Orson Scott Card's "Ender's Game" is a science fiction classic in my opinion, one of the great works of the genre. Perhaps that's why it is the winner of both the Hugo and Nebula awards. I give the book a full five-star rating. It is an amazing and intense read.

I met the author, Orson Scott Card, briefly just after he finished giving a writing seminar in Southern Utah several years back, where he autographed my own paperback copy. If only I'd known he would be there I might have purchased a hardcover copy for him to sign.

Beware that "Ender's Game" does contain some language and several graphically violent scenes. However, unlike many books and movies where violence is gratuitous, the scenes in this book are integral to the story and development of the characters, and presented minimally to achive this purpose. And the main character's reactions to the situations includes regret at the necessity of his own violent behavior. This, I think, is a vital element if a story honestly deals with violence and seeks not to glorify it or make it part of the adventure. My hat is off to Mr. Card in this regard, for the towering power of the story overshadows and justifies what in another story I would regard as vile and unacceptable.

One of the traits of Orson Scott Card's writing is his astounding ability to make you believe his characters are smart, intelligent, and in the case of Ender Wiggin saga, even geniuses. So often I read a novel where the author spends some time trying to tell me that such-and-such a character is smart and I then read on and find that I just can't believe that a smart person would do and behave as they do later on in the novel. Card succeeds with room to spare. He convinces me his characters are smart by what they do and think. He doesn't have to bother telling me that they are intelligent.

"Ender's Game" is the first, and probably the fastest paced of the four novels that make up the Ender Wiggin saga, but that does not necessarily make it the best.

I give "Ender's Game" a full 5 rating. This books is definitely a must-have title for any serious science fiction fan's library.

I first heard Nickel Creek when they were guests on Prarie Home Companion on public radio. I like acoustic strings to begin with (the group consists of violin/fiddle, guitar, mandolin, string bass, and vocals) and their bluegrass folk sound.

My sister, whose musical tastes overlap mine considerably, let me borrow her Nickel Creek CD. I'm addicted! I love the instrumentals and the vocal selections. I didn't want to have to return her CD. Fortunately for me, we worked out an arrangement whereby she gave me the CD in exchange for my picking her up from the airport in Las Vegas when she gets back from her trip to Colorado later this month (February 2001). I think I got the better end of the bargain.

My favorite vocal tracks are probably track #2 (The Lighthouse's Tale), #5 (Reasons Why), and #11 (The Fox).

These guys are good! Nearly perfect, in fact. I'll give 'em a 4.5 out of 5.

Hilarious! The computer animated movie "Ice Age" was a blast to see in the theater, so it was a no-brainer that I would be buying it on DVD as soon as it came out. Or so I thought...

Since it came out before Christmas, my roommate, Scott, informed me that he was buying me this DVD as a Christmas gift. Woohoo! I couldn't turn down a deal like that. As we were both dying to watch it, I didn't have to wait until Christmas before enjoying the DVD. It was all of two seconds after getting home from the store before the DVD was in the player.

Of times, I, like my sister, have an illogical aversion to any animated movies where the main character is an animal. I can't explain it. My sister's aversion, however, runs more deeply which is why she never saw this movie while it was in the local theaters. I suppose what I'm trying to say is that since I enjoyed this movie so much and it contains animals as main characters, it must be good. And it is.

The dialog is funny and the voice acting superb. The various creatures' voices were well cast, and the animators did a superb job bringing the characters to life.

If you haven't seen this, rent it or borrow it from someone who has it. If you're like me, you'll want to buy it.

My rating: 4 out of 5