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.

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"?

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.

What does he mean by "1930s sci-fi"?

Space Opera, I think.

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?

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.

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.

Note that Heinlein's first sale was in 1939.

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.

eta: nah, I don't buy that.

I was about to say...

Why do people still listen to him? That dude has the biggest axe and the biggest grindstone on the block.

I think you answered your own question. My question is, why do people still publish him?