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966 entries.
Hello Bruce,
My name is George. I read your short story Old Glory. I bet you've received a lot of reviews today and I think you'd enjoy mine. If this was a book I'd read it twice. I'll look for more books by you because I greatly enjoy sci fi. Also, I performed in dragonslayers a very nice play.
Sincerely George
My name is George. I read your short story Old Glory. I bet you've received a lot of reviews today and I think you'd enjoy mine. If this was a book I'd read it twice. I'll look for more books by you because I greatly enjoy sci fi. Also, I performed in dragonslayers a very nice play.
Sincerely George
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, George -
Glad you liked the story. It's one I'm particularly proud of. Hope you had fun when you were in "The Dragonslayers"!!
BC
Glad you liked the story. It's one I'm particularly proud of. Hope you had fun when you were in "The Dragonslayers"!!
BC
Dear Bruce Coville,
I was wondering what the S.O.S stands for?
I was wondering what the S.O.S stands for?
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Julia -
SOS used to stand for "Save Our Ship" In this story it means "Shoot On Sight"
It is a not-happy vision of what might happen in our future if free speech gives way to political repression.
BC
SOS used to stand for "Save Our Ship" In this story it means "Shoot On Sight"
It is a not-happy vision of what might happen in our future if free speech gives way to political repression.
BC
Hello Bruce, my name is Bryan. I really enjoyed your short story "Old Glory" and hoped it were an actual book! I also did the play dragonslayers in fourth grade, but I really want to know is why you killed gran-da
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Bryan -Glad you enjoyed "Old Glory" It does appear in a couple of books: the anthology 2041, edited by Jane Yolen, and also my own collection of short stories, ODDS ARE GOOD. (That collection has 18 stories by me in all.)
As to Gran-da . . . well, first off, I didn't kill him, the SOS guys did! ;>
But his willingness to die for his right to speak his mind, and the fact that in the society that exists in the story you could be killed for doing just that, was the whole point of the story.
BC
As to Gran-da . . . well, first off, I didn't kill him, the SOS guys did! ;>
But his willingness to die for his right to speak his mind, and the fact that in the society that exists in the story you could be killed for doing just that, was the whole point of the story.
BC
I really enjoyed the short story, "Old Glory". I liked the future setting and how crazy grandpa was. How did you come up with such and interesting story Mr. Coville?
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Jason
The idea for this story came from pure rage when I saw our government working to push away the idea of freedom of speech. This was about 20 years ago, and it still makes me angry! I believe in our Bill of Rights!
BC
The idea for this story came from pure rage when I saw our government working to push away the idea of freedom of speech. This was about 20 years ago, and it still makes me angry! I believe in our Bill of Rights!
BC
Dear Mr. Coville
I find your story extremely interesting. It was one of thoses kind of things where you can't stop reading until it stops but I have a couple of questions. What is a holo? Is it a holographic form of TV? And does the SOS try to eliminate all freedom of speech?
I find your story extremely interesting. It was one of thoses kind of things where you can't stop reading until it stops but I have a couple of questions. What is a holo? Is it a holographic form of TV? And does the SOS try to eliminate all freedom of speech?
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Sophie -
You've got it right . . . the "holo" is 3-D kind of television that plays in your living room floor as if the whole scene was happening there in real life.
The SOS is not out to eliminate all forms of freedom of speech - only the speech they disagree with. Which, of course, means no freedom at all.
BC
You've got it right . . . the "holo" is 3-D kind of television that plays in your living room floor as if the whole scene was happening there in real life.
The SOS is not out to eliminate all forms of freedom of speech - only the speech they disagree with. Which, of course, means no freedom at all.
BC
Where did you get your ideas from for the short story "Old Glory"?
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Jean-Pierre -
I wrote this story in a fit of anger when the first Bush president was trying to cut away at freedom of speech in America in order for some short-term political gain.
I thought it was unconscionable, and wrote "Old Glory" as a kind of push-back.
BC
I wrote this story in a fit of anger when the first Bush president was trying to cut away at freedom of speech in America in order for some short-term political gain.
I thought it was unconscionable, and wrote "Old Glory" as a kind of push-back.
BC
I like reading your books. I think you are a good author and I have always enjoyed your books. I really like your writing style and have read your books since i was a kid.
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Tristan -
Thanks for the kind words!
BC
Thanks for the kind words!
BC
Hi,
I read "Old Glory" with my class and I liked your way of writing and I would read more for sure. Thank you
I read "Old Glory" with my class and I liked your way of writing and I would read more for sure. Thank you
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Mufasa -
Glad you liked the story!
BC
Glad you liked the story!
BC
Hi! My question for you is, do you believe all the things that you wrote about in your short story "Old Glory" will come true in the future? Thanks so much!!
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Margo -
This is a good question.
I do not necessarily think that the things I wrote about in "Old Glory" WILL come true, but I do think they MIGHT come true. This is the reason for writing this kind of story. It is a kind of warning bell. It is a way of saying, "Watch out! This is what could happen if you don't guard your freedoms!"
All best,
BC
This is a good question.
I do not necessarily think that the things I wrote about in "Old Glory" WILL come true, but I do think they MIGHT come true. This is the reason for writing this kind of story. It is a kind of warning bell. It is a way of saying, "Watch out! This is what could happen if you don't guard your freedoms!"
All best,
BC
Hi mr.covillle my class recently read old glory and I have some questions because the short story old glory is about the freedom of speech being took away and I have read some of your other books that have a different genre why did you write old glory in science fiction.
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Harmini -
There is a very simple reason why I wrote "Old Glory" as science fiction - I was invited to write a short story for a science fiction anthology, and this was the idea that I came up with!
In other words, the reason I got the idea was that I was thinking about what life might be like in the not too distant future . . . and thinking about trends that I see in our own time that I find disturbing.
BC
There is a very simple reason why I wrote "Old Glory" as science fiction - I was invited to write a short story for a science fiction anthology, and this was the idea that I came up with!
In other words, the reason I got the idea was that I was thinking about what life might be like in the not too distant future . . . and thinking about trends that I see in our own time that I find disturbing.
BC