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A War of Gifts: An Ender Story (Ender) | 
 enlarge | Author: Orson Scott Card
Publisher: Tor Books
Category: Book
List Price: $12.95
Buy New: $7.32
You Save: $5.63 (43%)
New (32) Used (14) Collectible (8) from $4.70
Rating:  38 reviews
Sales Rank: 6093
Media: Hardcover
Edition: First Edition
Pages: 128
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.2 x 4.8 x 0.7
ISBN: 0765312824
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780765312822
ASIN: 0765312824
Publication Date: October 30, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand new item. Over 3.5 million customers served. Order now. Selling online since 1995. Order with confidence. Code: B20080703213616T
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
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.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 33 more reviews...
 "Children have no religion." Card's expose of religious indoctrination? June 23, 2008
Robert Schmidt (Honolulu, HI USA)
A War of Gifts: An Ender Story, by Orson Scott Card is a snippet from Ender's Game. It involves two kids from Battle School: Zeck the religious zealot, and Dutch-loving Dink.
Here's what we know:
1. This book will make little sense without having read Ender's Game.
2. You'll blow through this book and its 126 pages in about an hour or two.
3. Ender Wiggins, as he always does, saves the day.
4. Card really goes into the indoctrination of youth into a religious movement, as well as the hypocrisies, inconsistencies, cherry picking, and logical leaps of faith/fanaticism in many religious doctrines.
5. This book is shelved in "young adult sci-fi" in our local library. Whether YA or A, you still have to have read Ender's Game.
While not of Ender's Game quality, it still was interesting. Zeck was too much of a pest, however, and the students in Battle School would not have put up with his shenanigans.
get it from the library June 10, 2008
T. Burket (Potomac, MD United States)
The story is reasonable, if a bit preachy for my taste, with moralizing throughout without going over the top. At a thin size with small pages, the novella was a quick read of maybe an hour and thus was just fine for a library book. Don't even think about reading this standalone, without EG as background.
The climactic scene with Ender and Zeck was brief, with a quick wrap-up and that was it. Ender plays yet another role as a young Jesus, showing the way ahead for the young, confused disciple. OSC explores some ideas on tolerance and free expression in an intolerant and controlled environment, the Battle School. Is Zeck actually practicing religion when he sees everything through a religious lens, even if outwardly quiet and isolated? The story has a sprinkling of basic topics for contemplation.
Forget algebra, physics, combat and even the Buggers: OSC reminds us that those pesky humans, even when little geniuses, remain the most difficult challenge of them all.
 The More You Pay... The More It's Worth May 5, 2008
Jay R. Chase (Houston, Texas)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The story was excellent... fit into the Enderverse well, continued to flesh out existing characters, brought us a new one, and turned out to be a neat little Christmas present to us from OSC!!
Personally, I don't care about the length of the story... more concerned with the quality. I thought this was top notch!!
One caveat... this story would probably be a disappointment if one had not already read the other Ender's books.
So, if you are a fan of the Ender's Series, I highly recommend this book!
All the best,
Jay
A War of Gifts April 27, 2008
Janice Lawson (Silverton, Oregon USA)
This was a surprise! It wasn't at all what I thought it was going to be, but I really, really liked it! It's so well written, the premise is outstanding, and it made me want to read more of these stories.
Great short Ender Story April 10, 2008
Sue M. Smith
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I really enjoyed reading this short story from the Ender series of Orson Scott Card. I would have liked yet another full length novel, but this was a very nice tidbit. I would recommend it to all Ender/Orson Scott Card fans.
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