World Literary Awards

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Orson Scott Card

オーソン・スコット・カード

Oson Sukotto Kādo

Aliases: OSC
Pen Names: Frederick Bliss（One of several pseudonyms used for early short fiction and some church-oriented pieces）, Brian Green（Used on some short stories）, P.Q. Gump（Reportedly used for humor/children's pieces）, Dinah Kirkham（One of female pseudonyms）, Scott Richards（Used for short fiction）, Byron Walley（Used for works published in church magazines such as Ensign）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1951-08-24 （Richland, Washington, U.S.）
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Religion
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church)
Residence History
San Mateo, California, U.S. → Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. → Santa Clara, California, U.S. → Mesa, Arizona, U.S. → Orem, Utah, U.S. → Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S. (current)

Career

Occupations
Novelist, Short story writer, Columnist, Screenwriter, Professor
Active Years
1977-
Affiliations
Southern Virginia University (faculty), Writers of the Future (judge), UNC-TV (board member)
Memberships
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA)
Influenced By
Robert A. Heinlein, J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Mark Twain
Influenced
Brandon Sanderson, Stephenie Meyer, Dave Wolverton, Lindsay Ellis

Education

Brigham Young University
Theatre (major)
Degree: BA
Period: 1971–1975
Year of Graduation: 1975
Country: United States
Undergraduate degree in theatre; began publishing fiction during/after studies.
University of Utah
College of Humanities (English) / English
Degree: MA
Period: 1979–1981
Year of Graduation: 1981
Country: United States
Earned an MA in English. Entered but later left a doctoral program at the University of Notre Dame.
University of Notre Dame (doctoral program, incomplete)
Country: United States
Entered doctoral studies but left to pursue writing full-time

Awards

Hugo Award (Best Novel)
1986
Work: Ender's Game
Category: Best Novel
Organization: World Science Fiction Society
Result: 受賞
Nebula Award (Best Novel)
1986
Work: Ender's Game
Category: Best Novel
Organization: Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA)
Result: 受賞
Hugo Award (Best Novel)
1987
Work: Speaker for the Dead
Category: Best Novel
Organization: World Science Fiction Society
Result: 受賞
Nebula Award (Best Novel)
1987
Work: Speaker for the Dead
Category: Best Novel
Organization: Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA)
Result: 受賞
Hugo Award (Best Novella)
1988
Work: Eye for Eye
Category: Best Novella
Organization: World Science Fiction Society
Result: 受賞
Nebula Award (Best Novella)
1988
Work: Eye for Eye
Category: Best Novella
Organization: Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA)
Result: 受賞
John W. Campbell Award (Best New Writer)
1978
Category: Best New Writer
Organization: Associated with science fiction community awards
Result: 受賞
Margaret A. Edwards Award
2008
Work: Lifetime contribution to young adult readers (body of work)
Organization: American Library Association (YALSA)
Result: 受賞
Edward E. Smith Memorial Award (the 'Skylark')
1992
Organization: New England Science Fiction Association / related groups
Result: 受賞
Locus Award (for Alvin Journeyman)
1996
Work: Alvin Journeyman
Organization: Locus Magazine
Result: 受賞
Whitney Awards (Lifetime Achievement for Mormon writers)
2008
Category: Lifetime Achievement
Organization: Whitney Awards
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Ender's Game

1985 Science fiction

A gifted child, Ender Wiggin, is trained in a military program to prepare for an interstellar war; he faces morally fraught decisions and sacrifice. The novel became a cornerstone of modern science fiction and launched a long series.

Training and manipulationEthics of warSacrifice and maturationIsolated prodigy
Adaptations
  • [Film] Ender's Game / Gavin Hood (2013)
  • [Comic] Ender's Game (comic)
Translations
  • Ender's Game (Japanese translation)

Speaker for the Dead

1986 Science fiction

A grown Ender travels to an alien world and, acting as a 'Speaker for the Dead', seeks to tell the true story of the dead; the novel explores honesty, maturity, and cross-cultural understanding.

HonestyCross-cultural understandingRedemption and maturity

Seventh Son (The Tales of Alvin Maker #1)

1987 Fantasy / Alternate history

An alternate-history fantasy inspired by Joseph Smith's story; Alvin, a seventh son with extraordinary 'Maker' powers, grows into a figure who redeems his people and helps form an American mythos.

Religious motifsCreation and redemptionSacrifice for community

Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus

1996 Science fiction (time travel)

An organization studying time seeks to alter history to mitigate the consequences of Columbus's voyages; explores time, ethics, and the interpretation of history.

Alternate historyEthicsResponsibility

Bibliography

  • Ender's Game series and other major works
  • The Tales of Alvin Maker
  • Maps in a Mirror (short fiction collection)

Adaptations

  • Ender's Game (2013 film)
  • Multiple comic adaptations (Enderverse comics)
  • TV series 'Extinct' (BYUtv, 2017) — writer/producer involvement

Translations of Works

  • Ender's Game (translated editions)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Pace and scene-driven prose influenced by screenwriting backgroundCharacter-focused narrativesFrequent incorporation of religious and ethical themes
Recurring Motifs
Lonely prodigy / child saviorSacrifice and redemptionIndividual choices for communityReligious symbolism and ethical dilemmas

Health

  • Stroke (mild)
    2011-01-01
    Suffered a mild stroke on Jan 1, 2011; made a full recovery and no major long-term sequelae publicly reported

Legacy

Best known for Ender's Game and related works; won multiple major awards (Hugo, Nebula) and influenced many contemporary writers. Public political and social commentary—especially anti-same-sex-marriage statements—has generated controversy and affected aspects of his public legacy.

Museums

  • Harold B. Lee Library (Orson Scott Card papers) Provo, Utah — Brigham Young University Opened in 2007

Academic Societies

  • Association for Mormon Letters

Archives

  • Orson Scott Card papers (Harold B. Lee Library, BYU)

In Popular Culture

  • Ender's Game was adapted into a 2013 Hollywood film, increasing mainstream recognition
  • Comics, games, and stage adaptations have extended the Enderverse and other works

Quotes

  • I put all my love for my wife into [Enchantment].
    Source: Interview / public comment (1999)

Trivia

  • Great-great-grandson of Brigham Young.
  • Has published over 50 novels and many short stories.
  • Public statements on homosexuality have led to controversy and calls for boycotts related to adaptations.
  • Has used multiple pen names (e.g. Byron Walley, Frederick Bliss).