[chernevik]

It's a thoughtful book and such its "violence" can't be quantified onto a simple scale. The personal confrontations are calculated and desperate, they serve the dramatic purpose of establishing the seriousness of the stakes. They also show Ender's resourcefulness, attention to the long haul even under pressure, and savagery when cornered. Ender's choices in the space war are entirely rational, which quickly raises the question whether the morality of the xenocide lies with Ender or those who framed the problem.

All of which sets up "Speak for the Dead", one of the best sci-fi books I know.

Anyone rejecting violence qua violence should probably stay away, but they'll be missing a pretty important reflection on its causes and consequences, and the possibility of redemption.

The books after "Speaker" suck.