Society of Speculative Fiction

We had a comfortable level of participants to make conversation fun and engaging including two new members. Some members had scheduling conflicts and could not come but were with us in spirit. We had people from 22 to 62 there! For one participant, it was the book that changed his life. He almost cried on the spot. Everyone enjoyed the “mistake” dog tags for party favors and our quiz show winners got to enjoy their commemorative “Dragon Army” pendants. The ultimate gamer food – pizza – and Mountain Dew was served along with Tang for the astronaut wannabes in the group.

Christie contacted Orson Scott Card’s assistant to see if he would be interested in Skyping in for the book club meeting. Unfortunately Mr. Card recently suffered a stroke on Jan. 1, 2011. Orson Scott Card’s assistant responded,”Thank you for writing and for your well wishes. Mr. Card has several Skype interviews he was supposed to do this semester, and unfortunately he asked me to cancel them all. So for the time being, he has asked me not to schedule any additional functions for him -- even if it doesn't require leaving the house. Sorry!”

We opened the discussion with how Ender’s Game was a title that many read when they were teens and they identified with many the characters and situations in the book. In Ender’s world, he is used to adults telling him lies. He goes along with the lies but he doesn’t have to accept them or believe them. In times of crisis, luxuries such as childhood are suspended for the greater good of survival of the human race. Many believed that if humans and buggars could have communicated that war could have been avoided. It was inevitable that war would happen if they couldn’t communicate. Xenocide was destined to happen considering how Ender was trained. The military commanders knew that he would take the offensive and solve the situation once and for all, like he did with the bullies in his life, so that the enemy could not hurt him again.

We wrapped up by voting for the May book club selection since March’s selection was already determined. For May the book club will be reading Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick. It was the basis for the movie, Blade Runner.

Our next book club selection will be Angel of Vengeance: The Novel That Inspired The TV Show Moonlight (2011), by Trevor O. Munson. Our next meeting will be Monday, March 21, from 6-8PM. You can place a copy on hold to be sent to the branch of your choice in the library catalog.