Dear Mr. Card, I have no way of writing you a letter and while this topic may not warrant an actual posting of its own I felt that it had merit and wanted to relieve myself of some issues that have nagged me. I genuinely apologize if this was the wrong medium to use to express these feelings. I grew up an child of the air force, a child of a horribly abusive father, a child of a depressed and hopeless mother, a child driven to hurl himself into every subject and be the best for some recognition, and a child of the heroes in comic books and novels. My morality was derived from these sources and when others succumbed I found solace in the ambition and assurances that grew out of them. My assurances that the evil always lose if only to their own unhappines, that people are basically good, and that through hard work one person can make a difference. I picked up Ender's Game during a difficult period of my life with my parents divorcing and myself struggling with moving to a new home for the 20th time. I felt a connection and even more than that with Ender and devoured the novel to the point of obsession as I did all subsequent volumes. I met you in person and had you sign my books. Though I would no longer refer to myself as enthralled by these characters I have learned so much and grown because of them. Thank you for the honesty in Peter, the alienation in Bean, the reality in the Battle School children, the love that Petra found (as I found love in my longtime girlfriend and soon-to-be bride), and the lack of flawlessness in Ender. Thank you for setting some of my demons to rest. And for not finishing the series until the ends were all wrapped up. Most Sincerely and Respectfully, Gregory Locke
Posted by Sid Meier (Member # 6965) on :
You better make sure your girlfriend doesn't read this post and find out its you man, else it will ruin the surprise. Posted by DarkKnight (Member # 7536) on :
A lot of us here have been deeply touched by Ender's Game, and I know there are a ton of us that have also felt that need to express our thanks and gratitude to Scott, or Orson, or the Dude, he answers to a lot of things If you haven't had a chance to read the introduction in the new printing of Ender's Game you should go give it a read. Especially the last few paragraphs Posted by FormerlyEmpty (Member # 7717) on :
Yups I've read it. Excellent.
Posted by Orson Scott Card (Member # 209) on :
Gregory, what can I say except thanks for receiving my characters so generously and letting them be part of your life?
The good you've made of your own life, despite those problems early on, is entirely due to your own good choices. But I'm glad you found good things in my stories and let them be in your memory as you made those choices and wrote your own script for your life.
Posted by Avicus (Member # 7652) on :
Dear God Greg, you're my twin. I grew up in the same exact situation only it was the Marines for me and not the Air Force. OSC's (that's right, I got it right this time) books did the same exact thing for me. Damn, what are the chances? Glad to know you graduated hell too.
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)