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The Folk of the Fringe

The Folk of the Fringe

List Price: $12.95
Your Price: $9.71
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Mormons save America?
Review: In This collection of stories, not quite short stories and not quite novellas, we see the world after a great war which has thrown the world into chaos and turmoil. Many are still dying, and outside small cities where local governments rule and help maintain order, the bandits on the roads rule with terror.

However, in Utah, the Mormons are building civilization out of chaos and forming government.

The stories were somewhat interresting, however, deeply disturbing. I can't say I cared much for the horrid descriptions of terrible child neclect and abuse in the first story, even though the rest of the story was ok, certain sections left me feeling sickened and disturbed for days afterwards and having more than usual urges to go make sure my kids were tucked in and safely sleeping at night. It also had disturbing paralells to a local case I remember of child neglect/abuse of a little girl who was locked in a closet for years.

The other stories are less emotion-enducing...as there's not really much to them. Basically people trying to fit into the Mormon run society and find thier place within, espically those who are not Mormon.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Mormons save America?
Review: In This collection of stories, not quite short stories and not quite novellas, we see the world after a great war which has thrown the world into chaos and turmoil. Many are still dying, and outside small cities where local governments rule and help maintain order, the bandits on the roads rule with terror.

However, in Utah, the Mormons are building civilization out of chaos and forming government.

The stories were somewhat interresting, however, deeply disturbing. I can't say I cared much for the horrid descriptions of terrible child neclect and abuse in the first story, even though the rest of the story was ok, certain sections left me feeling sickened and disturbed for days afterwards and having more than usual urges to go make sure my kids were tucked in and safely sleeping at night. It also had disturbing paralells to a local case I remember of child neglect/abuse of a little girl who was locked in a closet for years.

The other stories are less emotion-enducing...as there's not really much to them. Basically people trying to fit into the Mormon run society and find thier place within, espically those who are not Mormon.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Not for everyone
Review: Just read the reviews and you will know that this book is not for everyone. I enjoyed this book. It is true that the "mormon readers" (yes I am one) will enjoy the stories more simply because it is a collection of stories about our faith. However, do not let the religious part of the book scare you off.

Some of the stories are not as strong as the others, but the book is worth the read. I am a huge Card fan and have read nearly every one of his books and this is one of the ones that I enjoyed the most.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: A bad Card book!? Say it aint so!!!
Review: Let me first say that I am a huge Orson Scott Card fan. The Ender Saga, Hart's Hope, Wyrms, and especially the Alvin Maker Saga are works of absolut magnificence. Genius. But then I bought this book. The stories have completely unoriginal, stock post-apocalyptic plots. The main theme seems to be that Mormons are the only people discriminated against, and will be the ones to rebuild society after it breaks down. Yeah, right. What was he thinking?

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Alomst forgettable
Review: Some books you never remember because they weren't extremely good or bad. This book is almost one of those. All the stories except two are quite uninteresting and I couldn't even tell you what they're about. Card strays away from his usuall theme (and greatest strenth) of dealing with difficult moral issues except in just a few parts. If you're looking for a good read out of this one, just read "The Fringe" and "America." You won't be missing much.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Pleasing but not great
Review: The book was a good read. The fact that it is in small short stories made it easier to read, as I found some of the stories invigorating, and some so-so. Some of the stories felt like they needed more character development. Several of the stories were wonderful in my opinion. West & Pageant Wagon I really enjoyed, although they tend to be the stories that others I've talked to tended to dislike the most. Those two stories I found myself able to understand the characters. However, the end of West seemed to come abruptly. All the ends were quickly tied up to get the story over with. Just as I found myself really enjoying the story, it came to an end. I was left with wanting more about those certain characters. Still, I enjoyed it, and the entire collection of short stories. It took my mind away for a few hours.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: So and so collection of short stories
Review: The folk of the Fringe is a collection of long short stories. They are stories set against a backdrop of a world where civilisation was lost to a few smart bombs and biological attacks. Something like "Postman". In the book the last bastion of civilisation is the Mormon state of Deseret.

I love almost everything that Card writes. In this book he shows as usual what a superb story teller he is. The reason that I am only giving it a 3 is that it didn't really engage me. Not all the way through the book. In fact, if the book only contained the first short story it would have gotten a 5. Card tried to milk to much out of this theme!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Short story collection set in not-so-distant future
Review: The reviews to this book have not been so glowing. Obviously, you need to know what you are getting into - this is a collection of 4 or 5 short stories set in a future where a nuclear war has dramatically altered everyone's way of life. Some of the stories are very good. Some are just average. I would recommend it, especially if you're Mormon.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Powerful
Review: The short stories in this collection present a powerful view of humanity. I particularly enjoyed the story about the traveling musical family. I believe two of the stories were nominated for several of the big SF awards.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: No way to soften the blow
Review: These stories are bad

I mean not just your average run of mill (haven't I read this somewhere before) bad. No, picture a mirror. Now this mirror is looking good you like the concept you get into a few pages and all is well but then something odd happens. The stories lack the essentials A. Details B. Background info. We are never really told how this war came about just that it happened. We are never given an details about the main players.

You expect something good (espically considering that these stories come from someone like Orson Scott Card.)

In the end the stories just don't deliver.
Bottom Line-Great setup, but the stories make no sense that is what kills "Folk of the Fringe".


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