sometimes people are like "well if we don't recommend books by bigots, then no more Ender's Game" as if this is some kind of trump card

but like... that is actually a perfectly fine outcome?

cause it doesn't actually mean nobody can access Ender's Game

it literally just means Ender's Game stops being a go-to SF 101 title, and other books take that place

it means that the absolutely lovely librarian who came to my school in eighth grade for a book talk and gave me Ender's Game and launched me on my whole SF journey would... give some different book to the next kid.

THIS IS NOT ACTUALLY A TRAGEDY.

"the next generation of teenagers comes to SF via a different path than mine" is what nearly always happens. it is okay for it to happen because Orson Scott Card is an asshole, rather than because time went on and librarians forgot about his books.

I'm saying this because we're grappling (again) with the space cis dude assholes occupy in the genre and what more vulnerable people should be willing to sacrifice at the altar of their presumed genius

I think it's good to recognize that books like Ender's Game do not become standards of the genre by accident. choices are made about which books are worth:

*publishing
*promoting
*keeping in print

*stocking in bookstores
*stocking in libraries
*taking to schools for book talks
*publishing sequels to

SF books by women -- this has been discussed a lot lately! -- just fuckin disappear from the conversation. and if you think it's because of an objective evaluation of quality, you're deluding yourself.

it would be FINE if nobody ever again gave Ender's Game to a teenager. that is a FINE outcome. THE END.