Something funny and yet very sad, that I thought the folks here - as well as Mr. and Mrs. Card - might get a kick out of...
Being broker than the ten commandments, I opted to get a copy of Empire I found on amazon for about $3.50. (The book is definitely worth the full price, but as I mentioned earlier, we be po') When I finally recieved the book, it turned out to be from a public library in Miami, and had "WITHDRAWN" stamped in big black letters on the very first page of the book.
Now I bought the book several months ago, and I asked the guy why he was sellling it so soon after buying it. Apparently, he'd found it in a librry book sale for a dollar, and decided to see if it would sell.
Now I personally am not into politics of any sort, and avoid anything with a political tone to it like the plague. I hate politics. They're stupid, cruel, hateful and all about destroying someone so that someone else can come into power. But I LOVED this book, and found myself agreeing with some of the views expressed by the main characters. Not all, but some. I found it almost hysterical that someone was so intimidated by a FICTIONAL story book, that they felt the need to take it off the shelves of a public library just a few months after it's release.
Is it just me, or does that sound like a sneaky form of censorship?
As for me, I loved it, and I've read it a couple of times already. And I really do hate political stories.
Posted by Lord Darkstorm (Member # 1610) on :
Censorship, or illiteracy? I don't know what prompts a library to remove a book, but if no one is checking it out and the free space is getting small, then yes, I could see a book off the shelf in months. Reading has been replaced with tv for a majority of youth, so that leaves those who find books more appealing than tv. I wouldn't be surprised at even more changes as time goes on.
Posted by Robert Nowall (Member # 2764) on :
Gee, and it's not that old, either. Most likely a case of overstock---too many copies on hand. (Haven't yet gotten around to reading my copy, yet.)
Posted by Christine (Member # 1646) on :
I don't think libraries play politics. They stock the # of copies they need. They probably had too many of that one. I don't get the impression that it was his most popular book...I, for one, found it pretty unbelievable.
Posted by RMatthewWare (Member # 4831) on :
I haven't read it, and its not high up on my 'to read' list. I prefer spec fic over political thriller any day. But I think someone talked OSC into writing it as a launching pad to a comic book series. I think its even got a movie deal.
Posted by Antinomy (Member # 5136) on :
Not an issue. I just checked the online library catalog for the greater Cincinnati area where 18 copies are available. Many communities are joined in a shared system – all you have to do is order.
Posted by Rick Norwood (Member # 5604) on :
I'm waiting for the paperback.
Posted by Matt Lust (Member # 3031) on :
I got it with my audible.com subscription and its not bad.
I have to Spoil the end to make a point that OSC committed a major writing sin concerning the MC again. Maybe I'll leave it at that.
As to writing in general its really not too much of a "political thriller" and actually is fairly speculative in the technology employed by the "bad" guys.
Its a moderately over the top but none the less as believable in my opinion as say the Da Vinci Code or Red Storm Rising/Debt of Honor/Sum of all Fears/Every Tom Clancy book ever.
Its a different style for OSC but yet I still feel him telling the story. Its not "Fantasy with Science for Magic" its "Near-Futurist" writing with a lot of What ifs for a premises.