Ender's Game:
The first book of the series, Ender's Game, is definitely my all-time favorite book. The story takes place sometime in the future on Earth. Another sentinent species, the Buggers, had been discovered. There had already been two "Bugger Wars", the second nearly wiping out the human race except for a last minute tactic by Mazer Rackham. Military intelligence is preparing for a third Bugger attack. Over the years, they have been monitoring the lives of young children, watching how they react to problems, and training the ones who show promise. Peter Wiggin, a military genious, is born. His monitor is taken off at the age of 5. Although he showed much promise, there was something about his character that was too hostile, too unsympathetic for him to be a leader. Valentine Wiggin, his younger sister, is born. Although she is not lacking in intelligence, her monitor is taken off at age 3. She is too nice, too kind, and too caring to be used. Seeing the potential of the first two children, the government requests the Wiggins to have a "third child". Thus, Andrew Wiggin (nicknamed Ender) is born. Having the emotional capacties between those of Peter and Valentine, Ender is sympathetic enough to be able to command, yet hard enough to kill. Ender's monitor is taken off at the age of 6, right before entering the military academy. From there, Ender's life takes a different turn. The harsh training will either make a commander of him, or break him into pieces. Back on Earth, Peter and Valentine, through essays, are slowly shaping the destiny of Earth. If Ender succeeds, he'll find a completely changed Earth when he comes back, if he comes back...
Speaker for the Dead: 
Three thousand Earth years have passed since the destruction of
the Buggers and the publications The Hive Queen and The Hegemon, two books written by Ender under the name, The Speaker for the Dead. Humanity regrets the annihilation of the Bugger race, and Ender, the Xenocide, is anathema. Ironically, the Speaker for the Dead is praised to the skies, and many people have taken the title "Speaker for the Dead" as their occupation. Ender now goes by the name, Andrew Wiggin, and no one, save Valentine, knows that he is still alive. On the planet of Lusitania, humans have found a ramen race, the pequininos, or "piggies". Humans consider the pequininos a blessing from God, a way to redeem themselves for the xenocide of the buggers. Very little contact has been allowed between the humans of Lusitania and the pequininos, in order for the pequininos's lives to remain undisturbed. But someone has introduced technology to them, and two xenobiologists have been killed. Andrew Wiggin is sent to Lusitania as a Speaker for the Dead to speak for the xenobiologists. To do so, he must unravel the mystery behind the "piggies", the xenobiologists's families, and the strange Descolada virus that could be the destruction of Lusitania...
Xenocide: 
The Descolada virus is quickly adapting. Soon, the humans of Lusitania will be at its mercy. The Starways Congress has ordered a fleet to destroy Lusitania; the virus must be destroyed, and the people, with it. 4 sentinent species now occupy Lusitania: humans, pequininos, buggers (gasp!), and a sentinent being called Jane. Jane, having control of the "anisble" connections, has caused the Lusitania fleet to seemingly disappear. The Starways Congress is shocked. They look to the planet of Path, home of the brilliant "godspoken", intelligent people who have been deceived into serving the Starways Congress. A brilliant young girl, called Gloriously Bright, is given the task of puzzling out the mysterious disappearance. There is no doubt in anyone's minds, not even Jane's, that Gloriously Bright will eventually lead up to the conclusion, the conclusion that there is a sentinent being living among the ansibles. The question is: What will she do with that knowledge?
Children of the Mind: 
The Descolada viris is becoming more intelligent every moment. The Starways Congress is even more determined than ever to destroy Lusitania. Jane has been discovered. The Starways Congress is planning on shutting the ansibles down, thereby weakening Jane's control of the computer network. The pequininos, buggers, and humans are rapidly trying to leave Lusitania. The humans of Lusitania have discovered "faster than light" travel by going "outside", but they need Jane in order to accomplish it. To complicate matters, Ender's mind "created" Peter, the Hegemon, and a young Valentine during his first trip "outside". Ender now refuses to pilot the "box", for fear of what he might "create" on his next trip "outside". The humans are desperately trying to make a Recolada to counter the Descolada. And the sentinent beings of Lusitania must hurry to find a new home for Jane before the Starways Congress shuts the ansible system down...
Tales of Alvin Maker
Homecoming Saga
