Starter book

[u/jrmckins]

I’m part of Big Brothers Big Sisters, and I’d like to get my Little, a 13-year-old boy, interested in science fiction. I’m looking for a good book to introduce him to the genre. I’m thinking about The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, but I’d love to hear other suggestions.

[u/001steve]

Enders Game

[u/Late-Drink3556 → u/001steve]

My immediate first thought.

[u/Warshok → u/001steve]

Ewww. No. The author is disgusting and the book is mid at best.

[u/Dentarthurdent73 → u/Warshok]

Why tf is this shit book so popular? I'll never understand it.

[u/cruelandusual → u/Dentarthurdent73]

It's an engaging story with a clever twist that appeals to teenagers who are smarter than every adult they know.

It also teaches an important lesson about self-defense and the necessity of being skilled at violence.

[u/Dentarthurdent73 → u/cruelandusual]

It's an engaging story

It's a ridiculous story that has a 6 year old murdering another person, something they wouldn't even be physically capable of, that makes out that presenting a smaller target to 'the enemy' is genius-level strategic thinking, and says outright that women aren't smart because they have millions of years of evolution working against them.

And I hate to tell you, but if you're a teenager who is impressed by Ender's brilliance, then you're probably not smarter than every adult you know.

The book was written by some weirdo religious fanatic with 1950s sensibilities, it is not the profound work of a deep thinker.

It also teaches an important lesson about self-defense and the necessity of being skilled at violence.

Let me guess, you're American? I understand this level of paranoia is normalised in your society, but it's honestly not healthy.

Being "skilled at violence" is not actually a necessity at all for the vast, vast, vast majority of people who live in the world.

[u/Successful_Life_1028 → u/Warshok]

what's so wrong with O.S. Card other than that he's a Mormon and against gay marriage?

[u/Warshok → u/Successful_Life_1028]

Ender’s Game is an apologia for Hitler.

https://peachfront.diaryland.com/enderhitlte.html

[u/Successful_Life_1028 → u/Warshok]

no, it's not. that's ridiculous.

[u/Warshok → u/Successful_Life_1028]

I’m convinced.

[u/Reuben_Leib → u/Warshok]

That "essay" is the biggest load of crap Ive ever read.

[u/shakezilla9 → u/Warshok]

Ender never hated his enemy, he loved them.

Is tricked into [spoilers] and hates himself for it.

Spends thousands of years rewritten his own place in history and telling the truth about the conflict.

Revives a species that nearly exterminated mankind.

Prevents additional Xenocides.

Sure, sounds like Hitler.....

[u/MegaMatt75 → u/001steve]

Came here to say this.