The Worthing Saga
17 journalers for this copy...
(Updated 4 April 2004) As I'm not going to get round to this one for months, it's going travelling on a booking.
Please PM me if you'd like to join.
Batting order is:
1. katweeble
2. weebly - received 7 May 04
3. loopy1
4. WistfulDragon
5. Auglaise
6. nyassa
7. TinaJo
8. Mytilusgirl
9. ermintrude75
10. Shelbycat
11. Hey-miki
12. Mrs Danvers
13. Normy
14. Gooner
Please PM me if you'd like to join.
Batting order is:
1. katweeble
2. weebly - received 7 May 04
3. loopy1
4. WistfulDragon
5. Auglaise
6. nyassa
7. TinaJo
8. Mytilusgirl
9. ermintrude75
10. Shelbycat
11. Hey-miki
12. Mrs Danvers
13. Normy
14. Gooner
Journal Entry 2 by Katweeble from Towcester, Northamptonshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, April 13, 2004
Just received from Gooner - looking forward to trying another story by Orson - as I really enjoyed the Ender stories- thanks
Journal Entry 3 by Katweeble from Towcester, Northamptonshire United Kingdom on Saturday, May 1, 2004
Found it an interesting read - it never ceases to amaze me the ideas the writers come up. The concept is quite similar to some Anne McCaffrey's but treated in a very different way with different consequences. Will pass on when see family next week - enjoy weebly
Passed on by hand when katweeble came down to watch The Reduced Shakespear Company do Good Books. And we forgot to take any bboks to release! Anyway, I have 1 book to finish and 1 ring that arrived just ahead of this, so it will be a couple of weeks until I get to it. I am looking forward to it.
I am almost half way through the saga and really enjoying it. A full update will follow soon. Thanks Gooner for sharing.
I have almost finished this book now, but thought I would journal it while I am in a book crossing mood. Besides, the kids are being too noisy for me to concetrate on reading.
I liked these stories, I found the order a little confusing but I think I managed to undertand what was going on. Capitol with it's corridoors of power, metros and scanners very much reminded me of the city in Exodus which I read recently.
I would recommend this book to sci-fi fans, I have yet to be disapointed by Orson Scott Card.
I liked these stories, I found the order a little confusing but I think I managed to undertand what was going on. Capitol with it's corridoors of power, metros and scanners very much reminded me of the city in Exodus which I read recently.
I would recommend this book to sci-fi fans, I have yet to be disapointed by Orson Scott Card.
Journal Entry 7 by weebly at Bookring 2 in bookring, Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Monday, May 24, 2004
Released on Monday, May 24, 2004 at Bookring in n/a, Bookring Controlled Releases.
Off to Loopy1 today.
Off to Loopy1 today.
This book arrived safely with me this morning - just as I thought I'd escaped for the day as letters had arrived but no parcels!
I love Orson Scott Card and am looking forward to reading this one. I have a couple before it but hope to get to it within the week. Half term next week - no work!
Thanks guys.
I love Orson Scott Card and am looking forward to reading this one. I have a couple before it but hope to get to it within the week. Half term next week - no work!
Thanks guys.
I have a love-hate relationship with Orson Scott Card - I love his writing, and the way he makes his writing so accessible, with introductions telling how he came to write the story, etc.
And I hate the way he makes me feel that there's no point in me picking up a pen to write as he does it so much better!
This is a story within a story, as we hear the story of Lared and how he meets blue-eyed Jason and blue-eyed Justice, and writes down Jason's story. The two stories, that of Jason and that of Lared, mirror each other well, and as always Card gives a thought-provoking ending. The stories that followed were also good, although the Worthing Farm ones were less so, and I assume that's what he means in the introduction by stories that were written earlier and are inconsistent with the other ones.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Thanks for sharing it!
And I hate the way he makes me feel that there's no point in me picking up a pen to write as he does it so much better!
This is a story within a story, as we hear the story of Lared and how he meets blue-eyed Jason and blue-eyed Justice, and writes down Jason's story. The two stories, that of Jason and that of Lared, mirror each other well, and as always Card gives a thought-provoking ending. The stories that followed were also good, although the Worthing Farm ones were less so, and I assume that's what he means in the introduction by stories that were written earlier and are inconsistent with the other ones.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Thanks for sharing it!
I finally managed to get this book in the post on 25th June.
Journal Entry 11 by WistfulDragon from Streatham, Greater London United Kingdom on Monday, June 28, 2004
Goody, looking forward to this! It's either fourth, third or second on my toobies - depending on how long I can hold out!
Journal Entry 12 by WistfulDragon from Streatham, Greater London United Kingdom on Thursday, July 8, 2004
I was good - I read the toobies in strict order. Maybe a bit faster than normally, though, knowing this one was in the pile...
As usual, OSC's portrayal of his characters leaves me in awe - they are so human! (Not to imply that any of the characters are alien or anything, they are actually all human in this book.) They have totally believable doubts and fears, anxieties and angers, and often do the wrong thing - but you are left with an overall feeling of optimism.
I actually enjoyed the Worthing stories at the end as much as the main book - although I wished I had left a day clear in between. They are obviously work of his 'younger' self, having a more pared-down feel; because of it they are a little stark compared with the rich characterisation of his later work, but are more immediately powerful in getting the story across because of it. Better for short story format, perhaps, whereas now he has matured into a fantastic novel writer, where the exploration of the characters is more important than the 'idea' - although the ideas remain breathtaking.
Hmm, couldn't guess I was a fan, could you?!
Off to Auglaise now.
As usual, OSC's portrayal of his characters leaves me in awe - they are so human! (Not to imply that any of the characters are alien or anything, they are actually all human in this book.) They have totally believable doubts and fears, anxieties and angers, and often do the wrong thing - but you are left with an overall feeling of optimism.
I actually enjoyed the Worthing stories at the end as much as the main book - although I wished I had left a day clear in between. They are obviously work of his 'younger' self, having a more pared-down feel; because of it they are a little stark compared with the rich characterisation of his later work, but are more immediately powerful in getting the story across because of it. Better for short story format, perhaps, whereas now he has matured into a fantastic novel writer, where the exploration of the characters is more important than the 'idea' - although the ideas remain breathtaking.
Hmm, couldn't guess I was a fan, could you?!
Off to Auglaise now.
Journal Entry 13 by Auglaise from -- Somewhere in London 🤷‍♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom on Sunday, July 11, 2004
Wow, I'd completely forgotten that I was on this ring! What a great surprise! At any rate, I've just finished the book I was reading and will start this tomorrow.
Journal Entry 14 by Auglaise from -- Somewhere in London 🤷‍♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom on Thursday, July 15, 2004
I have never been disappointed by Orson Scott Card, and this was no exception. I must admit that I like the Ender's Game series better, but that may just be because I read them first and have read them many times since. I found it interesting that Lared seems to have a love/hate relationship with Jason - which is quite similar to the one that Jason had with Doon. They're both relationships where one person wields quite a bit more power than the other, but also a relationship in which the power holder is attempting to 'better' the weaker. At any rate, I really enjoyed this and will be passing it on shortly!
Arrived today, many thanks, and with perfect timing as I finished another book last night!
Well I did very much enjoy this but perhaps not as much as some others of his. The ideas were interesting but at times I did feel it went on too long. The last chapters were very disjointed. They did not really stand as short stories in their own right, not did they follow on from the main story. They perhaps should have been inserted at the appropriate spots in the sequence of events, but then it really _would_ have gone on too long!.
It is on its way now to Tinajo
It is on its way now to Tinajo
Journal Entry 17 by Tinajo from Cambridge, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, August 24, 2004
Received this in the post a couple of days ago from nyassa, and (being a student on holiday) read it in a couple of days - well, nothing better to do with my time!
I enjoyed it as I like Scott Card's writing style, and I thought the way he linked the different chapters in the Chronicle was quite clever, but fundamentally, it felt a bit bitty.
Thanks very much, though - and I'll send it on as soon as I can :-)
Tinajo
I enjoyed it as I like Scott Card's writing style, and I thought the way he linked the different chapters in the Chronicle was quite clever, but fundamentally, it felt a bit bitty.
Thanks very much, though - and I'll send it on as soon as I can :-)
Tinajo
I've just returned from travels abroad to find this nestling in my pigeon hole. How exciting!
I don't believe I've read any Orson Scott Card for 15 years, or so (how old does *that* make me feel?!) I remember, however, being captivated by the Enders Game series, as I also was by The Worthing Saga.
Card's ideas in The Worthing Saga are breathtaking (literally), and I loved the almost vertigo inducing look at the stories events unfolding. The idea of somec is also brilliant, if somewhat scary. Imagine people preferring to live (practically) aeons *alone* rather than living their alloted 100 years with their friends and family. Scary, and yet I can understand the fascination to hang on for as long as possible, so as to see what happens.
I could, however, have quite happily done without the Worthing Farm etc stories. I felt that I already knew the stories and struggled to force myself to read them. I don't really see why they were included.
Thanks Gooner for making this a ring - you star!
The PM system appears to be behaving a little oddly. I've had quite a few people that I've PM'd over the course of lst week that did not receive the first PM's I sent them, which is perhaps why I have been finding it hard to track down ermintrude75. As soon as I hear from her, I'll pop The Worthing Saga in the post.
Cheers!
Card's ideas in The Worthing Saga are breathtaking (literally), and I loved the almost vertigo inducing look at the stories events unfolding. The idea of somec is also brilliant, if somewhat scary. Imagine people preferring to live (practically) aeons *alone* rather than living their alloted 100 years with their friends and family. Scary, and yet I can understand the fascination to hang on for as long as possible, so as to see what happens.
I could, however, have quite happily done without the Worthing Farm etc stories. I felt that I already knew the stories and struggled to force myself to read them. I don't really see why they were included.
Thanks Gooner for making this a ring - you star!
The PM system appears to be behaving a little oddly. I've had quite a few people that I've PM'd over the course of lst week that did not receive the first PM's I sent them, which is perhaps why I have been finding it hard to track down ermintrude75. As soon as I hear from her, I'll pop The Worthing Saga in the post.
Cheers!
Received in the post last week, but I was too disorganised to journal until now :) Have really enjoyed the other OSC books I've read lately so am looking forward to this one.
Just to let you all know the book arrived safely with me and i'll be starting to read it any time soon.
Another fantastic OSC book, i'm so glad i was introduced to this author by other BCers. I especially liked reading about all the different lives, but how they were all joined together by various different people. I loved the comparisons made between how some of the universe lives/lived and how other parts lived, the complete differences, and yet somehow they are all similar with similar problems.
I think this is going to Hey-Miki next but i'm not sure because i don't seem to be on the list :(
I think this is going to Hey-Miki next but i'm not sure because i don't seem to be on the list :(
Journal Entry 23 by hey-miki from -- Somewhere in London 🤷‍♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom on Tuesday, April 5, 2005
This arrived 2 weeks ago. Sorry for not journalling earlier - life has been busy lately! Looking forward to reading it
Journal Entry 24 by hey-miki from -- Somewhere in London 🤷‍♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom on Sunday, June 12, 2005
I never got into a pace with this book - it dragged disappointingly. The Worthing Chronicle (which is one long story) felt too long. But the short stories after it were more diverse and interesting. I liked the way they expanded on themes and characters which had been mentioned in The Worthing Chronicle.
I enjoyed Chapter 13 ("Skipping Stones") which was a fable about 2 friends and their different attitudes to life and "somec" (the drug which enables high stuatus people to be "frozen" for a number of years). It showed how importance was placed on technology and somec's false promise of "immortality" at the expense of the real gifts of life; nature and friendship, which left uncared for will wither away. The moral is to live for the present rather than hope idly for the future.
I enjoyed Chapter 13 ("Skipping Stones") which was a fable about 2 friends and their different attitudes to life and "somec" (the drug which enables high stuatus people to be "frozen" for a number of years). It showed how importance was placed on technology and somec's false promise of "immortality" at the expense of the real gifts of life; nature and friendship, which left uncared for will wither away. The moral is to live for the present rather than hope idly for the future.
Arrived today, thanks Miki.
This is the fourth BC book to arrive in three days; London bus syndrome.
Thanks for sharing Gooner.
This is the fourth BC book to arrive in three days; London bus syndrome.
Thanks for sharing Gooner.
From the author's comments on the development of the stories in this book I decided to read it backwards - i.e. earliest writings first.
There is a spareness in the early short stories and I particularly enjoyed the Tales of Capitol, which appealed more to me, as science fiction, than the Worthing Saga itself with its tales of life after the fall of Capitol.
Off to Normy now
There is a spareness in the early short stories and I particularly enjoyed the Tales of Capitol, which appealed more to me, as science fiction, than the Worthing Saga itself with its tales of life after the fall of Capitol.
Off to Normy now
Received yesterday from Mrs Danvers, but due to problems with the website was unable to journal until today. Thanks Mrs Danvers, and thanks to Gooner for starting the ring. This is TBR 6.
I wish I'd done as MrsDanvers as done, because I found the stories at the end very weak, plus their links with the main story and with the Capitol stories were very tenuous. I would have liked to have read more about how the descendents of Jason came to be the way they were - I feel it would have linked the stories better.
I liked the main story - didn't feel it dragged on too long, but then although it felt like it should have been a 'quick read' it took me a long time as I've been working longer hours just lately and didn't have much time for reading. I appreciated the fact that I could pick the book up and carry on where I left off without having to backtrack.
What really ~did~ distract me though was the number of typos in this edition! Some of them were quite ridiculous, and I became aware more of the act of reading than of being in the story.
Thanks for sharing this Gooner - PM me and let me know where you'd like me to send it off to next - is it coming home?
I liked the main story - didn't feel it dragged on too long, but then although it felt like it should have been a 'quick read' it took me a long time as I've been working longer hours just lately and didn't have much time for reading. I appreciated the fact that I could pick the book up and carry on where I left off without having to backtrack.
What really ~did~ distract me though was the number of typos in this edition! Some of them were quite ridiculous, and I became aware more of the act of reading than of being in the story.
Thanks for sharing this Gooner - PM me and let me know where you'd like me to send it off to next - is it coming home?
Making its way back to Gooner.
Thanks, Normy. Received with thanks today in the post.
If anyone wants it, please let me know. It's obviously not in 'as-new' condition, but has provided enjoyable reading to many people. I'm in an even worse situation regarding my TBR pile - please someone! relieve me of this one!
Updated 10 March 2006: This one's travelling with me to Ipswich tomorrow for the BC meet-up at Caffe Nero. It's got a special label on it as follows:
"This is the most travelled copy of this book in the whole of BookCrossing.com!AND IT’S FREE! Please take it home; read it and send it off on its travels again!"
For info, 14 journallers versus all the other registered copies, with at most 2 journallers!
If anyone wants it, please let me know. It's obviously not in 'as-new' condition, but has provided enjoyable reading to many people. I'm in an even worse situation regarding my TBR pile - please someone! relieve me of this one!
Updated 10 March 2006: This one's travelling with me to Ipswich tomorrow for the BC meet-up at Caffe Nero. It's got a special label on it as follows:
"This is the most travelled copy of this book in the whole of BookCrossing.com!AND IT’S FREE! Please take it home; read it and send it off on its travels again!"
For info, 14 journallers versus all the other registered copies, with at most 2 journallers!
Journal Entry 31 by Gooner at Caffe Nero IP1 Bookcrossing Zone in Ipswich, Suffolk United Kingdom on Sunday, March 12, 2006
Released 18 yrs ago (3/11/2006 UTC) at Caffe Nero IP1 Bookcrossing Zone in Ipswich, Suffolk United Kingdom
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Released at Meet-up. This is the most journalled copy of this particular book in the whole of the BookCrossing World!
Hope the next reader enjoys it and - most important - journals it!
Released at Meet-up. This is the most journalled copy of this particular book in the whole of the BookCrossing World!
Hope the next reader enjoys it and - most important - journals it!
This made it into the Ipswich OBCZ after one meetup, and was then taken by someone who must have read and returned it. I found it today - it needs some loving, so I've been busy with stick tape. I love Orson Scott Card anyway, so reading this is a must :)
Read 51 this year was Orson Scott Card’s “The Worthing Saga”, a collection of Card’s early work including a novel, a novella and short fiction with a sizeable introduction by the author. It’s an early colonised-planets struggling towards utopia plot and while it’s clunky in places, some of his later themes are the already, and I find those interesting. His characters all struggle with what’s right and wrong, what’s good, what’s evil and how they all interact together. The central precept in the novel (The Worthing Chronicle) grated for me, because it’s a strong half-truth: that the strongest and most treasured memories are those of fear, pain, grief and sacrifice. I’m not sure why I couldn’t accept it and suspend my disbelief, but it just felt wrong - highly emotional memories stand out and are treasured; this applies to both the good and the bad ones.
Released 17 yrs ago (7/2/2006 UTC) at
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
To be released at the Bookcrossing UK Unconvention in Birmingham.
To be released at the Bookcrossing UK Unconvention in Birmingham.
Picked up from the Uncon 2006 table.
Journal Entry 36 by celticstar from Denbighshire, Wales United Kingdom on Thursday, November 23, 2006
Rescued from Oddballdave's Hoard.
I love Orson Scott Card and it's great to see such a lot of journals already.
I'll try and sneak this one nearer the top of my tbr :-)
I love Orson Scott Card and it's great to see such a lot of journals already.
I'll try and sneak this one nearer the top of my tbr :-)
