Self:
A Letter to Orson Scott Card
April 30, 2008 by Kyle BradyTags: Ender's Game, Ender's Shadow, Enderverse, Letter, Orson Scott Card
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Mr. Orson Scott Card,
I know you probably get letters/emails like this alot, but I wanted to write to you to express how deeply your books have effected me, and some thoughts I have on them.
More specifically, I'm talking about the "Enderverse" books. I first read "Ender's Game" in the 3rd grade (I'm now 20yrs. old), and can remember how I associated with it closely then. I was getting into SciFi/Fantasy at this point (Heinlein, Asimov, Niven, Tolkien, etc.), and found the book in the library... I consider it to be a pivotal book in my life: I have re-read it many times, and typically at times of great stress or emotional duress.
I didn't discover the resulting sequels until about 2 years ago, but quickly powered through (and loved) them. However, I tend to relate more to (and enjoy more) the "true" sequels revolving around Bean, rather than the +3000yr. sequels, and this brings me to my point.
You mentioned in one of the introductions to the books that you at some point realized there was an opportunity for further exploration in the "Enderverse" stories since you created a 3000yr gap, and I think that you did a wonderful job. Even though some of the books are more political and less "light" than "Ender's Shadow" or "Ender's Game", they are every bit as enjoyable. Characters were never forgotten, and seemingly side-characters (from the original books) were turned into pivotal ones... a true stroke of genius. You covered all the bases, and provided a more-than-satisfactory story for "what happens after?".
My only complaint is that it ended. Granted, some authors extend their series much longer than it ever should be (not to point fingers, but the "Redwall" books are a good example)... but I think yours was just a book or two short. The ending of "Shadow of a Giant" seems to be an "Ok, I'm done let's tie everything together" ending, much like the third movie of the "Lord of the Rings" series.
That being said, it's written, and to go back on it would be (in my opinion) one of the cardinal sins of authorship: changing major parts of the storyline to squeeze in a few more books. I did find a way for you to create more stories in this universe, and I'm sure you've already realized it, but I feel the need to share it... you have two options:
1) Bean and his giant-children. You tell us that they go out in space, searching for worlds and never expecting to return to humanity... but there is no definitive end of their story. I find it also interesting that in "Children of the Mind", Jane and Miro are searching for new worlds. This presents an obvious tie-in, but even if it's ignored, there is a chance for development in this line. Do Bean's children found a world of their own that has exactly what was described: a race of fast-developing children, that live fast and die young? Or do they return to Earth after a cure is found?
2) Young Ender. You follow Bean, almost exclusively, through the series... the only times we meet Ender are in "Ender's Game" and the later +3000-yr sequels. There is still a substantial gap between leaving Earth, or even Peter's death, and the next time we meet them on Trondheim. Yes, we know Valentine and Ender wrote alot, that they skipped planets, and talked about dead people... but don't you feel that is very anti-climactic for such an epic hero (or, anti-hero depending on the position of the timeline)? How about a deeper relationship between Jane and Ender? We're introduced, and teased, with such a relationship in "Speaker for the Dead"... but then Jane moves on and becomes a semi-side character with Miro.
You'll have to forgive me, as I just finished re-reading every book in the entire "Enderverse", so the details are fresh in my mind... as is the passion for them. I have read your "Homecoming" books, and they're enjoyable... but not as easy to relate to, or as touching. They are even more distant from a reader-book connection than the Speaker/Xenocide/Children books. I've thought about reading some of your other books, but nothing seems to stand up to the greatness of the Ender/Bean classics, especially since I'm not religious (a "non-believer" even) and would have a hard time reading some of the others. (To be fair, I have "Empire" and "The Worthing Saga" to read yet)
I know this is long, so I'm going to wrap it up, but the basic premise of this letter is "the Enderverse books truly resonated with me, and helped me through some very rough times. They are among some of the most loved and revered books in all of Science Fiction... I believe I speak for all of your fans when I ask that you please do not give up on this wonderful world you've created for us, and continue writing about Bean, young Ender, or some other modulation of that universe".
Thanks for everything,
Kyle Brady
Don't be too harsh with me.
Kyle can be found on Twitter and MySpace, or reached via email.
