Orson Scott Card’s Intergalactic Medicine Show

By: Orson Scott Card, Tom Barlow, Bradley P. Beaulieu, Brian Dolton, Rachel Ann Dryden, David Farland, Ty Franck, David Lubar, James Maxey, Peter Orullian, Tim Pratt, Scott M. Roberts, Eric James Stone, Edmund R. Schubert

Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki, Richard Brewer, Paul Boehmer, Cassandra Campbell, Emily Janice Card

New York Times bestselling author Orson Scott Card founded the online magazine Intergalactic Medicine Show in 2006. It has been a big success, drawing submissions from well-known science fiction and fantasy writers, as well as fostering some amazing new talents. This collection contains some of the best of those stories.

There is fiction from David Farland, Tim Pratt, and David Lubar, among others, and four new Ender Universe stories by Card himself. This collection is sure to appeal to Card’s fans and will serve as a great ambassador to them for these other talented writers.

The contents are:

Foreword by Orson Scott Card
Introduction: The Story behind the Stories by Edmund R. Schubert
“In the Eyes of the Empress’ Cat” by Bradley F. Beaulieu
“Mazer in Prison” by Orson Scott Card
“Tabloid Reporter to the Stars” by Eric James Stone
“Audience” by Ty Franck
“The Mooncalfe” by David Farland
“Cheater” by Orson Scott Card
“Dream Engine” by Tim Pratt
“Hats Off” by David Lubar
“Eviction Notice” by Scott M. Roberts
“To Know All Things That Are in the Earth” by James Maxey
“Beats of Seven” by Peter Orullian
“Pretty Boy” by Orson Scott Card
“Respite” by Rachel Ann Dryden
“The Box of Beautiful Things” by Brian Dolton
“Taint of Treason” by Eric James Stone
“Call Me Mr. Positive” by Tom Barlow
“A Young Man with Prospects” by Orson Scott Card
“Ender’s Homecoming” by Orson Scott Card – a special audio-only bonus

©2008 Hatrack River Enterprises, Inc. (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Features noteworthy SF and fantasy stories from a bumper crop of talented new authors. Four new Enderverse stories from Card will initially draw genre fans, but the stories from lesser-known writers are the compilation's real driving force. James Maxey’s provocative ‘To Know All Things That Are in the Earth’ takes a decidedly skeptical look at the Rapture; David Farland’s ‘The Mooncalfe’ puts an interesting—and unique—spin on oft-trod Arthurian legend; and Tom Barlow’s brilliantly sardonic ‘Call Me Mr. Positive’ explores isolation on a deep-space mission gone tragically awry. If the quality of these stories is any indication, IGMS has as much promise as the newcomers it showcases.”

(Publishers Weekly)

“This collection of eighteen stories from Card’s e-zine takes its title from his belief that writers getting readers to suspend disbelief is like old-fashioned medicine-show hawkers convincing customers that their patented elixirs will work. On the whole, he and Schubert have selected well, even if five of the eighteen are Ender universe stories by Card himself…Adding value are the authors’ afterwords, which disclose the remarkable diversity of ways writers reach the Web or the page and how Card influences new writers.”

(Booklist)

I love short story anthologies

I enjoyed the micro view of some lesser characters in the Enderverse and the tangentially related stories. Some of these stories will stick with me and are profoundly memorable.

it's like a pot of stew...

The portions written by Card are the meat, while the other stories are the other ingredients. Honestly, I bought it for the stories relating to the Ender's Game universe ("Mazer in Prison," "Cheater," "Pretty Boy," and "Ender's Coming"). "A Young Man with Prospects" didn't quite feel like an Ender story, even though Ender was in it.

"Cheater" and "Pretty Boy" were my faviorte pieces of this compilation. Each being about different, soon-to-be, Battle School students (Han Tzu and Bonzo Madrid) and what their life was like before school. Each story is about the same length as Bean's story in Ender's Shadow, before being discovered by the I.F.

Unfortunately, I couldn't get through the other short stories. I listened for a few of them at first, but perhaps I was impatient to get to Ender parts, or I was simply just biased since I've never had the pleasure of reading these other authors before, but I skipped most of them. I suppose that means I just don't have the appreciation for new stories for now, so I'll go back sometime to listen to the rest of them and see what I missed out on.

Very

Different stories, and one that was kinda a sequel /a prequel / or some different short stories related to a bigger series, Enderverse and another part (strange to have a book (or 5) be one serie and half of another one. I seen better solutions on such before (Ryela (spelling) and the kingdom series by example.

Anyway. Some of the stories were good, some not that great. But well worth listening too, specifically if you have premium or whatever that makes this free!

Great Stories & One Complaint

Any additional comments?

My favorite stories in this collection were the very short stories. A few of the stories were less than ten minutes in length, and they ended with a satisfying pop that left me wanting more. My only complaint is that so many of the stories were repeats from previous anthologies or segments snipped out of the Ender Game series.

amazing compilation of sci-fi

well curated, well writen sci-fi for all, novice and enthusiasts alike. stories range in topics and the final author notes are an amazing insight into the writing process