Salon.com > Orson Scott Card

Orson Scott Card’s long history of homophobia

Tue, 07 May 2013 21:41:00 +0000

During the next six months, you're going to be hearing the name Orson Scott Card a lot. Card is the author of Ender's Game, one of the greatest works of science fiction and children's literature ever written. In November, an all-star film production of Ender's Game is hitting theaters, and along with the buzz, there's sure to be lots of controversy.

Why? Because in addition to being one of the most critically acclaimed writers of science fiction, Card, or OSC, as he's dubbed in sci-fi circles, is also one of the most openly bigoted. Card is the great-great-grandson of Mormon icon Brigham Young, and his politics are deeply linked to his lifelong Mormonism. Card has been openly railing against what he calls "the homosexual agenda" for decades.

“Orson Scott Card isn’t the guy to tell me a Superman story”

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 20:54:00 +0000

Real-world politics have entered the Art Deco world of Metropolis.

After the departure of comic artist Chris Sprouse, Orson Scott Card's story of the man from Krypton will not appear in an upcoming DC Comics "Superman" anthology. (Salon called the Card home, where a woman told us the writer had decided not to comment: "He thinks that it always makes these things worse.")

It's been the cause for analysis and some celebration: Card's past advocacy on behalf of anti-sodomy laws and apparent belief that gay marriage could spark an overthrow of the government. Superman expert Glen Weldon, the author of the forthcoming "Superman: The Unauthorized Biography" and an early critic, at NPR, of DC's decision to engage Card's services as a writer, spoke to Salon about why the sci-fi author was never a good fit.

What happened to Orson Scott Card?

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 13:46:00 +0000

When I was twelve years old, I read Ender’s Game and had my mind blown. This was an author that not only understood children, but understood smart children. In stories, children tend to be presented as either miniature adults, or some sort of mentally disabled version of human beings. Card blew those tropes out of the water with children who fight, die, bond, and think, while still retaining the vestiges of childhood that render their decisions often inexplicable to adults. And that’s the key to why these characters, of Ender and Peter and Valentine, still pop off the page almost thirty years later.

I have an almost infinite number of books that I recommend people to read at one point or another, but Ender’s Game is on that very short list of novels that I feel is truly universal. Every aspect of the novel revolves around a nuanced exploration of what empathy really is and why it matters. From Peter’s use of empathy as a weapon, to Valentine’s uncontrollable sympathy for those around her, to Ender’s devastating tension between the two. This is a novel for those who think and feel too deeply.

Orson Scott Card controversial “Superman” reboot put on hold

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 16:23:00 +0000

Media attention surrounding anti-gay activist Orson Scott Card's involvement with a "Superman" digital reboot has sent the project's illustrator packing.

Artist Chris Sprouse has abandoned the digital series, saying the media firestorm over Card had become a distraction, according to a statement released Tuesday.

"It took a lot of thought to come to this conclusion, but I've decided to step back as the artist on this story," Sprouse said. "The media surrounding this story reached the point where it took away from the actual work, and that's something I wasn't comfortable with. My relationship with DC Comics remains as strong as ever and I look forward to my next project with them."

Sprouse's departure has put the project on hold while DC searches for his replacement. As a result, Card's "Superman" will not appear in the first collected issue this May.

DC Comics has gay marriage storyline in the works for Batwoman

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 19:27:00 +0000

As Rick Johnston wrote for comic industry site Bleeding Cool, we're putting up the "Batspoiler signal" on this one.

DC Comics has a surprise twist in store for the latest issue of their "Batwoman" comic: A gay marriage proposal.

In addition to a "massive conclusion to the current storyline as Batwoman and Wonder Woman struggle to defeat Medusa and a horde of villains," readers will also see Batwoman pop the question to her longtime secret love, captain Maggie Sawyer. Sawyer once served on the supernatural task force with Superman, but was transfered to Gotham City to head their Major Crimes Unit. Oh, and have a tortured but super hot relationship with Batwoman!

DC Comics has been making a serious -- if imperfect -- effort at diversifying their super squad with reboots of various characters, Batwoman being just one.

DC Comics hires anti-gay author to pen “Superman” digital release

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 21:44:00 +0000

Fans are boycotting DC Comics' selection of "Ender's Game" author and vocal anti-gay activist Orson Scott Card to pen its "Adventures of Superman" digital-first release.

Last week, DC announced that Card was selected to write the first chapter in the digital "Adventures of Superman" series, and fans quickly responded with a petition calling on the company to renounce Card and "stand for equality":

DC Comics has just hired anti-gay writer Orson Scott Card for their new digital Adventures of Superman. He's written publicly that he believes marriage equality would lead to the end of civilization. He's also on the board of a notorious anti-equality organization. We need to let DC Comics know they can't support Orson Scott Card or his work to keep LGBT people as second-class citizens. They know they're accountable to their fans, so if enough of us speak out now, they'll hear us loud and clear.