I love the journey. Going from place to place, describing fall colors and overcast skies. I probably have at least three settings in all my stories. That’s not the case for Ender’s Game. While a chapter or two will take us to a house or a pond, the majority of the story sits in one setting: Battle School. It’s here our very young protagonist learns of human jealousy and deception.
Battle School… According to the Movie
Deep breath, y’all. While the movie changes a few elements, it does well in regards to setting. Especially since Orson Scott Card spends very little time describing his world.
Orbiting the Earth, Battle School takes in the best and brightest at age 6 to train for the war against extraterrestials. This cylindrical satelite uses artificial gravity to allow people to walk along the noticeable curve. Barracks, cafeterias, locker rooms. Everything is housed in the outer bands of the satelite.
In the center is the battle arena, a spherical anti-gravity chamber with a clear view of the galaxy. This arena is packed with obstacles meant for training. Door on either side of the arena allow teams access.
Battle School’s Purpose in Ender’s Game
While not heavily described, Battle School sets the stage for Ender’s childhood. It’s here he learns to lead a team, to handle being unliked, forges friendships, and fights enemies.
We’re going to get into some culture talk here because that’s the primary fucntion of this limited setting. The children in Battle School are grouped in teams that compete in the battle arena every day. Training and battle are their main activities outside of sleep and regular education. Rivalries ensue because of inexperienced leaders trying to maintain their control while subordinates try to stand out and swap teams. At 6 years old, they’re taught how to maneuver in space, shoot to kill, and climb the social ladder.
Another aspect here is the military in charge. While presenting as hall monitors, they pull the strings of the entire base. All to craft the perfect weapon. Not human… Weapon. And that’s the key to Battle School; it’s sci-fi sterile environment is a machine factory, turning kids into alien-killing weapons. And when such a weapon stops working, it’ll eventually get tossed aside.