Ender’s Game Read Along, Wk 2: Ender vs. Peter

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ENDER’S GAME POSTS: Introduction, Week 1: Sci-fi and Orson Scott Card, Week 2: Ender vs Peter, Week 3: Science of the Story, Week 4: Conclusions

WELCOME TO WEEK 2!

This week we delve deeper into Ender’s Game by focusing on Ender and Peter, two of the main characters.  In some ways you couldn’t have two more different characters.  While Peter seems to relish violence and forcing his will on others, Ender struggles to exercise his power in a way that is responsible and virtuous.  What is Card getting at with this conflict?  What are some of the moral themes that flow from their relationship?

Before we jump in, here’s a reminder of our reading schedule:

 Sept 28: Chapters 1-4
Oct 5: Chapters 5-8
Oct 12: Chapters 9-12
Oct 19: Chapters 13-15
Nov 1: Writing Contest Begins
Nov. 22: Finale Podcast

PODCAST PARTICIPANTS

And now, to the podcast!  Here is a short introduction to the readers joining us today:

John Ottinger is a writer, classical educator, and dad.  His reviews, interviews, and articles have appeared in WORLD magazine, Publishers Weekly, Black Gate, Strange Horizons, SF Signal, and Tor.com.  He is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in English at the University of Central Florida with research interests in Science Fiction, Christianity, and Southern Literature.  He blogs at Graspingforthewind.com.

Jack Mertens is a freshman college student at Louisiana Tech University. When he’s not studying or doing homework, he’s probably reading, writing, playing guitar, watching a TV show, attending a Bible study, or hanging out with friends. He is also a regular contributor to the blog Thousand Mile Walk.

Abby Burns is is also a Redeemedreader intern and a rising college freshman in Richmond, Virginia.  She has had a love for literature her whole life, stretching all the way from Dr. Seuss to Dostoevsky. Unfortunately, like many readers, she had to learn at a young age that she could not survive on eating, sleeping, and reading alone. (She says she gave it her best shot, though!) Now she divides her time between her family, preparations for her first year of college, and work with her youth group.   You can read more of her work at www.wordsoundimage.tublr.com.

And of course, I’m Emily Whitten, mom, WORLD magazine writer, and host for this read along.  You can read more about me in Redeemedreader’s About page.

THE PODCAST

RR Podcast 36: [powerpress]

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS by John Ottinger