On a related note

[james_davis_nicoll]

What should go on a Top Ten "In retrospect, what the hell were we thinking" list of once-popular SF?

Comments

[carloshasanax.livejournal.com]

It's a very popular book, and Card creates a very strong sense of reader participation.

And two steps back, it looks insane. In 2030, people will say, that guy had issues with kids. Which, of course, he does.

[james-nicoll.livejournal.com]

People say that now.

[carloshasanax.livejournal.com]

It's still the minority opinion.

Science fiction sure has a lot of books for young adults by people you would never want to babysit.

[heron61.livejournal.com]

It's still the minority opinion.

If more people had read Songmaster, I suspect that this would be different.

[interactiveleaf.livejournal.com]

Speaking of "issues with kids" . . . Almost anything by Piers Anthony; certainly Bio of a Space Tyrant.

[daev.livejournal.com]

It's a very popular book, and Card creates a very strong sense of reader participation.
And two steps back, it looks insane. In 2030, people will say, that guy had issues with kids. Which, of course, he does.

SENTENCES I NEVER THOUGHT I'D WRITE (#8 OF A SERIES):

Carlos, I think you may be a little overly positive and optimistic about science fiction fans.

[carloshasanax.livejournal.com]

Oh, not them. Fans will defend any piece of crap that tickles their sensawunda bone. Walter Breen had his defenders and he died in Chino.

But a lot of people have read Ender's Game who don't usually read science fiction, mainly in school. It's one of those viral books that gets recommended by other tweens (not so much teens). And it's old enough to see the wtf beginning among people who read it twenty years ago and have kids of their own now.

In 2009, Ender's Game has a lot of competition in the angsty boarding school of special people sweepstakes. The Cold War videogame ambiance is dated and the premise itself is a cliche. And in comparison to its competition, what really makes Ender's Game stand out is its psychosexual content. It's like an Edward Albee children's play. That Dumbledore had a thing for Magic Hitler is a mere peccadillo in comparison.