Orson Scott Card talks film, adaptation of ‘Ender’s Game’

Orson Scott Card, the wildly popular author of “Ender’s Game” and a string of other science-fiction books, spent much of his time at the Los Angeles Times Book Festival on Saturday talking about film adaptations of his work - some in progress, others he hopes for and at least one piece he never wants to see on screen.

“‘Speaker for the Dead’ is unfilmable,” Card said in response to a question from the audience. “It consists of talking heads, interrupted by moments of excruciating and unwatchable violence. Now, I admit, there’s plenty of unwatchable violence in film, but never attached to my name.

“‘Speaker for the Dead, I don’t want it to be filmed. I can’t imagine it being filmed’.”

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As for the film adaptation of “Ender’s Game,” Card’s book that came out in 1985 as the story of a child war genius, the author warned the audience not to expect the same experience as reading the book.

“If you go there expecting that, please don’t be angry that it’s not just like the book,” he said.

The author, who was interviewed by collaborator Aaron Johnston, told his fans that if they want to see other books of his he believes are more film worthy than “Ender’s Game” - i.e.” Magic Street” - then he needs a big turnout for the movie or he fears Hollywood will dismiss him.

The movie adaptation of “Ender’s Game” is set to hit theaters Nov. 1. It stars Harrison Ford as Col. Hyrum Graff.

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