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Seventh Son (Tales of Alvin Maker #1)
One of the most original and enchanting fantasy series continuing today is Orson Scott Card's Tales of Alvin Maker. Set in an alternate frontier America, the Tales of Alvin Maker begins with Seventh Son. Here we meet the young Alvin Miller, the seventh son of a seventh son. Alvin is a Maker and is destined to create a positive new future for America. But to do so he must d...more
Mass Market Paperback, 241 pages
Published
April 15th 1988
by Tor Books
(first published 1987)
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Rather than discuss each of the books in the Tales of Alvin Maker series separately, I'll use this review for all of them. They present an alternate-history account of a nineteenth-century America in which magic is a potent force. Although it might not be evident to nonmormons, this series is a thinly veiled fictional adaptation of the life of Mormon prophet Joseph Smith (just as his Homecoming Saga is a similarly thinly veiled science-fiction version of the story of the first part of the Book o...more
I'm re-reading this book now and, is it just me or does it seem like OSC could actually WRITE BETTER back then?
He doesn't write like this anymore. Now his books are the conservative lecturing version of the Anita Blake serious where instead of sex scenes after sex scenes you get characters nagging about morality and marriage.
Also, why do folks insist on being so dang cruel to kids? Hitting them with hazel rods and smacking then and such? I don't get that.
What I also don't get is, why do people a...more
He doesn't write like this anymore. Now his books are the conservative lecturing version of the Anita Blake serious where instead of sex scenes after sex scenes you get characters nagging about morality and marriage.
Also, why do folks insist on being so dang cruel to kids? Hitting them with hazel rods and smacking then and such? I don't get that.
What I also don't get is, why do people a...more
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Having only just recently discovered the wonder that is Ender's Game and all its sequels (in my mind they have an odd kind of kinship with Dune now that I've read a few) I still thought to myself, "A fantasy? From Orson Scott Card??" Yes. Yes to this. It's so *American* in a way that other fantasy I've read is so not. Fantasy has always seemed so European (and within that mostly British) to me, but this is incredibly American, and rather Appalachian and I'm loving the series. I'm on a Card kick...more
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I started reading this to some of my kids. So far, it has been really good. There was not any of the Card vulgarity that is present in some of his other books. Some of that did come into the 3rd book in the series, but it was done tastefully if I remember properly.
This book was a great read for the kids, and they enjoyed it. One of my kids guessed that it was a parallel to Joseph Smith's life, but it's so minimal that it's hard to notice if you're not specifically looking for it.
This book was a great read for the kids, and they enjoyed it. One of my kids guessed that it was a parallel to Joseph Smith's life, but it's so minimal that it's hard to notice if you're not specifically looking for it.
I flew through this. Immensely interesting, this is a brilliantly imagined piece of alternate history quasi-fantasy. Convoluted genre? Yes, but Card just keeps proving to me what a compelling storyteller he is. Don't expect unicorns and magical swords (thankfully), but try it and you'll find a realistic take on folk magic mixed with an alternate story of the birth of our nation that complement each other beautifully and seamlessly. Loved it.
Alvin Miller, Jr is the seventh son of a seventh son. He's born into an alternate version of 19th Century America--one in which the Revolutionary War hasn't happened and where folk magic is a strong, powerful and very real force.
Alvin is a maker, a strong and potentially powerful force in the world. And he's got an equally strong, unrelenting enemy, the Unmaker who stop at nothing to ensure Alvin doesn't grow up and into his power. Much of the novel looks at the efforts the Unmaker uses to try...more
Alvin is a maker, a strong and potentially powerful force in the world. And he's got an equally strong, unrelenting enemy, the Unmaker who stop at nothing to ensure Alvin doesn't grow up and into his power. Much of the novel looks at the efforts the Unmaker uses to try...more
5 likes · like · see review
This was the first book I ever read by Orson Scott Card. I instantly fell in love with his writing style and storytelling ability. I couldn't put the book down. I was totally sucked in. The whole concept of a fantasy novel based on early American history where folk magic is real is a very original and appealing idea in fantasy fiction. It makes this novel and it's sequels among the most original fantasy novels I've ever read. I totally identified with the main character Alvin and came to deeply...more
Jan 24, 2008
Chris
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Yes
Shelves:
fantasy
This is a classic fantasy novel written by a epic writer. Orson Scott Card has always been one of the stronger writers in sci-fi and fantasy.
This story introduces us to a world that is different than ours. A past that changed and was different than our history. The Indians have taken back their lands west of the Might Mississippi. The South is now called Camelot.
The basis is that magic is still part of the world but in a small portion. Those old wives tales about the Seventh Son of the Seventh...more
This story introduces us to a world that is different than ours. A past that changed and was different than our history. The Indians have taken back their lands west of the Might Mississippi. The South is now called Camelot.
The basis is that magic is still part of the world but in a small portion. Those old wives tales about the Seventh Son of the Seventh...more
in an alternate version of the united states just after the revolution, a family moving west faces tragedy when the mother goes into labor as they are trying to ford a flooded stream. the oldest son dies, but not before the newest son is born, making hime the seventh son of a seventh son, which everyone knows means he must have a powerful magical gift. which indeed he does seem to have, as well as some sort of protection against the bizarre accidents that keep happening to him.[return]the altern...more
May 02, 2008
Radu
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
alternate-history,
fantasy
The "Alvin Maker" series was my second contact with O.S. Card after the "Ender" series, and I'm delighted to say it's different and it's still good. :) It was an interesting mix of history, religion, magic and insights into human morals and what motivates our actions. The magic is treated very "practically", like an extra talent that you need to work on to develop, and thankfully it doesn't take over the book while still being an important part of it. The one negative thing is that I didn't get...more
The first of the Alvin Maker books. Card is a great storyteller and I certainly enjoy his stories. This alternate history/fantasy was based somewhat on Joseph Smith's life. There are six books current books in the series, with the seventh and last one still to come.
2 likes · like · see review
I've been listening to this on during my commutes, and I find it reviting. After the first couple chapters, I couldn't help thinking that this would be great material to adapt for a Dogs in the Vineyard game.
Settlers on a frontier, with folk-magic and religous fundamentalism, and richly-textured characters.
I borrowed this audiobook from Listen Up! Vermont, and this production features several different voice actors narrating chapters with focus on different characters to great effect.
I haven't...more
Settlers on a frontier, with folk-magic and religous fundamentalism, and richly-textured characters.
I borrowed this audiobook from Listen Up! Vermont, and this production features several different voice actors narrating chapters with focus on different characters to great effect.
I haven't...more
Jan 12, 2009
bookczuk
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
alternate-history,
bookcrossing
Orson Scott Card and I may part ways on some political issues, but his writing is still marvelous. I adore the Ender series, and loved the Alvin Maker one as well. This is the first book in the series, starting with the birth of the seventh son of a seventh son in an Alternative America.
From BArnes and Noble Editors
One of the most original and enchanting fantasy series continuing today is Orson Scott Card's Tales of Alvin Maker. Set in an alternate frontier America, the Tales of Alvin Maker beg...more
From BArnes and Noble Editors
One of the most original and enchanting fantasy series continuing today is Orson Scott Card's Tales of Alvin Maker. Set in an alternate frontier America, the Tales of Alvin Maker beg...more
Au bord de la rivière Hatrack, près des forêts profondes où règne encore
l'homme rouge, un enfant au destin exceptionnel va naître en des
circonstances tragiques. Septième fils d'un septième fils, il détiendra,
dit-on, les immenses pouvoirs d'un " Faiseur ", pour peu qu'il
parvienne à échapper aux périls qui pèsent sur son existence. Car il est
un autre pouvoir, obscur, prêt à tout pour l'empêcher de vivre et de
grandir.
l'homme rouge, un enfant au destin exceptionnel va naître en des
circonstances tragiques. Septième fils d'un septième fils, il détiendra,
dit-on, les immenses pouvoirs d'un " Faiseur ", pour peu qu'il
parvienne à échapper aux périls qui pèsent sur son existence. Car il est
un autre pouvoir, obscur, prêt à tout pour l'empêcher de vivre et de
grandir.
Nous sommes dans les années 1800, sur la terre des pionniers
américains.
américains.
HEAVY DESTINY AT HIS WATRERY BIRTH
Card's first book in the Alvin Maker trilogy lures and quickly hooks the reader into a realm of dark fantasy, set in frontier America. Plunging into an alternative version of our colonial history, the story delineates realistic characters who are trapped in a universe of unexplored and uncharted wilderness--both geographic and moral. Their battle is greater than the usual God vs Satan struggle as denounced from New England pulpits.
Subtle, mysterious forces foc...more
Card's first book in the Alvin Maker trilogy lures and quickly hooks the reader into a realm of dark fantasy, set in frontier America. Plunging into an alternative version of our colonial history, the story delineates realistic characters who are trapped in a universe of unexplored and uncharted wilderness--both geographic and moral. Their battle is greater than the usual God vs Satan struggle as denounced from New England pulpits.
Subtle, mysterious forces foc...more
Note: I won't be finishing this series, given the author's homophobic stance - I'm not going to fill his pockets. But these were my thoughts on the book before I knew how horrible a man the author was:
I quite liked "Ender's Game," but balked at the rest of the series, and then read "Enchantment" and "Home Body," and decided I quite preferred Card in fantasy. So, when this was available for free at Book Expo Canada '03, I nabbed it!
It is very good, and I daresay I'll be hunting up the rest of the...more
I quite liked "Ender's Game," but balked at the rest of the series, and then read "Enchantment" and "Home Body," and decided I quite preferred Card in fantasy. So, when this was available for free at Book Expo Canada '03, I nabbed it!
It is very good, and I daresay I'll be hunting up the rest of the...more
This started well. We open with the difficult birth of our hero, so it literally begins at the beginning. But it's well written and you think okay so that's the intro, now the story.
Nope.
More intro, more set up, lots of exposition and establishing of things that don't need to be established.
The writing, the premise, the characters are all fine. The historical stuff, even the made up stuff, is all well conceived and interesting.
But there's no story. It's all set up.
This books was clearly written...more
Nope.
More intro, more set up, lots of exposition and establishing of things that don't need to be established.
The writing, the premise, the characters are all fine. The historical stuff, even the made up stuff, is all well conceived and interesting.
But there's no story. It's all set up.
This books was clearly written...more
I was very disappointed in this book. The only reason I gave it two stars instead of one is because his writing style and descriptions are interesting.
But in this book there is no plot, no clear and specific conflict. There is a vague, shadowy insinuation that some big invisible force wants to destroy everything for no particular reason, but apparently this force isn't very strong because so far all it can do is throw rocks at a little boy and miss. And the boy is supposed to stop it by weaving...more
But in this book there is no plot, no clear and specific conflict. There is a vague, shadowy insinuation that some big invisible force wants to destroy everything for no particular reason, but apparently this force isn't very strong because so far all it can do is throw rocks at a little boy and miss. And the boy is supposed to stop it by weaving...more
I read this on a whim in Moscow about six years ago, when I didn't have many English language books around. The story stuck with me, so I decided to reread it despite my dislike for Orson Scott Card as a person. I enjoyed it quite a bit - it's mostly well-written, with just a few missteps in characterization and dialogue. The version of early American history Card creates is interesting, seems relatively thorough, and is revealed slowly throughout the book. I'd like to continue reading the serie...more
Alvin is a 10 year old boy in a fictionalized version of colonial America where even the Indians have a state. This America is about 1/4 the size of the US as it stands now and ranges along the Eastern seaboard from what we call Boston to South Carolina. (Florida is owned by Spain.)
Alvin is the seventh son of a seventh son. This gives him certain knacks (powers) that even he doesn't understand fully at the age of 10. What he does know and what he firmly believes is that he must never use the pow...more
Alvin is the seventh son of a seventh son. This gives him certain knacks (powers) that even he doesn't understand fully at the age of 10. What he does know and what he firmly believes is that he must never use the pow...more
At first glance, this is a very harmless and charming book. It is enjoyable and gives an interesting take on what America might have been like if magic existed.
However, something about this gives me the creeps-something like the way that The Golden Compass made me feel. (That book used Biblical references, but twisted them just enough to give them an entirely different meaning, one that was profoundly anti-Christian.)
Orson Scott Card is professedly a devout Mormon, but the undertone of this boo...more
However, something about this gives me the creeps-something like the way that The Golden Compass made me feel. (That book used Biblical references, but twisted them just enough to give them an entirely different meaning, one that was profoundly anti-Christian.)
Orson Scott Card is professedly a devout Mormon, but the undertone of this boo...more
Probably a 3.5 star book, but I will give the benefit of the doubt: First off, I just finished Heartfire, the 5th book in this series, so while this may not be the greatest fantasy book of all time it was certainly good enough to make me want to try the next book ...
and the next three after that!
Where this book succeeds is in it's original plot and premise. Its weakness is the slow start, but never fear, keep reading because after awhile you won't be able to put it down.
The story itself is se...more
and the next three after that!
Where this book succeeds is in it's original plot and premise. Its weakness is the slow start, but never fear, keep reading because after awhile you won't be able to put it down.
The story itself is se...more
Seventh Son is the first book in a series, but you wouldn't know it from the plotline. Whereas many first-of-a-series books are almost entirely exposition, Seventh Son has rising action and a climax! Only an incomplete resolution hints at more to come. There is no cliffhanger, fortunately, only a slightly insidious "to be continued" atmosphere that makes one want to pick up the next book but does not cause frustrated nerd-rage if the bookstore is closed for the weekend.
Card does and excellent jo...more
Card does and excellent jo...more
This was different. I had read one of the books from this series years ago and it had fascinated me. I got motivated to search out the first in the series...I'm curious enough to want to know what happens next.
Card has created a, well, I guess a parallel world to our own. In Seventh Son, pioneers are settling in Hio and I can't tell if America exists or if it's just Americans. There are seven states...one of which is the Irrakwa---Ben-the Maker-Franklin wouldn't let the other six sign the Americ...more
Card has created a, well, I guess a parallel world to our own. In Seventh Son, pioneers are settling in Hio and I can't tell if America exists or if it's just Americans. There are seven states...one of which is the Irrakwa---Ben-the Maker-Franklin wouldn't let the other six sign the Americ...more
This was the second book I read by Orson Scott Card, but the first fantasy by him. I've read four in this series so far and I have to say I that in my mind, this series should be much more popular among LDS adults than the twilight series - it blows me away how many people have never heard of it! His creativity is amazing, his writing is so inspiring (I love how he uses 3rd person - it's so close it's almost 1st person - best of both worlds!), he has deeper principles, ideas and allusions imbedd...more
Old review from 2006
What I've read of Orson Scott Card has ranged from brilliant (Ender) to plodding (Shadow), so I figured I'd try some of his non-Ender material. This series tells an alternate history of the U.S., in which, among other things, the Iroquois posess their own state in the Union (most of NY), George Washington fought for the Brits (until heroically refusing to do so and suffering execution), and some people have magic powers. Magic powers? Yes. Pyrokinesis, prognostication, telepa...more
What I've read of Orson Scott Card has ranged from brilliant (Ender) to plodding (Shadow), so I figured I'd try some of his non-Ender material. This series tells an alternate history of the U.S., in which, among other things, the Iroquois posess their own state in the Union (most of NY), George Washington fought for the Brits (until heroically refusing to do so and suffering execution), and some people have magic powers. Magic powers? Yes. Pyrokinesis, prognostication, telepa...more
A Mormon woman at my mother's church once approached me as I was sitting in the lobby of said church after being dragged there to attend services. She asked what I was reading--even at a young age, I was never without a book. I showed her that it was Ender's Game, my favorite of Card's works. She then started raining down abuse on both my head and his, calling his books "trash" and saying that he should be excommunicated for writing such filth, because obviously he must be a terrible Mormon if h...more
To be honest, I hated this book when I first picked it up. I bought it years ago when I worked at a bookstore and got a hefty discount. I've always been a fan of alternative history, so the premise seemed interesting to me. I never got around to reading it until now, when I needed a break from the typical novels I've read as of late. In the first five pages I saw words like "figgured" and "reckoned" used, which made me groan and wonder what I was getting into. I kept on, though, as I don't like...more
**Spoilers, not much though**
Nothing about this book really wow’d me or stood out enough for me to say “here friend, you’d love this book,” The selling feature of this book to me was that it was written by Orson Scott Card, which only makes the fact that it didn’t do anything for me all the more disappointing. I loved the Ender Series he wrote. I normally pick up any book by him I can find but living in my small town the book store isn’t normally stocked with much of anything but Ender’s Game. W...more
Nothing about this book really wow’d me or stood out enough for me to say “here friend, you’d love this book,” The selling feature of this book to me was that it was written by Orson Scott Card, which only makes the fact that it didn’t do anything for me all the more disappointing. I loved the Ender Series he wrote. I normally pick up any book by him I can find but living in my small town the book store isn’t normally stocked with much of anything but Ender’s Game. W...more
Feb 11, 2010
Stephen
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
award-nominee-hugo,
award-nominee-locus,
award-winner-locus,
multiple-award-winners,
multiple-award-nominee,
award-nominee-mythopoeic-fantasy,
award-winner-mythopoeic-fantasy,
award-nominee-world-fantasy,
audiobook,
historical-fantasy,
1980-1989,
fantasy,
alternative-history,
ya,
unique-magic
4.5 stars. Fresh, original fantasy using the United States of the 19th century as its backdrop. This creation of a truly "American" fantasy novel was truly original and I thought made it a cut above a lot of cookie cutter fantasy stories.
Winner: Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel (1988)
Winner: Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature (1988)
Nominee: Hugo Award for Best Novel (1988)
Nominee: World Fantasy Award for Best Novel (1988)
Winner: Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel (1988)
Winner: Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature (1988)
Nominee: Hugo Award for Best Novel (1988)
Nominee: World Fantasy Award for Best Novel (1988)
9 likes · like · see review
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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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