[devane617]

This is from OSC? Seems like some of his writing was a bit odd. I will research and see. I have read almost all his books, including Ender’s Game series, but I remember something odd about his political views.

[TomSmedley]

I just finished his latest novel, Empire, and this ping gives me the opportunity to transcribe a few interesting passages for my own records!

"I think we have to look at this in the context of the run-up to a civil war. There are two sides that see the world so radically differently that they truly believe that anyone who disagrees with them is evil or stupid or both. In that context, you really do find people who are will to kill. Or help those who want to kill." (p. 149)

"The whole leftist philosophy is about rejecting authority," said Reuben bitterly. "And replacing it with an even more rigid list of forbidden ideas. The only difference is that the Progressive thought police don't wear uniforms." (p. 194)

It is part of human nature to regard as sane those people who share the worldview of the majority of society. Somehow, though, we have managed to divide ourselves into two different, mutually exclusive sanities. (p. 342)

The bottom line in this novel is that people who would otherwise "live and let live" are forced to choose sides and take up arms once they are being fired upon.

Card is the only major s.f. novelist who can create nearly believable Christian characters. As a Calvinist, I regard it as a standing reproach that God had to raise up this Latter Day Saint to glorify the name of Jesus in that usually hostile genre. Where are our novelists? That's right -- creating the ultimate in "escapist trash" literature, the "Left Below" series. Folks, I think we can do better -- and I'm willing to follow a Mormon's lead in this case.