Mazer Rackham's Lonely Legacy

Mazer Rackham spends decades in relativistic travel to train the one commander who can finish the war he began.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

The Hero of the Second Invasion

The Hero of the Second Invasion Mazer Rackham defeats the bugger invasion fleet at Saturn by destroying its queen ship. He becomes the most famous human in history. Context The battle is kept partly secret, and Mazer's method is not understood by the military establishment. Significance Mazer's victory proves that a single brilliant commander can beat the buggers, creating the rationale for the Battle School.

Waiting on Eros

Waiting on Eros Mazer has spent decades in relativistic travel so he can still teach the next commander. He lives alone in the bugger tunnels of Eros, visited only by security staff and students. Context Humanity's entire invasion fleet is waiting for a commander, and Mazer is the only person qualified to train one. Significance Mazer's fate is to be outlived by everyone he loved and to spend his old age teaching children how to kill.

The First Test

The First Test Mazer attacks Ender from behind, pins him to the floor, and tells him that there is no teacher but the enemy. He then lets Ender land a retaliatory kick. Context Mazer is testing Ender's ability to learn from pain and surprise. He is not teaching Ender to fight; he is teaching him to expect the unexpected. Significance The physical confrontation establishes their relationship: they will always be on the edge of violence, but they will also respect each other.

The Brutal Trainer

The Brutal Trainer Mazer programs increasingly impossible bugger battles for Ender, waking him at odd hours and pushing him to exhaustion. He offers no praise and no comfort. Context The real fleet will arrive at the bugger worlds at any time. Mazer knows that compassion for Ender could mean the destruction of humanity. Significance Mazer's cruelty produces Ender's near-breakdown, but it also makes Ender flexible enough to use Dr. Device on a planet.

Telling the Terrifying Truth

Telling the Terrifying Truth Mazer tells Ender that all the 'simulations' were real and that Ender has just committed xenocide. He tries to console him, but his own fate is to remain an outsider in the celebration. Context Mazer has done his job; humanity has no more enemies. His heroism is obsolete. Significance Mazer's legacy is not the Second Invasion but the broken boy he helped create, and he knows it.

seventy years before Ender's arrival at Command School

when Ender arrives at Command School

the first day Mazer locks Ender in his room

the final months of Ender's training

after the bugger homeworld is destroyed