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I remember a lot of great "Free will" threads two years ago, so I won't rehash the subject.
I just want to thank OSC for writing Worthing Saga. Before I read that book, I always wondered why a loving god would allow for suffering in the world. After reading WS, I realized that you cannot have free will without the possibility of suffering, and that without the possibility of negative consequences, our actions would cease to have significance.
This revelation, along with Human's message of tolerance in Speaker for the Dead, have shaped my personal belif system and made me a better person.
Have you had similar experiences with a work by OSC?
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Earthborn highlights for me that the conservative/republican ideal is not what the scriptures teach. In order for us to come unto Christ, we must first all come together in unity.
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For years, I tried to shape my life around the ideals of Will from Wyrms. Eventually, I gave up Posts: 1907 | Registered: Feb 2000
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But your right arm has never quite worked the same, has it....
<Wonders if that'll make the out-of-context thread. Probably not, since cross-posting is becoming less common.>
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Card has changed my lifestyle significantly since i began reading his books. Ive began to think much more clearly, and much more intensly by treating nothing or noone as trivial.
There is a lot more than reading to do in Cards novels, there are many life lessons
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I think OSC books are great espcially for a some one interested in writing, b/c of the way he blends religion and fiction without preaching. I think it's great that he can express his moral beliefs without turning people away with a preachy style.
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The part that stuck with me was when Alvin was playing a typical childish prank and then that fellow came in and showed him what a waste that was and to do good things with his power, like "Make all things whole." I love that sort of theme very deeply.
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I actually had this very conversation with myself, in my journal....(I know, I'm a dork.)
Anyway, I was becoming frusterated because, all of the story ideas that I had come up with, had all been done. But I was also thinking about "KINGS MEAT". In the afterward, OSC describes it as a sort of old idea with a new twist. I realized then, that it doesn't matter if that sort of subject has been done before, because really its all been done. But you need to put your own twist on it.. make it your own. OSC is my hero! Posts: 197 | Registered: Feb 2004
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Alicia, did you get that from Speaker for the Dead? i.e. Ender's theory that when it comes to humans, a person's intention is the most important thing to consider? I loved that part too.
Synth, I got that same message from reading Spiderman. (With great power comes great responsibility, said Uncle Ben).
Welcome to Hatrack Eowyn, Gwan, and Dethroc. Posts: 1592 | Registered: May 2000
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His writings addressing the LDS religion, whether fictional or essay, have helped me put to rest some serious ghosts relating to living in a highly dysfunctional/abusive family that also happened to be highly respected LDS members.
I found a freedom to let go and grow and move on.
The first work I read by him was (of course) Ender's Game. I was 17 and it shook me to my inner core. For the first time, I felt like SOMEONE valued and understood kids. I have since had the pleasure of re-reading it innumerable times, and each time there is something different to apply or learn.
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First, I learned that my fav genre (SF) could not only appeal to my techie/science-nerd side, but that it could appeal to, illuminate, and build upon my nascent teenage thoughts/observations about being human, namely empathy (speaker for the dead and xenocide).
Then, I learned that artists get lazy. Not directly from Card, but from following the paths of other creative heros. It happens. The last few books I read by Card started off pretty well, but ended with lots of fairly superficial "sitcom"-like treatments of characters. Nevertheless, the stories were good, and I'd already bought into the characters and situations and wanted to see how it would unfold.
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vwiggin-- I think "Seek first to understand..." permeates his books. I am currently re-reading the Abyss. Again the theme rings, --that if one could understand, either what motivates another person or species, so much complication could be avoided. When we even make the attempt, a clearer perspective settles over everything.
I love books for helping us do this. We can see what happens and why. It would sure be nice to see a script of our lives, for the same reason.
I also often think how nice it would be if my everyday life had a sound track. I would not miss so many little clues, I'd sit up and pay attention to the important moments and when action ought to be taken, I wouldn't wait.
One, to try and understand the antagonist. There are very few real villians in Card's work. Or, anyway, very few that are portrayed as really and truly evil. No matter how terrible the actions of the antagonists when Card writes from thier point of view I pity rather than hate them for being the bad guys. So I try to do that in life too, but it's harder.
Two, what I'd like to call The Worthing Lesson. Pain is not the best part of life, but it is probably the most potent. So no matter what, to endure hellish torture is better than to have a bland and safe existance.
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Actually, I look at it almost the opposite of how Princess does. I think that Card shows more evil than most authors. Many authors prop up a cardboard cutout and say "fear me! I'm evil!" like the supervillans in comic books. It's laughable and unbelievable.
But Card's villands are human. They are understandable. They are pitiable. And yet they still do and cause evil.
But I am bugged even more by the opposite extreme. I've read/seen too many stories where the main character is a model citizen -- considerite to his wife and kids, does volunteer work, wouldn't hurt a mouse, sensitive and intelligent, the perfect man, etc., until he goes to work and is an assasin/brutal pimp/exploiter of slave labor/etc.. That's just as unbelievable as the "I'm evil! <evil cackle>" characters, but it bugs me more, because I unconsciously take them more seriously.
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The thing that has stayed with me most from OSC's books is how he shows that no one is perfect, but at the same time shows the reasoning of the characters that many other authors would just write as evil. It shows very clearly that you must consider everything before passing a verdict on someone.
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One of the things that I've learned from reading OSC novels is that in being human, you have and make choices. We're all capable of being either 'good' or 'evil'. Life is full of temptations (God knows I've had my share) and the decisions we make help in determining our nature.
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I agree with the last post. The best thing about OSC is his characterization... I end up getting sucked into his stories because I really care about the fictional people in them.
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I learned from OSC that even computer programs existing in between ansibles and "artificial" living beings spawned off a real person are capable of love.
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