Orson Scott Card the author of the classically popular Enders Game has been in the news lately. There is rewed popularity surrounding the book due to the release of the film adaptation starring Harrison Ford. There has also been some consternation because of the author's recent and not so recent tendency to say really bigoted (mostly homophobic) while being interviewed. His remarks about the "Hypocrisy of the homosexual agenda" and that gay people are a product of molestation have been met with anger from the LGBT communities and advocates of the community. I think the most common response has been confusion and disappointment, that such a popular science fiction novel and one that such positive lessons about society within its plot could have been written by someone so ignorant. I personally am not one but there are a whole subset of readers that are fanatics about this book. I couldn't imagine what I would do if I found out Haruki Murakami or Chris Hedges were giant bigots. What if authors who have been such literary influences on who I am as a person held such despicable personal views? Its not like I could forget all knowledge and enjoyment I have experience by reading them. Do I continue to support them? It is a conundrum.
Over at the Huffington Post blogger Seth Taylor has written an interesting piece about this particular moral dilemma. How does he reconcile his feelings for Enders Game, of which he has been a fan since a teenager, and the authors perceived hatred of him? Also, how does he explain this to his daughter who is now getting into the resurgence of the story? Very interesting read for all fans of Enders Game and Parents as well. Read Taylor's post on Huffington Post here...
One more thing, Card is also a resident of North Carolina and has come out in support of its constitutional ban on gay marriage in a Rhino Times oped, and the state appointed him to the board of PBS. It looks like I got out of North Carolina just in time...
