New Warrior: Vote No on Orson Scott Card
I don’t believe that we should go after the Mormon Church for their efforts towards Yes on Prop 8. Though I don’t believe in the LDS’s views or their beliefs, being a person of open mind, I cannot argue with their right to have them. And though I wish that they felt the same way about my views, I will not sink to their level and join the attacks on their church.
However, I do believe in the power of the boycott, even when it is difficult.
As many of you know, The Ender series by Orson Scott Card is one of my favorite reads of all time. The characters are exciting, the adventure rip-roaring, the plot edge-of-your-seat and the ideas intriguing. I am a huge fan, and normally I would be first in line for the new Ender book, Ender in Exile.
Unfortunately, Orson Scott Card, a devout Mormon, campaigned heavily for Yes on 8. I won’t repeat his arguments — they are so narrow-minded and biased that it actually made me sick to my stomach to read his blog post on the subject. But if you’re curious about his (awful and rather long) spin on Yes on 8, click here. (Side note: I kind of despise when authors put pictures on their blog of the much younger or much thinner versions of themselves — it always feels incredibly vain. And I’m afraid that Mr. Card is guilty of both with his blog photo.)
So though I don’t believe in attacking those who hold different, and in this case (extremely wrong) opinions, I also don’t believe in giving money or supporting the work of someone who holds such repulsive views.
I find this especially sad, as his hero Ender actually ended up in a loving couple. Card has always been a huge proponent of interracial marriage, even before it was fashionable to be so. Too bad for him (and his book sales) that he couldn’t afford our gay brothers and sisters the same consideration.
Please pass this along to any sci-fi reader that you think might be interested in joining me in my boycott.
Thanks for pointing this out. Perhaps I will have an Orson Scott Card book desecration party.
Thanks for pointing this out. Perhaps I will have an Orson Scott Card book desecration party.
I heard about his homophobia from a friend earlier this year and was shocked and sadened. Because I love the Ender series, too.
Are you going to toss out your books?
I heard about his homophobia from a friend earlier this year and was shocked and sadened. Because I love the Ender series, too.
Are you going to toss out your books?
That’s a good question, RS. On one hand, I can’t imagine my bi-racial children not reading The Enders series, as there isn’t a ton of well-written literature out there for them. However, there is a terrible bit in second to last in the Bean series where one of the auxiliary characters basically decides to supress his orientation that I would not advocate. Then on the other hand his book, Pastwatch, is brilliant as far race relations go.
Now I feel that OSC has not only gone crazy, but even worse, become a lousy writer, as he’s allowed his craft to deteriorate. So though I would suffer through a bunch of bad writing to find out what Ender did during his exile years, I also don’t want to give him any more of my money.
However, much like the argument with the Gary Glitter commercial what happens when you’ve already paid the money. Should you toss out the books? Would it be a form of censorship to throw them out? I am really struggling with this decision right now — anyone who knows how much I love good sci-fi would probably understand why.
But for now I’m going with the first step of just not reading or buying anymore OSC books. I have a feeling that the answer re: the series that currently resides on my bookshelf will eventually become clear to me.
Card’s been a bit of an asshole for quite a while. Take a look at this:
http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2005/5/28/22428/7034
Card’s been a bit of an asshole for quite a while. Take a look at this:
http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2005/5/28/22428/7034
Card’s personal politics have to be one of the biggest disappointments of my fandom life. I loved that he was a theatre guy, and I really love most of what he’s written, but his day to day these days is just sad.
Card’s personal politics have to be one of the biggest disappointments of my fandom life. I loved that he was a theatre guy, and I really love most of what he’s written, but his day to day these days is just sad.
Maybe it helps to be “out there” politically, socially and psychologically to write sci-fi. Look at Robert Heinlein (right wing extremist, despite the progressive sexual politics of “Stranger in a Strange Land.”) Or H.P. Lovecraft (unmarried bachelor who lived in the attic of his spinster aunt’s home.) Or L. Ron Hubbard (no example given or needed.)
Maybe it helps to be “out there” politically, socially and psychologically to write sci-fi. Look at Robert Heinlein (right wing extremist, despite the progressive sexual politics of “Stranger in a Strange Land.”) Or H.P. Lovecraft (unmarried bachelor who lived in the attic of his spinster aunt’s home.) Or L. Ron Hubbard (no example given or needed.)
Aw, I been hatin’ on this guy for YEARS. Seriously, I read ENDER and a couple of others and maybe I’m just too familiar with the genre but they did absolutely nothing for me. I think the best thing he ever wrote was the novelization for James Cameron’s THE ABYSS, and that’s about all I can say about him. Oh yeah, and that he sucks.
Aw, I been hatin’ on this guy for YEARS. Seriously, I read ENDER and a couple of others and maybe I’m just too familiar with the genre but they did absolutely nothing for me. I think the best thing he ever wrote was the novelization for James Cameron’s THE ABYSS, and that’s about all I can say about him. Oh yeah, and that he sucks.
I kinda agree with clarkman above – no offense to Card fans or lovers of the genre, but I always considered his work “C-List” anyways. Maybe because one of my roommates in college read a lot of his books (and Heinlein’s, too.) Give me Frank Herbert, Lovecraft, Richard Matheson anyday.
I kinda agree with clarkman above – no offense to Card fans or lovers of the genre, but I always considered his work “C-List” anyways. Maybe because one of my roommates in college read a lot of his books (and Heinlein’s, too.) Give me Frank Herbert, Lovecraft, Richard Matheson anyday.