fic-tion fikSHən, n. - literature that describes imaginary events and people.
I was going to write this as a small post on my Facebook timeline. Then, as it got longer I figured I'd post it to Tumblr. And then after I really got going I decided I should post this up on my main blog here at Blogger... so get ready for a bit of a rant. It's about that time.
First of all, I have to say I have LOVED the Ender Saga (Ender's Game, Speaker For the Dead, etc.) since I was in middle school. Those, just after The Hobbit and The Lord Of the Rings, were my some of my favorite novels. These books sped me away from the confusing misfit life I lived to different times and amazing worlds. And they gave my imagination something to chew on apart from the regurgitated cud of Jehovah's Witness' doctrine. They gave me space to think and fantasize. And ever since reading Ender's Game the first time, I have been waiting patiently for it's grand vision to come to theatres.
Just imagine my deflation upon finding out in my adulthood, just after coming to terms with my gender identity, that Orson Scott Card is a bigot, with views not very far off from Jehovah's Witnesses themselves on the LGBT community. I could not believe that the writer of such inspiring books could be so horribly close-minded. It really hurt.
But that, nor the terror of the chance that a movie adaptation of this book might be utter desecration, did not keep me from seeing the film. I did go to see Ender's Game with a very good girlfriend last night, both of us avid fans filled with excitement and anticipation.
Yes, I can see where a few mistakes were made, but I was not disappointed. I was actually very impressed with how well they adapted such a great book to the big screen. Both the scenes in Battle School and in Command School were a feast of visual deliciousness and the final story arc was surprising and thought-provoking, even though I already knew what was going to happen.
And as far as supporting Orson Scott Card--In the end I feel there are a lot more people making a lot more money from this movie--and deservedly so--than just a man with a backward viewpoint on LGBT issues. Harrison Ford be one of em. :) In fact, this article at Queerty.com says that Card won't be making any more money from the picture than what he already was paid for the deal a decade ago. So that's one small reason the movie's worth going to see, if you haven't yet, book sales be damned.
When it comes to his books, I would say go ahead and boycott the new shit he writes. That's what I do. It's not good anyways. He's lost his touch since the 80s. Now it seems he really does try to infuse with his work with religious dogma. If it's there in Ender's Game, its not so blatantly obvious to me. There's no need to say no to the thrill of reading books like Ender's Game and Speaker, in my opinion. Not when there are others that really have caused a lot more problems.
Here's what I mean: the Bible flat out says "men who lie with men will not inherit God's kingdom," but because some in the community derive peace and joy from being Christian, those words are very cleverly circumvented and downplayed. But parts of the Bible certainly are blatantly homophobic. Ender's Game says nothing so hurtful and it makes people happy. Who cares what it's writer really thinks. I don't read his column, just his fiction.
