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Well, not literally, just literaturely .. yes, yes, I did make up a word. I believe the first book written by Mr. Card that i read was "Red Prophet". I quickly realized that it was not a stand alone book, nor was it the first in a series, so i read more and more. I was insatiable. I have always loved reading. (Well, not always. Not when teachers made me.. ) However, Mr. Card's books opened up a whole new world to me. I had never had a favored author, and now i am a die hard fan . I hope to one day meet Mr. Card, not in a creepy, weird, psycho fan way, but to thank him for being so awesome! For helping me to be a better writer.. (don't let this fool you lol)
Posts: 1 | Registered: Feb 2014
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Nice to meet you, Scififan_Fan. Card's books were among my favorites for a very long time, and were what lead me to this community, which has in turn had a profound effect on my life. I learned an immense amount about how to think critically, argue effectively, and recognize the fact that it was possible for someone to passionately hold views diametrically opposed to my own that were well thought out and sincerely held. I've also met some of my closest friends here.
Tell us a bit about yourself! I take it you write? What kinds of stuff?
Posts: 1087 | Registered: Jul 1999
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quote:Originally posted by Jake: Nice to meet you, Scififan_Fan. Card's books were among my favorites for a very long time, and were what lead me to this community, which has in turn had a profound effect on my life. I learned an immense amount about how to think critically, argue effectively, and recognize the fact that it was possible for someone to passionately hold views diametrically opposed to my own that were well thought out and sincerely held. I've also met some of my closest friends here.
Tell us a bit about yourself! I take it you write? What kinds of stuff?
QFT. Also, many here might disagree with this, but I recommend reading his columns, both reviews and essays.
Posts: 2054 | Registered: Nov 2005
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If you like OSC, they're worth trying. But if you don't like what you read in the first couple, there's not much point in continuing on. It won't get any better.
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Ender's Game was one of the first sci-fi novels I read, soon after it was published, and it helped make me a die-hard sci-fi fan. I still have the copy that OSC signed when he visited BYU back in the mid-90s. I wish I could say it was in pristine condition, but it's been read too many times for that. Alas.
Hatrack has also been a huge part of my life for close to 14 years now (I have older registered names than this one), and while the finer points of debate have never caught on for me, this place has had quite an impact on how I think about many issues. Make no mistake--decisions of global impact were first discussed here at Hatrack. You're joining a community with quite a history.
I've read one or two of OSC's culture columns, but have never been interested in reading anything with his political views. That may be more because I rarely read anybody's political essays. I figure I hear enough about them here for a fairly complete summary.
Posts: 5957 | Registered: Oct 2001
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My first was actually Heir to the Empire in 7th grade. I didn't read Ender's Game until High School. For the most part, I like OSC's work. Exceptions being anything directly religious, or political. I couldn't finish "Hidden Empire" (I did finish Empire.)
The 3rd or 4th mention of how "Fox News is the only true news source." Made me laugh so hard, and then I got a little upset when I realized that was what OSC thought personally and not just for a book, and from there on... I just couldn't bring myself to finish reading it.
Although I still read OSC, I'm a little more careful with my picks.
Posts: 164 | Registered: Sep 2012
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I read OSCs books over and over again during my teenage years. I suspect they had a large part of forming my character, considering how crucial that stage in my development was.
My first interaction with my wife was on this site, and then we got to know each other through the hatrack chat room in AIM.
We now have two sons, the first named Andrew after a certain character you guys may be familiar with.
So the works of OSC have had some small impact on my life...
Posts: 5656 | Registered: Oct 1999
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How many married couples are there that met here on Hatrack? There's you two, mack and T_Smith, Jonathon and Brinestone, Bob and Dana. Who am I forgetting?
Posts: 1087 | Registered: Jul 1999
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quote:Originally posted by Jake: How many married couples are there that met here on Hatrack? There's you two, mack and T_Smith, Jonathon and Brinestone, Bob and Dana. Who am I forgetting?
I've dated a Hatracker.
And I met one of my very best friends here.
The book, and even more so, this website, have had a huge effect on my life.
Posts: 21898 | Registered: Nov 2004
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Not that we're a Hatrack couple by any stretch of the imagination, but it turns out that my wife used to lurk here back in the early aughts, years before we met.
Posts: 1087 | Registered: Jul 1999
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I also entered into what I'd like to think of as literary maturity with an OSC book. My first "great" book was Speaker for the Dead, and it lead me to discover the great books and has landed me in one of the most challenging and rewarding educational experiences in my life.
Humorously I actually discovered Hatrack in an attempt to gain a free copy of one of the Shadow books.
Posts: 1574 | Registered: May 2008
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I can't remember which book, or printing, but an OSC book mentioned that it had test readers via his website. I carried that for years before I added my atrocious grammar to hatrack, finally having spare time on a personal computer for the first time in my life.
I can't recall seeing anything about beta readers ever since.
I have yet to date anyone from the board, but I have my eye on a certain moderator....
Posts: 2302 | Registered: Aug 2008
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quote: The 3rd or 4th mention of how "Fox News is the only true news source." Made me laugh so hard, and then I got a little upset when I realized that was what OSC thought personally and not just for a book, and from there on... I just couldn't bring myself to finish reading it.
Believe it or not, what OSC "thinks personally" is actually a bit more nuanced than that. He has lots of praise for magazines like the Atlantic and Harpers and The New Yorker that actually cover news in more depth than a TV show, and usually months before it makes to any mainstream news.
But seriously, whether or not somebody should read his reviews is probably directly related to whether they enjoy reading reviews. Whether they'd enjoy reading his political writings is probably related to whether they enjoy reading political writings by fiscal liberals/social conservatives.
I would say, though, that I would absolutely use his sci fi and fantasy to convert people who didn't think they would like sci fi or fantasy. In a heartbeat.
Posts: 241 | Registered: Nov 2001
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![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
.. yes, yes, I did make up a word. ![[ROFL]](graemlins/rofl.gif)
) However, Mr. Card's books opened up a whole new world to me. I had never had a favored author, and now i am a die hard fan ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
. I hope to one day meet Mr. Card, not in a creepy, weird, psycho fan way, but to thank him for being so awesome! For helping me to be a better writer.. (don't let this fool you lol)
