Go Back   Colonial Fleets > REJUVENATION CENTER > Galactica Cafe
Notices
Galactica Cafe A place to socialize and have fun!

Reply

 
Thread Tools
Old November 5th, 2009, 12:52 AM   #1
monolith21
Squadron Leader
 
monolith21's Avatar
 


Join Date: May 2003
Location: Vista, CA
Posts: 1,707

Default Anyone else read the Ender books by Orson Scott Card?

I just finished the fourth in the series and I'm completely hooked! I'd rank Card up there with any of the greatest sci fi or fantasy writers. Amazing stuff!
__________________

Lt. Killian
Blackstar Squadron
"The Fighting Faithful"


"Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one."
-Albert Einstein
monolith21 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old November 5th, 2009, 07:29 AM   #2
Dawg
Great Wise Guru
 
Dawg's Avatar
 
COMMAND INSIGNIAAdmin
ColonialFleets.com
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDCo-Owner
TombsofKobol.com
Owner/Webmaster
DirkBenedictCentral.com
Colonial Fan ForceCo-Founder
Colonial Fan Force

Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Pacific Northwest, USA
Posts: 5,009


Default Re: Anyone else read the Ender books by Orson Scott Card?

You might get a shorter list by asking who hasn't.

"Enders Game" is a must-read for anyone who says they like science fiction.

I am
Dawg
__________________
"...I aim to misbehave." Capt. Malcolm Reynolds, Serenity.

My Places:

DirkBenedictCentral.com, Facebook: Dirk Benedict Central Twitter: @DBCdotCOM Dirk's appearances: Appearances

Tombs of Kobol
Dawg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old November 7th, 2009, 09:41 PM   #3
Damocles
Bad Email Address
 
Damocles's Avatar
 
The Last Person


Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Earth
Posts: 10,713

Default Re: Anyone else read the Ender books by Orson Scott Card?

David Brin after OSC.
Damocles is offline   Reply With Quote
Old November 7th, 2009, 09:55 PM   #4
Dawg
Great Wise Guru
 
Dawg's Avatar
 
COMMAND INSIGNIAAdmin
ColonialFleets.com
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDCo-Owner
TombsofKobol.com
Owner/Webmaster
DirkBenedictCentral.com
Colonial Fan ForceCo-Founder
Colonial Fan Force

Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Pacific Northwest, USA
Posts: 5,009


Default Re: Anyone else read the Ender books by Orson Scott Card?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Damocles View Post
David Brin after OSC.
I respectfully disagree. Heinlein. Or Piper. Or McCaffrey, for that matter. What I've read of Brin hasn't had that "unforgettable" quality of these others, including Card.

But I still say "Enders Game" is one of the greatest sci-fi novels ever written.

I am
Dawg
__________________
"...I aim to misbehave." Capt. Malcolm Reynolds, Serenity.

My Places:

DirkBenedictCentral.com, Facebook: Dirk Benedict Central Twitter: @DBCdotCOM Dirk's appearances: Appearances

Tombs of Kobol
Dawg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old November 8th, 2009, 12:20 AM   #5
Damocles
Bad Email Address
 
Damocles's Avatar
 
The Last Person


Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Earth
Posts: 10,713

Default Re: Anyone else read the Ender books by Orson Scott Card?

Olaf Stapledon Last and First Men

Try Joe Halderman, or C J Cherrhy thereafter.
Damocles is offline   Reply With Quote
Old November 8th, 2009, 11:38 AM   #6
Dawg
Great Wise Guru
 
Dawg's Avatar
 
COMMAND INSIGNIAAdmin
ColonialFleets.com
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDCo-Owner
TombsofKobol.com
Owner/Webmaster
DirkBenedictCentral.com
Colonial Fan ForceCo-Founder
Colonial Fan Force

Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Pacific Northwest, USA
Posts: 5,009


Default Re: Anyone else read the Ender books by Orson Scott Card?

Dune.

I am
Dawg
__________________
"...I aim to misbehave." Capt. Malcolm Reynolds, Serenity.

My Places:

DirkBenedictCentral.com, Facebook: Dirk Benedict Central Twitter: @DBCdotCOM Dirk's appearances: Appearances

Tombs of Kobol
Dawg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old November 8th, 2009, 12:00 PM   #7
Damocles
Bad Email Address
 
Damocles's Avatar
 
The Last Person


Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Earth
Posts: 10,713

Default Re: Anyone else read the Ender books by Orson Scott Card?

n/t
Damocles is offline   Reply With Quote
Old November 8th, 2009, 12:05 PM   #8
Damocles
Bad Email Address
 
Damocles's Avatar
 
The Last Person


Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Earth
Posts: 10,713

Default Re: Anyone else read the Ender books by Orson Scott Card?

Frank Herbert's story about "Little Mouse" is not my favorite author topic right now. His ecology was bogus, his subject matter not very well thought out or researched, and especially this week, I have a severely negative reaction to THAT subject matter.

http://baheyeldin.com/literature/ara...erts-dune.html

http://www.shaulmishal.com/pdf/sm_academic_04.pdf

http://www.dhushara.com/book/future/dunep.htm
Damocles is offline   Reply With Quote
Old November 8th, 2009, 02:05 PM   #9
Dawg
Great Wise Guru
 
Dawg's Avatar
 
COMMAND INSIGNIAAdmin
ColonialFleets.com
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDCo-Owner
TombsofKobol.com
Owner/Webmaster
DirkBenedictCentral.com
Colonial Fan ForceCo-Founder
Colonial Fan Force

Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Pacific Northwest, USA
Posts: 5,009


Default Re: Anyone else read the Ender books by Orson Scott Card?

Today, there is little mystery left in the culture Herbert based the fremen of Dune on. The world is smaller, we know more, we have more global information at our fingertips than ever before in human history.

So we don't have the same kind of "alien" view of the terrestrial desert and its inhabitants that we did back in 1965. The Islamic bases for the fremen culture are more familiar to us now and we can pick them out as we read.

Herbert did his research (which was extensive, according to his son), then he wrote a piece of fiction where he took his data and made it conform to the universe he created. And it was an epic universe in its detail and completeness.

Nor was Islam the only influence on his fictional universe. The ideas of eugenics, manipulation of populations through religion, political intrigue, reliance on oil (a single commodity), personal journeys and growth and change..... He took and wove these threads into a tapestry of storytelling that remains unsurpassed to this day.

Allegory, perhaps - a view of what could happen if we do not rein in our various appetites. But at the end of the day it was an epic work of science fiction. Which is how it should be viewed.

To equate it to current events would be a mistake.

Please don't just blindly follow the blind....

I am
Dawg
__________________
"...I aim to misbehave." Capt. Malcolm Reynolds, Serenity.

My Places:

DirkBenedictCentral.com, Facebook: Dirk Benedict Central Twitter: @DBCdotCOM Dirk's appearances: Appearances

Tombs of Kobol
Dawg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old November 8th, 2009, 03:07 PM   #10
TwoBrainedCylon
Imperious Leader
 
TwoBrainedCylon's Avatar
 
COMMAND INSIGNIAFounder
Cylon.org

Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,110

Default Re: Anyone else read the Ender books by Orson Scott Card?

John,

I gotta admit I'm not fond of Dune either these days. The framework and storyline of the novels was epic and extremely well done but given the past couple of decades since it was first written, my fondness or even tolerance for a story about a righteous religious jihad in which the faithful slaughters the infidel isn't something I much want to embrace.

The phrase "We will kill until no Harknonnen breaths Arakeen air" doesn't sound like an influence from anywhere other than Islam to my ears and these guys are supposed to be the heroes.

All my best,


Russell
__________________
I respect French maids for their minds.
TwoBrainedCylon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old November 8th, 2009, 05:40 PM   #11
monolith21
Squadron Leader
 
monolith21's Avatar
 


Join Date: May 2003
Location: Vista, CA
Posts: 1,707

Default Re: Anyone else read the Ender books by Orson Scott Card?

Hey...that Litany against fear is pretty nifty though.

I've long been a fan of Dune. Its true that it hasn't held the same depth as we have become more aware of the world around us. I'm a big fan of Heinlein, Bradbury, Lewis, Tolkein and many other great sci fi writers. I'd put Card right up there with all of them...and in front of more than a few.

The philosophical and moral questions raised in those Ender books really struck a chord with me.

Oh and I agree Dawg, "Ender's Game" is an absolute must. I believe it has become recommended reading for High School kids now. I know a few teachers that are using in their classes.

As good as E.G. is, the other four books in that story line are amazingly deep. They won't be for everyone that is for sure. The military aspects are pretty much non existent in Ender's life after Command School.

I have yet to read the Shadow books, but I'm really interested in how things turned out for Bean and all the others. Great stuff!
__________________

Lt. Killian
Blackstar Squadron
"The Fighting Faithful"


"Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one."
-Albert Einstein
monolith21 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old November 8th, 2009, 05:42 PM   #12
monolith21
Squadron Leader
 
monolith21's Avatar
 


Join Date: May 2003
Location: Vista, CA
Posts: 1,707

Default Re: Anyone else read the Ender books by Orson Scott Card?

Damoncles, if you rank Brin right next to Card...do you have any recommendations? I know next to nothing about that author.
__________________

Lt. Killian
Blackstar Squadron
"The Fighting Faithful"


"Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one."
-Albert Einstein
monolith21 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old November 8th, 2009, 06:46 PM   #13
Damocles
Bad Email Address
 
Damocles's Avatar
 
The Last Person


Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Earth
Posts: 10,713

Default Re: Anyone else read the Ender books by Orson Scott Card?

Quote:
Originally Posted by monolith21 View Post
Damoncles, if you rank Brin right next to Card...do you have any recommendations? I know next to nothing about that author.
Sundiver. Uplift War. The dolphins are what Humanity should be.

I want to apologize for losing my temper with reference to Frank Herbert and Dune, but I've seen too much praise heaped upon for what for me was a one shot potboiler dystopian political treatise masquerading as an epic.

Quote:


Emperor Palpatine.
Damocles is offline   Reply With Quote
Old November 9th, 2009, 12:03 PM   #14
monolith21
Squadron Leader
 
monolith21's Avatar
 


Join Date: May 2003
Location: Vista, CA
Posts: 1,707

Default Re: Anyone else read the Ender books by Orson Scott Card?

LOL

Hey, we've all gotten a bit hot under the collar over a favorite or...not so favorite sci fi story!
__________________

Lt. Killian
Blackstar Squadron
"The Fighting Faithful"


"Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one."
-Albert Einstein
monolith21 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old November 9th, 2009, 01:01 PM   #15
Dawg
Great Wise Guru
 
Dawg's Avatar
 
COMMAND INSIGNIAAdmin
ColonialFleets.com
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDCo-Owner
TombsofKobol.com
Owner/Webmaster
DirkBenedictCentral.com
Colonial Fan ForceCo-Founder
Colonial Fan Force

Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Pacific Northwest, USA
Posts: 5,009


Default Re: Anyone else read the Ender books by Orson Scott Card?

Quote:
Originally Posted by TwoBrainedCylon View Post
John,

I gotta admit I'm not fond of Dune either these days. The framework and storyline of the novels was epic and extremely well done but given the past couple of decades since it was first written, my fondness or even tolerance for a story about a righteous religious jihad in which the faithful slaughters the infidel isn't something I much want to embrace.

The phrase "We will kill until no Harknonnen breaths Arakeen air" doesn't sound like an influence from anywhere other than Islam to my ears and these guys are supposed to be the heroes.

All my best,


Russell
I'm not disputing any of that (although I'd wager similar sentiments would be expressed by anyone against a cruel and oppressive regime regardless of the religions of either party). And I understand why, today, there is such discomfort surrounding Herbert's story.

But you must also admit that the Harkonnens were unremittingly evil, treacherous, and did not have a shred of redeeming quality to them (their genetics notwithstanding). Throwing off the yolk of the oppressor is a classic theme as well. What Herbert did so well was take a desert religion to a desert planet and make it one thread in a complex weave of storytelling.

Whether or not you like it. It is a very long, complex, detailed tome and it takes a lot more effort to keep everyone and everything straight within the story than in most novels. He did nothing to simplify the political machinations or the blending of religious zeal, or the potential corruption of religion, or relationships personal or public. Some people simply don't like such complex writing. Some people thrive on it. Diff'rent strokes...

I think I've read Sundiver. I'll have to look it up again.

I am
Dawg
__________________
"...I aim to misbehave." Capt. Malcolm Reynolds, Serenity.

My Places:

DirkBenedictCentral.com, Facebook: Dirk Benedict Central Twitter: @DBCdotCOM Dirk's appearances: Appearances

Tombs of Kobol
Dawg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old November 9th, 2009, 01:55 PM   #16
Gemini1999
Strike Leader
 
Gemini1999's Avatar
 
FORUM STAFFFleet Moderator
Colonial Fleets

Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Citrus Heights, CA
Posts: 3,544


Default Re: Anyone else read the Ender books by Orson Scott Card?

I guess that I'll be one of the first to admit that they've never read any of the Ender's books. I know that I've seen them in bookstores for quite a long while now. I remember the first time I saw one, I hovered over it a bit, but never bought it. I can't say why as it's been so long - I guess that I never knew anyone that had read it, or recommended it.

SciFi writing is just so like taking a blind chance when you buy a book - I guess I've gotten so picky, I talk myself out of it before I get to the counter.

When it comes to Dune, I've only read the first book and that was well after the 1984 film came out. Never read any of the other books.

Someone mentioned David Brin - I read Sundiver many years ago, but it didn't really spur me on to read any of his other novels. I can recall what the cover looked like, but nothing about the story. Who knows? Maybe with all the intervening years, my taste in reading has changed....I might like it now.

I'll have to do some book shopping and give one of them a try...

Bryan
__________________
"When Commander Adama sees these, he's gonna go crazy!" - Col. Tigh - "Saga of a Star World"

"If you love long enough, wish hard enough, anything is possible" - From The Boy Who Could Fly
Gemini1999 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old November 6th, 2013, 03:26 AM   #17
monolith21
Squadron Leader
 
monolith21's Avatar
 


Join Date: May 2003
Location: Vista, CA
Posts: 1,707

Default Re: Anyone else read the Ender books by Orson Scott Card?

Rise from the dead old thread!!!

Anyone go see the film?
__________________

Lt. Killian
Blackstar Squadron
"The Fighting Faithful"


"Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one."
-Albert Einstein
monolith21 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old November 6th, 2013, 01:51 PM   #18
Senmut
Strike Leader
 
Senmut's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Wenatchee, Soviet of WA., Ex U.S.A.
Posts: 4,491

Default Re: Anyone else read the Ender books by Orson Scott Card?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gemini1999 View Post

When it comes to Dune, I've only read the first book and that was well after the 1984 film came out. Never read any of the other books.
You haven't missed much. I read the first three, because I promised a rabid Dune fan I would. It was about as engaging as a road sign, and got harder as it went. I realize that the devoted Duneoids will come after me, but that's just how I see it.
__________________
Populos stultus viris indignas honores saepe dat. -Horace
----------------------------
Fortuna est caeca. -Cicero
----------------------------
"You know the night before was a tough one when even the sound of the fizz hurts your head." -Mike Hammer.
Senmut is offline   Reply With Quote
Old November 7th, 2013, 02:28 AM   #19
bsg1fan1975
Major
 
bsg1fan1975's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Cheesehead in Connecticut
Posts: 6,689


Default Re: Anyone else read the Ender books by Orson Scott Card?

Never read any of the Ender books and I don't have any plans to. I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with them but I just don't any urge to read them.
__________________

Cheese: [has tinfoil on his teeth] I have braces!
Mac: You found that on the ground, didn't you?
Cheese: Garbage can.
-episode "Mac Daddy"Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends"
bsg1fan1975 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old November 7th, 2013, 12:25 PM   #20
Senmut
Strike Leader
 
Senmut's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Wenatchee, Soviet of WA., Ex U.S.A.
Posts: 4,491

Default Re: Anyone else read the Ender books by Orson Scott Card?

Personally, I liked I, Claudius.
__________________
Populos stultus viris indignas honores saepe dat. -Horace
----------------------------
Fortuna est caeca. -Cicero
----------------------------
"You know the night before was a tough one when even the sound of the fizz hurts your head." -Mike Hammer.
Senmut is offline   Reply With Quote
Old November 7th, 2013, 11:44 PM   #21
Punisher454
Warrior Ace
 
Punisher454's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Salem Oregon
Posts: 528

Default Re: Anyone else read the Ender books by Orson Scott Card?

I have yet to read Ender's game, I put it on my list, just not enough time.
Anyone here ever read "Requiem for the Conqueror"?
__________________
"Friend? Oviners have no friends!"
Punisher454 is offline   Reply With Quote

Reply

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Clean joke of the day. Damocles Galactica Cafe 2580 June 16th, 2020 12:25 PM




So sez our Muffit!!!

For fans of the Classic Battlestar Galactica series



COPYRIGHT
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 06:40 AM. Contact the Fleet - Colonial Fleets - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top
Powered by: vBulletin Version 3.8.11, Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Content and Graphics ©2000-Present Colonial Fleets
The Colonial Fleets Forums are run by Battlestar Galactica fans, paid for by Battlestar Galactica fans, for the enjoyment of fellow Battlestar Galactica fans.



©2000-2008 Colonial Fleets