Hi, I'm Rob, 27, in the Navy (currently off the coast of Haiti) and I've been an admirer of Orson Scott Card since I was 12 years old.
Hope you are all doing well today.
I have been plagued with a memory for the better part of a year, possibly more, involving one of Mr. Card's book reviews. I am currently re-reading Uncle Orson Reviews Everything trying to find a specific review, unfortunately I do not know the name of the author or the name of the book being reviewed.
It was actually a very critical review. From what I remember it was a fantasy novel about a small group of people fighting against an incredibly oppressive and corrupt Church (that was meant to reflect Christianity). The book was apparently very anti-religion and yet, the author ended up having the small group of characters end up making their own religion (whether they thought so or not).
Hopefully, my memory isn't lying to me too badly. I have searched and searched for the article and followed many paths that turned out to be dead-ends. For a while I was convinced it was the His Dark Materials series (which I find awfully written) but, I cannot find a single place where it is reviewed by Card anywhere.
Your help will ensure that my sanity holds on for a little while long. Thanks in advance!
Posted by LargeTuna (Member # 10512) on :
Welcome to Hatrack Bertrand! sorry I can't help with the question Posted by Bertrand (Member # 12296) on :
Tuna, no worries. Google really let me down but, I know someone here might remember the review. Alas, I continue my search.
Thanks for the pleasant welcoming!
Posted by Sala (Member # 8980) on :
Hmmm, as I read your description I thought of the His Dark Materials series as well, but if OSC didn't write a review of it, then I just don't know what it would be. Sorry I can't help.
Posted by Bertrand (Member # 12296) on :
Thanks for trying.
Posted by Jake (Member # 206) on :
His Dark Materials leapt to my mind too. Out of curiosity, in what respects did you find it horribly written? I recognize that it isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I don't think I've ever heard anyone say that the quality of the writing itself was poor.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
I think the quality of the storytelling was poor. I think the message got in the way.
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
I don't agree that the quality of the story telling was poor. i thought it was an extremely good book. Quite thrilling with some interesting ideas.
Though, the 3rd book was thickly British... Very British. I don't think Philip Pullman lectured as much as... well.... And he didn't take over characters very much to push his point of view.
Perhaps it's time to read it again.
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
quote:And he didn't take over characters very much to push his point of view.
Um...yeah, he did. The scientist in Book #3 is a very obvious authorial mouthpiece.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
*nod* Yeah, Pullman got increasingly heavy-handed as the series progressed, sadly.
Posted by Yozhik (Member # 89) on :
OSC *did* review His Dark Materials. Give me a minute and I'll find it.
Posted by Yozhik (Member # 89) on :
quote:Originally posted by mr_porteiro_head: I think the quality of the storytelling was poor. I think the message got in the way.
I'm late in coming back to this, but I'd agree with that, actually, at least for the third book. I didn't see any signs of poor writing or poor storytelling in the first book, though. Did you?
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
quote:I didn't see any signs of poor writing or poor storytelling in the first book, though. Did you?
No, I didn't. I loved the first two books, and I thought the third was okay.
Despite Mary Malone.
Posted by Yozhik (Member # 89) on :
I was disappointed that Lord Asriel, unrepentant child-killer, got to be a hero in the later books.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
quote:Originally posted by Jake:
quote:Originally posted by mr_porteiro_head: I think the quality of the storytelling was poor. I think the message got in the way.
I'm late in coming back to this, but I'd agree with that, actually, at least for the third book. I didn't see any signs of poor writing or poor storytelling in the first book, though. Did you?
I thought the first book was fantastic.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
I thought the first book was excellent. I thought the third book was way out of left field and it really took me out of the story. It's not a story I'll be rereading again, at least, not for a long time.
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
quote:Originally posted by Scott R:
quote:I didn't see any signs of poor writing or poor storytelling in the first book, though. Did you?
No, I didn't. I loved the first two books, and I thought the third was okay.
Despite Mary Malone.
I liked her. She was so cool hanging out with those awesome wheeled people.
Urg. OSC reviews ><. Organized religion would be better folks focused on the GOOD STUFF like compassion and kindness instead of using it to support things about human beings that are just... rather wrong. Or if they didn't go on and on about nitpicky stupid rules constantly. I can't even blame folks for rebelling against those. yes, organized religion tends to frustrate me.
Also he forgets things like witch hunts, Protestants killing Catholics, Vice Versa, it's depressing.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
I saw your first post in this thread, Syn, and said to myself "Huh. She isn't talking about something she hates or that makes her mad."
But now I see we're back in business. Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
Well, if someone started a topic about butterflies, moths and Dir en grey, then I wouldn't talk about something that makes me mad, but stuff that makes me happy. Butterflies, moths and Dir en grey are awesome! And cute birds... and pigeons, especially their ugly/cute babies.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
Did you know that OSC reviewed pigeon babies a couple years ago? He was generally opposed.
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
Baby birds are hideous.
quote:Urg. OSC reviews ><. Organized religion would be better folks focused on the GOOD STUFF like compassion and kindness instead of using it to support things about human beings that are just... rather wrong. Or if they didn't go on and on about nitpicky stupid rules constantly. I can't even blame folks for rebelling against those. yes, organized religion tends to frustrate me.
Also he forgets things like witch hunts, Protestants killing Catholics, Vice Versa, it's depressing.
Who forgets those things?
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
Well, they are ugly in a way that makes them so cute. One time I saw this hideous bird and thought, WHAT IS THAT THING? It looks so goofy! And it was a baby pigeon, so goofy and ugly it was adorable.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
quote:Well, they are ugly in a way that makes them so cute.
We've got that in common.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
quote:Well, if someone started a topic about butterflies, moths and Dir en grey, then I wouldn't talk about something that makes me mad, but stuff that makes me happy.
Kinda like when somebody starts a thread about His Dark Materials?
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
I'm a demon who feeds off dark butterflies of evil.
Does that make you mad?
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
The full moon.
I'm a werebutterfly.
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
Cool. Werebutterflies would be so CUTE.
Usually butterflies are not very evil, or they are tricking people.
Posted by Yozhik (Member # 89) on :
quote:Also he forgets things like witch hunts,
There's an interesting book by Rodney Stark (For the Glory of God: How Monotheism Led to Reformations, Science, Witch-Hunts, and the End of Slavery) in which one of his points is that the witch hunts, inquisition, etc., were not nearly as harsh in areas that were under the central authority of the church than in areas where the local authorities were free to do whatever the heck they wanted. So witch hunts were because of not enough organization in religion, rather than too much. :-)
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