This is topic One of the Reasons OSC is A Favorite Author (especially at Comic-Con!) in forum Discussions About Orson Scott Card at Hatrack River Forum.
For those who are familiar with Comic-Con International (the largest pop culture event in North America) it brings together all the great minds of movies, video games, and of course, sci-fi writers...
...OSC was on a panel discussing science and storytelling, and I have to say that out of all the distinguished award winning authors on the panel, OSC was the one who truly spoke in a way that the audience could understand and relate to.
While the authors were highly intelligent, they way they spoke was as times, genuinely confusing. After a particular author's elaborate scientific speech that was supposed to be HELPFUL to the audience I was left thinking: "and what you mean by all that is?..." Then OSC comes in-
Suddenly it all makes sense, and the listeners are actually able to gain knowlege from someone who is actually capable of being understood.
It was actually kind of amusing, as though OSC was at times the interpreter of the complicated language being used by the other panelists. (I don't mean to put the others down, I know they're gifted authors.)
I was pleased to discover that OSC is such an excellent speaker, and funny, those of you who have gone to book signings know what I'm talking about. (The signing I attended had the audience practially roaring with laughter.)
No wonder his books make such great reads, because just like the way he speaks, we are entertained, and allowed to think critically WITHOUT being lost in confusion.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
I've heard him say a few times that he thinks of himself as an entertainer and actor, and thinks of signings like performances. I don't know how common that is among sci-fi authors.
Posted by steven (Member # 8099) on :
that's interesting, Tom. I have noticed that he uses his "stage voice" when reading short passages from his works aloud at signings.
Posted by Liz B (Member # 8238) on :
I went to a signing in Northern Virginia back in March, accompanied by my husband, who has not read one word of anything Mr. Card has written. My husband came & sat with me, in spite of his general lack of interest in the whole thing, because it was my birthday and because he's a wonderful husband.
He loved the presentation. Mr. Card was funny and entertaining, and he has a knack (intentional, I'm sure) of turning in-group questions ("Do you think humans are ramen or varelse?") into answers that are funny, insightful, and completely comprehensible to someone who just happens to be in the audience and has no idea what those two words mean. I was impressed & delighted.
That kind of attitude toward Q & A makes sense, given Mr. Card's feelings about intentional obscurity in literature & respect for prose that is "transparent" & doesn't get in the way of the story. (I don't recall his exact words, but he praised Asimov for having that kind of writing style.)
So -- OSC signing=great date night! Who knew?
liz
Posted by Salah (Member # 7294) on :
I agree with that. The person I took along thought that they would be kind of bored and the discussion would be over their head philosophical, but tis not so. The sociological observations he makes are priceless- and often hilarious.
I got the comment: "Ok now I understand why you would enjoy what he writes!"
Yep, exactly.
Posted by JaimeBenlevy (Member # 6222) on :
I want to hear OSC speak so badly...I imagine I'd love his speeches. Is there anywhere I can read his speeches?
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
Liz B-- I was at that signing! Posted by Liz B (Member # 8238) on :
The one at Bailey's Crossroads? Are you from NoVa?
-l
Posted by Salah (Member # 7294) on :
I think the video interview here on hat rack is the closest you can get to hearing one of his speeches and of course on-line interviews, those are always fun to read.
Posted by Orson Scott Card (Member # 209) on :
You are all so nice. And here I thought that as the most ignorant of the authors on that science-in-sci-fi panel, I was the one least likely to be interesting. Thanks!
I don't really give speeches at my signings, though. That would imply preparation and research. I just take questions and babble and go off on tangents and lose track of what the original question was until the audience begs me to stop.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)