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.
Yes, it's terribly simple. The good guys are always stalwart and true, the bad guys are easily distinguished by their pointy horns or black hats, and, uh, we always defeat them and save the day. No one ever dies, and everybody lives happily ever after.
Giles ,'Conversations with Dead People'
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.
JohnSweden - May 03, 2005 8:10:22 am PDT #897 of 10001
I can't even.
§ 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.
Betsy HP - May 03, 2005 8:21:14 am PDT #905 of 10001
If I only had a brain...
Note that Heinlein's first sale was in 1939.
Nutty - May 03, 2005 8:22:04 am PDT #906 of 10001
"Mister Spock is on his fanny, sir. Reports heavy damage."
She didn't even need to convince you you were wrong, she just needed to hang on to the belief that she was right.
People like this are the wellspring of all those "Cluephone! It's for you!" jokes. so we can't just banish them from this earth. But we can call them intransigent knuckleheads every day of the week, and twice on Sundays.
Like, it's one thing to be unable to wrap your brain around an idea; but it's another thing entirely to declare that your own inability to wrap your brain around an idea causes that idea to be null and void.
Orson Scott Card? Why do people still listen to him? That dude has the biggest axe and the biggest grindstone on the block.