Orson Scott Card's "Ender's Game"--Ready For The Next Generation Of Readers...And Writers

The book sat on a table at SpikeCon. It lay among other books available for whomever wished to have one. There were several, many of which I'd never heard of.

But I had heard of Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game.

I picked up the book and put it in my bag.

Hours later, after returning home, I unpacked it and gave it to my son.

He's fourteen, almost fifteen.

It was time.

Every genre has books that everyone interested in that genre must read. There are books people should read even if they're not necessarily interested in that genre. Ender's Game is one of those books. In fact, if you want to understand both today's authors of science fiction, and the books they're writing now in the genre, a good place to start is by reading Ender's Game. The reason why is simple--most authors in that genre have read the book.

When I asked my son what book he wanted me to write almost three year ago, he said he wanted to read a science fiction story. That's what I wrote. Chaser came about because of his answer. When I saw Card's book on the table, I wondered if he would like it. Turns out, the next day he was already several chapters in--and we didn't have to "remind him" to read it.

I have no idea if my son will turn out to be a writer--it's possible he may be. More likely, he'll be a reader and I'll be completely overjoyed if that's the case. But if he does turn into an author and he writes science fiction, I'm sure Ender's Game will have had an impact on him. I know it did on me and thousands of other writers out there.

It's that good.

Uncle Orson's Writing Class...Wrap Up

A week ago today I was getting ready to head down to Utah County to attend a writing class. I've gone to writing symposiums and conventions, but this was the first time I went for a multi-day event that covered nothing but improving my writing.

I suppose with anything you do or spend a lot of time doing, when you get training on what you've done for years, you might find out all the things you've been doing wrong. Hopefully, you find out if you've been doing some things right, too. I can say that both happened to me--I learned more about the good and the bad.

We finished up just after 10pm on Wednesday night. As I drove home I took the hour to think about what I had experienced over the previous two days. One thing that I felt helped me was being able to just sit and soak it all in. The times I've felt most productive as a writer is when I have several days where I can get into that groove and write. At the class I was able to think about stories, story structure, grammar, pacing, tenses, viewpoint, and so much more. 

I need to say something about the man responsible for the classes and whom we all came to see, the author Orson Scott Card. I have heard him speak in person only one other time. I came away impressed--the experienced answered some questions I had about how he became so successful. Nothing he said or did tarnished my earlier-established opinion of both the man and the author. A good class makes you feel like you can do something difficult, something worth doing. Mr. Card delivered a great writing class. I recommend it to anyone wanting to be pushed with the craft.

I'm glad I got to attend.

My First Uncle Orson's Writing Class...Day One

I quickly scanned the list of attendees. I saw my name, and the names of a few others I knew. I wondered how many people I would know at Orson Scott Card's writing class. Turns out it was three. And even though I thought I knew what I was in for, I wasn't even close.

Today was Day One of Mr. Card's two-day writing event. He asked, as the class began, what we expected to learn from the class. An interesting question, and to be honest, I wasn't sure exactly what I expected. I hoped I would learn more about the craft of writing. I had heard Mr. Card speak at a LTUE writing symposium years before. Maybe I thought the class would be more of what I experienced back then. Mr. Card's question made me think...just what was I expecting?

I saw and chatted with those I knew, and I met a few other people I didn't know. In the class we discussed point of view, themes, and story structure. We heard from our teacher and a few classmates as they shared their writing assignment. I've never been to a multi-day writing class. I'm assuming this is what these classes are like. What I loved were the insights, the little things authors think about, the things we think about as we drift off to sleep.

We're halfway done. We've got another day left. I've been to enough conferences and symposiums to know that when you love sitting and listening to someone talk about writing, but when the urge to leave that instruction so you can run from the room and get to your writing place and get writing, that's a successful class. So far, so good!

Orson Scott Card's "Lost Songs--The Short Fiction Of Orson Scott Card"...A Book Review

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If you're like me, you download audiobooks from the local library and listen to them at work. Okay, maybe you're not like me and can't listen to audiobooks at work, but if you can, you're blessed.

Except for the fact that when it comes to checking out audiobooks at the library, you must either wait for the more popular books--put them on hold--or download those available to you at the time. When it comes to books written by Orson Scott Card, most of the time they must be put on hold. When I do a search of Card's books on the library website and hit the "Available" option, many times you will see one or more of Card's short story collections. Last week I decided to give one a shot and I'm glad I did.

I spent the past year reading all the novels in the Enderverse. What a fantastic world Card created and the first story from Lost Songs--the Short Fiction of Orson Scott Card tells us again of Ender Wiggins and it reminded me of why I loved Ender's Game (and all the others...) when I first read it. Included also in the compilation is a full-length poem centered around Alvin Marker. The poem reminded me of something in the vein of Walt Whitman.

Many of the later stories in the book deal with Mormonism in a way. Cards gives us slices of life of what it's like (at times...) to live within the Mormon culture. I can relate, having grown up in--and still practicing--the same religion.

For me, the best part of this book was Card's words that ended the anthology. As long as I've been an adult, Orson Scott Card was a famous writer. His words at the end of this book give us a lot of background information concerning the stories. I found what he said fascinating because it gave me an insight of what it takes to be a writer and what he had to go through to become the author he is today.

I liked this book very much and so when I do a search of "Orson Scott Card" on the local library website and I see other short story collections by Mr. Card, I'll be sure to check them out.

* Photo used without permission from: https://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/9969827-lost-songs

Orson Scott Card's "Sarah"...A Book Review

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My local library has an audiobook service that is, at times, limited in its selection. I can't complain too much because it's quite amazing that I can, at no cost to me, download audiobooks that cost a fortune through Audible.Com and other audiobook stores. There's a lot of books I can get, even the popular ones...I just have to be patient.

Having said that, I probably would not have chosen Orson Scott Card's Sarah, not because I don't like Card's books--I do. I like the a lot, but I've already read/listened to so many of his other books, I'm running out of options.

However, I'm so glad I decided to give this one a shot. It's a great book. It's the story of Sarah, wife of Abraham. Those who have studied the Old Testament know the story, but hearing about her life through an historical fiction lens is a wonderful way to find yourself in her world. Much of Card's novel is an interpretation of how the events might have transpired. Which means, most of the small details most likely didn't occur as put forth by the author. Still, it brings an Old Testament story to life, complete with human faults and strengths. The portrayal of Lot's wife is an excellent example of this. She was classic, well worthy of her reputation!

This is the first of Card's The Women of Genesis series. So the next time I see one of these books available through my local library, I won't hesitate to check it out. Having read so many of Mr. Card's books, I don't know why I ever doubted him.

* Photo used without permission from: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7958.Sarah?ac=1

Orson Scott Card And Aaron Johnston's "Earth Awakens"...A Book Review

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It's a bittersweet day when you've come to the end of a series. At least, I think the Formic War series ends with Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston's Earth Awakens. What I especially liked about the series is Card and Johnston take us from a world in which some things are familiar (countries, U.N., etc...) and after the series ends we're at the precipice of Ender's World.

The Formic Wars series focuses on Earth before Ender Wiggins, before the Formics attacked and were killing millions of humans. All of us who have read Card's books beginning with Ender's Game and moved forward in time, know there's a history of what happened to Earth before the Formics arrived. Now, thanks to this series we understand (similar to the Star Wars prequels...) the back story. We know how Mazer Rackham achieved mythical status. We understand how life was before the first invasion that thanks to a few brave individuals, we know how everything changed.

The series prepares us for Ender. We're ready for the boy king.

When I come to an end of a series, I always want more. This time is no different. However, I'm glad there was more to add to the pre-Enderverse, if you will. It did not disappoint. I liked each book in the series, Earth Unaware, Earth Afire, and Earth Awakens. Plus, I've found that I enjoy any book that include's Aaron Johnston's input. I don't know how much Mr. Johnston adds to the process, but when his names included, good results follow. I feel the series is a must-read, or at least, a ought-to-read if you like Card's future world and want more.

Like I stated earlier, I believe this is the last book of the series. Of course, I could be wrong and I'll be glad to be wrong, until I read that one, too--then I'll be sad again. Such a roller coaster ride, a ride I've enjoyed.

* Photo used without permission from: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18490707-earth-awakens?ac=1

Orson Scott Card's "Shadows In Flight"...A Book Review

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Last week I finished Orson Scott Card's Shadows In Flight, the most recent in the Ender's Shadow book series.

And I have to say, until Card finishes the series with the last book, I'm going to be a sad reader. I want to read more of the Enderverse.

Shadows In Flight differs from the previous books in the series in one major way. It centers on Bean and three of his children (all the books in the series focus on Bean...), but this book concentrates on one story, one adventure. And in so doing, is a much shorter book than the others. In the audiobook version that I read/listened to, the author explains how the book came to be, and why--even though it's short--it is an important story in the saga.

A theme I've noticed throughout series is the rise of super children, geniuses that dictate public policy, create armies, overthrow countries, basically they run the world, and by extension, the universe. I'm not sure if Card wants to show how a program isolating and training the best and brightest children and training them to fight and kill could lead to disastrous consequences. Or maybe the author has just found a unique and very cool way of creating unlikely heroes and protagonists. Card's probably explained his actions somewhere. If so, I haven't found it yet.

The theme of genius children continues in Shadow In Flight. If his children weren't so brilliant, they would not have survived their challenge. But they are so they do. If you're interested in this book I recommend you begin with the first book in the series, Ender's Shadow, and go from there. Of course, I think if you never read any stories in the Enderverse, or in the Ender's Shadow series, you could enjoy this story. It's concise and an engaging story.

* Photo used without permission from: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12040447-shadows-in-flight?from_search=true

Orson Scott Card's "Shadow Of The Hegemon," And "Shadow Puppets"...Getting Lost In The Enderverse

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Today I finished Shadow Puppets, Book 3 in the Shadow Saga Series.

And I’m getting lost in the world.

A few months ago a friend and I were discussing all the Ender Wiggin's books written by Orson Scott Card. It's been years since I read the Ender's Series (Ender's Game, Speaker for the Dead, and Xenocide...) and we talked about how much we liked those books.

"Have you read the Bean series?" he asked.

"You mean, Ender's Shadow?"

"Yeah," he said. "The Bean books are my favorite books he's written."

I decided then to give those books another try. And I'm glad I did! I don't know if I can say I like this series more than the Ender's Series, but I do like them. I like getting lost in that world. I'm also reading the Formic Wars Series which starts the Enderverse.

The two books, Shadow of the Hegemon, and Shadow Puppets follow the lives of Bean, Petra (two soldiers who helped Ender Wiggin defeat the buggers...), Ender's brother Peter, and Peter's parents as they participate in a deadly game with Achilles, a truly despicable person bent on world domination and personal revenge. In the first book Bean saves the kidnapped Petra (I apologize for any spoilers...), and in the second book, the Bean and Petra get married and then are threatened once again by Achilles. An author's note at the end of Shadow of the Hegemon explains some of the thinking that went into the story, namely the political posturing of nations for control. Card mentions his love of the game RISK as a child. I can definitely see the influence of that game in these stories.

I'm not done--I've got a few more of the Ender's Shadow Series books on hold at the library and will hopefully be getting them soon. I can say, like J.R.R. Tolkien, had Card only created this one world, he would have been considered an amazing visionary writer (my opinion...), but if you're a fan of his other works, you know his abilities stretch far beyond the Enderverse.

On to the next! I've got to see how this thing ends.

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* Photo used without permission from: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/234724.Shadow_Puppets?ac=1

¶ Photo used without permission from: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/234724.Shadow_Puppets?ac=1

Orson Scott Card's "Ender's Shadow"...A Book Review

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A friend (and fellow pirate...) and I were talking a few weeks ago and we were discussing books. He's a huge Ender's Game fan as well as all the Enderverse books. "Have you read Ender's Shadow?" he asked.

"I started it, but I never finished it," I told him.

And then I began to wonder why I never finished it. I had read Ender's Game a year before I checked out the audio version of Ender's Shadow. I think I was about a quarter the way through when I stopped. But I think I'm glad I ended up reading it now. I've had a long time to digest Ender, at least more than I had before. I'm sure the film helped.

"Ender's Shadow and the whole Bean series is my favorite--of all of Card's books," my friend said. This made me want to read the book even more, so I checked it out and finished it in two days. I really enjoyed Ender's Shadow. And I liked it because it wasn't as complicated as Ender's Game. Plus, it's a compliment to a story I already knew. I kept finding myself going back to the original story and wondering if I remembered things that happened when it came to Ender and Bean.

I'll be reading Ender's Game again. If you enjoyed Ender's Game, you need to read this book. It's a straight-forward re-telling that sets up the series as one full of potential. I've put on hold the next two books in the Ender's Shadow series. I'm pretty sure I'm going to finish them all.

* Photo used without permission from: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9532.Ender_s_Shadow?from_search=true

Orson Scott Card's "Hidden Empire"...A Book Report

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Today I finished Orson Scott Card's Hidden Empire, the sequel to Empire. Even though it's been a while since I read the first book--which I thoroughly enjoyed--I believe I liked this book better. 

The premise of the first book in the series, Empire, is to imagine a world where red states and blue states wage war for control of America. Instead of just throwing insults and facts that support their opinions, they use bullets and bombs. I'm forgetting many of the details due to the time that's passed since I read it, but I do recall that it was a story of political ideologies taken to the extreme and just how far things could go if people backed up their hatred of each other with weapons.

I thought it was a timely read.

Then I picked up Hidden Empire...

And realized what timely really means.

Hidden Empire begins with a village in Africa that falls victim to a deadly virus that kills almost all it infects. Have you checked any headlines coming from the African continent lately? Of course, the story expands to where governments battle, conspiracy theories rage and special forces are assembled to protect and serve.

It's a good read, quick, smart, and perhaps more so than the first book (because of some of the advanced technological weaponry...), more believable. But what I liked most is the book reminded me of all those Tom Clancy books I read decades ago. For me Card captured the heart of those books, the personal dilemmas the characters faced, and I'd recommend the book for that reason alone.

* Photo used without permission from: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6397351-hidden-empire?ac=1

Invasive Procedures...A Book Review

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Last week I finished a book written by Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston called Invasive Procedures. Until last week I didn't know this book existed--I blame myself, really. There's a lot of books of which I am unaware.

Over the past few years I've read several books authored by Card, books that have not been made into movies. And I have a long way to go--the guy writes a lot of books. I must say that I enjoyed this read.

When I see a book written by two authors it confuses me. I'm not sure who wrote what, or how much one contributed to the project. Who's idea was the counter-virus? Which one decided how many people would be involved in the transplant pool? Who decided how many would die? I find myself wondering these things. Maybe I'm the only one...

About the book, it contains many of the elements you think of when you think of genetics and evil people trying to make everyone better. Of course, there's philosophical dimensions included that I didn't expect. What costs is society willing to accept to fix some medical problems? The book was fast-paced, interesting and I could see it play in my mind. The world in which they created was believable and I even bought the main theme--a mix between cloning and reincarnation.

I'm not sure who wrote what, but they made a good team. I've read many of Card's book. Maybe I should read more of Johnston's.

* Photo used without permission from: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/234731.Invasive_Procedures