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61st out of 111 books
—
256 voters
Prentice Alvin (Tales of Alvin Maker #3)
The Tales of Alvin Maker series continues in volume three, Prentice Alvin. Young Alvin returns to the town of his birth, and begins his apprenticeship with Makepeace Smith, committing seven years of his life in exchange for the skills and knowledge of a blacksmith. But Alvin must also learn to control and use his own talent, that of a Maker, else his destiny will be unfulf...more
342 pages
Published
(first published 1989)
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Question: How is reading a sequel to a book you loved similar to a restroom visit after “Spicy Night” at the Taco Emporium?
Answer:...Both require you to manage your expectations and BE PREPARED.
Well, stupid toss-pot that I am, I broke the cardinal rule of sequels and went hopscotching headlong into this book with my mental gas mask safely stowed up on the top shelf behind the untouched can of “use your brain” spray.
And it happened...
...I got a stinging, gut-twisting case of "the sequels"...for...more
Answer:...Both require you to manage your expectations and BE PREPARED.
Well, stupid toss-pot that I am, I broke the cardinal rule of sequels and went hopscotching headlong into this book with my mental gas mask safely stowed up on the top shelf behind the untouched can of “use your brain” spray.
And it happened...
...I got a stinging, gut-twisting case of "the sequels"...for...more
Feb 19, 2009
Michael
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fantasy,
read-in-2009
Orson Scott Card is one of those writers who seems to have great ideas for how to begin sagas but can quickly lose focus sometime around the third book. I found this to be the case with the Ender saga, which had two superb initial installments before a third novel that signalled a slow but eventual decline in quality.
As I read the Alvin Maker saga, I am worried the same thing may be happenening here. I'm not sure if I'd read this one before. There were moments in the story that I kept having an...more
As I read the Alvin Maker saga, I am worried the same thing may be happenening here. I'm not sure if I'd read this one before. There were moments in the story that I kept having an...more
5 likes · like · see review
I liked this one a bit more than the first two, and would've given it a 3.5 instead of 3 if I could. It doesn't deserve a 4, however. Having been a long time OSC reader, I surprisingly sit on the fence when it comes to my opinion of him. He's written two of the best books I've read, Ender's Game and Speaker for the Dead. There are a few VERY good ones, like Lovelock. And then, there's some atrocious pieces, like the last two of the Ender series, or Songmaster. In addition, his writing can be any...more
The series continues with solid levels of quality: Alvin has begun his "prenticeship" and though he comes to Hattrack river mostly to speak to the girl, Peggy, who, as a torch, had the ability to show him his futures and is likely the only person who can help him figure out how to be a real Maker, she flees before he even arrives.
This is a split story for most of the duration, flickering from Alvin on one side, to Peggy on the other, and converging near the end. Alvin's apprenticeship is very in...more
This is a split story for most of the duration, flickering from Alvin on one side, to Peggy on the other, and converging near the end. Alvin's apprenticeship is very in...more
May 13, 2008
Heather
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Fantasy Folks
Recommended to Heather by:
Jeremy
I enjoyed the story, but once again Card relies too much on coincidence. Characters just happen to do what they need to for the story to work, though it doesn't make sense -- for example, Alvin and Miss Larner falling in love. He just didn't convince me of that one. And he saves himself the trouble of explaining how Alvin came to trust in Miss Larner above anyone else by simply leaving that part out. None of that stops me from finishing out the series, though. I'm dying to see how it all turns o...more
2 likes · like · see review
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:
Alvin has begun his "prenticeship" and though he comes to Hattrack river mostly to speak to the girl, Peggy, who, as a torch, had the ability to show him his futures and is likely the only person who can help him figure out how to be a real Maker, she flees before he even arrives.
This is a split st...more
Alvin has begun his "prenticeship" and though he comes to Hattrack river mostly to speak to the girl, Peggy, who, as a torch, had the ability to show him his futures and is likely the only person who can help him figure out how to be a real Maker, she flees before he even arrives.
This is a split st...more
In the 3rd book of the Alvin Maker series we find Alvin as an apprentice for a smithy - forging iron into various needed articles. Alvin works very hard for his master Makepeace Smith and soon bypasses him in skill. However Alvin must serve out his apprenticeship as Makepeace Smith won't let him out of the contract early.
Meanwhile Alvin is taking school lessons in the evenings from the school teacher, Miss Larner. She is teaching him about atoms and how the world works. Alongside Alvin in his cl...more
Meanwhile Alvin is taking school lessons in the evenings from the school teacher, Miss Larner. She is teaching him about atoms and how the world works. Alongside Alvin in his cl...more
Moving straight to this book is a no-brainer at this point. I will certainly read the whole series now. I was pleased to have Peggy come back into this story, I've been curious about what she has been up to.
The stories in this book were very interesting. The adult nature of the villain and his work would prevent me from reading this book to the kids. In fact, I'd probably have them wait until they were at least 16 or so to read it themselves.
The parallels to Joseph Smith in this book seemed more...more
The stories in this book were very interesting. The adult nature of the villain and his work would prevent me from reading this book to the kids. In fact, I'd probably have them wait until they were at least 16 or so to read it themselves.
The parallels to Joseph Smith in this book seemed more...more
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1 like · like · see review
I'm now addicted to this series and will surely listen to all seven. I highly recommend this series on audible to anyone with a long commute. I don't know if I'd enjoy it as much reading, and I normally wouldn't get into a seven book series, however it seems to add some continuity to my commute. The readers are excellent.
This is Alvin from about 12-19 serving his apprenticeship as a blacksmith in Hatrack River. He's learning more about his "maker" powers. Very interesting perspective on creation...more
This is Alvin from about 12-19 serving his apprenticeship as a blacksmith in Hatrack River. He's learning more about his "maker" powers. Very interesting perspective on creation...more
Very good read. I really enjoyed reading this book and all the books in the series. I will just give my review of all the books here. These books are loosely based on the life of Joseph Smith and also contain some similarities to some Book of Mormon stories and even from the Bible it seems. But, he does this in an interesting way mixed with fantasy themes and also a view of how North America and Europe could have been if things had gone differently. He has a lot of famous historical American and...more
This book is another good step along the story arc, but what keeps me from rating it higher is the author's version of philosophy that permeates the series and pulls me away from the story.
His philosophy seems to mingle religion and his personal views and sentiments. This philosophy doesn't seem to be presented as a fantasy philosophy, but as a real philosophy. This may be what is done in most books, but it feels far from reality, yet presented as truth. I can't reconcile it.
What's more, there...more
His philosophy seems to mingle religion and his personal views and sentiments. This philosophy doesn't seem to be presented as a fantasy philosophy, but as a real philosophy. This may be what is done in most books, but it feels far from reality, yet presented as truth. I can't reconcile it.
What's more, there...more
I think I really appreciate Card's work as a break from Stephen King's Dark Tower. It's epic and rich and a very American fantasy with violence and evil people and forces in it but still lighter than King. This being a middle book it's quite a bit of... not set up but plot thickening I guess and I'm still connecting with the characters and excited to see where it goes. I also appreciate that Card shows scorn for religious hypocrites without dismissing entire religions like Mists of Avalon seemed...more
I found this very uneven and parts of it were strange in a way that jarred rather than came off as an organic part of the whole. One of them was the change in Makepeace Smith as he was portrayed in books 1 and 2. Others were the rasseling, the nature of the killing Alvin commits and the making of his apprentice project. The setup with Miss Larner also feels artificial. Regardless the the character of Alvin Miller, Jr., is compelling enough to make it worthwhile. Having now read the two novels th...more
Alvin is finally arriving at the forge where he is apprenticed to learn blacksmithery. But already most of our attention is focused on a bigger story. An escaped slave, forced by her owner and made pregnant in her early teens, has arrived in the village and died, leaving her son Arthur to be raised by the hotelier's wife. This happy outcome of the young slave's sacrifice has all been arranged by Peggy, the talented torch who foresaw Alvin's greatness. Now she is leaving as Alvin arrives, to avoi...more
I really liked this book--I felt like Card was finally headed somewhere with the series, and the pacing of the story wasn't as stilted as the first two. Red Prophet was good, but it almost seemed like two separate books--one about the Prophet and his brother and the other about Alvin. This book felt cohesive and like it was finally turning the series in some ultimate direction. Plus, I am a sucker for even the possibility of a little romance.
This one kept me turning pages, but the main reason I...more
This one kept me turning pages, but the main reason I...more
Alvin becomes an apprentice to a blacksmith where he learns an honest trade that doesn't require he use his special powers to support himself. He continues his education and preparation to find what he's supposed to do with his unique 'knack.' He meets some people that will play an important role in his search for what he's supposed to do with his life.
This book was better than the 2nd book in the Tales of Alvin Maker saga. I enjoyed most of it. While the 2nd book left me doubting if I wanted to...more
This book was better than the 2nd book in the Tales of Alvin Maker saga. I enjoyed most of it. While the 2nd book left me doubting if I wanted to...more
I should have known that the next subject to be dealt with in this revision of U.S. history would be slavery, and yet, it caught me a bit off guard. The lead in to this book especially seems out of place, it's as if Card wanted us to remember Taleswapper as a character, without having him appear in the main narrative, so he begins this book as a story within a story, and yet it doesn't stand alone or wrap up but leads directly into the main narrative. I'm not sure about this choice, since as a r...more
Posted at FanLit. http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
Prentice Alvin is the third book in Orson Scott Card’s TALES OF ALVIN MAKER. After the excitement in the last book, Red Prophet, when Alvin and his family experienced the Battle of Tippecanoe, Alvin is finally off to Hatrack River, where he was born, to begin his apprenticeship to Makepeace Smith, the blacksmith. He’s also hoping that Peggy, the Torch who watches over him, can help him figure out what it means to be a Maker because he’s h...more
Prentice Alvin is the third book in Orson Scott Card’s TALES OF ALVIN MAKER. After the excitement in the last book, Red Prophet, when Alvin and his family experienced the Battle of Tippecanoe, Alvin is finally off to Hatrack River, where he was born, to begin his apprenticeship to Makepeace Smith, the blacksmith. He’s also hoping that Peggy, the Torch who watches over him, can help him figure out what it means to be a Maker because he’s h...more
"What are you, boy? The devil?"
"I don't think so," said Alvin. "Though I might've met him once or twice."
I really enjoyed this third Alvin Maker title, after the second book (Red Prophet) kind of left me cold. The focus here is Alvin's apprenticeship to a blacksmith, and how he begins his journey not only to work with iron but to become the Maker he's destined to be.
I like that we saw Alvin's weaknesses, his pride, and his obstinacy before he finally learned how those parts of him were working...more
"I don't think so," said Alvin. "Though I might've met him once or twice."
I really enjoyed this third Alvin Maker title, after the second book (Red Prophet) kind of left me cold. The focus here is Alvin's apprenticeship to a blacksmith, and how he begins his journey not only to work with iron but to become the Maker he's destined to be.
I like that we saw Alvin's weaknesses, his pride, and his obstinacy before he finally learned how those parts of him were working...more
The story shifts back to a more personal one of Alvin from the more worldly, politically minded style of the last book. Still doing a great job of building momentum in the story as Alvin continues to develop. By the end of the story, Alvin seems ready to begin his quest in earnest and we can see the forces of the Unmaker aligning against him. Definitely a more adult read than the last few in the series dealing not only with race, but also slavery and rape. Very fun to watch both the story and Al...more
This is NOT a book for young readers. The antagonist's crimes were so horrible I almost stopped reading the series after the beginning of this book. I definitely took a break. It is not explicit, but bad none the less. I did like how OSC portrayed how "the devil" craftily deceives his followers. That said, the good parts of this book are truly wonderful! I love how Card explores the creative process. By the end I couldn't put it down. I love the main characters. I can't wait to see how their liv...more
Jun 21, 2011
Splen
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
anyone
Recommended to Splen by:
nobody, fan of O.S.C.
Shelves:
orson-scott-card
O.S.C. re-imagines an American historical period wherein
various groups of Americans (including Native Americans)
are imaginatively imbued with powers over nature,
a.k.a. 'knacks' and Folk-magic.
I say it is lovely.
Primarily Fantasy.
Also, Science Fiction -> Alternate History.
I first read and purchased (in Paperback)
the first five volumes of this series
a few months before Volume VI, the final book, was published
near its release on November 10th, 2003.
(I purchased the First Edition Hardcover of Vol...more
various groups of Americans (including Native Americans)
are imaginatively imbued with powers over nature,
a.k.a. 'knacks' and Folk-magic.
I say it is lovely.
Primarily Fantasy.
Also, Science Fiction -> Alternate History.
I first read and purchased (in Paperback)
the first five volumes of this series
a few months before Volume VI, the final book, was published
near its release on November 10th, 2003.
(I purchased the First Edition Hardcover of Vol...more
3rd book in the series above is about Alvin's teen aged years as he
learns the blacksmith trade trying not to use his powers and always
searching for how to go about understanding his destiny as a maker.
In the end he has the power to change the atomic structure of
objects, including the ability to make objects like the plow sentient.
Side plot line is about Peggy the torch who's destiny seems to be
intertwined with Alvin's but in the end we are not so sure they will
be together as desired by them bot...more
learns the blacksmith trade trying not to use his powers and always
searching for how to go about understanding his destiny as a maker.
In the end he has the power to change the atomic structure of
objects, including the ability to make objects like the plow sentient.
Side plot line is about Peggy the torch who's destiny seems to be
intertwined with Alvin's but in the end we are not so sure they will
be together as desired by them bot...more
I have really mixed feelings about this book. It was really engrossing...'Gross' being the key word at times! I still really like the story and the huge fight between good and evil that is always present. It has the makings of a great love story...but that, I'm sure, will be developed more in the following book(s). The hard part of this one was some of the content. At the beginning of the book, it says that this book is not for children. I definitely agree!! It was harsh at times, gross at times...more
As the above description indicates, this installment of the series finds Alvin at a transitional stage of his life, learning how (and how not) to use his unique powers as a Maker, in the service of the vision of the Crystal City which Tenskwa-Tawa, the Prophet, showed him as a child. But it also marks a transitional time in the life of Peggy, the "torch" (seer) whose destiny has been entwined with his since she was a toddler five years old. Her visions of possible futures are manifold, depending...more
4 likes · like · see review
PRENTICE ALVIN is the third volume of "The Tales of Alvin Maker", Orson Scott Card's alternate history of an America which looks quite different from our own and in which fol magic is real. After his travels with Ta-Kumsaw in RED PROPHET, the young protagonist finally reaches his birthplace Hatrack River, where he is to become an apprentice smith.
As with RED PROPHET, the first 40 or so pages introduces the reader to faraway events that nonetheless are to have great effects on Alvin's life. Havin...more
As with RED PROPHET, the first 40 or so pages introduces the reader to faraway events that nonetheless are to have great effects on Alvin's life. Havin...more
The Alvin Maker series is one that is quite interesting to me. I truly enjoy the alternate history aspect as well as the knacks everyone seems to have. I wasn't expecting the slavery issue to be brought up nor to be such a strong plot point. Also, though I know that the series is loosely based on the life of Joseph Smith Jr., I was uncomfortable with the treatment and alterations of some of the sacred events. In my opinion, it's better to stay very far away from such ground.
In this book Alvin begins to seriously grow up. 7 years pass in this book with very little happening during that time. Most of the real action in the book takes place at the end of those 7 years, at the end if Alvin's apprenticeship. I must confess that the ending of this book was entirely unsatisfying. I understand that there are parallels to real-life events, but I think that this book stretched just a little too far to imitate reality. I will still continue to read these books, but I'm not as...more
I was very happy with this book. Both Alvin and Peggy get their own viewpoints (and Peggy doesn't feel like a tertiary character, she is a main one, or almost so), and they work pretty nicely. Moreover, we finally get to see some Maker stuff going on, AND Alvin is no longer a child - which, let's be honest, had a weird feel to it, with him being so mature.
In many ways, I feel like this is the true beginning of the Alvin Maker series.
In many ways, I feel like this is the true beginning of the Alvin Maker series.
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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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“He’d undone all he could. You can be sorry, and you can be forgiven, but you can’t call back the futures that your bad decisions lost”
—
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