Age of launchies

[perspicacious.emperor]

How old were the kids when they were blasted off to Battle School? I don't think the book said. And if it did, I wasn't paying attention.

[Jeesh_girl15]

I think it was 6 years old, but Ender was 5. So, 5 or 6.

[perspicacious.emperor]

I thought Ender was younger than his fellow launchies. So was Bean, I think.

[Syphon the Sun]

Ender was six (Chapter 2, Ender's Game); Bean was five (Chapter 4, Ender's Shadow). Both were young for their respective classes.

If I recall correctly, most were seven.

[perspicacious.emperor]

Ah, I see. Thanks.

[Glass]

How far apart (age wise) were Bean and Petra?

How old were they when they got married/pregnant?
^this question especially bothered me.

Orson Scott Card has a majority of his characters getting married and having children rather young.

[perspicacious.emperor]

Ohhhh well. I knew their large age gap. I totally expected Pet to be at least in her twenties. I didn't know how old Bean would be, but then Card all of a sudden sprang up his age in Giant. Sixteen...!!! What is this I don't even!!

I'm thinking he was maybe fifteen when they got married. Possibly even fourteen? Not sixteen because by Giant they've already had Ender, and some time should have passed a little before and a little after Ender's birth.

So when Bean first went into BS, he was five and Pet was at least ten. It's a five year gap, give or take a few years. It's not that bad of a gap, but Bean was too young to get married, neh? e_e

[Crazy Tom: C Toon]

eh

15 is a little young, but then, he has to because he thinks he's over halfway through with life, so why not? Strange image, though, a fifteen year old marrying a twenty year old...