Seventh Son (Alvin Maker)
by Orson Scott Card
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Read in January, 1988
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
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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...more
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Read in April, 2004
recommends it for:
Yes
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 ...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 ...more
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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 alte...more
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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 negati...more
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Read in January, 2008
recommends it for:
anyone, esp. alt. history and/or religion fans
This wonderful book just sneaks up on you, gently grabs you by the throat and shakes you. It is an alternate history of a frontier America where folk magic is alive and well, but as might be expected, it is in dire conflict with religion and vice versa. A special child is born in this first in a series of 5 Alvin Maker books. I am putting the next 4 on my "to read" list right now.
I have always seen this author's name on lists of "bests" and "influences", and no...more
I have always seen this author's name on lists of "bests" and "influences", and no...more
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I have been listening to this series on Blackstone Audio and have enjoyed it a lot. There are seven books in this series and the last has yet to be written. There is a very despicable slave owner in "Apprentices Alvin" and a scene in it that I think is best skipped over. However, the rest is pretty clean aside from a few potty jokes. As I have been reading the books I have noticed some interesting parallels to LDS church history. Also in these books you will meet many interesting ...more
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Read in January, 1990
This series works on several levels for me. Card writes with economy, and doesn't bash you over the head with the idea of magic. Developing skill with magic is like learning to play the piano, time+practice yields reward. Talent is also a huge factor, and only a small number have this ability. These books toy with history (Ben Franklin is a minor wizard, Columbus never "discovered" America so Native Americans are refered to as Reds, not Indians. And Reds have a love/hate relations...more
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Read in July, 2007
I really enjoyed this book up until the end. Set in a magical version of the American frontier, Seventh Son is the first in a series of novels that follow Alvin Miller Jr. on his quest to defeat the Unmaker, a relentless force set on destroying everything in creation. Not realizing this before I began reading (I rarely commit to series of books--they require SO much time. . .), I was not happy with the way so much conflict was set up and so little resolved. It is apparent that all Alvi...more
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Read in January, 2004
recommends it for:
readers of fantasy, historical fiction, alternate histories
Card has written some great books which devolve as their series continue. This is a great example, along with Ender's Game.
Seventh Son is set in an alternate early America -- one in which folk magic works. The novel is cleverly written and has a compelling main character. Watch out for the sequels, though -- the first three in this series are good, after that, it goes downhill quickly. Card made the mistake of including characters designed by his fans -- which might be fun...more
Seventh Son is set in an alternate early America -- one in which folk magic works. The novel is cleverly written and has a compelling main character. Watch out for the sequels, though -- the first three in this series are good, after that, it goes downhill quickly. Card made the mistake of including characters designed by his fans -- which might be fun...more
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Read in June, 2008
recommended to Rebecca by:
Becky
This is the second book in a row that I'm not quite sure how I feel about it. I didn't feel it was really a page turner. In fact, I didn't feel the story even started until the end, which isn't an ending at all but back story for the real story - at least that's the impression I got.
Also, those of a religious nature, particularly of the religion of the author, will recognize where he gets his inspiration from and wonder if it isn't twisted a little weirdly. The characters and ideas are ...more
Also, those of a religious nature, particularly of the religion of the author, will recognize where he gets his inspiration from and wonder if it isn't twisted a little weirdly. The characters and ideas are ...more
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I had no idea what to expect from this book. I picked it up because of its alternative reality to our own. This is set in colonial America, but folk magic is real and the "history" of of the New World is a bit different than it went in our reality. But those are just details. This is the story of the seventh son of a seventh son. This gives a very powerfully magical child. As he is born his older brother dies, but holds on just long enough... We are treated to a small chunk of his ear...more
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Read in January, 2007
I was talking to a friend about a book she was reading that had folksy expressions in it, and I remembered the "Alvin Maker" series from Orson Scott Card. I'd forgotten how it's one of my favorite books. I like the depiction of an early alternative America with hard-working people speaking plainly to each other, the undercurrent of magic and good and evil, and the family life. It's also a story about a young boy growing into his talent and his mission (a common theme with OSC), and I j...more
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Has a copy to sell/swap
The alternate history where the folk magic works, the Christian's are blind to the true evil, the slaves posess powerful magic to help them cope, and the Indians have it all figured out...
The book is a great example of how people choose great evil or great good... and that people can be tricked into the wrong choices when they will receive what they've wanted most for believing the choice is really for some greater Godly purpose...
And just how much humans can mess up the word of God when...more
The book is a great example of how people choose great evil or great good... and that people can be tricked into the wrong choices when they will receive what they've wanted most for believing the choice is really for some greater Godly purpose...
And just how much humans can mess up the word of God when...more
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Read in April, 2008
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.
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I went through one summer where I read most (all?) of the Alvin Maker books. They're very interesting, set in an alternate America where magic and supernatural powers are possible, but somewhat suppressed. I started to lose interest toward the end of the series, and I'm not 100% positive that I've read them all. Again, maybe my attention span is too short, but couldn't he have written one longish book and just built that crystal city, already? Still, I enjoyed the premise a great deal.
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recommends it for:
All ages
I had this recommended to me and was surprised to find it mixed in with the science fiction at our local library. It isn't science fiction and barely qualifies as fantasy. The story is the first of the Alvin Maker stories and is short - about the length of a small novella. It is also a fast, but interesting read. I found it engaging and entertaining, though I must admit, it had some predictability, given the religious background of the author and the history of the LDS people.
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Read in January, 2000
recommends it for:
Cheesy Fantasy Lovers
This book - nay, this whole series - from the cover to the writing, made me think the title should have been "The Blacksmith's Arms" and pictured Fabio on the front of it. The fantasy aspect of it was interesting and actually kept you engaged, but the description of Alvin's physique and his romance with whats-'er-face made me think this was co-written with Nicholas Sparks. I didn't read the last book in the series, and I don't know if I will.
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Read in January, 1994
The first glimpse into an alternative America where magic has a place... through the eyes of a little boy with unknown talents. It's heartfelt, honest, and written in a homely way about homely people. Card writes essentially moral fantasy, and I really identify with that. He inspires us to be better humans than we are. This is up there with Ender's Game, where all of Card's other work, to me, falls short.
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Good series about late colonial America. Not all of the U.S. is discovered yet and it's the time where science and technology are starting to take over from folk lore, superstitions, and the old ways. Story of the young boy who is the 7th son of a 7th son and is the 13th child of his family giving him "all the knacks." Good read, which is always due to Orson Scott Card's writing ability.
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