Orson Scott Card is on the banned books list in this house

**pippadaisy**[$] · #1 07-30-2008, 05:28 PM

Science Fiction: Orson Scott Card betrays his geek fans

**mtomm**[$] · #2 07-30-2008, 05:50 PM

Here's the link to the actual article:

Mormon Times - State job is not to redefine marriage

**pluckyduck** · #3 07-30-2008, 07:14 PM

Wow.

This is really disappointing.

Although I wouldn't read or not read an author for the reason of disagreement with his views.

**hadassahchana**[$] · #4 07-30-2008, 11:12 PM

Ender's Game is on our reading list for this fall. I won't be banning Card. I will be discussing how hurtful beliefs like that are, but I homeschool my kids just to avoid book bannings based on ideolgy. Why would I ban an excellent book by this author when the premise of the book has nothing to do with those religious beliefs?

I completely disagree with Card about gay marriage, and his attempts to force his religoiuos beliefs on others makes me angry. However, banning books is a huge big bad deal for me, and I'm certainly not there over this.

**hadassahchana**[$] · #5 07-30-2008, 11:17 PM

Pippa, you are a much better writer than I am. Write an editorial countering that and submit it- I'd love to see someone take the time to poke holes in his very flawed reasoning. That would totally rawk!

JonSmith · #6 07-30-2008, 11:59 PM

You can't change someone's ultra-conservative views that are brainwashed into someone from birth. Believe me I have tried with a few people and I've always failed. Mormons and other religious groups know what they know and it has been drilled into them all their lives. Some of them grow and open their minds, but most don't.

aggiebrett · #7 07-31-2008, 06:59 PM

A far better reason to not read ENDER'S GAME is that it's a self-adoring laughably over-rated demi-wad of dryer lint. It remains among the absolute most disappointing "must-reads" I've ever forced myself to finish.

I am a total loss to understand why this book is supposedly so wonderful, and by most measurements I am smack dab in the middle of the target demo for fans of this, and was far more like Ender than any of my friends.

"Blech."
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call me kahoutek B

eris esoteric · #8 07-31-2008, 08:20 PM

Personally, I chalk it up to Asshole Writer syndrome. When someone makes a living writing, they have two really bad influences working on them. First, they deal in their imaginations, where they control reality, and make people say what they want them to say. Second, they attract people to them, who tell them how wonderful they are. These two influences can have the effect of removing a writer's connection with objective reality.

My personal observation is that AWS hits first when a writer is new to the field. As they get the assholery beaten out of them in their pursuit of a professional writing career, they become more tolerable as people. Card is one of the rare ones who has become more of an asshole over time. Or, at least, he is becoming more vocal of late. (I blame the inner-tubes for this.)

The thing about AWS is that the degree of assholery often has little to do with the quality of the writing itself. There are many semi-professional writers whose literary output I eagerly read and support, who I wouldn't want to have any actual contact with in any fashion in real life. The writer's personality has nothing whatsoever to do with their writing. Having come to the conclusion that assholes exist and that there's nothing I can or would do to adjust another human being's assholery level, I am willing to support the stories a person tells while removing myself from the person as much as possible.

**hadassahchana**[$] · #9 08-01-2008, 09:18 AM

Quote:

aggiebrett said

A far better reason to not read ENDER'S GAME is that it's a self-adoring laughably over-rated demi-wad of dryer lint. It remains among the absolute most disappointing "must-reads" I've ever forced myself to finish.

I am a total loss to understand why this book is supposedly so wonderful, and by most measurements I am smack dab in the middle of the target demo for fans of this, and was far more like Ender than any of my friends.

"Blech."
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call me kahoutek B

Hmm, you're the second person who's said that to me. I think I need to reread EG before forcing it on the 16 year old.

Eris, I loved that explanation!

**mtomm**[$] · #10 08-01-2008, 10:32 AM

Quote:

aggiebrett said

A far better reason to not read ENDER'S GAME is that it's a self-adoring laughably over-rated demi-wad of dryer lint. It remains among the absolute most disappointing "must-reads" I've ever forced myself to finish.

I am a total loss to understand why this book is supposedly so wonderful, and by most measurements I am smack dab in the middle of the target demo for fans of this, and was far more like Ender than any of my friends.

"Blech."
.
.
.
call me kahoutek B

I felt the same way about Harry Potter.

Quote:

Personally, I chalk it up to Asshole Writer syndrome.

Eris, you are always so insightful. This makes a lot of sense for many things.

aggiebrett · #11 08-01-2008, 02:11 PM

Quote:

hadassahchana said

Hmm, you're the second person who's said that to me. I think I need to reread EG before forcing it on the 16 year old.

Make sure you read a used copy or a library edition. No reason to put more coin in Card's pocket for that overpimped wad of twaddle.

I'd gladly GIVE you my copy, except I ... (ahem) "did bad things to it."
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wrathful hate--filled B

JonSmith · #12 08-01-2008, 02:58 PM

Quote:

I'd gladly GIVE you my copy, except I ... (ahem) "did bad things to it."

**drmomentum**[$] · #13 08-01-2008, 03:14 PM

This wouldn't be among my reasons not to read Ender's Game, nor the Ender series. I enjoyed the first book, but thought it got better after that, up to about Ender's Shadow. I got bored somewhere around Shadow Puppets / Shadow of the Hegemon.

Eris' AWS is a good explanation.

The reason I think the later books are more interesting is that they deal with the consequences of the events of the first book. The first book only sets the stage for what follows.

In any case, did you know that it is illegal to kneel and pray in front of a police officer who is trying to enter a building? Scandalous!

This "end of democracy" baloney is so much overheated falderal. I don't see Card complaining that employers are going to be forced to hire people who are not qualified to do the job they are needed for (in the case of nondecrimination against pharmacists who disagree with contraception.)

If your version of democracy is mob rule, then you can keep your version.

-JP