Orson Scott Card: "Star Trek's icky! Why don't you like my stuff the way you like Star Trek! But only weird people like Star Trek, so I don't want you liking my stuff."
Xander, don't speak Latin in front of the books!
Giles ,'Lies My Parents Told Me'
What Happens in Natter 35 Stays in Natter 35
Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.
Connie Neil - May 03, 2005 8:06:24 am PDT #895 of 10001
brillig
Betsy HP - May 03, 2005 8:08:09 am PDT #896 of 10001
If I only had a brain...
Which was a shame, because science fiction writing was incredibly fertile at the time, with writers like Harlan Ellison and Ursula LeGuin, Robert Silverberg and Larry Niven, Brian W. Aldiss and Michael Moorcock, Ray Bradbury and Isaac Asimov, and Robert A. Heinlein and Arthur C. Clarke creating so many different kinds of excellent science fiction that no one reader could keep track of it all.
Harlan Ellison, of course, wrote for Star Trek, although he certainly wasn't pleased with the results.
JohnSweden - May 03, 2005 8:10:22 am PDT #897 of 10001
I can't even.
I hope it works for people. It's an interesting piece, though I fail to see the motivation for writing it.
Interesting view from a guy (Card) who stopped being "relevant" to science fiction twenty years ago himself.
§ ita § - May 03, 2005 8:13:18 am PDT #898 of 10001
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.
Whedon's "Firefly" showed us that even 1930s sci-fi can be well acted and tell a compelling long-term story.
I wish it had had a chance to tell a long-term story.
ho stopped being "relevant" to science fiction twenty years ago himself.
No kidding. I loved him ... and then ... ick. I'd rather watch boring Trek than keep reading him.
tommyrot - May 03, 2005 8:14:12 am PDT #899 of 10001
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.
Whedon's "Firefly" showed us that even 1930s sci-fi can be well acted and tell a compelling long-term story.
What does he mean by "1930s sci-fi"?
DavidS - May 03, 2005 8:15:30 am PDT #900 of 10001
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
At assemblies at Ben and Julia's school, the teachers and parent-helpers will clap like: Clap Clap Clapclapclap.
Emmett's teacher claps three times, and then all the students stop what they're doing immediately and clap three times and it's instant order. It's pretty cool.
Much better than my teacher who slammed a ruler on her desk with a loud crack.
Harlan Ellison, of course, wrote for Star Trek, although he certainly wasn't pleased with the results.
Paid for his house though.
DavidS - May 03, 2005 8:15:59 am PDT #901 of 10001
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
What does he mean by "1930s sci-fi"?
Space Opera, I think.
Jessica - May 03, 2005 8:16:32 am PDT #902 of 10001
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset
Here's what I think: Most people weren't reading all that brilliant science fiction. Most people weren't reading at all. So when they saw "Star Trek," primitive as it was, it was their first glimpse of science fiction. It was grade school for those who had let the whole science fiction revolution pass them by.
Wow. Condescending much?
Thomash - May 03, 2005 8:17:10 am PDT #903 of 10001
I have a plan.
What does he mean by "1930s sci-fi"?
He made the same reference about Star Trek (TOS), which is probably a reference to 30's sci-fi like Flash Gordon. Impossible scientific wonders rather than hard science (fiction) realities which Card probably tries to adhere to more.
eta: nah, I don't buy that.
Trudy Booth - May 03, 2005 8:20:44 am PDT #904 of 10001
Greece's financial crisis threatens to take down all of Western civilization - a civilization they themselves founded. A rather tragic irony - which is something they also invented. - Jon Stewart
Our quiet thing at summer camp was that the counselor raised his/her hand and then the kids raised theirs -- and if your hand was up your mouth was shut.