Orson Scott Card was born on August 24, 1951 in Richland, Washington. He earned a B.A. in theater at Brigham Young University in 1975 and an M.A. in English at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, in 1981. As an undergraduate, Card began writing, directing, and producing plays, often on Mormon themes. He interrupted his college studies to spend two years as a Mormon missionary in Brazil. He married Kristine Allen in 1977, with whom he has three children. Continuing to write and direct plays, he worked for Brigham Young University Press and edited Ensign magazine. Later he continued graduate study in English at Notre Dame University, and wrote for Compute Books. His work for Compute Books took him to Greensboro, North Carolina, where he continues to make his home.

Card began publishing short stories in science fiction magazines, especially Analog, where he was encouraged by...