A prolific and famous author of science fiction, Orson Scott Card is best known for his early novels "Ender's Game" and "Ender's Shadow," both pathbreaking works.

Card, however, is an eclectic writer, with short stories, screenplays, the "Women of Genesis" series about biblical women and numerous other science-fiction novels to his credit, along with contemporary fantasies, columns and commentaries about the art of writing.

Born in Richland, Wash., Card lived in Utah from the time he was 16 until he graduated from Brigham Young University, married, picked up a master's degree from the University of Utah and became an editor at the LDS Church's Ensign magazine.

Then came the golden character of Ender, and for many years Card has lived with his wife and family in Greensboro, N.C.

Speaking by phone from his home, Card conceded that his Ender books are his most popular, but he considers "Magic Street" and "Enchantment" to be his best works. "'Ender's Game' is accidentally accessible to teenagers and read by a lot of them — but they don't show up for 'Magic Street' and 'Enchantment."'

Talking about his new Christmas novella, "A War of Gifts: An Ender Story," Card agreed that many well-known authors write "throwaway" Christmas stories — but he was determined to make this one of the same high quality that characterizes his other books. "It had to meet a certain standard, and because it's an Ender story, it had to have some pain to it."

Which is not to say that a reader needs to have read the other Ender stories to appreciate this one.

In "A War of Gifts," Card uses science fiction as a backdrop to defend the celebration of Christmas. The human race is at war with an insectlike alien race, and Earth hopes to prevent total destruction by training brilliant generals from childhood. The "high orbital facility" where they train is called "the Battle School."

Children from all nations, races and religions learn the strategy and tactics of war. Cultural differences are not noted in such an environment; there is no room for religious observances or Santa Claus. Unfortunately for their leaders, the warriors disagree about such prohibitions and experiment with humanitarian acts.