After spending some time in the forums here, i think that in at least one respect i am in the minority(opinion based).
I prefer Bean to Ender, I think he is just overall more relatable(to me at least), and had to deal with so much more. He was completely isolated for such a long time, a genius, a orphan, an outcast, then finally accepted. Bean never had a Valentine to fall back on.
Although, i have to mention that i think Ender is one of the coolest fictional charecters i have ever encountered(right behind the stainless steel rat). And i do remember the month i contemplated having the other fourth graders call me ender.
So anyways, back to the point, who do you like better? why? Or do you like Shovel? Maybe Fly Molo? Will i ever stop asking questions?!?!
Posted by Rodger Brown (Member # 11476) on :
I've gone back and forth about this one quite a few times. I think it may be like children in that you can't love one more than another.
I first encountered Ender's side of the story and I was very young and Ender's Game helped fuel my love of literature. So for that I stick with Ender.
Recently as I became a nerd for the entire Ender story I really started to prefer Bean. Bean just came through so much, also we get more insight from Beans head.
Posted by CRash (Member # 7754) on :
I love Bean, he's a great character, but I think Ender comes out ahead for me. I'm not exactly sure why. I do have a thing for "damaged" characters, and the fact that Ender is manipulated and then has to deal with that for the rest of his life just connects with me. Of course Bean has his problems, but he also seems to be more resilient and overcomes them better, and turns things around on the manipulator whereas Ender seems to blame himself.
Erm, I'm not explaining this very well...but I think that is one of the main reasons I am more intrigued and emotionally moved by Ender. I need to think about this some more.
Posted by sylvrdragon (Member # 3332) on :
Why choose one when you can have them both?
Posted by Xann. (Member # 11482) on :
I don't understand the link.... was it a mistake? Or are you really into Bender.... or is that bean + ender? I dont like it. Thats it, i just chose to dislike it.
Posted by sylvrdragon (Member # 3332) on :
Just a bad pun; don't read too deeply into it.
I can't really decide between the two myself. I can see something of myself in either. Though I'll be honest, I relate a lot better with early Bean than later Bean. Probably the same with Ender. These characters probably played a large part in DEFINING who I am today.
Sometimes I get to know people and I try (and usually succeed) understanding their point of view. I try knowing them as they know themselves. Putting myself in their shoes. It's true what Card writes; that once you know somebody on this level, you can't really bring yourself to hate them.
Other times, I view things from a distance. I analyze as objectively as possible and suddenly, these people with whom I may or may not have empathized become statistics and I only care about them to the extent that they effect my own life.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
I'm not a Bean fan. I like the scrappy genius kid from Ender's Game, but don't have much interest in the alien blob from the Shadow books.
Posted by Xann. (Member # 11482) on :
quote:Originally posted by sylvrdragon: I relate a lot better with early Bean than later Bean. Probably the same with Ender.
Well, i think it is safe to say that no one can really relate to a man being guilt ridden for elimainating a species, or a genius giant sent off to space to save his babies!
Thats also why i really like the more recent short stories like Cheater, and Pretty boy, and A War of Gifts(did i get that wrong?), it's more relatable since they aren't...... to new? i don't know what im looking for there.
Posted by camus (Member # 8052) on :
For me:
Ender > Peter > Bean.
Despite the wussification of Peter in the Shadow books, I am still much more interested in him than I am in Bean. I think I might actually dislike Bean.
Posted by Libbie (Member # 9529) on :
I like them both equally well for different reasons. Bean is more interesting in a hard sci-fi sense, what with all the wacky genetic manipulation and all. Ender is more interesting to me on an emotional level. He's more sensitive, and easier for me to connect with as a person instead of as a science experiment.
Both are great characters.
Posted by DSC (Member # 11503) on :
I like Ender. Perhaps as an upper middle class white kid who was always smart, but not 'OMG hez a frEAk', I found him relatable. The inherent absurdity of Bean(midget/giant, orphan/rich boy, wimp/super soldier) makes him sound overly cliche IMO. Ender fits more of the real, flawed leader mode. Bean has problems, but only has them as foreign ruinings of his genius. Ender goes beyond him limits, Bean doesn't appear to have any.
JMO.
Posted by promiseadance (Member # 11483) on :
I like them both, but between the two, I prefer Bean. Ender is a bit too whiney -- he's the over-relied-upon Harry Potter of Battle School, something that continues well into his adulthood. Whining, brooding, generally being encompassed in a lot of self-pity, all the while still playing and taking on the hero role, albeit either unconsciously or unwillingly. That's the way I view him, anyway.
I find it interesting that a lot of people don't think Bean is as relatable as Ender. Bean's thoughts, opinions, personality just scream real to me. He deals with things (a lot of shitty things, too) and usually in admirable ways. I just want to give him a hug.
Posted by cuckooover (Member # 11515) on :
I like Bean more, mostly because I prefer Bean's stories after the Formic Wars then I do Enders. Bean on Earth is pretty hardcore and it's a giant plus that he gets to meet all the kids from Battle School again. I like seeing characters return.
Ender goes off to a weird planet and does some random stuff. That's basically all I got from his sequels.
Posted by Xann. (Member # 11482) on :
I agree, i did fell Ender going to a totally seperate, allmost unrealated plot was strange.
Bean seemed to stay and deal with all his loose strings.