The Definitive Reading Guide To Reading The Enders Game Books In Order

Written by Orson Scott Card in 1985, the novel Ender’s Game marked the start of the extensive media franchise that has since encompassed sixteen novels, thirteen short stories, 47 comic book issues, an audio play, and a major feature film starring Asa Butterfield, Harrison Ford, and Sir Ben Kingsley.

The ‘Ender’s Game’ Series Definitive Reading Order

What Is The Series About?

Beginning with the first novel, the series takes us to a dystopian point in Earth’s future, where mankind had become growingly imperialistic and has been locked in a vicious and unrelenting war with an insectoid species (‘Formics’) whom the people dubbed ‘the Buggers’.

Following the exploits of protagonist Andrew ‘Ender’ Wiggin, a child soldier trained at ‘battle school’ to fight the creatures, the Ender’s Game series sees the titular hero rise through the ranks – questioning the war itself, and the motivations of his superiors.

Ender’s Game: Definitive Reading Order

Now that you know a little more about the Ender’s Game series, and the wider work of Orson Scott Card, it’s time to examine the series itself.

As with any large franchise, knowing where to begin can be daunting to new readers.

While the novels themselves were designed to be enjoyed as stand alone outings, there is still a reading order for those looking to engage with the entire series.

So, without further ado, let’s get started!

Ender’s Game (Ender Series)

Ender's Game (The Ender Saga, 1)

The first in the Ender’s Game series, this novel establishes the world of the series, wherein governments breed genetically modified, genius child soldiers to be the leaders of tomorrow in the war against the Formics – an insectoid race of hostile invading aliens.

Pros

  • Well written
  • Solid world-building
  • Action-packed
  • Dramatic
  • Well rounded characters

Cons

  • Doesn’t age as well as it could

Themes: War, legacy, genocide, guilt, duty, destiny

Speaker For The Dead (Ender Series)

Speaker for the Dead (The Ender Saga, 2)

Following his begrudging victory over the Formics, Ender Wiggin vanished for years – returning years later under the moniker ‘the speaker of the dead’, espousing the travesties of the bloody war he took part in, and telling the truth of the crimes committed.

Pros

  • Interesting concept
  • Strong world-building
  • Lore building
  • Good development of mythology
  • Strong character development

Cons

  • Very little fan service

Themes: War, regret, genocide, imperialism, duty, honor

Xenocide (Ender Series)

Xenocide (The Ender Saga, 3)

After choosing Lusitania as a suitable planet for the re-establishment of the Formic species, Ender finds himself bombarded by the threats of war, a new breed of child soldiers, and a deadly virus that has a fatal impact on the human colonists on the planet.

Pros

  • Tense and suspenseful
  • Action-packed
  • High stakes
  • Solid character development

Cons

  • Suffers from ‘sequel fatigue’

Themes: Mysticism, philosophy, genocide, regret, legacy, duty

Children Of The Mind (Ender Series)

Children of the Mind (The Ender Saga, 4)

Reconnecting with an old friend ‘Jane’ – a sophisticated AI whose computer world is being purged by the Congress – Ender must fight to save his friends and the planet he has helped to develop.

Pros

  • Good world-building
  • Strong characters
  • Mostly well written
  • Action-packed

Cons

  • Repetitive story concept

Themes: Genocide, war, good vs evil, legacy, duty

Ender’s Shadow (Shadow Saga)

Ender's Shadow (The Shadow Series)

Recounting Bean’s hard upbringing, Ender’s Shadow sees the rise of this mysterious yet loyal character as he transitions from a lost young boy into one of the pivotal players in the Human-Formic war.

Pros

  • Interesting perspective
  • Good character development
  • Well written
  • Good change of pace
  • Action-packed and exciting
  • Good return to form

Cons

  • Could be seen as repetitive

Themes: War, genocide, good vs evil, loyalty, duty, honor

Shadow Of The Hegemon (Shadow Saga)

Shadow of the Hegemon

Following Ender’s disappearance, Bean forges his own path – acting as the tactician behind Ender’s brother (Peter) and his own victory for Earth.

Pros

  • Solid world-building
  • Great characterization
  • Well written
  • Tense

Cons

  • Weaker than other books

Themes: Friendship, abandonment, war, genocide, morality

Shadow Puppets (Shadow Saga)

Shadow Puppets (The Shadow Saga Book 3)

The third novel in the Shadow Saga, Shadow Puppets focuses on the power vacuum created by the Formic invasion, and how the forced alliances quickly crumbled to dust once this shared enemy had been defeated.

Pros

  • Interesting perspective
  • Good world-building
  • Well written

Cons

  • Slower than previous books

Themes: War, peace, power, morality, friendship

First Meetings: In The Enderverse (Ender Series)

First Meetings: In Ender's Universe (The Ender Quartet series)

Recounting the origins of Ender’s father (John Paul Wiggin), who himself was a veteran of the first two Bugger wars, First Meetings is a collection of novellas leading into the events of the first book (also included in this collection).

Pros

  • Good source of background information
  • Good storytelling
  • Well written
  • Interesting characterization

Cons

  • Somewhat contrived

Themes: War, peace, morality, genocide, honor, duty

Shadow Of The Giant (Shadow Saga)

Shadow of the Giant (The Shadow Saga Book 4)

Years after the wars that shaped the course of Earth, Bean and his wife Petra seek to find a place to settle down and raise a family – leaving the Earth in search of a new world they can call their home.

Pros

  • Good character development
  • Nice change of pace
  • Tense
  • Action-packed
  • Well written

Cons

  • Slow burning

Themes: War, peace, the past, the future, new beginnings, family

A War Of Gifts: An Ender Story (Ender Series)

A War of Gifts: An Ender Story (Other Tales from the Ender Universe) by Orson Scott Card (2009-09-29)

Focusing on the Battle School that trains the children, A War of Gifts sees the small acts of rebellion that marked the drastic changes that were forced to take place within the organization.

Pros

  • Interesting idea
  • Some world building
  • Self-contained

Cons

  • Much weaker storyline

Themes: Friendship, giving, Christmas, kindness, rebellion

Ender In Exile (Ender Series)

Ender In Exile: Ender Series, book 6 (Ender Saga) [Paperback] Card, Orson Scott

Recounting the stories surrounding Ender’s exile to the colonies following the revelation of the war crimes against the Formics, Ender in Exile shows how the young man with a heavy heart became the pivotal yet wayward character known as the ‘Speaker for the Dead’.

Pros

  • Good world-building
  • Good lore building
  • Good character development
  • Well written

Cons

  • Much weaker than past outings

Themes: Exile, loneliness, family, truth, consequences

Shadows In Flight (Shadow Saga)

Shadows in Flight (The Shadow Series Book 5)

Shadows In Flight is the last book in the Shadow Saga and focuses on Bean and three of his genetically modified children as they flee to the stars in search of a cure for their doomed, shortened lifespan.

Pros

  • Tense and haunting
  • Action-packed
  • Thoughtful and interesting
  • Good world-building

Cons

  • Lacking the magic of the past books

Themes: Legacy, life, death, freedom, peace

Earth Unaware (Formic Wars)

Earth Unaware

Taking place 100 years before Ender’s Game, Earth Unaware focuses on the events of the first Formic war and the crew of the ‘El Cavador’ – a mining vessel in the depths of space that detects the coming invasion.

Pros

  • Interesting foreshadowing
  • Good world-building
  • Strong storyline

Cons

  • Lacks the same refinement as past books

Themes: Family, isolation, vulnerability, destiny

Earth Afire (Formic Wars)

Earth Afire

Despite beating the Formic ships to Earth, Victor Delgado is still not believed by the skeptical governments around the world – that is until space stations and vessels begin exploding in unison.

Pros

  • Good world-building
  • Strong characters
  • Well written

Cons

  • Simpler written style

Themes: War, fate, death, duty, honor, truth

Earth Awakens (Formic Wars)

Earth Awakens

As the first Formic war gets underway, and the need for allies grows pivotal to humanity’s survival, the governments of the Earth form a tenuous global alliance that will help them in holding back the tide of Formic invaders.

Pros

  • Interesting world-building
  • Good storytelling
  • Strong characters
  • Plenty of action

Cons

  • Slightly disappointing and convoluted

Themes: War, friendship, teamwork, duty, honor

The Swarm (Formic Wars)

The Swarm: The Second Formic War (Volume 1) (The Second Formic War, 1)

Focusing on the start of the second Formic war, The Swarm sees the return of the Formics as they arrive from deep space seeking revenge for the losses they suffered in the first war.

Pros

  • Good history
  • Good world-building
  • Action-packed
  • Tense

Cons

  • Some inconsistencies in the plot

Themes: War, peace, legacy, duty, honor, alliances

Children Of The Fleet (Fleet School)

Children of the Fleet (International Edition)

Focusing on the child soldiers of the fleet – whose journey out in space mirrors the one on Earth during the third Formic war – Children of the Fleet shows the dangers faced by the daring, space-faring crews.

Pros

  • Good world-building
  • Interesting concept

Cons

  • Somewhat repetitive

Themes: War, isolation, duty, honor, teamwork

The Hive (Formic Wars)

The Hive: Book 2 of The Second Formic War (The Second Formic War, 2)

As the Formic forces gather at the edge of the galaxy, can Earth’s warring corporations and nations put aside their differences to save the planet?

Pros

  • Good world-building
  • Good finale
  • Strong concept

Cons

  • Some inconsistencies with past ideas

Themes: War, sacrifice, teamwork, devastation

Final Thoughts

And there we have it, everything you need to know about the Ender’s Game series, and the definitive reading order for all new readers of the books!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is The Ender’s Game Series Suitable For Adults?

Yes. While the Ender’s Game series might be primarily written for the young adult fiction market, there are many adults who are fans of the franchise.

Is The Ender’s Game Series Suitable For Children?

Even though most of the characters in the novel are children, the story itself has many elements considered too mature for anyone under the age of 12 years old.

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Anna Davis