if I wanted to continue with the sequels after finishing the first book.

⭐️If you’re into movies or stories about epic space wars, Earth under threat from alien species, and unlikely heroes who seem a bit too good to be true —Ender’s Game is all that, but better.

What brought this book back to mind was humming along to “Home” by Tides of Man (from their album Dreamhouse):

Supposedly, the album was inspired by Ender’s Game. If you’ve read the book and listen to the album, can you spot which tracks match up with the story? 👀

Ender, our (somewhat debatable) hero, is just a kid —but he’s sharp, resourceful, and surprisingly astute.

You’ll follow him through Battle School, navigating his complicated relationship (to put it nicely) with his older brother, and his much more empathetic bond with his sister. You’ll root for him, struggle with him, and want him to win.

🛸But by the end, you’re left wondering (just like him): what exactly is he winning? Was it worth it? When I finished the book, I couldn’t bring myself to continue the series. Maybe it was because the first book felt so brilliant on its own that I didn’t want to risk spoiling the experience, or maybe I wasn’t sure if knowing more about Ender as he grows up would change how I felt about him as a kid.

Either way, I’m still undecided about reading the rest of the saga. Maybe I will, maybe I won’t. But I can say this: Ender’s Game is a must-read.

See you soon, frens.

Godspeed! 🚀