leeper@mtgzz.UUCP (m.r.leeper) (05/18/85)
This is one of my pet peeves with some science fiction writers. Back in the days of the Saturday afternoon serials they would give them flambouyant names line KING OF THE ROCKET MEN. This would conjure up in kiddees' minds some society of rocket scientists somewhere and some super-scientist ruling over it. Actually it was about one man with a rocket suit named Jeff King. So the "rocket men" are all one man named King. This title promises one sort of story and the film delivers something fairly different with the implicit statement "Oh, sorry if you misunderstood our title." In fact, we see the same game played by respected science fiction authors. A prime example just came to my attention. Orsen Scott Card titled a recent novel ENDER'S GAME. That title conjures up interesting ideas. In fact many games can be turned over in the end-game. Players in various games can "shoot-the-moon" as they see some sort of game coming to an end. Particularly since they have nothing to lose. Somebody with a good endgame plan can make any sort of game interesting. This is just the principle that might make Card's alien invasion story interesting. It may even be there. But I just read a review of the story that said the story took its name from the main character named Ender. "Oh, sorry if you misunderstood the title." Mark Leeper ...ihnp4!mtgzz!leeper
ariels@orca.UUCP (Ariel Shattan) (05/20/85)
Mark Leeper wrote: > This is one of my pet peeves with some science fiction writers. [...] > This title promises one sort of story and the film delivers > something fairly different with the implicit statement "Oh, sorry if > you misunderstood our title." > In fact, we see the same game played by respected science fiction > authors. A prime example just came to my attention. Orsen Scott Card > titled a recent novel ENDER'S GAME. That title conjures up interesting > ideas. In fact many games can be turned over in the end-game. Players > in various games can "shoot-the-moon" as they see some sort of game > coming to an end. Particularly since they have nothing to lose. > Somebody with a good endgame plan can make any sort of game > interesting. This is just the principle that might make Card's > alien invasion story interesting. It may even be there. But I just > read a review of the story that said the story took its name from the > main character named Ender. "Oh, sorry if you misunderstood the > title." First, "Ender's Game" is a short story (well, maybe novellette). It first appeared in Analog, and is anthologized in UNACCOMPANIED SONATA. Second, "Ender's Game" does get it's title from the name of the main character, true. But, the "Game" in the title is also very important. And the "endgame" idea is also part of the story. I understand your pet peeve, but it just doesn't wash with this particular story. Third, this story happens to be excellent (as is the entire collection). If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it. It's the kind of story who's plot sticks with you long after you've forgotten the title. Ariel Shattan ..!tektronix!orca!ariels
psc@lzwi.UUCP (P.S.CHISHOLM) (05/21/85)
In article <762@mtgzz.UUCP>, leeper@mtgzz.UUCP (m.r.leeper) writes: > Orsen Scott Card > titled a recent novel ENDER'S GAME. That title conjures up interesting > ideas. In fact many games can be turned over in the end-game. Players > in various games can "shoot-the-moon" as they see some sort of game > coming to an end. Particularly since they have nothing to lose. > Somebody with a good endgame plan can make any sort of game > interesting. This is just the principle that might make Card's > alien invasion story interesting. It may even be there. But I just > read a review of the story that said the story took its name from the > main character named Ender. "Oh, sorry if you misunderstood the > title." Mark Leeper ...ihnp4!mtgzz!leeper <Prelude: do any of you remember the Point/Counterpoint takeoff that Saturday Night Live used to do? Jane Curtain would present a slightly liberal, uncontroversial opinion. Dan Ackroyd would look at her in disgust and say, "Jane, you ignorant slut," after which would follow a gross exaggeration of conservative views.> Mark, you ignorant vid. I'm sorry if watching all those childish "Sci Fi" movies has rotted your brain to the point where you can't read anything more complicated than credits. Maybe pinning your hopes on such trash, only to have them dashed against the cruel reality of Grade B Hollywood refuse, has soured you to the point where you can no longer dream, no longer hope, no longer do any more than pick nits on peripheral issues. But what can you expect from someone who thinks FIVE MILLION YEARS TO EARTH is the greatest SF film ever made? <Note to everyone: insert a LARGE smiley face over the above satire. Note to Mark Leeper: Gee, just kidding. Honest. I'll even get my article in on time this year. Note to Evelyn Leeper: No, no, I didn't mean it, don't hit me!> Actually, Mark brings up a good point. The title of ENDER'S GAME really is a double entendre, and I didn't even realize it. Yes, it's about a game (or several games) played by Ender Wiggen, but it's also about the final moves in . . . some other game. One way or another. Sort of. I ain't gonna spoil it for you: read the book. -- -Paul S. R. Chisholm The above opinions are my own, {pegasus,vax135}!lzwi!psc not necessarily those of any {mtgzz,ihnp4}!lznv!psc telecommunications company.
leeper@mtgzz.UUCP (m.r.leeper) (05/23/85)
GUILTY! GUILTY!!! As I said in my original posting, I was basing my comment on something I read in a review. I was disappointed that the title seemed to refer to endgames, not the game of someone named Ender. Apparently it was both and I half stuck my foot in my mouth. I still don't like the fact a character had his name chosen as a pun. I could instead have picked NINE PRINCES IN AMBER, a picturesque title, but it is not about anyone stuck in the material Amber. That one I did read. Mark Leeper ...ihnp4!mtgzz!leeper