"Ender's Game" is about a young boy named Ender Wiggen who is born a "third", which means he is the third child in a future where a couple may only have two children, but the government allowed Ender's parents to have Ender because they think that Ender might just be able to save the world. The government thought that the third time might just be the charm. They were right. Ender is the perfect leader in every way one can be. Some argue that this is strictly a science fiction novel because of the futuristic setting and high technology, but others also think that it is a Romance novel. Romance novels incorporate many elements such as the use of a hero who follows a strong moral code, a long emotional and/or physical journey to obtain something desirable, the use of technological advances, the use of an acknowledgeable teacher or mentor, and the hero's birth is foreordained.
Orson Scott Card at Life, the Universe, & Everythi...
Ender's Game
Card's webzineEnder's Game incorporates all these elements, which make it a Romance novel.
One example of a Romance element is Ender Wiggen's birth. In Enders society children are brought up believing that there are creatures called the "Buggers" that have attacked the humans in the past, so Ender is asked to go to a battle school where young children are trained to be commanders to help fight the war. In Ender's case he has trouble at school for being a "third". At home Ender has a brother that wants to kill him and a sister that really cares for him and protects him. With all that in mind Ender has to make a decision between childhood and family, or patriotism and relief from pain and embarrassment. Since Ender's older brother and sister, Peter and Valentine, were not what the government needed to save...