Ender Saga Books In Order

Publication Order of Ender Saga Books

Chronological Order of Ender Saga Books

Publication Order of Ender's Shadow Books

Publication Order of Ender Saga Graphic Novels

Publication Order of Ender Saga Collections

Publication Order of Fleet School Books

About The Ender Saga Books:

The Ender Saga Series is a collection of science fiction novels written by Orson Scott Card. Throughout the novels the reader gets to know a family of children who are forced grow up too quickly and must make adult decisions when they find themselves placed in extraordinary circumstances. In these extreme futuristic novels, Earth is being invaded by an alien-insect species called “Buggers” or “Formics.” The Formics’ only goal is to invade Earth and destroy all of mankind. In order to protect the Earth, the community recruits and trains very young children and manipulates them into battling these creatures – at any cost. Only the very best of the best are selected. The main character is Andrew “Ender” Wiggin who is bright, compassionate, ruthless when he needs to be, and able to figure out his role in almost any situation. Social orders are tested, as well as personal struggles and relationships.

The Ender Saga Series contains a total of twelve novels. There are eight in the direct “Ender” series and four in another series called The Shadow Saga. The Shadow Saga closely follows the Ender Saga as far as the actual events are concerned. They are told, however, from the perspectives of other people involved in Ender’s life, specifically a character called “Bean.” Orson Scott Card states that the books can be read in any order but places emphasis on the fact that the third book, “Xenocide” should be read before “Children of the Mind.” The books also can be read in chronological order as many of the novels as actually prequels to other novels. Superbly written, the novels are still easy to follow and the reader does not need to fear getting lost in the timeline of the story. In additon to the novels there are a dozen short stories and many comics to accompany the series. Both “Ender’s Game” and “Speaker for the Dead” have won both the Hugo and Nebula Awards in the 1980s.

The Ender Saga Series has many intriguing characters who develop as the books progress. It is this strong character development that makes the reader interested in what will happen to them. The main character, Andrew “Ender” Wiggin, starts off as a child but is forced to become a man quickly through many emotional, physical and trying experiences. He must examine who he is and who he wishes to become. Ender’s older brother Peter, is not considered to have much to offer – definitely not as much as Ender – and his jealousy makes him hard and mean. Ender’s older sister, Valentine, tries to be a peacekeeper among her brothers, protecting one while trying to diffuse the other. Their father John Paul, who is Catholic, and their mother, Theresa, who is Mormon, also emerge as deeper characters in later novels.

In the first book of the Ender Saga Series, “Ender’s Game,” the reader meets Andrew Ender Wiggin, the youngest of the three Wiggin childern. He is considered by many to be a genius and therefore, must endure the type of bullying one would expect from young children – not to mention his brother’s jealousy. At the age of six, he is sent to Battle School and eventually to Command School where he learns to be a soldier charged with protecting Earth. His brother, Peter is not accepted to the school because of his lack of pity and outward displays of aggression and this causes friction between the brothers. Ender’s older sister Valentine also is not admitted to the school because she is viewed as being too peaceful and caring. The reader soon learns that it is the perfect combination of all of these traits that is desired by the leaders and Ender has it. This book takes the reader through a war against the Formics and details Ender’s forced involvement and finally how he will come to bear the consequences of that war.

The second book of the Ender Saga Series, “Speaker of the Dead,” is set more than three thousand years after “Ender’s Game.” The war is over and the reader begins to see the changes that have taken place as a result of the war. Without giving too much away, time travel is involved so the main characters are still there. The book also examines how the perceptions of the general public have changed and how what once was considered evil – the “Buggers” or “Formics” – are now looked upon as victims and are no longer considered dangerous. It is an interesting development into the minds of people in general. The title defines a new class of character which Ender has now taken on. A “speaker of the dead” is a highly regarded, almost clergy-like leadership postion who upon a person’s death, attempts to be a “speaker” for them to try to help people understand the life-pupose of the deceased. The book is fascinating in that since so much time has elapsed from the first book, the changes are as captivating as they are numerous. It closely shows Ender (who now uses his first name of Andrew,) struggling to find his place in this new society. The prequel to this novel is actually the fifth novel, “Ender in Exile.”

Although this series began originally in 1985, the Ender Saga Series shows no signs of being forgotten. New versions have since been released and new novels titled, “Earth Unaware,” which is actually the prequel to the entire series, and “Earth Afire” have been published in 2012 and 2013 respectively. The next and newest installement yet to be released is titled, “Earth Awakens.”
On November 1, 2013, “Ender’s Game” will be released as a movie from Lionsgate Films. It will star Harrison Ford as Colonel Hyrum Graff, Abigail Breslin as Valentine Wiggin, Ben Kingsley as International Fleet Commander Mazer Rackham, Jimmy “Jax” Pinchak as Peter Wiggin and Asa Butterfield as Ender Wiggin.

With all of these deep, emotional and intriuging characters, The Ender Saga Series is sure to keep current fans engaged as well as draw new ones as the movies and even more novels emerge. Orson Scott Card is going to be a very busy man but that can only mean more good things are in store for fans and readers of science fiction around the world.