Ender's Game

I watched the back half of this the other night in a hotel room, and was reminded of my initial impressions reading the book some time ago, at the strong suggestion of a friend. I think she wanted me to weigh in on the morality of some of the violence, but all I kept thinking was that this book was an extended reaction formation--if I might allow myself to use the term of someone and a system I mostly disagree with--to early childhood events.  A sense of powerlessness.  A sense of being under attack.

And what is that reaction?  Effective violence, and genius, all at very early ages.  Ender was 10 in the final battles.  He had mastered violence, mastered strategy.

As a purely practical matter, most minds and reflexes peak at about 17 or so.  This is the rough age of many Israeli fighter pilots, who are chosen to be the best possible, accounting for all factors.  12 is still prepubescent for most.  The brain has not fully matured.

But emotionally, this must have been a powerful liberation…