The Folk of the Fringe
Encyclopedia
The Folk of the Fringe is a collection of post-apocalyptic
stories by American writer Orson Scott Card
. These stories are set sometime in the near future, when World War III
has left America in ruins. The stories are about how a few groups of Mormons
struggle to survive. Although all of these stories in this book were meant to stand alone, they each include at least one character from one of the other stories which helps to make them a cohesive collection.
This book also includes interior artwork by Glen R. Bellamy, an "Author's Note: On Sycamore Hill" by Orson Scott Card and an "Afterward: The Folk of the Fringe" by Michael Collings. The essay by Card was originally published in the 55th issue of Science Fiction Review (1985) under the title "On Sycamore Hill: A Personal View".
Many of the stories take place, or are connected to, a fictional post-apocalyptic state of Deseret
around the former Mormon areas of Utah
, which was clearly inspired by the historical State of Deseret
.
/Mormon
influence is present in this book.
Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction
Apocalyptic fiction is a sub-genre of science fiction that is concerned with the end of civilization due to a potentially existential catastrophe such as nuclear warfare, pandemic, extraterrestrial attack, impact event, cybernetic revolt, technological singularity, dysgenics, supernatural...
stories by American writer Orson Scott Card
Orson Scott Card
Orson Scott Card is an American author, critic, public speaker, essayist, columnist, and political activist. He writes in several genres, but is primarily known for his science fiction. His novel Ender's Game and its sequel Speaker for the Dead both won Hugo and Nebula Awards, making Card the...
. These stories are set sometime in the near future, when World War III
World War III
World War III denotes a successor to World War II that would be on a global scale, with common speculation that it would be likely nuclear and devastating in nature....
has left America in ruins. The stories are about how a few groups of Mormons
Mormons
The Mormons are a religious and cultural group related to Mormonism, a religion started by Joseph Smith during the American Second Great Awakening. A vast majority of Mormons are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while a minority are members of other independent churches....
struggle to survive. Although all of these stories in this book were meant to stand alone, they each include at least one character from one of the other stories which helps to make them a cohesive collection.
Contents
- "WestWest (short story)"West" is a short story by Orson Scott Card. It appears in his short story collection The Folk of the Fringe. Card originally published a shorter version of this story in the short story collection Free Lancers: Alien Stars IV .-Plot summary:...
" - "SalvageSalvage (short story)"Salvage" is a short story by Orson Scott Card. It appears in his short story collection The Folk of the Fringe. Card originally published this story in the February 1986 issue of Asimov's Science Fiction magazine...
" - "The FringeThe Fringe (short story)"The Fringe" is a short story by Orson Scott Card. It appears in his short story collection The Folk of the Fringe and in Future on Ice a short story collection edited by card...
" - "Pageant WagonPageant Wagon (short story)"Pageant Wagon" is a short story by Orson Scott Card. It’s first and only appearance is in his short story collection The Folk of the Fringe .-Plot summary:...
" - "AmericaAmerica (short story)"America" is a short story by Orson Scott Card. It appears in his short story collection The Folk of the Fringe. Card originally published this story in the January 1987 issue of Asimov's Science Fiction magazine.-Plot summary:...
"
This book also includes interior artwork by Glen R. Bellamy, an "Author's Note: On Sycamore Hill" by Orson Scott Card and an "Afterward: The Folk of the Fringe" by Michael Collings. The essay by Card was originally published in the 55th issue of Science Fiction Review (1985) under the title "On Sycamore Hill: A Personal View".
Many of the stories take place, or are connected to, a fictional post-apocalyptic state of Deseret
Deseret
Deseret is a term derived from the Book of Mormon, a scripture of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and other Latter Day Saint groups...
around the former Mormon areas of Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, which was clearly inspired by the historical State of Deseret
State of Deseret
The State of Deseret was a proposed state of the United States, propositioned in 1849 by Latter-day Saint settlers in Salt Lake City. The provisional state existed for slightly over two years and was never recognized by the United States government...
.
Influences
As with many of Card's other literature, a ChristianChristian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
/Mormon
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
influence is present in this book.
US editions
- Phantasia PressPhantasia PressPhantasia Press Inc. was a small publisher formed by Alex Berman publishing short-run, hardcover limited editions of science fiction and fantasy books. It was active from 1978-1989. The company was based in West Bloomfield, Michigan. The publisher specialized in limited quality first hardcover...
1st ed. hardcover February 1989 ISBN 0-932-09649-2 - Tor BooksTor BooksTor Books is one of two imprints of Tom Doherty Associates LLC, based in New York City. It is noted for its science fiction and fantasy titles. Tom Doherty Associates also publishes mainstream fiction, mystery, and occasional military history titles under its Forge imprint. The company was founded...
paperback August 15, 1990 ISBN 0-812-50086-5 - Orb BooksOrb BooksOrb Books is a publishing imprint of Tor Books. Orb Books specialises in trade paperback reprints of science fiction and fantasy works of special merit which are unavailable in mass market paperback.-Authors published by Orb:* Poul Anderson* Isaac Asimov...
paperback August 11, 2001 ISBN 0-312-87663-7
UK editions
- Legend Books hardcover March 8, 1990 ISBN 0-712-63637-4
- Legend Books paperback March 8, 1990 ISBN 0-712-63638-2
- Legend Books paperback May 2, 1991 ISBN 0-099-73440-0
See also
- List of works by Orson Scott Card
- Orson Scott CardOrson Scott CardOrson Scott Card is an American author, critic, public speaker, essayist, columnist, and political activist. He writes in several genres, but is primarily known for his science fiction. His novel Ender's Game and its sequel Speaker for the Dead both won Hugo and Nebula Awards, making Card the...
- LDS fictionLDS fictionLDS fiction is an American niche market of fiction novels featuring themes related to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...