Back to the Bookstore

The other day I went back to the Used bookstore. This time I went up to the LDS section. And I reaped the joys of Card-ness. I found a first edition of A Storyteller in Zion. It is in near perfect condition, and I can't wait to get eye tracks all over it. I know its just essays and such, but I am really excited. I feel like I haven't had a new Card book to read in ages.

I am planning on devouring it on my plane back to Illinois for Christmas. Hopefully (hoffentlich) I will be able to get quite far, so I can post a review. I am really excited...and I have an ample amount of time in which to do so since Jared has left for Oregon.

...By the way I would like to report successful brainwashing here in Utah. I have shared Maps in a Mirror with my roommates boyfriend. And currently he is quoting "But We Try Not to Act Like It" in a last-ditch effort paper. It's pretty amazing when you are not the one who says "I got to quote Card in my paper." It feels like a million gold stars!

An Update

Wyrms 6 is out!!! I really enjoyed it. It's weird that it is not Dabel Brothers anymore, I had to get used to that. Nevertheless it is still the same kick-butt story. (Card wrote it and Jake adapted it, so why wouldn't it be awe-some.) And this time I actually bought it at a comic shop. Which is a funny story in it own right. I like comic shops--they help me get in touch with my inner nerd. Anyway, its a good ending to a great Card story. And not all that graphic either (could've been a lot worse).

Also in other news...I am engaged. And yes, I am shocked too. But mostly, I am really really excited.

Back to Card...there are people talking about A War of Gifts at my school. Finally. I always try to tell them that if they liked A War of Gifts that they really ought to read Ender's Stocking on IGMS. I think they work together perfectly. I am so happy! SMILE!!

My New Database of Love

Okay, so I have made my life amazing easier...I am in a class here at LDSBC that teaches you how to use Word and Excel and PowerPoint. And Access. I had never even heard of Access until this class...but I love it! I have taken my entire collection of Card books and have made the most wonderful database in the world.

I am now organized. It's great. I can tell you all sorts of information and I know exactly how many books i own. I feel the great weight lifted from my shoulder. I only wish I had Access at home. This is a great program. I love my database!

Also...I realize that two posts a month is lame...and I apologize. You see I can blame it on a whole lotta things...but that wouldn't solve the problem. I am going to try for at least one post a week...though it may get a little crazy. I seem to be only weeks away from finals and Christmas is right around the corner. Also...I might be engaged pretty soon. Probably by my next post...

I am going to have a lot to do...but four posts a month from now on...I solemnly swear.

The Wonders of a Rare Bookstore

There is something special when you find a place with first editions of Card books in an amazing condition...and you don't have to pay shipping! I can't get enough of the used book store here in downtown Salt Lake...in fact I think I am gonna go looking for more. I really think that there is nothing finer in life than a lot of happy book-crazed people.

The best part of the whole thing is finding the old magazines. Analog, Omni, Asimov's and more! I like them!! The happiness is beyond description. Forget Amazon.com and try an actual bookstore...you might regret it, but you won't forget it. Have a blast...try something new.

Oh and watch out for good deals all over...they are there waiting...
I really have to post more often, but I have been working on midterms and signing up for classes next semester...and spending a whole lotta time with my boyfriend...leave comments...and Smile!

Enderverse...

Our beloved Ender Universe has just gotten a little bit larger. Please welcome the new addition of "A War of Gifts"!!!!

This Battle School story takes place while Ender is in Rat Army and centers around the practice of religion in the Battle School. It is so much fun to see all our heroes in a new and wonderful light. Ender as always is a master at solving any problem. And Dink is amazing to read--gotta love those Dutch kids. This story also corresponds well with the EG story in Issue six of IGMS, "Ender's Stocking." I actually thought that they were the same for a short while.

The main problem I had with this story is that Dink seems so concerned about trying to do what is best for the Bugger War...and he says in EG that he doesn't even believe that the Bugger War is real. It was incongruous and weird. I felt like i had to really reevaluate how I had thought of Dink. I really think that if Card says stuff like that then there ought to be more of an explanation of how Dink decided there really was a Bugger War.

Regardless of how disconcerted I felt...it was terrific. The only thing I can't live with is the length. Books really should be longer...

Also I want to apologize for the 2 week delay in this post. Sorry. I seem to have acquired a boyfriend and (believe it or not) I spend more time with him than I do with Card. So if the posts seems fewer and further in between then its because I finally have a shadow of a "life."

Please post your comments and your reviews of this novella! YAY!

Done the Impossible

There is this documentary made for the T.V. series Firefly and it's companion film, Serenity. Called--Done the Impossible: A Fan's Tale of Firefly and Serentiy.
I have through some kind of fate aquired myself one of the DVD's. Fact it--Scard loves this show. And why shouldn't he? Everyone that actually watches three or four episodes does. Plus the show is totally character oriented...which is just like Card.

Firefly: (for those of you who don't know it) is about another part of the galaxy where the human race has fled after they destroyed "The Earth That Was." The story follows a couple of the most awesome characters in the 'Verse, Mal, Zoe (said Zo-e), Wash, Kaylee, Jayne, Simon, River, Book, and Inara. These space cowboys travel from outer planet in looking for any kind of job that they can get--legit or not. Mal is captain of the Firefly-class transport "Serenity." He is the fearless leader of the crew--Zoe the first mate, who is married to Wash the pilot, Kaylee the mechanic, and Jayne the mercenary. They bring passengers Simon and River Tam and Sheppard Book onboard. Simon and River are fugitives running from the government "The Alliance."

Firefly is fantastic and from a fan's POV--perfect! The people that watch this show are almost cultish...You can't help but love Mal and all the other characters throughout the series.

Now Serenity, the film, is no less fantastic and definetly shows the more interesting part of River's character...but I digress...the documentary is about how the fans reacted to the show and the movie and how dedicated they are. I really think that even if Card wasn't in it, it would be an interesting thing to watch. But Card IS in it and so I own it...and am defintly going to have to watch it again.
Likewise I own Serenity and Firefly and I love the shiny characters so much! If the Ender's Game movie is anything like Serenity--we all are going to love it beyond recognition. If only Joss Whedon could write an intro song for EG?

Capitol: An Analog Book

So this book is by all means--absolutely amazing. The concept is pretty funny to me actually. An entire book centered around somec and not one mention of Jason Worthing.

So seriously, why hasn't the development of somec become one of those stories that is repeated in every volume? Or why is it that "A Thousand Deaths" is always forgotten as a somec story, even though it wouldn't make any sense without it?

Why is it that Abner Doon is assistant Minister of Colonization and Graff is the ColMin? Why is it that after reading this book I really want to write some essays about the world of Capitol. And why is it that "Breaking the Game" (the story about Nuber's Italy) is my favorite one?

So many questions...so many...

I think that at this time I am going to put up a poll to find out everyone's favorite somec tale...and I think that I will begin a few essays drawing ties between this book, Hot Sleep, and The Worthing Saga. It will be fun!

An Essay for the Doomed

It is immensely hard to write a research paper about something that I absolutely adore and know a lot about. Currently I am writing one for my English class on science fiction. I bet you can imagine how it's going. (In case you can't...I keep trying to work in Card quotes, and I keep wanting to rant about how amazing SF is...)

Also I found this amazing book at the Salt Lake City Library about SF. Age of Wonders by David G. Hartwell. This has to be the funniest book I have ever tried to use to write a paper. I love it! I mean its like one of those satires that make fun of science fiction readers but in a way that only science fiction readers will truly understand. Its fantastic!

Furthermore, my roommate is up to her neck in Ender's Game...and loving it. We had an amazing literary discussion the other day about Ender and how he perceives himself. She's reading my copy of EG, with all my annotations and highlights, so she's getting a slightly different experience than I did my first time through. But then she's rooming with ME, so of course her experience will be tainted by my mere presence.

Oh and I have a friend who doesn't read SF, at all. But when I told her about my papers about EG and Card she decided to read it. She really had a good experience with the whole thing...she just really doesn't like SF that much. She really loved the character of Ender, but then how can you not? I really think she had a good time, and she said that she might read Speaker just to see what happens with Ender.

Drink deeply!

The Long-Awaited Arrival

Hip hip hooray!

So finally all five of the books that I ordered on Amazon have arrived. Finally I am the proud owner of 80 Orson Scott Card books. I am so excited!!

I have finished Robota...and holy bovine! it was amazing! I can't believe 174 pages of pure awesome! I don't know how much Scard is in the book...but that is one sweet picture book. I really liked the character of Caps. He was very intriguing and I wish there was more about him.

Also I have started The Abyss. Yes, I have seen the movie and I do love it's very essence. I am so pleased with Card's adaptation of the screenplay. Personally it feels like he took the dialog and actions from the movie and wrote them straight from the book. I think James Cameron is a genius for getting Card to write this book. This is probably my favorite novelization of any movie!!

I have started An Open Book...but I really don't feel right about reading it all the way through (since it's poetry, and reading poetry straight through feels weird) There are some really great poems in there though. Even though some of them are depressing--that just makes it all the more Scard-like!

Also I bought Ainge which I am really apprehensive about and How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy. I am writing a paper using How to Write Sci-fi and Fantasy for my English class...so I'll post that when I get it done. I hope you all have an Ender-rific day!

Water in the Corners of My Eyes

Inter-Galatic Medicine Show issue six is finally out! Thank goodness! I have been waiting forever…seriously where else can you buy Card happiness for only $2.50? I was very pleased with the new Enderverse story…and I much appreciated that it was not about Christmas in the Battle School (it would have been less climactic…) like The War of Gifts will be. I was so happy to see Peter like that, yay!

Also, those of you debating Invasive Procedures…what are you debating? Talk about a fantastic book! I can’t wait to see what happens with the screenplay. The characters are as dynamic as ever…and the point of the book is reminiscent of those by Asimov trying to define what makes a man a human—a great read that I flew through.

Another note…I bet you’re wondering why in the world there hasn’t been anything on Space Boy yet, right? Well, that’s because I didn’t get it until the Friday before last. Shame on me, I know. I really had fun with it though. The main character really reminds me of someone I know, or he did until he started yelling at the gnome-elf guy. I liked the concept though of the family and the little brother was my happy friend! Yay!

Ever since I began attending college I have been looking all over the place for a couple of people who are crazy obsessed like me. Unfortunately for me and fortunately for the rest of the world…there aren’t a whole lot of people like me, but I have found the next best thing. Spreading the Card love! Currently I have my roommate reading Ender’s Game, her boyfriend, who I hand out with a lot, reading Empire, and the boy who I just went out on a date with reading Enchantment.

Which brings me to the next and probably most important topic--my date. It was relatively uneventful and was actually weird because he told me he didn’t like Ender’s Game… I recoiled and told him exactly why I like it so very much. I told him that the transformation of Ender from capertiller to butterfly is amazing and the single most important thing in the book. I love that Ender is so perfectly willing to submerge himself and become what they need him to be…sounds like a gospel lesson, don’t it!? Anyway…I was like all emotional and then we went and saw a movie and when we came out I told him that the thing I like most is when everything is happy and the characters are happy…I told him that makes life worth it. And then we got into another EG discussion and I wound up telling him that I would pretty much sacrifice my life for a character like Ender and that my only sorrow would be that I couldn’t save more characters. It was intense…and I really mean though. I would do anything for Ender’s happiness…anything except not have read EG.

Oh and thanks Jake for telling me about the link…I am so excited about it. I am so amazing!! Anyway…so yes my blog has been linked to Card’s webpage…by some awesome miracle that probably has a lot to do with Jake Black’s influence (thank you)!!!! And I have some new books on the way so be prepared for some awesome and wonderful reviews! They are…An Open Book, The Abyss, Ainge, Robota, and How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy. Look forward to it, and maybe I will have someone to share my anticipation with.

Oh and I bought more Red Prophet comics…so I will give you a feel for that soon too. Later…

Upon Recovery

So I decided that eventually I would have to post over the most amazing post ever! Had to happen, right?
So here I am all Scard-amazing, and I personally don't know why life is worth living anymore, except to fulfill my wonderful Card-minion duties...All Praise Ender!!!
I have been...since I met Scott.
1. reading Invasive Procedures, and Space Boy.
2. buying and reading The Red Prophet comics--I hadn't realized that issues 7-10 were out)
3. basking in all that is CARD glory!
4. Pretending that I am just a normal college kid still
5. buying Card books on Amazon, and Abebooks (great website!!)
6. counting and re-counting the collection...
7. wondering where in my life this hobby will lead me?
8. ...bragging...nicely...mostly to my family and friends...
9. And playing AnsibleMOO!! Oh yeah!!

See, I haven't changed much at all...just completely! For those of you worried about a Card overload...don't worry so much(though your prayers would be nice)...I have been reading other people too...Long Live Robert Jordan!

It think the most surprising thing that I have done since I met Scard is...
getting on Hatrack.com every single day...and checking my mail for more Scard books...twice a day(even on Sundays)!!! Hip Hip Hoo-ray!!!!

There is no proper title to this post...

So I woke up this fine morning and dressed in my orange t-shirt, my grey pants, my amazing converse shoes that are grey, orange, grey with Dragon Army on the sides. I pull on my grey and orange backpack grab my itinerary for the bus to get to Provo. I rode the TRAX and two buses down into greater Provo dedicated to go to the BYU Bookstore. I arrived, and I died.

I met up with Jake Black, who is amazing beyond all reason, and we went straight down to the bookstore and stood by the Scard section. Then we turned around and there he was. AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
He was so amazing and in front of me and Jake introduced us and I died.

It really was very amazing talking to him and shaking his hand. He was there for a book signing, and he signed a few of my books, and I was in a state of euphoria. I talked with him and his wife, Kristine, who is a really wonderful person. The excitement is beyond me completely.

We stuck around for a while and tried to take some pic's with Scott--in the end we only got one, and a very funny video of us trying to take pictures...don't laugh to hard at us.




And Orson Scott Card decided that no blog is complete unless it has a mindcrush. Mindcrush, mindcrush, mindcrush...LOL


After all the excitement Jake, his wife Michelle, and I had lunch and then we went to his house. And I got to see the actual room where Jack Black is currently writing the Ender's Game Companion. Can you say, ahhhhh! I was having a blast as you can imagine. Um...anything else amazing to share???

Oh Jake is absolutely wonderful! I can't thank you enough Jake, for everything you did, said, and helped me do. You made a girl's dream today!!! You are my friend forever! Ahhhhhh!
Orson Scott Card, I have met you, and I still stand here untransfigured. Too bad for me...good for you. You get to hear me rant this amazing day for you. Bow down before all that is SCARD!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!

God's Army

Geoffrey Card must needs be commended for his great work with the novelization of the film God's Army. I loved the book! Way more than the movie! I was so happy to get some background from Elder Allen's life and his struggles and ahhhhhhh! I am so pleased with this book!

I love being able to imagine the missionaries out serving as we speak...my own brother is currently in the California, Carlsbad mission. I as so pleased with the book and with the talent of little Card. I expect more wonderful things in the future.

I am also pleased to bring to you the returnal of my human consciousness. Perhaps you have been wondering about the lack of posts this last week. There really is only one explanation. Stephanie Meyer. I couldn't help it! A certain friend of mine intimated that they were very captivating, written by an LDS author, and she LIKES scard. I really had to read them. And personally, In my own opinion, they were written well enough and Edward was captivating enough for the whole world to have a little piece, but I really thought of it as fun reading. Not serious reading at all--which is new to me...I like the topics that authors discuss and the way they develop their characters. There was a lack of this in the twilight series, so while I apologize to those of you who couldn't find a single flaw cover to cover, I must admit that the lack of thinking power that you need to read these books is laughable. Ha ha ha!

Keeper of Dreams

Yep, that's Scard--for sure. At least that is the name of his new collection of short stories that will be coming out in April of 2008. Hooray! I am excited about this one, because I learned so much about Scard and his writing style from the first book of short stories that he released Maps in a Mirror. I hope this one has the introductions like the other one did. Here for you is the list of the short stories that will be appearing in Keeper of Dreams.

Science Fiction:

• "The Elephants of Poznan"
• "Atlantis"
• "Geriatric Ward"
• "Heal Thyself"
• "Space Boy"
• "Angles"

Fantasy:

• "Vessel"
• "Dust"
• "Homeless in Hell"
• "In the Dragon's House"
• "Inventing Lovers on the Phone"
• "Waterbaby"
• "Keeper of Lost Dreams"
• "Missed"

Literary:

• "50 WPM"
• "Feed the Baby of Love"

Hatrack River:

• "Grinning Man"
• "The Yazoo Queen"

Mormon Stories:

• "Christmas at Helaman's House"
• "Neighbors"
• "God Plays Fair Once Too Often"
• "Worthy to Be One of Us"

Personally when I read this list--I die, from excitement! This is going to be an awesome book--I am so excited! And you should be too!

Or at Least That's the Impression I Get

The poll is closed, I think. I am so glad for everyone that voted, and am surprised at the results. First off, A War Of Gifts clearly won...can't say I would've thought otherwise. Let's face it--it's an Enderverse novel--more people are going to want to read it.
In second place was Invasive Procedures...even if just barely. I can't believe Space Boy was last...that blows my mind away. Space Boy has all these interviews and articles attached to it...I thought for sure it would blow Invasive right out of the water!
So there you have it...the results are in and the poll is closed for good! One minor note I think I forgot however was that you could vote for more than one of them...which might have changed things just a little. I know for sure that at least one person voted for all three--which is perfectly fine by me, except I think I should have mentioned to you that you could do that...

Exciting Things Are Happening

Yes, exciting and monumental...
Most of them are nondisclosable and therefore will be reserved to close friends and family. One of the things I will share with you is my experience in ENG 101 today. So we have to type a paper on something we learned...so I plug in my jump drive and making some minor changes to When I Learned What Love Is... I turned that in. So my teacher has received one OSC paper today. Won't he be surprised and delighted to find yet another one on Thursday! Yep, we were supposed to write about an author that we thought used writing effectively. That sounds an awful lot like Scard to me!

So here it is for you, so you can grade it before my teacher does and post comments on it(please). I hope you enjoy it!

Writing that Affects and is Effective

What makes an author and his writing effective? Perhaps it is merely the accomplishment of what the author intended, or perhaps it is in understanding the purpose of the article. Maybe it is only accomplished if the spirit behind the piece is understood—maybe. Here we measure the effectiveness of a sample of writing through three basic indicators: First, did you understand the content and the message as well as the theory behind the writing. Second, did you make a personal connection between your life and what the author through his prose was suggesting? Finally, do you consider yourself changed, transformed, or made anew by what you read and experienced?

The criterion for an effective writer is accomplished by Orson Scott Card in this piece, Hey, Who Are You Calling a Cult, if only to some readers. In this piece he keeps the content and the message simple and the purpose straightforward. He clearly labels each section and stays on topic throughout each paragraph. Additionally, he makes each point in easy-to-understand language, not trying to impress, but rather to communicate his ideas.

Furthermore he accomplishes the second ideal through his ability to write for a person rather than to a person. Card always tries to communicate with his readers and express complex ideas directly to him. In this article, Card plays with emotions and our moral obligations pointing out the things that the readers will feel on a more religious level and even a innate moral level. He speaks to our minds and our hearts.

When he communicates on this personal level he makes connections with his readers insomuch that they enter a metamorphosis of the mind. The intention of all great writers is to have an impact upon the mind and the lives of each person that reads their opinions, ideas, and articles. If by reading this article you see the demand for changes in your life, then what you are reading has affected you. It is the actual changing of normal thought patterns and lifestyles that makes an author effective.

I know that I was affected by not only this essay but also by many of the essays by Card. I know that he is an effective writer, because he has made a difference in the things I say, the way I write, the books I read, how much I spend at the bookstore, in the way I treat the people around me. He has become not only an effective writer but also a dynamic one at that.

The Counter

Yes.
If you are reading this you have been counted...

Okay, so the counter was kind of impulsive. You wanna hear that story...
So I was on Hatrack a couple o' days ago, and well I noticed that it had a counter at the bottom left hand corner...and all the little planets of the internet and my mind lined up...so you can see what number you are! Of course it's way off because I just got it now in August, whereas I have been blogging since May. It's just for fun, and a lot of the numbers are me, so I am NOT trying to brag or even really keep track of you...I just like it. Oh and I like watching the numbers as they rise...I mean I can't believe I've come so far just since I added the counter.

You know what this means...very few of you who visit are leaving comments...I need comments...please...

Happy Birthday

I'd like to announce the 56th annual Orson Scott Card birthday celebration-a-thon!!! This is the day that OSC himself was brought into this world...*sigh*...anyway I have come up with some ways to celebrate not only Scard but also his most loved character--Ender Wiggin. Today I want you all to put on your grey, orange, grey clothes...I want you to carry your Ender's Game copy around with you everywhere...I want you to go to Borders and say hello to the OSC section...and maybe whilst you are there you can pick up a brand new Scard book...get Space Boy, read it today, post a comment to wish Orson Scott Card the happiest of birthdays!!!
Oh and those of you who signed OSC's birthday card...I um kinda forgot to send it to him...so I apologize...maybe we can send it next year!

Happy Birthday, Orson Scott Card...for now and forever!

The Tears Keep Flowing

Now there are quite a few people who have cried while reading Ender's Game or Speaker for the Dead...but it never occurred to me wonder how many books (preferably by OSC) have made you shed a tear, or two.

My list is pretty extensive:
Ender's Game
Speaker for the Dead
Shadow of the Giant
Enchantment
Earthfall
Sarah
The Worthing Saga
Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus
The Folk of the Fringe
Several books in the Alvin Maker series
Several of the Short Stories

I think that's all, but I never really realized the emotional impact from all the books besides Ender's Game...oh and, no I didn't cry in Children of the Mind when Ender died...I thought to myself Finally, this wonderful character can rest in peace. Finally Card cannot touch him any longer. He's free! That may be a little to gushy for some of you, but...sorry.
Feel free to post a comment about your tearjerking experiences!

Serenity and Firefly

There has been a brand new special edition of Serenity released. Yes, I can feel your excitement. Serenity is one of OSC's favorite sci-fi, and I remember a review where he says he'd like the Ender's Game movie to be just like it.

The entire series of Firefly and the accompanying movie (of which I previously mentioned) is a fantastic experience. I mean who doesn't love a great space western/comedic characterization show. I am serious! This is a really great series...that unfortunately has only one season...which makes it easy to buy, and support.

Oh here's a link to the special edition...and I hope you will consider renting the series, or buying it, or leaving a comment about just how amazing Mal and River are!!!

http://www.nbcuniversalstore.com/detail.php?p=31137
Check It Out!! (Scard loves it! Why not you???)

I Put Up a Poll

I actually figured out what to put up as a poll...so you should vote. You really should! Oh and you can vote for more than one...and you can vote every day that you come here, but please keep it to once a day (I don't think it'll let you vote more anyway).

I Want to Post Something Amazing

Okay so here I am sitting at the computer after having had personal communication with Scard...and I really feel like i ought to post something wonderful! I feel like I should have an epiphany to share with you all...but I don't :( All I feel like saying is yipee and hip hip hooray...but I won't do that anymore...the point of all this is to share with you my desire to post something beyond all that I've ever posted, and I can't.

I do want to tell you that if you're not sure about buying "A War of Gifts"--DO IT! You will not be sorry! Just trust me!

There is so much in my life to be grateful for--the ability to be completely obsessed, the undying presence of the church in my life, and Logan who planted the seed of Ender's Game in my mind...Oh yeah, and Willard and Peggy Card for being amazing parents to an author who has completely changed the course of my existence!! Yay!

Today Must Be My Birthday...

It just has to be...I mean Orson Scott Card emailing me...
I'm serious, yep, the MAN was given a link to my blog by the author of the Ender's Game Companion, Jake Black, who is an amazing person!! I would like to thank both of these men for rocking and for being so gosh darn wonderful!!
So Scard said he was honored by my blog...I laughed, cause he's the one who emailed me! Then I went on googletalk and told one friend...then went on the phone with my mother and then I called my friend in IL, and then I died...surviving only to post this for all of you who I didn't call or talk to...AHHHH!
This hardly seems the place to do this...oh well!
Orson Scott Card you rock my socks...and Jake Black thank you for everything!!
AHHHHHHHH! My life is so absolutely amazing!

Stone Tables Soundtrack...

I seem to have purchased this CD online...maybe.
I bought it, whether they have any in stock remains unseen. I am so excited about the Soundtrack. I mean this is cooler than making an OSCfanmix (which I've done). I think I might explode. I just really hope it comes. Now just to get my hands on the original play ;) I am so crazy.
I was reading a website called Musing on Orson Scott Card...very nice website! (not written by me) And I put a link on the side bar so check it out. There are some great reviews by a person who has read alot of Card's work (and enjoys it). I am so excited about the new book which come out soon...Space Boy August 20th. I am gonna buy mine on Aug 24th to celebrate Scard's birthday! Oh and I don't even care that it is Hardcover. I am obsessed! Yay!

Stone Tables Review

This book was fantastic. I was absolutely enthralled by the entire novel-page for page. I would dream of it at night wanting to read it faster and faster and be done with it. AHH! If you like Scard you'll like this.
Stone Tables is basically like Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel and Leah. Except because it is based off of the play, it's better. I mean less of the background stuff, and more of the dialog and action. Plus Moses is so much fun to read about. Of course when I was reading I realized that one must not assume it is like the movie that they show every Easter (it's better). Reading this really makes me want to see the play, and get the soundtrack.
Stone Tables is very LDS, but I recommend it to anyone--regardless of religion. If you like Orson Scott Card you can't miss this novelization.
If you've read it-feel free to comment about your experience, or (please) if you've seen the play email me and tell me what you thought. Thanks!

About the Animals

Okay so I apologize immediately for the chicken and the frog. I was having a girly moment and I couldn't help myself. Let's just all agree that as long as they are here...which might be a while...or a few days that they are my little annoying friends. The frog's name is Dinker like Dink Meeker. I thought it was a cute frog name...and the chicken well lets just say it's annoying enough to merit the name Bonito...pretty boy...Bonzo..LoL HA HA!
I guess you'll have to tolerate them for a while until my brain get screwed back on...in the mean time enjoy them, and feed them...that's the fun part. But be careful with that chicken (who knows what he could do)

If you, by some miraculous...miracle actually enjoy having them on the page then well I ask you to petition me (through comments) never to have my brain screwed back on. That'll do it. Sorry and Good Luck??!

Inspiration from Nebraska

Okay, so I randomly wrote this in my car while my parents were taking me out to college in Utah...I hope you like it...it's not necessarily about Scard, but it was definitely inspired by him.

Thou Art God

When I write a story, I write a tale…one of truth, and pain, and virtue. When I write about a character, I share with you his life…his heart, his short-comings, and his soul. I believe that one must never forget the entirety of a song, or a novel, or a person. I believe that to fully understand a man you must see him not as he sees himself, but as God sees him.

Thou Art God

When a God creates a world he thinks not of the majority and not of the minority…but of balance. Is my world stable? Will the positive and the bad remain equal?
Sure enough, there is no good without evil, and there is no joy without pain. A God is one who knows this and has the strength to create anyway.

Thou Art God

Once a man tried to defy the laws and he was rebuked. Another time a different man also tried to break one of the statutes of the land, this man was burned at the stake. Once again, a man offended the courts of the land in which he lived…he went without punishment…another, we convicted in his place…
The laws of mammon.

Thou Art God

When a story is recorded in heaven…no part is left out…no thought…no word…no deed.

Thou Art God

How does one share the truth except by example? How does one receive help except by first reaching out a hand? How does one give a little money, save he receives some money first? How, in life, does one share something that they own not? How does one show a belief except they act upon it?

Thou Art God

When a tale is told, the a life is not forgotten. When a story is told, a tale is forgotten. When a novel is written, a story is forgotten. When a novel fails, a novel is forgotten. When a man fails at writing a novel, he fails at being an author.

Thou Art God

An author once wrote to me, personally, or so it seemed. He spoke through a child character. I know that that author tells tales of importance, tales of impact on the soul. I was changed by what he wrote…changed by the story that he spoke into my heart. He was an author of unseen proportions—if only to me!

Thou Art God

Written once in a story.

Thou Art God

Written once in the hearts of men.

Thou Art God

The truth of a creator is that he creates with love. That he creates without bias. That he creates with knowledge. That he cannot create without faith. The truth of a creator is that he loves all that he creates.

Thou Art God

Amaz-za-zing

I think that there is nothing more fun than to listen to the voice of Scard. I wish he'd done the Audiobooks himself...that would rock. But the next best thing is to google up Orson Scott podcasts and download them all on itunes! So here's a list that I found last night

Firefly Talk
episode 50 (part 1 and 2)
episode 51
episode 52

The Glenn and Helen Show: Orson Scott Card on Empire and Division in American Politics

It's the Story, Stupid
episode 16
episode 17
episode 18

The Sci Phi Show Podcast
episode 47 (not on itunes, ahh)

There's also a learning one...but it's like episode 32! From over 2 years ago...if you get it to download tell me (I am dying for it to work)!

Keep playing the game from last post!

Now that Harry Potter is Over...

Finally, all things can return to normal!
Here's your run-o'-the-mill Scard post.
Orson Scott Card is (blank)? I'm starting this as a little game. You merely have to comment your feelings about OSC on the end of this blog. Got it?
Rule One: Please keep your language clean, if you hate him find some way to say it without swearing all over my blog!
Rule Two: Try to distinguish between the Author and the Man, okay? If you have two differing opinions (like I do), feel free to share them both.
Rule Three: Be honest.
Rule Four: There is no rule four!

You are probably very well acquainted with my opinion of Scard...and if not may I direct you to the rest of the blog. Since this post has rules, I think we'll make it an ongoing game. I'll post some of the results later.

Also I would very much like to start a poll for something, but I don't know what...so email me (scard07@gmail.com) if you have an idea! Yay!

OSC talks about Harry

What better combination--Orson Scott Card and Harry Potter
This is from the blog beliefnet. http://blog.beliefnet.com/blogalogue/2007/07/harry-potter-reaches-the-end.html#more
It rocks!! Scard is all like watchout and noway. I can't wait for book seven...Ahhhhary!

Orson Scott Card also wrote a chapter in The Great Snape Debate. Let's just say if Scard says trust Snape--then we (I) will. Because Scard is ama-za-zing!!! Enjoy!

Red Prophet

So I bought the comic version of Red Prophet, and I finally understand why they made Red Prophet of all books into a comic. Why you wonder...well, it's boring (and important to the story). The book drags on and on about people who are not Alvin and you're confused and bored and tired. The comic does the same thing--but the pictures are so compelling (and it feels shorter) getting through it is fun and easy and really enjoyable.

Plus I would have bought it for the little Enderverse story at the end. Gold Bug is there! And Ender is in it. That short little story is so so so wonderful--I love it! Go Enderverse! And check out the Red Prophet comic.

Two Sides of the Same Coin

In the chapter entitled Valentine of Ender's Game, Val talks about Ender and Peter being opposite sides of the same coin. That is how I feel about reading a book, especially from an author like Scard. Either you like it/enjoy it or you despise it. I feel fortunate that I can read Ender's Game and other novels without the preconception that it will be worthless. Now I've personally have NOT met someone who utterly despised OSC or Ender's Game, but if you venture on the internet long enough you'll find they exist.
People who feel like it is their duty to spread the truth about Scard or the message of Ender's Game. I feel really sorry for people like Elaine Radford and John Kessel who find nothing beautiful in Ender's Game; who desire to share their disillusions with us all. I often wonder what people like these thought of Ender's Game before they read it. What misconception did they have before reading that made them hate something I love so dearly. I just don't know. I personally feel sorry for them, I wish they could enjoy Ender's Game like I have. If you haven't read the two pieces I am talking about one is on the internet, Creating the Innocent Killer and the other is published in a magazine, Ender and Hitler. I hope you read them with your heart.

I can only finish the thought with one said by Ender, "The funny thing about coins is, when one side is up, the other is down."

The Thing I Love Most

Okay the one thing about this whole OSC obsession that I absolutely adore is the attention I have to pay to everything. I watch Hatrack and Amazon on a little less than daily basis. I pay love being able to tell you things when I find them. Like for instance I found the new books on amazon before they had said anything on Hatrack. So want to see what I found on Hatrack today. You'll enjoy this.
http://ia340929.us.archive.org/0/items/tspsoc47/tspsoc47.mp3
This is an interview with OSC. I found it on Hatrack and I love it. Scard talks about him being kidnapped by Science Fiction and says something awesome about a new fantasy series he's workin' on!!! Yay for that! I am so excited.
I LOVE this!

A War of Gifts

So I was on Hatrack and I found this.....

Orson Scott Card offers a Christmas gift to his millions of fans with this short novel set during Ender's first years at the Battle School where it is forbidden to celebrate religious holidays.

The children come from many nations, many religions; while they are being trained for war, religious conflict between them is not on the curriculum. But Dink Meeker, one of the older students, doesn't see it that way. He thinks that giving gifts isn't exactly a religious observation, and on Sinterklaas Day he tucks a present into another student's shoe.

This small act of rebellion sets off a battle royal between the students and the staff, but some surprising alliances form when Ender comes up against a new student, Zeck Morgan. The War over Santa Claus will force everyone to make a choice.

Seems that A War of Gifts will be about Christmas in the Battle School--hopefully with some nice Ender scenes. I couldn't wait to tell you !!!

The Great Month of July

Also known as the crazy month of July. Or the month of Harry Potter-whatever! I just wanted to apologize now for the lack of posts this month--not only am I rereading all of the Harry Potter novels but I am also packing boxes for college (I've got three finished so far). In a month these blogs will be coming at you from a laptop computer in Utah! Ahh!

I only wish to add that pack boxes is easy! It's sitting in my room with NO Orson Scott Card books that is creepy and awkward and weird. If you went in my room right now it would be virtually impossible for one to imagine what my obsession is. Of course I do still have my binders of Scard info out (that's right I said binderS)!! I'll try to keep up on all my posts! Have a happy Harry Potter Month.

Issue Five of IGMS is OUT

Yay!
It's here. Issue Five! This one is gonna be cool, because there are two little segments by Herr Scard. First there's the Enderverse story--The Gold Bug (which is different from the story by Poe, just so you know) and a piece entitled Who is Snape? (probably that from The Great Snape Debate.) I am so happy this is the first issue that has come out since I started reading the magazine.
Yay!

Down By The Bay

I currently live in Illinois--which is landlocked, but I will be moving (in less than a month) to Utah, which is...also landlocked...hmm. Coincidence-I think not. Let's talk about oceans-Scard lives by an ocean. The Atlantic one. How does he like that? Have you ever wondered? I personally don't like salt water, or sand for that matter. But Orson Scott Card a man who grew up in Utah, Arizona, and California (though I don't know which part), how does he enjoy living in North Carolina. The obvious answer is he likes it. He's stayed there for years. Reading Lost Boys gives one a feel for what life is like there, apart from the crazy psycho killers.
So here is the purpose of this post...if someone that reads this is on the coast..preferably the Atlantic Coast (but I am not gonna nit pick) then please post a comment (or email me at scard07@gmail.com) about how the "ocean" impacts your life/livelihood. I really am curious! The closest thing we have to an ocean is the Mississippi River (which we ignore, for the most part). Thanks!

What I Did This Morning...

So I am preordering Harry Potter Seven...finally...and they said something about free shipping with 7 dollars more or something like that. So anyway I am looking for a book by OSC so I can get this free shipping, and well I looked up Space Boy and it was like $20 and so was Invasive Procedures...so I looked up A War of Gifts...let's just say I preordered it and right now it is only like $10!!! It's Enderrific!! So...now all my preordering is finished until I get more money. I CAN"T WAIT!!!

Some Thoughts and Contemplations

This post has pretty much absolutely nothing to do with Scard, except for the Science fictioniness.

I have been packing up for college the last few days, and my books that aren't on shelves have taken up a contest of which stack is the tallest. The winners are the Star Wars books, by the way. I was lying in my bed last night watching these huge stacks, the Star Wars stack, the Frank Herbert stack, the Heinlein stack (you get the point). So I have read the Dune series up to God Emperors of Dune, and I have read Star Wars kinda randomly but thoroughly, and I am staring at these piles of books thinking about Paul and Anakin. In the beginning I was only comparing what Paul would have done in Anakin's place, since they are both prescient(they can see the future) it made sense to ask said questoin. At first I was thinking Paul would not have made the same mistakes. I thought Paul was different from Anakin, then I started comparing the two...well...they are sooo alike it's weird. Tatooine and Dune could be the exact same place. Both live in the desert with only their mothers, and are married to someone that is not really accepted as their wife. Chani has to defer to Irulan and Anakin can't marry Padme...even though he does. Both are prescient and take what they know of the future to be absolutely certain, and make impacting decisions based on what they know. Both are seen as "chosen ones" Paul is the Kwisatz Haderach and Anakin is the Chosen One. Both have twins-a boy and a girl, and both of the wives die after their twins are born. And both of them leave after (or slightly before) they are born. It's amazing. Stilgar is basically Obi Wan and everything is so equal. And that means Luke is Leto!!!

Hope you enjoyed my random similarities between Star Wars and Dune!

With My Head Cut Off

Okay, so for the past few days I have been the crazy person running around with her alleged head cut off. There is just so much that I have been doing and preparing for. But I spoke earlier of good news, and so I bring you that good news just like a Water Brother should.

I was reading IGMS, and I read the Enderverse story for the fourth issue, which was fantastic. Then I am reading the little commentary that is in the same little space, and basically it is Scard talking about Gold Bug and the new short story, A Young Man with Prospects. But (and here's the good part) he also talks about the new novella A War of Gifts. It is about Peter...the first Peter as I grok it. Isn't that exciting. Peter is so much more complex than everyone gives him credit for. I can't wait 'til Oct 30. Yay!

Pronunciations

So were adding this today because it's late and I'll be at Youth Conference all weekend.

Today I found out some pronunciations. Yes, and they are right, Ender's Game Audio said so.

Hegemon (heh-JAH-mon)
Hegemony (heh-JEH-mo-NEE)
Chamrajnagar (sham-RAHJ-ni-GAR)

I am so excited--I've good news. But I'll tell you später!!!! yay

My First Book Review: Listen, Mom and Dad

Yes, I am an amateur, but here goes(as promised). There are two ways to critic this book, as a Mormon, and as a reader of OSC. So here goes nothing.
Basic overview- Six composite characters tell of their experiences with their parents, the good, the bad, and the spiritual. All the stories are TRUE, but are not from one set person.

#1-(LDS) A very sentimental and touching book. The stories are wonderful and you learn alot. This book provides a lot of insight for the children's point of view. Some very good testimony/spiritual moments, that I enjoyed the most. You really try to relate to one of the people, which is difficult because they are completely raw characters, but at times such things are possible.

#2-(OSC) Now these are normal book characters-but because the events are not of Scard's control, the character development that is typical of OSC's novels is different. I mean the first to chapters are short and kind of fillerish. They don't even sound like Scard-they remind me of a biography or an encyclopedia. But later everything comes to rights and we see how a character became what he or she is. The topic of the novel is kinda like outdated by now (I mean I learned most of this stuff in psychology class) but let's face it-- it was worth the read.

Ta-da! That's all you get, but never fear there will be more...there's always more. Hope you liked it, and please leave many comments (I am gettin' tired of askin') Ahhscard!

What I Learned From Ender's Game

If your keeping up you'll remember I promised you this. My Ender's Game story. Here's what Scard has taught me.

When I learned what love is…

I’ve grown up my whole life in a sheltered and loving family. I have been raised to believe that when you love someone you are nice, you show affection. I have been raised wrong.

“Holy cow Marissa, you mean you’ve never read it!”

“I’m no connoisseur of books, Logan. I only read what people tell me to read.”

“Yeah, right.”

“I’m serious, my father says, read Lord of the Rings, so I do, and my friends say read Brian Jacques, so I do, get it!?”

“Fine. Read Ender’s Game.”

“’Kay.”

“Marissa, go to sleep, now.”

“But Mom, it’s the summer and the weekend.”

“It’s past two in the morning!”

“I know, Mom. I only have fifty pages left, just let me finish. I’ll be in bed before you know it.”

“Only fifty pages left,” she said as she turned, then mumbling to herself down the stairs. “Girl, bought that book today. She’ll be done with it tonight and then probably never even look at the thing again. Man, she’s crazy, two o’clock. What a nut!”

That was two years before my obsession really took off. The moment I realized that I owned and had read over thirty novels by the author of Ender’s Game, Orson Scott Card, I began down a path of compulsion and insanity. Within three months I went from thirty books to over fifty novels. My obsession skyrocketed. I lost my mind in research, paper writing, and collecting Orson Scott Card information.

Before I reached fifty novels, I bought number forty-nine, Maps in a Mirror: The Short Fiction of Orson Scott Card. I read this collection of short stories with hunger and honest, devout love. I swallowed each and every one of these stories, one by one, in order. I read the section introductions like personal letters from Card to me. I learned to love the way Card told a simple or complicated or stupid or random story. Mostly though, I loved them all. I read the information about all the short stories and tried to get into the mind of the man I was completely absorbed by.

In the very last section and the very last explanation, I saw Card before me speaking to my heart. “Marissa, there is only one short story that is published that is not in this compellation. It’s called Happy Head, Marissa; it is the worst thing that I have ever had published.”

I was shocked that he could think such things of his writing and his stories. Card became a man to me then. I knew in a few days that the only way I would be able to prove my obsession, whether it was the man or the writing, would be to find this story and to determine my opinion of it. I searched for Happy Head on Google and I found where and when it was published; it seemed completely impossible to reach.

“Mrs. McBroom, if I were looking to find a magazine from, oh, about twenty-nine years or so ago, where do you suggest I would look?” I asked the librarian. She took time from what she was doing to help me order a book containing a lot of the stories that were published in that magazine. We didn’t think that the story would be in there. I was downhearted and a little depressed. I wanted so bad to find the story so I could prove my fondness.

A little on the fussy side, I stayed home the following Thursday. I showed my father the story that I was having trouble obtaining. He looked it up on the Internet and quickly he found a website where we could buy it. The magazine was only going to cost ten dollars including shipping. We bought it that very day.

The weeks waiting for it were long and hard. Agony blossomed in my heart, and I desired the magazine more than anything. On a Monday, three weeks after I had ordered it, my own personal copy of Analog: Science Fiction, Science Fact from April 1978, arrived.

I scooped it up into my arms as I rushed out the door to head to work. When my boss left, the assistant manager told me there was nothing to do.

“Do you have a book with you, Marissa?”

“Always.”

“Fine. You can go and get it, but be discreet.” I nodded and headed to the back room. My Analog was waiting. I hungered in the depths of my person for it.

I spoke to myself with vivid and wild movements as I drove home from work that night.

“Well, it wasn’t perfect.”

“Yeah, but I enjoyed it.”

“You can see, though, why Scard, doesn’t think it sis so great.”

“You’re right; the style of writing did not compare to Ender’s Game.”

“Most things don’t.”

“I know that!”

“Wow, I just realized that we now own exactly 50 Orson Scott Card novels!”

“Fifty, no way.”

“Yeah, I can’t believe it either.”

I sighed as I drove my little white Prism across the exit ramp onto Highway 255.

“No really, did you like it?”

“I liked the characters.” I merged into traffic and watched the cars zoom by. “I loved the characters.” Why? “I guess I love how Scard made them. How he developed them.” No! What then? “I liked…loved even the bad guys. Even the worst of the criminals, villains, and antagonists.” Even Graff? Yes, definitely Graff, without him there is no Ender. “I love them because they are Scard’s. I see the light in them and I treat them like physically and emotionally real beings. They exist to me. They are Scard’s characters, but they are more. They are his children.”

The lights of the Jefferson Barracks Bridge roared in my mind. They seemed to speak to me in blinking sequence; Pain, Terror, Sorrow, Fear, Horror, Death, Hurt. Then a new sequence; Help, Hope, Smile, Life, Joy…Love, Love, Love, Love.

We always talk in church about treating each other like brothers and sisters. I always thought I knew what charity was. I learned that night that charity was more than the pure love of Christ. Charity is in the most basic way an understanding inside a person that all men on this earth are children of our Father in Heaven. He loves them. He cares about them. He wants us to love and care about them the same way. He desires that we ignore their wrongs, they idiosyncrasies, and love them for who they are. Love them as children of our Creator.

Orson Scott Card, I love all your characters, your children with the deepest feelings in my heart. I hope to love all men the same way.

Speaker for the Dead

Today, I was at a funeral. First, let me say that everything ran smoothly and rightly. Second, and more importantly, I would like to comment on what was said. All the talks were given by family and were very wonderful. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints I can testify about the difference between an LDS funeral and just about anything else. For us everything is about celebrating the life of the deceased person rather than weep over their death. There is reason behind this, but my point is that for members of the LDS church death is not a very sad thing. The focus is how the person lived. Sound familiar? Orson Scott Card is a Mormon and the whole Speaking thing is probably a direct result of this upbringing. Of course I believe he says that in the introduction of Speaker (I think).

I am proud to say "good job" to a one Mr. Card. Thanks!

Umph!

Okay, so I did it. I stooped to the lowest of low...*sighs*...I have bought on this day...with total disregard for life and happiness...against my mother's unspoken wishes...another Scard book. But not just any Scard book. The FIRST one. Oh, I know I already have Hot Sleep. I meant a different one...I meant the very first OSC book. Listen, Mom and Dad.....yep. I don't rightly know what to do with myself...yuh see...I don't care. I don't care what book I am buying. If that man's name is plastered on the front then I want it...and iffen I have the money...well lets just say most the time I don't have the money. I didn't really have the money to spend today...but it's SCARD! What else could I do...right? So expect a review on my new book when it gets here and I finish it...which I doubt will take very long at all. I am not really into doing reviews, cause no matter what you say somebody will disagree with you. Normally I only give my opinion, but this book is not a very common book and I doubt most people have even heard of it(ellipse)so your gettin' a review...later!

T-shirt Ideas

The ultimate way to express oneself is through a pretty t-shirt, or a sarcastic one...
I have just had some fun designing a MuggleCast t-shirt (cause they don't sell them anymore. They turned out really nice by the way.) So I had some rampaging idea about what I would want on a t-shirt to celebrate my Enderfulness. Here are a few of my ideas.

The usual

• The Enemy's Gate is Down!
• Veni Vidi Vici
• Dragon Army

The New and Funny

• I'm Wiggin'
• I'm Scar'd
• The Game of Card
• I love my Jeesh!
• A Healthy Obsession--Enderverse!!

and so on, and so forth! *grins*

Exciting, neh?

I have been spending much to much time on the blasted internet. One can only look Scard up in so many places. I...think I've probably looked just about...everywhere. I did get what I was looking for, but I did find something I would like to share with you all.

Orson Scott Card--New Releases (this fall)

SPACE BOY -- Aug 20th

INVASIVE PROCEDURES -- Sept 18th (based off the short story Malpractice [which I reread this morning])

A WAR OF GIFTS -- Oct 30th (an Enderverse novella!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Okay be excited with me...you know you want to...so leave a crazy comment, preferably with all the AHHH's and OMG's intact. AHHHHHHH!

InterGalactic Medicine Show

Wow, so I just spent ten dollars and over ten hours on the IGMS website. It is so amazing. The short stories are wonderful, and the Orson Scott Card--Enderverse stories are beautiful. Mazer in Prison, Cheater, and Pretty Boy. Ahhh, I can't wait for the next one. I am so excited about the whole thing. I am recommending this webmagazine to anyone with even a mild fascination with Science-fiction or Fantasy books, novels, short stories, or authors. Check it out please, for your own good.

Great Job, Scard. Keep up the good work, and never quit writing!!! Thanks!!

The Cranning: My Revelation This Morning

The Cranning, the call to an unknown place. A place of wonder and fantasy. Like the Bookstore. I have this Cranning call to driving me onward into the place I desire so deeply on my heart. Into one of Card's books. I have found that to look up one of Card's books is to want it, to need it. The Cranning is that feel deep inside of oneself that won't allow you to go on without satisfying it.
I am certain that this feeling is definitely the driving force in my Orson Scott Card collection. The shelf grows larger by itself, my only conscious knowledge is the hole in my checkbook. I am so glad of the stack of books that I call a collection. Here take a look (this is not bragging, it is sharing an obsession)

My Orson Scott Card Collection

1. Ender’s Game (YA Version)
2. Ender’s Game (Adult Version)
3. Das Grosse Spiel
4. Ender’s Game (Audio Version)
5. Speaker for the Dead
6. Xenocide
7. Children of the Mind
8. First Meetings
9. Seventh Son
10. Red Prophet
11. ‘Prentice Alvin
12. Alvin Journeyman
13. Heartfire
14. The Crystal City
15. The Memory of Earth x 2
16. The Call of Earth x 2
17. The Ships of Earth x 2
18. Earthfall x 2
19. Earthborn x 2
20. Ender’s Shadow
21. Shadow of the Hegemon
22. Shadow Puppets
23. Shadow Puppets (1^st Edition)
24. Shadow of the Giant
25. Shadow of the Giant (1^st Edition)
26. Hart’s Hope
27. Enchantment
28. Magic Street
29. Treason
30. Wyrms
31. Songmaster
32. Masterpieces: The Best Science Fiction of the 21^st Century
33. Empire (1^st Edition)
34. Hot Sleep (1979)
35. The Worthing Saga
36. Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus
37. Homebody
38. Treasure Box
39. Lost Boys
40. Rebekah
41. Rachel and Leah
42. Maps in a Mirror (Paperback)
43. Saints
44. The Folk of the Fringe
45. Eye for Eye (CD)
46. Analog April 1978 (Happy Head)
47. Analog August 1977 (Ender’s Game)
48. Ultimate Iron Man (Volume 1)

The Game of Card

Okay, here is something I have been meaning to give to you. This is only one aspect of Card, and not the one I enjoy the most. Let me assure you of my sincere emotions however. This piece was written when I had finished rereading Ender's Game and Speaker. Those times are the most emotionally insane times in my existence. The times when I could just kill Scard for what he did, not only to Ender, but to everyone...

The Game of Card

Nothing on this Earth bothers someone, anyone, so much as this—purposeful and necessary destruction of our natural mental inhibitions. We are merely human, subject to deathly jealousies and cruel manipulations. We hate, as human creatures of intelligent capacities, the absolute domination down to the smallest pressure of control. We abhor all who exert their power over us. Who in their right minds would knowingly and willingly place him or herself in such a position so as to receive the full brunt of the fear and hatred rooting deep in such a cause? The President of the United States takes some of this responsibility, and look, just look, at what we think of him, what we do to him. Only a brave and stupid man would swallow whole the attacks of us, the controlled, and grasp even tighter. Only a fool such as this—

A writer of truth is one who absolutely accepts this sour fate. As one who proceeds to shape minds and persuade men, writers are definitely as responsible for binding men’s minds as any given political leader. Yet even these, authors of men, do not enjoy the lofty weight of the duty handed to them by Fate himself. I have found among men only one bold and so foolish. A writer of terrible ability who has tried his hand at plays, historical fiction, science fiction, fantasy, religious fiction, and even short fiction. He has remained an extremely prolific and decisive author even into his later years.

He, the controller of many, has manipulated each of his readers individually and in separate and distinct ways. Some cry and others give scorn, and yet despite their attitudes towards this man, he persists eternally to destroy free will and emotion by being one of the most prolific authors in this day and age. He had succumbed to the feel of power and authority.

With simple words on a single page of an individual tale he begs us to feel, to think the way he wants us to. Willing him by sheer enjoyment to take upon his own soul the burden of our decisions and our free thought, this man becomes the recipient of our minds and our children’s minds. He bears both the belief and the skepticism and continues to produce something that will turn the world upside down, no matter what your orientation is. Fear him, I beseech you, fear him, respect him, and love him. He does what no man wants to do, but he does so because he must. He has made us his children. His Children of the Mind.

My final thought that I give you to go with this essay is quoted from Hot Sleep, "Being God," he said, "is the worst damn job in the universe." Give it a thought, it works, neh?

The Enderverse

Several books make up the Enderverse. These are stories contained within the same world of that of Ender. Kinda like there can be Star Wars novels that have nothing to do with Luke or even Jedi. So here'e the list:

Ender's Game (definetly start with this one, it's very essential and it's fun)
Speaker for the Dead (we wouldn't have Ender's Game[the novel] without this book)
Xenocide
Children of the Mind

First Meetings

Ender's Shadow
Shadow of the Hegemon (still workin' on the pronunciation of this 'un let's try Hedge-uh-mon, or He-jah-mon, kay?)
Shadow Puppets (which was originally going to be called Shadow of Death)
Shadow of the Giant

also a whole slew of short fiction including a not yet released graphic novel called Gold Bug(more on that later...)
The Enderverse is fun and cool, so try it out, take it for a spin, and don't blame me for Scard's blatent disregard for his charactes well-being, sanity, and personal happiness.

Also in the Enderverse we are all awaiting hopefully two new arrivals...a book after Ender's Game and before Speaker tentatively being called Ender in Exile: Ganges...and a book that will rap up the end of both Giant and Children...called Shadows in Flight right now. *grins*

BECAUSE WE HAVE SHOWN YOU THE WAY THROUGH ENDER!!!

Okay so there is this website where a guy writes about an experience with Card. Let's just agree that it's not very Nice. He states that Orson Scott Card, being a mormon, is part of a science fiction mormon league. This is laughable. Hilarious. One, most mormons have A. never read scard, and B. don't agree with his swearing, ideas, and attitude. Most of the LDS community would laugh at the idea that Orson is working with other Mormons to produce a book meant to convert non-LDS people to mormonism. (I know I do.) In fact one of the retorts that someone posted reads...
"How could this possibly be any sort of propaganda coup for the LDS church?? 'Oh, ho look! You've been tricked into believing Hitler might possibly be forgiveable! NOW YOU MUST ALL BECOME MORMONS, BECAUSE WE HAVE SHOWN YOU THE WAY THROUGH ENDER!!!'"
There is actually more, but you'll have to find it for yourself. Anyway thanks to that guy for such an awesome quote.

I would now like to expound further. What have we been shown by the Ender's Game novels?? Just wondering if any of you had any special experiences (mormon or otherwise) about like things you learned or things you felt. How you grew or just how mad you are at Scard sometimes (don't worry, we all do it)! Feel free to post a comment, and I will tell you my story sometime soon. Tchus!

Birthdays

In Ender's Game, OSC makes a big deal of telling the time lapse by telling us that Ender has had his birthday, but he NEVER tells us when his birthday is. So if deduced by the context, and somewhat predicated on his namesake, Saint Andrew we get these most likely possiblities

May 15
July 4
August 22
August 24
November 30

You'll notice Scard's birthday in the mix. In the intro of the author's definitive edition of Ender's Game, he says that Ender is based off himself and off of his son. If anyone can find Geoffrey Card's birthday, I'd be glad to have it. Because truthfully after 3 days of searching info on him at google--I GOT NOTHING! thanks.

An Ender's Game Character List

I have been trying to make a comprehensive character list for Ender's Game and The Speaker for the Dead for quite a while now. Here's what I have so far.

Ender Wiggin
Valentine Wiggin
Peter Wiggin
John Paul Wiggin
Theresa Wiggin
Bean (Julian) Delphinki
Petra Arkanian
Fly Molo
Dink Meeker
Han Tzu
Alai
Shen
Bernard (or Sebastian if you prefer)
Colonel Graff
Major Anderson
Dap
Mazer Rackham
Crazy Tom
Bonzo Madrid
Rose the Nose
Carn Carby
Pol Slattery
William Bee
Vlad
Dumper

Novinha
Pipo
LIbo
Quara
Olhado
Marcao
Plikt
Jane
The Hive Queen
Human
Leaf-Eater
Mandachuva
Rooter
Mayor Bosquinha

I know there are some missing. If you think of any please post a comment so I can finish my list. Thanks!!

My Thoughts on Scard's Writing

Oh...how to start. Ahhhhhhhhhhh! Yeah, that works. Okay so I am partial to the sci-fi, fantasy world regardless. Add Mr. Orson Scott to the mix and I basically...melt. I really like his books(as well I should) but I think my favorite part is that the characters are real. The people he creates are real. They make sense, they have hard decisions to make, they feel. If you poke them with a stick--they feel it. Take the ultimate example, Ender(of course), who is such a round character that it is impossible to not feel some of his pain. I have written a whole essay on Card's ability to characterize, and I will probably post that sometime in the future.
I also really like Card's attention to the story. He is an amazing storyteller. When you read Scard...make sure you try to keep an open mind and focus on some of the intricate details and don't try to be a literary critic. Read for feeling, for emotion. The entire experience is breathtaking. I hope you enjoy.

Orson Scott Card Bio

Okay so this is from memory so I apologize for anything I get wrong or miss or whatever.
Orson Scott Card is named after his grandfather, related to Brigham Young. He was born on Aug. 24th 1951 in Richland, Washington. He lived in Arizona, Califonia, and Orem, Utah as a child and teenager. He graduated from BYU High School after his junior year and began attending Brigham Young University with an academic scholarship. He was studying archaeology(sp?) until he realized he was taking a lot of theater classes. He switched his major and lost his scholarship. He went on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to Brazil for two years. He began a theater company that did okay, but eventually crumpled. He began writing sci-fi short stories to bring in some extra money. He and his wife Kristine moved to Greensboro, North Carolina with two kids. Now they have had five children, Michael Geoffrey, Emily Janice, Charlie Ben, Zina Margaret, and Erin Louisa (Charlie Ben died at age 17 and Erin Louisa died the day she was born). Card now with over fifty novels, tons of short stories, and several plays is considered one of the most influential sci-fi writers. Card now teaches at Southern Virginia University and lives at home with his wife and youngest daughter. Finally I will say that if you want to understand Card, read Lost Boys. It's practically a biography.

Orson Scott Card Podcasts

So I've basically been listening to all my podcasts, somewhat obsessively. And well I decided to look up some podcasts for OSC. There aren't any. There are a few podcasts with a short and somewhat okay segment talking about Scard or interviewing him (Those are cool. Ahh! Hearing his voice!) So I thought to myself, why don't you start a podcasts. And then I realized that I have absolutely no idea how...so the entire point of this post is to beg those of you who can, and will, MAKE A OSC PODCAST!! Please. You have one subscriber, right here!

Scard Websites

www.osclibrary.com
www.ansiblemoo.org
www.ansible.org
www.hatrack.com

Check these out if you haven't yet. They are some of the best sources for Orson Scott Card info. Especially ansiblemoo.org where you can play in the battle school as one of the characters, enjoy.

First Post: Intro

This is a simple blog for all the Orson Scott Card fanatics that exist somewhere outthere. I am prepared to try to express my adoration for Scard--as we've lovingly come to know him. I am so excited to share some of my stuff with you. Hope you enjoy.