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12th out of 82 books
—
7 voters
Hamlet's Father
We all know Shakespeare's classic ghost story -- the young prince Hamlet's dead father appears to him, demanding vengeance upon Hamlet's uncle Claudius, who has usurped the throne and, to add insult to injury, married Hamlet's mother.
Hamlet dithers and delays, coming up with reason after reason to postpone his vengeance. But it's not for the reason Shakespeare told us. It'...more
Hamlet dithers and delays, coming up with reason after reason to postpone his vengeance. But it's not for the reason Shakespeare told us. It'...more
Hardcover, Limited signed printing, 96 pages
Published
April 29th 2011
by Subterranean Press
(first published 2008)
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Jan 24, 2012
mark monday
marked it as unread-forever
i'm just going to repeat Katie's great comments:
"Awesome. Because just what Hamlet needs is rampant homophobia and dumbing down of the moral questions. There is nothing entertaining about this version, there is nothing to keep reading because he's taken away all moral ambiguity, all questions of life and death. Also, you can't make someone gay by raping them. The end."
what happened to Card? what made him go insane over the years? after reading his various anti-gay tracts, i can't help but wonder...more
"Awesome. Because just what Hamlet needs is rampant homophobia and dumbing down of the moral questions. There is nothing entertaining about this version, there is nothing to keep reading because he's taken away all moral ambiguity, all questions of life and death. Also, you can't make someone gay by raping them. The end."
what happened to Card? what made him go insane over the years? after reading his various anti-gay tracts, i can't help but wonder...more
21 likes · like · see review
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Oct 28, 2011
Manny
marked it as to-read
For the Celebrity Death Match Review Tournament
The Muppets Hamlet, Prince of Denmark Meets Winnie-the-Pooh (conclusion)
The story so far:
Hamlet (Kermit) is strangely unconcerned about multiple murders and Ophelia's suicide. What really bothers him is that he's thrown out his old Pooh Bear toy (Fozzy) and replaced it with a plush Piglet (Miss Piggy).
HAMLET:
[Pours himself a stiff drink, knocks it back, then pours another one]
My God, I need a glass or two of rye
Denmark is Denmark, that is, I am I
[E...more
The Muppets Hamlet, Prince of Denmark Meets Winnie-the-Pooh (conclusion)
The story so far:
Hamlet (Kermit) is strangely unconcerned about multiple murders and Ophelia's suicide. What really bothers him is that he's thrown out his old Pooh Bear toy (Fozzy) and replaced it with a plush Piglet (Miss Piggy).
HAMLET:
[Pours himself a stiff drink, knocks it back, then pours another one]
My God, I need a glass or two of rye
Denmark is Denmark, that is, I am I
[E...more
25 likes · like · see review
A simplistic but sometimes compelling reinterpretation. Of course, points taken away for inserting plot elements to further the ends of the reinterpretation. A better attempt would be to only try and reinterpret existing events and not include new ones just to drive the new plot. 85/100 for the attempt Uncle Orson.
14 likes · like · see review
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
2 likes · like · see review
This story is a revisionist retelling of Hamlet. It first appeared in Marvin Kaye's 2009 anthology The Ghost Quartet; then it reappeared in 2011 as an illustrated 92-page hardcover by Subterranean Press (1000 numbered copies, each signed by the author).
OSC provides a plausible answer to the question that scholars have debated for centuries: Why was Hamlet so quick to swear to avenge his father's death, but then hesitate time and again to kill his uncle Claudius?
It's necessary to be familiar wi...more
OSC provides a plausible answer to the question that scholars have debated for centuries: Why was Hamlet so quick to swear to avenge his father's death, but then hesitate time and again to kill his uncle Claudius?
It's necessary to be familiar wi...more
Those of us who majored in English in college have all read Shakespeare’s Hamlet at least once, and we’ve all seen at least one performance. Some of us go to as many performances as we possibly can, enjoying every new spin on the old tale. I’ve seen at least three movies made from the play and seen it staged at least five times. I’ve studied the text of the play in detail, and one thing never changes: Claudius murders King Hamlet in order to bed the king’s wife, Gertrude, out of good old heteros...more
I used to be madly in love with Orson Scott Card, and he will always hold a special place in my heart, but I'm finding myself in a place where his books are beginning to be the same...different names on the characters but the same plot. In this book, however, he shows a spark of what enamored me with him in the beginning. Hamelet's relationship with his father is retold. His behaviors explained and his transgressions understandable. Honestly, I must have been a bit slow and I didn't see where he...more
Sep 10, 2011
Wealhtheow
marked it as won-t-read
Recommends it for:
bigots and people too lazy for Shakespeare
I'm astounded that this got published in the first place. Here's a straightforward review of some of the novella's problems. I can't say I ever read Hamlet and thought, y'know what this needs? Less emotional, moral and linguistic complexity, more barely serviceable prose and homophobia. I mean, that just never crossed my mind. I guess that kind of out-of-the-box thinking is why Card can charge $35 for a novella.
12 likes · like · see review
whether Prince or pretty, cold water to make king wise, greater fool wise who does not know he is wise or wise who does not think wise, philosopher first and Saint, spirits in heaven or hell, don’t fear opinions of fools, a better father than you know, certainty as feeling right as what happened wrong to defeat a greater wrong is right, running pal along corridor, St Augustine Confessions, only do right if desire right.
I read this because of the line on the back of a novella collection this was part of. It said "What if Hamlet's father was killed by someone entirely unexpected?". That intrigued me, so I read it. And I felt like I wasted my time. It wasn't spooky or scary, just weird and twisted. I think I'm going to have to start actively avoiding Orson Scott Card books in the future. I'm always left feeling unsatisfied by his work.
What I liked- I am a fan of Orson Scott Card overall. This wasn’t his best work but it wasn’t his worst either. I thought it was a very interesting idea and it was, overall, well done.
What I didn’t like- I can only say that it was very weird. Bordering on too weird. And predictable. After the first chapter I had a pretty good idea what was going on.
What I didn’t like- I can only say that it was very weird. Bordering on too weird. And predictable. After the first chapter I had a pretty good idea what was going on.
I was so ready to love this. Orson Scott Card, one of my favorite authors--especially for taking on moral dilemmas--playing with Shakespeare? Yes, please! ...I really wish I hadn't. I found the subtexts and "plot twist" heavy handed and distasteful and the rampant homophobia and the equating of pedophilia and homosexuality disturbing.
I'm not sure its possible to review this book without writing a spoiler. Perhaps its enough to say that the author has engaged in some revisionist fictional history. Unless the reader is familiar with Shakespeare's version, a reader might develop some misconceptions about the original characters and plot on reading this book.
Awesome. Because just what Hamlet needs is rampant homophobia and dumbing down of the moral questions. There is nothing entertaining about this version, there is nothing to keep reading because he's taken away all moral ambiguity, all questions of life and death.
Also, you can't make someone gay by raping them. The end.
Also, you can't make someone gay by raping them. The end.
14 likes · like · see review
Jan 14, 2013
Tria
marked it as will-not-read
I didn't read all of it. I read enough. I'm extremely glad I didn't waste my money. Homophobic, revisionist in the worst ways, badly-written rubbish. I don't think skipping a rating will pull down the rating here - which deserves to be done - but I can't stand to even give it ONE star.
I was hoping for a version that could be shared with high school readers trying to make sense of the original work. I really don't think this is going to help. Who kills the King? Well, probably not the character of this story/version. Darn! It was so promising......
I can't believe that OSC was able to give this story a twist, but he did manage. What a fantastic book! I feel like I actually gained some insight into Shakespeare's play, but it also was just a fun summer read. Quite an accomplishment. Card is always unpredictable.
A highly edited and extremely subjective retelling of Hamlet.
The only reason I made it through this book is because I like the original. Fortunately it's short.
A disappointing one from Orson Scott Card, who is usually a very engaging writer.
The only reason I made it through this book is because I like the original. Fortunately it's short.
A disappointing one from Orson Scott Card, who is usually a very engaging writer.
1 like · like · see review
I love the concept - explaining the extreme, insane behavior of a famous literary character, but in general, I don't particularly like tragedies.
I love, love, love the Enderverse and I was so excited to see Card write Shakespeare fanfiction, but I wish I hadn't read this. There isn't much of the empathy and intelligence I loved in Ender's Game. Sigh.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Hamlet's Father seems ever-so-familiar . . . until it is terribly, horribly, and all-too-believably NOT familiar.
This book was interesting until the end. It has a very mature theme and I wouldn't recommend it.
Oh hell no. This really, REALLY saddened me because I really, REALLY liked Ender's Game.
1 like · like · see review
Interesting twist on the story but with out the language it looses something.
Um--Weird!
Surprise ending...not at all to my liking!
This was an awesome short story. I've always loved Hamlet and this took the story, turned it sideways and inside-out, then shook it out again and it was still Hamlet. Just... different. And, while I usually see the ending coming in most shorts I read, I totally didn't see this one coming. Perfectly written and wonderfully read (I listened to the audiobook version).
An engaging narrative with an uneasy and distasteful conclusion. Whether that's good or bad is left for the reader to decide. Certainly a worthy addition to the Hamlet mythology.
See my full review at By Common Consent.
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Orson Scott Card is the author of the novels Ender's Game, Ender's Shadow, and Speaker for the Dead, which are widely read by adults and younger readers, and are increasingly used in schools.
Besides these and other science fiction novels, Card writes contemporary fantasy (Magic Street, Enchantment, Lost Boys), biblical novels (Stone Tables, Rachel and Leah), the American frontier fantasy series Th...more
More about Orson Scott Card...
Besides these and other science fiction novels, Card writes contemporary fantasy (Magic Street, Enchantment, Lost Boys), biblical novels (Stone Tables, Rachel and Leah), the American frontier fantasy series Th...more
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