As I read OSC's work, two of his themes that seem that stand out to me are the redemption of characters, and the need for good families. These are not necessarily the main themes of the stories, but are often underlying themes. Of course, there are many other themes to be found in his work.
Redemption ~ this is apparent in Speaker for the Dead, "West" and several other stories in Folk of the Fringe, of course the aptly named Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus, and Treason.
Family ~ Homecoming, Lost Boys, Magic Street, Enchantment.
What themes stand out to you?
Posted by talsmitde (Member # 9780) on :
Redemption and family are definitely key themes.
I think a major theme is overcoming differences with a perceived "other" and using this new awareness to create a larger and stronger community. This is definitely the main theme of Speaker for the Dead, but it can be found throughout the Ender Saga, including the Shadow series, Pastwatch, Homecoming, Alvin Maker, Stone Tables, and Enchantment.