In 1978, a struggling author named Orson Scott Card introduced the science-fiction world to a tormented boy genius named Ender Wiggin, who was duped into saving the world by destroying an alien race.
"Ender's Game" went on to the win the Hugo and Nebula awards for science-fiction writing and captured the imagination of readers around the world. The book's sequel, "Speaker for the Dead," won the same awards the next year, launching Card on the path to science-fiction writer immortality.
" 'Ender's Game' was my first published science-fiction story," Card explained, "and when the novel came out and won the major awards, it became the foundation of my career."
"Ender's been very good to me," the former Orem resident and Brigham Young University graduate added during an e-mail interview with the Deseret News.
What began as a simple short story 25 years ago has evolved into a major science-fiction marketing bonanza. The book is required reading in several school districts across the nation. Warner Brothers recently inked a deal with Card to bring the novel to the big screen. In August, Card will release "Shadow Puppets" — the seventh book in the "Ender's Game" series.
And this week, Card will host the first science-fiction convention dedicated to his most famous character — EnderCon will celebrate the "Ender's Game" Universe Friday and Saturday at the Utah Valley State College Sorenson Student Center.
"My wife reminded me that the 25th anniversary of the publication of 'Ender's Game,' the short story, was coming along in a couple of years," Card said. "What did we want to do about it? The obvious idea was to have Ender's birthday party; but soon it evolved into the idea of holding a science-fiction convention centered around Ender Wiggin and the books and stories that have arisen since that first story."
EnderCon will offer discussions of various topics relating to "Ender's Game" technology, creativity and music, as well as a trivia contest, a concert by Grammy award-winning vocalist Janis Ian and a talent show.
But Card maintains EnderCon will not resemble a typical "Star Wars" or "Star Trek" convention, where participants wear lavish costumes and frolic in a party atmosphere with an attitude of worship and relentless nostalgia.
"It's more like a traditional sci-fi convention, centered on conversation — between panelists and audience and among convention attenders," Card said. "Party atmosphere? Let's see — when you talk about party atmosphere among non-Mormons, it means a lot of drinking; when you talk about it among Mormons, it means a lot of eating. I don't think we're going to have much of either. But I do hope there's a bit of a festive feeling."
Above all, Card says he hopes the convention can be a place where people will feel at home and comfortable enough to interact in a setting befitting the love his fans hold for his most famous book. It's a book that holds a special place in Card's heart.
"It's (the book) that seems to resonate with the most readers; some of the mail I get is quite emotional. But part of the reason 'Ender's Game' means so much to me is that it means so much to at least some of my readers. You can't ignore something like that."
E-MAIL: poyfair@desnews.com