Ender’s Game discussion

So, I've read Ender's Game a few times since I was ten years old, and every time I've absolutely loved how it was written.
Card said in his latest edition's preface that he got a lot of hate for writing his story in such a readable, understandable way, and that it was too simple to be called science fiction? As if by writing something where the reader has to struggle to understand what is going on is a good thing?
As a programmer, I highly value this style of clear writing, where the intent and what is going on is not befuddled and mixed up in ways that I have to take apart and desire. Most of my life as a programmer is comprised of this, and I use reading as an escape from the world. I like to read books where I can easily fall into the plot, get ensnared into something truly amazing and something that you just can't put down, and I like to do it in a way that doesn't require me to spend the hours that I'm reading problem solving, otherwise my entire life is just problem-solving.

So, I find myself here, having read all of Robert J. Sawyers Books, the good books by Harry Harrison, Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, (as well as Ender's Shadow), Snow Crash (the best book ever written imo, next to the WWW trilogy by RJS), and a multitude of young adult fantasy stories that I'm honestly getting tired of.
I'm trying to move away from the adolescents dream and fantasies to things more thought-provoking and interesting, but not annoyingly complex, where it seems the author is completely incapable of expressing what the heck is going on in his or her story other than by laying down subtle hints for you to put together and try to figure out what the main character is thinking and why he's suddenly taken a boat or plane from France to Egypt because he found some text in a book.

By the way, if you haven't read Ender's Game, Ender's Shadow, Snow Crash, and All of Robert J. Sawyers books, I suggest you get the heck to it.
Other books written clearly and in an interesting way, so that one of you brilliant and much more experienced readers out there might be able to help me:
Point of Impact - Stephen Hunter
Dies the Fire (well, Mike's part of it, anyways)
Hundreds upon hundreds of Harry Potter/Naruto/DBZ fanfiction, all averaging ~200k-300k words...

Please know that I am completely open minded to everything, and will accept all suggestions no matter how seemingly ridiculous they might be, though I can't promise I'll like it heh.
I'm addicted to well-written stories *_*

er, if a mod notices this is in the wrong place, I apologize and ask that it be moved to the appropriate place. my topic of discussion kind of changed from the original plan hehehe,

Nyxeka wrote: "So, I've read Ender's Game a few times since I was ten years old, and every time I've absolutely loved how it was written.
Card said in his latest edition's preface that he got a lot of hate for w..."

Problem being that every author has a reader base that finds him or her clear and well-written. I can give you the opposite of what you're asking, what to avoid.

Philip Jose Farmer
(Most) Kurt Vonnegut
Asimov shorts are good, avoid Foundation like the plague
Stephen Donaldson's shorts are great, avoid AVOID both series

There's more but I'm at work.

The Baen Publishing free library has lots of such books that can be recommended for their easy and smooth styles. K D Wentworth is one of my favorites. Anne McCaffrey is another. There are enough books in that free library to fill a couple of years of reading.

I have a possible escape for you. Try "Killing Floor" by Lee Child. The writing is clear and concise. The narration always describes what the hero is doing and why, showing us his logical and insightful thought process.

The character, Jack Reacher is an ex-military drifter who rejects the idea of trying to settle into a normal civilian life and so he just roams around the country, finding trouble and getting embroiled in it.

He has a strong sense of right and wrong, but doesn't limit himself to enforcing justice by society's accepted rules.

The series is probably not at all what you're used to reading, but in terms of a simple, unconfusing read that you can get lost in - it's great.

I envy anyone new to Lee Child/Jack Reacher because if you end up loving the first book, there are 16 more to read after that.

Thanks for this question - I'll definitely be following it. I'm always looking for more to read in this genre. It's not one I usually go to - but loved Ender's Game and am getting tired of the girly/chic lit I normally read.

Try "Old Man's War" by John Scalzi. A nice clean writing style and sort of like Ender's Game for geriatrics.

@FirstName

Thanks lol XD

@Edward: also thank you. I'll have to check that out.

Trying to avoid too fantasy for a while:

Albery Jay Nock - ( Anything, mises.org has a good selection )
David Graeber - Debt: The first 5000 years
John Lawton - Lily of the field
Lawrence Block - Enough Rope
Eugene Field - Love affairs of a bibliomaniac
Ian Stewart and Jack Cohen - Figments of Reality
George Orwell - Essays ( http://orwell.ru/library/essays/index_en )

In the end, I find myself coming back to fantasy though - and suspect that you will too. It's no use trying to fight it, just take a break and give it time :)

I'd give Robert Heinlein a go. Try Starship Troopers (much better than the film) or The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. I think you'll enjoy.

I'd recommend looking back at a lot of the classics. H.G. Wells, Victor Hugo, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Bram Stoker, Ray Bradbury, etc, etc, etc. They are classics for a reason. If those aren't to your liking, there are plenty of other great classics in any genre.

Much of what it sounds like you dislike about recent fiction is irony and poor writing. It's the accessible books that pass the test of time.

If you liked Snow Crash, check out Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. It's a great light read loaded with pop-culture, nostalgic 8-bit gaming and early PC references.