OK, i am a big fan of OSC but i have only just finished reading the ender related books. I havent read any of his other books yet. So, i was wondering which of his books should i read next?
Posted by syipress (Member # 7569) on :
I would reccommend the Worthing Saga, which is basically a compilation of a series of short stories and other novels OSC has written about the universe his character Jason Worthing resides. It is an interesting and rewarding read, check it out.
Posted by syipress (Member # 7569) on :
Also, I forgot to mention. If you're not sure about the book, check out Hot Sleep on the Intergalactic Medicine Show, OCS's new web magazine. That is what the Worthing Saga was before all the other stories were introduced into the big version.
Posted by Ender12 (Member # 8873) on :
thanks! i ordered the alvin maker series, i havent recieved it yet. Is that a good series??
Posted by JennaDean (Member # 8816) on :
Loved Alvin Maker, and almost everything else. My favorite is "Enchantment". It's a modern take on a fairy tale, and of course since it's by OSC the story and characters are complex and wonderful.
Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :
Red Prophet was my favorite of the Alvin Maker series. It just knocked my socks off.
Definitely one of my top three.
I guess I would recommend the Alvin series next, but you might want to try some of his standalone novels. I kind of like how his stand-alone novels just feel "lighter" to me, if that makes any sense. This is not a knock on the series. I am always happy to have more in a given universe, and gobble up whatever I can get. But with the big series, there is this pressure--perhaps only in my mind--where the story arc is so grand, and the payoff needs to be so large to justify the three or four or six books or whatever. In his standalone books, I feel--and again, I hope I am not off-base or out of line here--that Card can play around and experiment more. Write a horror novel. Write a romantic fantasy. Or a contemporary urban fantasy with a black protagonist. I imagine that the series do more to pay the bills, since they have a built-in market. And that's cool.
But you might want to check out Hart's Hope, Songmaster, Treason, or Wyrms.
Welcome, by the way. I hope you enjoy it here. I sure have. Posted by airmanfour (Member # 6111) on :
OSCs stand-alone novels are my favorite. Treason is AWESOME.
Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :
Enchantment was wonderful. *mentally goes through the shelf on the library where OSC is located*. The Worthing Saga was wonderful also. oh! And Pastwatch. At first I didn't like that one but I ended up absolutely loving it. And all his series (whats the plural for series?) are really good, though in my opinion the ones in Enderverse are the best. So yeah, basically if you see his name on it, read it.
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
Second Jenna on Enchantment and the Alvin Maker series...loved them both. I also really enjoyed Pastwatch (isn't that the one about Columbus?)
Posted by CRash (Member # 7754) on :
Yes. Pastwatch is probably my favorite of Card's stand-alone novels.
Posted by ricree101 (Member # 7749) on :
I'd recommend reading both the Worthing Saga and Hot Sleep. Hot Sleep is being published in the current issue of intergalactic medicine show, and it is worth the price of the issue (the other stories are also excellent).
Pastwatch is another good book, as are the Alvin Maker books. Also, have you read First Meetings in the Enderverse? It is a collection of short stories relating to the Ender books.
Posted by littlebean (Member # 8700) on :
No one ever mentions the homecoming series. i really enjoyed it.
i pretty much have loved every book that i've read by osc but i was disappointed with treasure box.
treason and pastwatch are amazing, so are the alivin series, wyrms, ... so many more
i love his short stories too.
Posted by StickyWicket (Member # 7926) on :
look "Ender12" all these fools will try to push you in a multitude of directions to cater favor with ye olde' OSC. Read Worthing, and get into the Shadow series.
Posted by Ender12 (Member # 8873) on :
i have read all the ender books, and at the moment i am on the last of the shadow series. loved them all. i bought the alvin maker books so those will be next. i think i will eventually read all of his books because he is my favorite author along with stephen king. what i would like to know is does he have anything out there that isnt listed in the OSC library that is worth reading.
Posted by odouls268 (Member # 2145) on :
The Worthing Saga. Definitely. He has such important things to say all through that one.
Wyrms is one of my favorites,
and Treasure Box, I think, doesn't get spoken about NEARLY enough. It's a great story, and a breeze to read. One minute you're on page three, the next, you dont realize it, but youre on page 96 and have no hope of putting it down until youve finished it. Posted by littlebean (Member # 8700) on :
Treasure Box doesn't get spoken about b/c its not worth speaking about in comparison to all other OSC books. This was the only book that I didn't really like.
Every other book so far has been amazing.
Posted by littlebean (Member # 8700) on :
Oh and The Worthing Saga, I agree, is a must read.
Posted by Sm34rZ (Member # 8609) on :
I concur (.. is that how you spell that? It looks so weird) with the Worthing Saga comments. A really good book.
[ December 04, 2005, 11:50 PM: Message edited by: Sm34rZ ]
Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :
err ... I hate to say anything at all bad about anything OSC has written, but I have to concur about Treasure Box. It was a breeze to read, which was perhaps why I was let down. Seemed almost shallow. It didn't make me think really at all, and that's what I love about OSC. Read it if you want, but I would recommend Worthing Saga and Enchantment above Treasure Box.
Posted by Orson Scott Card (Member # 209) on :
Worst story by Card ever published: Happy Head. I was young. I hadn't learned yet to recognize when a story was ready to write.
Earliest poem by Card that Card can still recite from memory: The Earthworm
The earthworm is a little odd It hath hermaphroditic bod And in its millimetric girth It crawleth far beneath the earth And 'gageth in its menial toil Amid the grimy, muddy soil.
The earthworm doesn't know it's wed To Marybelle instead of Fred But all of this is idle chatter To earthworms things like this don't matter For the earthworm doing what it oughter Is half a son and half a daughter.
(If I could tack two more lines on it This silly poem would be a sonnet.)
Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :
Posted by Verily the Younger (Member # 6705) on :
I'm sorry to say that I couldn't get into the Homecoming series. I read the first book, and didn't really enjoy it. I don't know why. I reckon I'm just not in the right audience for it. Also, trying to remember how everyone's name is pronounced when nobody's name is pronounced as spelled is kind of distracting.
All his other books that I've read, I loved. I wholeheartedly second the suggestions for Enchantment (beautiful), The Worthing Saga (haunting, and moving, and wise), and the Alvin Maker series (just all around fascinating, and amusing, and touching, and cool).
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
I thoroughly enjoyed Treasure Box. I don't care if it wasn't as good by some objective criterion -- I loved it.
Posted by LadyDove (Member # 3000) on :
One of the cool things about Card's work is that there is such a variety of subjects to read.
For relationships with a supernatural/mystery spin, I really enjoyed Lost Boys and Homebody.
For Sci-Fi, of course the Ender and Shadow series.
For history, Pastwatch and the Alvin series.
I've only mentioned a couple in each category and missed some categories all together. What I like is that the books are all well researched, and creative so, in Homebody for instance, you learn a little about carpentry and alot about interpersonal relationships and growth. These elements are just a bonus to a really great mystery.
One of my favorites is Wyrms and I don't know quite where to think about it. It is intensely religious, yet completely sci-fi and showcases personal growth on a scale with Ender.
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