I decided to begin with Ender's Game, a story about a boy who learns to become a brilliant strategist while struggling with his contrasted view of morality. I'm about halfway through it. I've been providing commentary and summary through voice notes, so I'll either figure out how to post the sound clips, or just type it out.

The Calamity of Humanity has been going on for pretty much its entire existence. Authors of fiction often depict different forms of humanity gone wrong in their works. Maybe it's a society that's taken on a more secure stand as far as freedom of its people. Perhaps it's the more radical worldwide apocalypse you read about. Maybe it's not even a disaster. Maybe things look better than they used to be, but aren't.

The four books I've selected to read, Ender's Game, Anthem, The Host, and Uglies, each have human societies very different from ours in present times. These changes come from both outside influences and struggles within. As well as a general analysis of each book, I will also discuss and develop the theme of the calamity of humanity, and discuss parallels between what our world is and what it could one day be.