A War of Gifts: An Ender Story

A War of Gifts: An Ender Story

Orson Scott Card offers a Christmas gift to his millions of fans with this short novel set during Ender's first years at the Battle School where it is forbidden to celebrate religious holidays.  The children come from many nations, many religions; while they are being trained for war, religious conflict between them is not on the curriculum. But Dink Meeker, one of the older students, doesn't see it that way. He thinks that giving gifts isn't exactly a religious observation, and on Sinterklaas Day he tucks a present into another student's shoe.

This small act of rebellion sets off a battle royal between the students and the staff, but some surprising alliances form when Ender comes up against a new student, Zeck Morgan. The War over Santa Claus will force everyone to make a choice.

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #192028 in Books

Published on: 2007-10-30

Released on: 2007-10-30

Original language: English

Number of items: 1

Binding: Hardcover

128 pages

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Card returns to his Hugo and Nebula award-winning Enderverse saga (after 2005's Shadow of the Giant) with a heartwarming novella for the holidays. When Zeck Morgan, the young son of a puritanical minister, qualifies for admission into the International Fleet's Battle School, he is brought to the school against his will. Citing his pacifist religious beliefs, Zeck refuses to participate in any simulated war games, but when he sees a Dutch student give a friend a small present in celebration of Sinterklaas Day, he reports the violation of the school's rules against open religious observation and sparks an uproar over religious freedom and the significance of cultural traditions. Meanwhile, Zeck becomes a pariah until series hero Ender Wiggin finds a way to show him the real meaning of the holidays. Exploring themes of tolerance and compassion, this story about stuffing stockings is, fittingly, a perfect stocking stuffer for science fiction fans of all ages. (Nov.)
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Review
"An undeniable heavyweight. . . . This book combines Card's quirky style with his hard ethical dilemmas and sharply drawn portraits."--New York Daily News on Ender's Game

"Card has taken the venerable SF concepts of a superman and an interstellar war against aliens, and, with superb characterization, pacing, and language, combined them into a seamless story of compelling power."--Booklist on Ender's Game

About the Author
Orson Scott Card is the author of numerous science fiction novels, including the modern classic Ender's Game and its sequels. He lives in Greensboro, North Carolina.

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Customer Reviews

Good Book
I liked the book in general. It had a pretty uplifting message, while giving some battle school and/or Ender fans some more of their favorite 9 year old hero.

It was very short, and probably would be a good gift to a young child. Great story about the spirit of Christmas and giving.

This isn't a book...
It is a very good long short story, but it should be included in a collection or available for the price a pamphlet. Loved the story, a great moral tale on religion and youth, but it is the worth the price of a "book". TOR and Orson Scott Card lost creditability with this product.

A great book, but too short
A great short story that fills in some of the plot before Enders Game. It discusses Ender's parents and how they met, how the IF was interfering in their lives even back then. Very well written, props to Orson Scott Card, but the book left me hungry for more.

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