I wonder how many of you remember Orson Scott Card; he used to be an SF writer...

OK, enough Lehrer patter. Basically, for those of you who didn't know, Orson Scott Card, multiple-award-winning author of Ender's Game and Speaker For The Dead, has in recent years written about how homosexuality is a sin and should be illegal, along with several other political/religious positions which, let's just say, don't endear him to the vast majority of SF fans. Many people have said much on the matter; two of my favorites are from Aerie of Queen Of Wands and Randy Milholland of Something Positive. Most responses, I think, fall into one of those two camps.

This song comes from the Aerie side: how did someone who wrote such fantastic work about tolerance and overcoming differences become a paranoid homophobe?

"Whatever Became Of Orson?"
by Will "scifantasy" Frank
ttto: "Whatever Became Of Hubert?" by Tom Lehrer

Whatever became of Orson?
Has anyone seen his head?
Once he wrote great SF
And with words he was deft
Now his fans have all left or fled.

Once a valued, intelligent writer
With his stories of children as fighters
But religion took over his mind
And he's said things a little unkind

"We must pass laws against gay people"
wrote he in the newspaper.
It seems like many other sheep he'll
Fall for the "Terror" caper.

Whatever became of you, Orson?
We miss you, so tell us, please:
As you follow the cross
All your books feel the loss
And now lately we toss cookies.

Does Ender, with themes of acceptance and love
Embarrass you now? Will you give it a shove?
Why do you think gays should be taboo?
Orson, what happened to you?