I have been reading Xenocide from the Ender's game saga and I continue to marvel at the depth of thought that this supposedly crazy Mormon author has been able to put to pen. I think what most impresses me is how Card is able to show the Wiggin family as being able to navigate human conversation and internal thoughts as though able to read minds AND able to put others at ease. The best counselors would only hope to do one of these. Two questions that arise as I read: is this ability the educated elite's aspiration or can this be seen as what a Christian hopes to be able to do through the holy spirit's guidance? What is it about the Speaker for the Dead and Demosthenes that causes awe and adoration while never seeming to make them out of reach?
I think that human interactions can seem simple when viewed from afar. The fact that Card is so weird in real life makes me think that a social issues are beneath him, or at least he thinks so. A difficulty of knowing you are clever. Therefore he can write that people know what other's are thinking because he is writing both sides of the conversation. The best counselors with they could do this because often, even when they are right, the counseled wont admit it. Human frailty. That is what is put in stark contrast here.
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