School Library Journal Review
Gr 6 Up-Andrew "Ender" Wiggins, a brilliant leader and tactician and destined to save Earth by destroying an entire alien civilization at the age of 12, was first introduced in Card's "Ender's Game" in Analog magazine (1977). That novella, plus three other stories (including one never before published) make up this appealing and entertaining collection of tales, all dealing with first meetings that played significant roles in the life of Ender Wiggins. "The Polish Boy" introduces his extraordinary father, John Paul, who manages at the age of six to trick the Hegemony into bringing his entire family from Poland to the United States. "Teacher's Pest" is the story of how John Paul meets and romances the equally brilliant graduate student Theresa Brown. Finally, in "The Investment Counselor," a mysterious accounting program named Jane appears just when 20-year-old Andrew Wiggins needs help figuring out both his taxes and what to do with the rest of his life. All four stories use the future setting as a framework to explore various issues of religion, government control, population limits, education, and moral responsibility. Character, setting, plot-Card does them all right, and makes it look effortless. The graphic novelesque illustrations will appeal to teens. For newcomers to Ender's universe and long-time fans, this book will hit the spot and whet the appetite for more.-Mara Alpert, Los Angeles Public Library (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Ender's Game, first published 25 years ago, and three other novellas by Orson Scott Card comprise First Meetings: In the Enderverse. In "The Polish Boy" (2002), which occurs between the two Bugger Wars, the Hegemony tries to draft a boy genius, John Paul Weiczorek, to help ward off an alien invasion. In "Teacher's Pest," written especially for this collection, John Paul (now known as John Paul Wiggin) spars with the brilliant graduate student who teaches his class at the university. John Paul's son, Ender Wiggin, stars in "Ender's Game," as he trains in Battle School to lead an army against an alien army. And finally, in "Investment Counselor" (2000), Ender has been accused of mass murder and, traveling as Andrew Wiggin, he avoids detection with the help of a mysterious financial adviser. (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
Centering this collection on his landmark novella [cf2]Ender's Game[cf1], Card includes with it two longish stories about Ender's parents and another about the grown-up Ender and his sister Valentine. Fans of the novella (or the novel by the same name) will relish the backstories; novices may find these accessible pieces a good point of entry. The book is illustrated with somewhat campy occasional drawings. From HORN BOOK Spring 2004, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Library Journal Review
Four stories set in four different time periods explore new aspects of Card's best-selling "Ender" series. In "The Polish Boy," the Hegemony attempts to recruit new military talent to prepare for a resurgence of war against the aliens known as Buggers, while in "Teacher's Pest," original to this collection, Ender's father, John Wiggin, meets his match in a young woman named Theresa Brown. "The Investment Counselor," a cautionary post-Bugger War tale about guilt and survival, and the original novella "Ender's Game" round out this collection. Suitable for both adult and YA fans of the Ender series. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.