I have yet to see the film adaptation of Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game, which opened this weekend, but the novel is one of my favourites—and its sequel, Speaker for the Dead, is even better. Both novels deservedly won the Hugo Award and the Nebula Award. Yet in addition to having created these much-loved works of art, Card is also a Mormon who believes homosexuality is unnatural and who opposes same-sex marriage. I think Mormonism is laughable, and I strongly disagree with Card’s views on homosexuality. Does this mean I should boycott the film, as some have called for? Should I stop recommending these books to people?
If you don’t think Mormonism is laughable, then you haven’t seen The Book of Mormon, the Broadway musical created by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, and Matt Stone. Parker and Stone, of course, are the irreverent smartasses behind South Park. The songs they co-wrote here are beautiful and funny, sending up not just the kooky religion of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, but also the Disneyfied portrait of Africa in The Lion King.
But as much as The Book of Mormon pokes fun at Mormonism, I found its portrayal of Mormons to be very sympathetic. Actual Mormons might disagree, but I thought that the young missionaries struggling with their beliefs and stuck in difficult circumstances came off as very human. I felt for them, wanted them to overcome their obstacles. Being able to relate to the characters on stage surely has as much to do with the musical’s success as its snarky jokes and lovely tunes.
Which brings me back to Ender’s Game and Speaker for the Dead. What I loved most about those books, especially the second one, was the characters. The concepts were cool, and there were plot twists aplenty to keep me entertained, but the characters moved me. The compassion and clarity with which they tried, sometimes successfully, sometimes not, to express themselves and deal with conflict, often brought tears to my eyes. How many novels, much less science fiction novels, can do that?
I wish Orson Scott Card were not such an asshat when it comes to the topic of homosexuality. It certainly makes me think less of him. But he has given the world two really stellar works of art that have touched many, many people. I will see the movie, and I will keep recommending those two books.
But as much as The Book of Mormon pokes fun at Mormonism, I found its portrayal of Mormons to be very sympathetic. Actual Mormons might disagree, but I thought that the young missionaries struggling with their beliefs and stuck in difficult circumstances came off as very human. I felt for them, wanted them to overcome their obstacles. Being able to relate to the characters on stage surely has as much to do with the musical’s success as its snarky jokes and lovely tunes.
Which brings me back to Ender’s Game and Speaker for the Dead. What I loved most about those books, especially the second one, was the characters. The concepts were cool, and there were plot twists aplenty to keep me entertained, but the characters moved me. The compassion and clarity with which they tried, sometimes successfully, sometimes not, to express themselves and deal with conflict, often brought tears to my eyes. How many novels, much less science fiction novels, can do that?
I wish Orson Scott Card were not such an asshat when it comes to the topic of homosexuality. It certainly makes me think less of him. But he has given the world two really stellar works of art that have touched many, many people. I will see the movie, and I will keep recommending those two books.