Anyone else think OSC is stretching his Enderverse a bit thin?
[This message has been edited by Doctor (edited March 09, 2008).]
Posted by Bent Tree (Member # 7777) on :
It is funny how our thoughts crossed. I just posted on your other topic. It is not on my reading list. Although it sounds more interesting than some of the Bean stories.
Posted by Doctor (Member # 7736) on :
Yeah it is funny how our thoughts crossed, especially given my latest comment to my other thread regarding the Bean stories.
Posted by Bent Tree (Member # 7777) on :
You cannot blame OSC for capitalizing on a good thing. On there own some of those titles would be published but their sales would be no where near blockbuster. I was actually somewhat interested in War of Gifts it apeals to my interest, but I am reading two novels a week and my to read pile is still twelve high. That title hasn't made the list. I'd rather read Speaker for the Dead again. I thought it was the best book in the series.
Posted by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (Member # 59) on :
I liked the story, for whatever that may be worth.
There's nothing wrong with an author using an already-created setting to explore other ideas than the ones he originally created the setting for. In fact, there is a nice economy to doing so. Readers already have some idea of what to expect and don't need as much set-up as they would for a new setting, and those readers who enjoy the setting have the added pleasure of returning to it.
Seems like a win-win all the way around to me.
Posted by Robert Nowall (Member # 2764) on :
I can't say I liked the first story when it came out, though I read it then, and read it a few years later when I was on a brief craze for Card's short stories. So I've stayed away, though I've enjoyed other works of Card, in particular the Alvin Maker series (which I was a latecomer to).
I certainly can't blame Card for working a goldmine claim in a universe that others obviously enjoy greatly...I wish I could work a claim like that...
Posted by Doctor (Member # 7736) on :
I guess I'm a cynic, and I really can't say much because I haven't read the book only the advertisement for it and the disclosed premise, and, well, it's practically impossible for me to take it seriously. Given its subject and timing it's hard for me to see it as anything but a dip back into a drying-up well to cash in on the holidays. A good business decision, but not necessarily a good book. Though possibly.
Which is why I brought it up. Who here has read it? And what did you think about it from a writer's point of view?
Thanks for your response Kathleen, of course aren't you either slightly biased or obligated to like it given your position here?
[This message has been edited by Doctor (edited March 11, 2008).]
Posted by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (Member # 59) on :
Me, obligated? Nah.
There are books by OSC that I haven't even read yet. Couldn't finish LOST BOYS because it just kept getting more emotionally depressing for me, and I knew it wasn't going to get better, even though I've heard the ending is cathartic.
I liked WAR OF GIFTS because I like how OSC creates characters with amazing insights into others. Of course, the insights are his, and the others are his as well, but I like the way he does it.
OSC tends to tell stories more with dialog than with description, and I enjoy watching him do it.
Posted by Doctor (Member # 7736) on :
You make an excellent point Kathleen, Card always has fascinating dialog, even if it doesn't always appear to fit the character who is speaking. The conversations are always intriguing.
Posted by Darth Petra (Member # 7126) on :
War of Gifts was alright. It was a quick read. It was subpar to the rest of the Ender books, although a bit more interesting than the Bean books.
Posted by Patrick James (Member # 7847) on :
Read it yesterday. I have to agree wih most of what everyone has said(Doc,Darth, etc.) Not great, but since it was such a short read you could hardly call it a waste of time... Unless, you didn't read the previous Ender books. Then you would be over your head. Read those first,if you haven't.
Posted by MorwenElda (Member # 7871) on :
I really enjoyed A War of Gifts. I thought it gave us a nice opportunity to see more of the characters. I always had liked Dink, so I was thrilled to be seeing more of how he thinks in it.
As far as taking advantage of an already prosperous market, perhaps, but I honestly felt more like the story was written for the story itself, not the money. I don't think I've read a single book that made it onto my "all time favorites" list where I didn't care enough about ALL the characters that I wouldn't want to hear a side story or two.
That's just my two cents though.
Posted by Stucky (Member # 7833) on :
Am I hearing this right..... some readers did NOT like the shadow saga??? I really think they fit better with Ender's Game than Speaker, Xenocide, and Children of the Mind do. It seems that the Ender series took a turn toward philosophical, while the shadow series stuck with a more psychological approach.
Posted by Doctor (Member # 7736) on :
Well, Stucky, the problem with the shadow saga is that they grew progressively worse over time. Ender's Shadow was good, Hegemon was far-fetched but marginal, but puppets was awful, and then I quit reading them altogether.