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Maps in a Mirror [Paperback]

Orson Scott Card
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)

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Book Description

January 1, 2004
Maps in a Mirror brings together nearly all of Orson Scott Card's short fiction written between 1977 and 1990. For those readers who have followed this remarkable talent since the beginning, here are all those amazing stories gathered together in one place, with some extra surprises as well.

For the hundreds of thousands who are newly come to Card, here is chance to experience the wonder of a writer so versatile that he can handle everything from traditional narrative poetry to modern experimental fiction with equal ease and grace. The brilliant story-telling of the Alvin Maker books is no accident; the breathless excitement evoked by the Ender books is not a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

In this enormous volume are forty-six stories, plus ten long, intensely personal essays, unique to this volume. In them the author reveals some of his reasons and motivations for writing, with a good deal of autobiography into the bargain.

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This hefty, definitive collection contains all of Card's short fiction except for those in his common-theme book ( The Folk of the Fringe ) and those few he says he wants to bury. Which still leaves 46 tales of horror, fantasy, SF, philosophy and Mormon life. "Dogwalker" throws an electronic nod to the cyberpunk genre, while "I Put My Blue Genes On" is an early precursor to newly emerging biopunk. "Lost Boys" is a straightforward, most terrifying horror tale. The five stories with Mormon settings form a pastoral still-life contrasting with the justified cruelty of the rescued humans in the SF entry "Kingsmeat." Available only in this hardcover edition (not due to be included in the later paperback version) are the pre-novel versions of the Nebula- and Hugo Award-winning author's Songmaster , Ender's Game and Prentice Alvin. A series of introductions and afterwords offering Card's thoughts on his life and his writing are as absorbing as the stories. BOMC and QPB selections.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

The award-winning author of Ender's Game ( LJ 2/15/85), Speaker for the Dead ( LJ 2/15/86), and the "Alvin Maker" series demonstrates his talent for shorter fiction in this collection of 46 stories that range from fantasy and sf to horror and theological speculation. Included are stories written for a Mormon readership as well as rarely published titles and early versions of stories that later became novels. Detailed introductions and afterwords reveal insights into the thought processes of one of the genre's most convincing storytellers. An important volume; for most libraries.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 688 pages
  • Publisher: Orb Books; Reprint edition (January 1, 2004)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0765308401
  • ISBN-13: 978-0765308405
  • Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 2.1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #708,567 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Orson Scott Card is the bestselling author best known for the classic Ender's Game, Ender's Shadow and other novels in the Ender universe. Most recently, he was awarded the 2008 Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in Young Adult literature, from the American Library Association. Card has written sixty-one books, assorted plays, comics, and essays and newspaper columns. His work has won multiple awards, including back-to-back wins of the Hugo and the Nebula Awards-the only author to have done so in consecutive years. His titles have also landed on 'best of' lists and been adopted by cities, universities and libraries for reading programs. The Ender novels have inspired a Marvel Comics series, a forthcoming video game from Chair Entertainment, and pre-production on a film version. A highly anticipated The Authorized Ender Companion, written by Jake Black, is also forthcoming.Card offers writing workshops from time to time and occasionally teaches writing and literature at universities.Orson Scott Card currently lives with his family in Greensboro, NC.

Customer Reviews

I am still reading this but am really enjoying it so much! Kelly A. Magruder  |  6 reviewers made a similar statement
This is a masterpiece of short stories. Icabod Brothers  |  7 reviewers made a similar statement
I agree with Card that you really do need to read "Wyrms" to more fully appreciate the story . Jerry Ball (Dexter Circle)  |  2 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars The Best of Card, the Worst of Card January 3, 1998
Format:Hardcover
A must for Card fans and highly recommended to those attempting to understand the appeal and celebrity of this prizewinning and acclaimed American author of science fiction, fantasy, and magical realism.

Card's short fiction has always exceeded in power, beauty, and universalism the long fiction which he produces at such a prolific rate. This is mainly due to his tendency to explain nuances of his characters in his longer works literally, rather than allowing the reader to understand them through diligent observation. In his short fiction, however, he routinely abandons this "lowest common denominator" method, much to the empowerment of his prose.

The appeal of Card's work is similar to that of film wunderkind Steven Spielberg. At his worst, he is unflinchingly manipulative, such as in the story "Lost Boys," the original source for his later popular novel (cf. "The Color Purple"); at his best, his narration remains remote enough not to overpower with sentimentalism, as in "Unaccompanied Sonata" (cf. "Schindler's List"). A few works seem to be unnecessary literary exercises taken to extremes ("Damn Fine Novel") but, as is Card's trademark, a constant theme of sin/redemption runs through most of the stories. While drawing upon the Mormon experience, Card is unafraid to avoid simple moral chiaroscuro in favor of the gray areas for which good fantastic fiction is so well tailored.

The perfection of some of these tales lies in the simplicity of the telling. Card seems to have adhered to the ethic that informs Native American and Far Eastern oral traditions, wherein the narrator becomes only an instrument for the audience, and never intrudes as either arbitrator or alibi. It is in their peculiar mixture of triumph and tragedy that Card's stories delight, whether described through whimsy or dread.

The book's five segments, roughly described respectively as horror, science fiction, fantasies, parables, and miscellanea, comprise most of the author's published (and some unpublished) works up from 1977-1990. Particularly recommended: "Unaccompanied Sonata," "Quietus," "The Porcelain Salamander," A Plague of Butterflies," "Gert Fram."

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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars big, expensive, and worth every cent November 30, 2000
Format:Hardcover
It was a crime to let this book go out of print! Fortunately, one of my friends, also an OSC fan, lent his copy to me "for a short while." Because I am an honest person, I returned it. Eventually. And only after seriously considering changing my name and moving to Alaska, all to avoid losing these stories.

The book is divided into sections, each with a unifying theme: horror, classic science fiction, fantasy, parables, religion & ethics, and a mix of miscellaneous works. "The Changed Man," "Flux," "Maps in a Mirror," "Monkey Sonatas," and "Cruel Miracles" were also published as individual paperbacks, but "Lost Songs," which contains, among other things, the original short version of "Ender's Game," is only available in the comprehensive hardcover edition.

Every facet of OSC's brilliance is displayed in this collection. His longer works, while also brilliant, have an unfortunate tendency to lag at points, but in short form he shines. Though not all the stories are of equal quality (hey, everyone has bad days), none are bad, and many are things of beauty and power. My personal favorites include "A Thousand Deaths," "Freeway Games," "Saving Grace," "Kingsmeat," "The Porcelain Salamander," "The Best Day," "I Think Mom and Dad Are Going Crazy, Jerry," and, of course, "Unaccompanied Sonata."

Be aware: some of these stories contain graphic and disturbing images. They also contain disturbing ideas. But no one writes speculative literature better than OSC at his best, and this book has a lot of his best.

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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Short fiction, why bother, right? Wrong. November 21, 2005
Format:Paperback
There are only about five major novelists I've encountered the short fiction of and actually enjoyed the work in both areas. I ran across several of these stories in a shorter collection a few years back and read the book to pieces.

"Eye for Eye" and "Kingsmeat" are among the best pieces of short fiction I've ever read the two of them alone are worth the price of the whole collection.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Short stories from a master, with assorted commentary on their...
How do you review a collection of short stories? Honestly, I have no idea. Every collection has its high points and its low points. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Jeffrey Walden
5.0 out of 5 stars Great explanations of how he writes
I love short stories and read one of Orson Scott Card's in an anthology, which led me to this book. The stories are well written and all very different. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Tally Lady
5.0 out of 5 stars Loving it!
I am still reading this but am really enjoying it so much! There is a terrific mix of short short tales and longer stories. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Kelly A. Magruder
5.0 out of 5 stars Pageturner
This book is a compilation of Cards short stories. 90% of them are very readable, and the other ten percent are pretty boring. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Mrs. Pigglewiggle
5.0 out of 5 stars Love these stories!
This book is out-of-print and tough to find. I was so happy to find it on Amazon! Buy it, you won't regret it.
Published 14 months ago by mo3pal
2.0 out of 5 stars Umm....
I read this when I was much younger (About 15, I'm 26 now), and it deeply impacted me at the time. Reading it again now completely turned me off Card's writing, he seems to be... Read more
Published 21 months ago by E.V.
5.0 out of 5 stars Greatest Collection of Short Stories Ever
Orson Scott Card has put together the most satisfying assemblage of short stories I have ever read in Maps In A Mirror. He brings the pure joy back into short story writing. Read more
Published 21 months ago by glen cantrell
3.0 out of 5 stars Erm...
While I appreciate the weirdness of most of the stories, I must admit I'm giving the book a three because its writer is a pretentious jerk... good stories though! Read more
Published on February 2, 2011 by TheRealElbadoo
4.0 out of 5 stars Many gems and a couple of weird ones
Card's short stories frequently differ thematically from his longer work. While his longer work revolves around free will and human interaction, his short stories are often... Read more
Published on December 13, 2007 by Jerry Ball (Dexter Circle)
5.0 out of 5 stars The Most Creative Mind
Is there anyone out there with a more creative mind than OSC? Can't imagine it. After reading Treasure Box (disappointing), this completely restores my faith in OSC as one of our... Read more
Published on February 12, 2007 by Icabod Brothers
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