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
Download and start listening now!
"I usually don't like short stories, but most of the stories in this audio were good. I got this because it had some short stories from the Ender series by Orson Scott Card. 2 of the stories I hadn't heard before, but 2 others were taken from one of the books in the Ender series."
— Carlissa (4 out of 5 stars)
“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" Orson Scott Card is one of my favorite authors. That said, he only wrote two of the short stories in this collection. My cousin Eric Stone wrote 2 more of them, so it was definitely worth reading. Some of the stories were brilliant and some were just ok. "
— Kirsti, 2/11/2014" Please see my review this August at myshelf.com "
— Donna, 1/21/2014" Read 4 Ender related short stories: Mazer in Prison, Cheater, Pretty Boy, & A Young Man with Prospects. "
— Shari, 1/5/2014" Great collection of short sci-fi stories. I enjoyed the tie-ins to Ender and Bean sagas. "
— Staci, 9/30/2013" Orson Scott Card's stories were all great. I love his style of writing. The other stories were hit or miss. Some were interesting, others were boring, and a couple were downright bizarre. Also, some of the stories, seemed like more fantasy than science fiction to me. For example, eviction notice. "
— Denis, 9/26/2013" Lots of awesome short stories. Not only can Orson Scott Card write, but he is also good at selecting stories that other people have written. I had a very high "Like" percentage with this anthology. "
— Betsy, 9/6/2013" Excellent collection of Science Fiction stories. Particularly enjoyed the Scott Card stories which explained the background to characters/incidents in Ender's game. "
— Donna, 7/14/2013" Really good for a short story anthology with various authors. I'm seriously considering subscribing to the magazine after this. "
— Douglas, 4/9/2013" I read this mainly for the Ender stories. I can't say I'm a terribly big fan of the other short stories in this collection. Definitely a library, rather than a bookstore, book. "
— Brittany, 1/21/2013" Decent short spec. A couple of the stories were rather weak, I felt, but others made up for their shortcomings. Not the most wallop-full collection of shorts, but a good start for the first IGMS anthology. "
— Libbie, 8/18/2012" Some good stories, some bad. Some were downright amateur. Card's stories were fun. The last of Card's stories, though, was lifted from one of his Ender books. "
— Sarah, 6/27/2012" I trust Orson Scott Card to introduce me to good authors and stories. And each story comes with an afterword by the author which gives the book a feel of hanging out with friends having fun and learning new things. "
— Eremite, 3/20/2012" Loved the story of Ender's parents - I often wondered where they were as the kids were growing up - how did they not recognize Peter's cruelty or how hurt Valentine was without Ender. It was good to see their side of the story if only a glimpse. "
— Stasha, 2/10/2012" Pretty much every single story in this collection rocks. There are also a few shorts in the Ender's Game universe. If you love science fiction and fantasy, or are a SFF writer, this is a must-read. "
— Traci, 2/8/2012" a good selection of short stories. Loved the Ender based stories "
— Helena, 11/9/2011" Enjoyable collection of short stories. The 4 by Card are all set in the Ender-verse and are worth reading if you are a fan. "
— Nicholas, 11/4/2011" Pretty much every single story in this collection rocks. There's also a few shorts in the Ender's Game universe. If you're a SF writer "
— Traci, 2/23/2011" Orson Scott Card is one of my favorite authors. That said, he only wrote two of the short stories in this collection. My cousin Eric Stone wrote 2 more of them, so it was definitely worth reading. Some of the stories were brilliant and some were just ok. "
— Kirsti, 2/22/2011" Excellent collection of Science Fiction stories. Particularly enjoyed the Scott Card stories which explained the background to characters/incidents in Ender's game. "
— Donna, 2/21/2011" a good selection of short stories. Loved the Ender based stories "
— Helena, 12/22/2010" I trust Orson Scott Card to introduce me to good authors and stories. And each story comes with an afterword by the author which gives the book a feel of hanging out with friends having fun and learning new things. "
— Eremite, 11/22/2010" This collection of short fiction is pulled from the magazine by the same title, published as a stand-alone book to try to draw in readers for the ‘zine. And it works. I really liked this collection, especially the new stuff by OSC, of course. "
— Cupcakencorset, 10/5/2010" I only read the parts opertaining to the Enderverse. "
— Lafe, 10/23/2009" I read this mainly for the Ender stories. I can't say I'm a terribly big fan of the other short stories in this collection. Definitely a library, rather than a bookstore, book. "
— Brittany, 3/26/2009" Decent short spec. A couple of the stories were rather weak, I felt, but others made up for their shortcomings. Not the most wallop-full collection of shorts, but a good start for the first IGMS anthology. "
— Libbie, 11/29/2008" Read 4 Ender related short stories: Mazer in Prison, Cheater, Pretty Boy, & A Young Man with Prospects. "
— Shari, 11/4/2008Orson Scott Card, the author of the New York Times bestseller Ender’s Game, has won several Hugo and Nebula awards for his works of speculative fiction. His Ender novels are widely read by adults and younger readers and are increasingly used in schools. Besides these and other science fiction novels, Card writes contemporary fantasy, American-frontier fantasy, biblical novels, poetry, plays, and scripts.
Bradley P. Beaulieu is an award-winning author of epic fantasy fiction. He has published work in the Realms of Fantasy magazine, Orson Scott Card’s Intergalactic Medicine Show, and Writers of the Future 20.
David Farland is the pseudonym of Dave Wolverton, an American author of fantasy fiction who lives in Utah with his wife and five children. He was a budding author during his college years but came to prominence when he won the Writers of the Future L. Ron Hubbard Gold Award for On My Way to Paradise in 1987. He has achieved much renown in the science fiction field, but fans may know him best as the author of Star Wars novels; The Courtship of Princess Leia was met with acclaim from critics and readers alike and became a New York Times bestselling novel.
David Lubar grew up in Morristown, New Jersey. His books include Hidden Talents, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults; Flip, a VOYA Best Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror selection; and the short-story collections In the Land of the Lawn Weenies and Invasion of the Road Weenies. He lives in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, with his wife, daughter, and three cats.
James Maxey is the author of the Bitterwood fantasy trilogy, Nobody Gets the Girl, Burn Baby Burn, the Dragon Apocalypse series, and numerous short stories.
Peter Orullian has worked at Microsoft for nearly a decade, most recently leading the music and entertainment marketing strategy for Xbox LIVE. He has published several short stories and is the author of The Great Defense of the Layosah, The Unremembered, and The Battle of the Round, among others. He lives in Seattle.
Tim Pratt’s work has appeared in The Best American Short Stories: 2005, The Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror, Strange Horizons, Realms of Fantasy, Asimov’s, Lady Churchill’s Rosebud Wristlet, and Year’s Best Fantasy, among many others. Pratt, an editor for Locus magazine, lives in Oakland, California.
Eric James Stone is a Nebula Award winner and Hugo Award nominee. He has had stories published in Year’s Best SF 15, Analog, Nature, and Kevin J. Anderson’s Blood Lite anthologies of humorous horror, among others. He lives in Eagle Mountain, Utah.
Bleak December Inc. is a multimedia company founded by Canadian actor and filmmaker Anthony D.P. Mann.