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This has probably been mentioned before but I have searched it and I couldn't find anything but I was wondering why Enders Game was revised in 1991? I own the older version and I can't imagine it without the stuff that was taken out, it just wouldn't be the same....Was it just for PCs sake?
Posts: 315 | Registered: Jun 2002
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I thought the only thing that was taken out was the use of the n word in one chapter. A few other things too, maybe some little mistakes here and there. Nothing big. Or am I wrong about that?
Posts: 464 | Registered: Jul 2004
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No, the N word is left in at least one place in the newer edition.
Ender says to Ali: "We can't all be niggers."
OSC has said that a number of curse words and generally foul language was taken out and replaced with the now ubiquitous "fart" and "fart-eater" references. OSC has said, though I can't speak for him, something to the effect that the bad language was a hostile, useless part of the narrative, and that on reflection he had decided that it wasn't worth keeping; though he had originally put it in because he felt that it was the most natural thing for the kids to say.
Posts: 9912 | Registered: Nov 2005
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No, the newer versions don't have the n-word at all, which is too bad because I thought it was a humourous little exchange. I didn't think that any other language was censored though.
Posts: 1569 | Registered: Dec 2004
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quote:Originally posted by Orincoro: Ender says to Ali: "We can't all be niggers."
What page? Because I sincerely don't remember that happening...
I listened to the recording from Audible.com, recorded in I think 2004. Stefan Rudnicki. Definetly, absolutely, that is in the recording. What edition it was in? I dunno.
Quite possibly that part was taken out of one edition, and then upon reflection, it was returned to a later edition. I don't happen to know if the recording from Blackstone Audio is the definitive edition, but it definetly is endorsed by OSC, as his afterword appears in the recording, and he is one of the voice actors.
Edit: I also recall that there was some debate over it, and that OSC had stood by the usage because of the appropriateness of the context, (a racist character being confronted with racism), as a useful part of the narrative. This was enough, I think, to get his book on a number of banned book lists years ago. Perhaps your edition was edited at the behest of a PC publishing company?
I would really like to know the answer to this one myself now that I see my experience has been different from others.
Posts: 9912 | Registered: Nov 2005
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The main reason OSC went back into the text when given a chance was to remove a reference to there never being an accident in the space shuttle program -- after the Challenger disaster.
While he was making a few minor changes he decided to do this one at the same time. His reasons are here:
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Its wierd- it is most DEFINETLY in my recording of the book. Absolutely, without a doubt. It seems likely to me that Rudnicki, the reader who spoke those words in the recording was reading from an older edition, unaware of the changes. Also, it occurs to me that it may have since been corrected, but I downloaded my copy over a year and a half ago.
Posts: 9912 | Registered: Nov 2005
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quote:Originally posted by JonHecht: I listened to the 25th anniversary edition from audible and I don't remember hearing that.
I assume you are talking about the 20th aniversarry edition- it was written less than 25 years ago, iirc.
Posts: 9912 | Registered: Nov 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Orincoro: Ender says to Ali: "We can't all be niggers."
What page? Because I sincerely don't remember that happening...
It's page 45 of my Author's Definitive Edition. It's when Alai and Ender invite Bernard and Shen to help them freeze the class during their first time in the battle room.
Posts: 50 | Registered: Jan 2003
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