Okay. (The fact that I didn’t until just now remember the scene you describe in the Alvin series hindered understanding; I think mostly your inferences were presented out of order for my ease of understanding and that explains the rest.)
That understood, why does it matter what’s going on in the author’s head, as long as the book is good? Are you concerned that you will be propagandized by a laughable-if-present, subtle-if-intended-at-all attempt at a “utopian” society where gays are mistreated? I don’t think the society which persecuted the gay character was supposed to be presented as a generally good one at all (Card may have approved of some of its features, but there’s no independent textual evidence to suggest which ones. Notably, the culture views marriage as temporary, which is probably about as strongly against Card’s religious views as is homosexuality itself.) The gay character himself was handled well and was one of the most likeable people in the books once his initial obsequiousness was explained and toned down.
Most of the plot points went completely unmentioned. I doubt this will significantly affect the novelty of the books. (We didn’t even talk about, f’rinstance, the main character.)
Okay. (The fact that I didn’t until just now remember the scene you describe in the Alvin series hindered understanding; I think mostly your inferences were presented out of order for my ease of understanding and that explains the rest.)
That understood, why does it matter what’s going on in the author’s head, as long as the book is good? Are you concerned that you will be propagandized by a laughable-if-present, subtle-if-intended-at-all attempt at a “utopian” society where gays are mistreated? I don’t think the society which persecuted the gay character was supposed to be presented as a generally good one at all (Card may have approved of some of its features, but there’s no independent textual evidence to suggest which ones. Notably, the culture views marriage as temporary, which is probably about as strongly against Card’s religious views as is homosexuality itself.) The gay character himself was handled well and was one of the most likeable people in the books once his initial obsequiousness was explained and toned down.
… Does this site allow the use of spoiler tags?
No. Do you think I should go back and ROT-13 something? I don’t have good instincts about that at all.
It’s okay, it’s just that you sort of spoiled the plots to me, but I guess I don’t mind that much.
Awesome. Now why are we getting downvoted?
Most of the plot points went completely unmentioned. I doubt this will significantly affect the novelty of the books. (We didn’t even talk about, f’rinstance, the main character.)