Ender’s Game is a dark and fantastic novel by Orson Scott Card—published in 1985. Like many great books, it was turned into an entertaining, yet mediocre movie—released in 2013. While Card provides a futuristic glimpse into technology (internet influence, tablets, etc.) that we’ve become quite used to today, the story is essentially a classic hero’s journey—articulating the complicated duality of man.
In the story, the child protagonist, Andrew “Ender” Wiggin, is a prodigy with a superior, strategic thinking mind—capable of visualizing decisive, often merciless, victory schemes. Ender is specifically recruited and trained to enhance his instinctual abilities. Eventually, following challenging trials, he’s promoted to a position where he is empowered to lead a final, decisive command school game against the interstellar enemy, “The Buggers.”
As he maneuvers to gain competitive advantage, Ender realizes, to be victorious, he must commit genocidal atrocity on the alien enemy planet. During this climactic battle, Ender is unaware of the reality of his actions; he believes he is involved in a training scenario—a game. Instead, the truth becomes clear through the post-victory celebration of his adult overseers as Ender destroys all alien life on the planet. During the conflict, Ender takes extreme risk, accepting the loss of thousands of human forces to achieve his goal—embodying the Machiavellian precept: The ends justify the means.
However, when Ender understands the battle was real and not a final exam/training scenario required for graduation from the command school, he is deeply disturbed—feeling duped by the ruse of the game. But, in a consummately redemptive act, Ender takes action to save a “Bugger” queen, which has alluded detection and destruction. Through this just act, he singularly resolves his inner conflict and reconciles his guilt—culminating his internal journey. To complete the story and set up follow-on books, Ender determines the war was based on miscommunication, not savage alien aggression. Therefore, we see Ender's actions temporarily resolve the cognitive dissonance.
Overall, Card builds a brilliant story. Read the book! Then, if you have some spare time, watch the movie.
Final movie scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXdbCU3Mt_c
Orson Scott Card: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs1Mhu7Fx9w
Not only is this a good example of how to use Prezi, it strikes the essential elements of the hero’s journey as it tells the story of Ender’s rise: https://prezi.com/cwspicoywll4/enders-game-the-heros-journey/
Also, here’s a good podcast on the philosophical elements of the book (it’s long, but it’s pretty good): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUe5-LzTv7M
An entertaining/thought-provoking review and comparison of the book and movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UT6NcRSv70
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