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Tales of Alvin Maker #4
Alvin Journeyman
Alvin Miller, a gifted seventh son of a seventh son, utilizes his skills as a Maker to help create a brighter future for America, but his task is further challenged by his ancient enemy, the Unmaker, who plots to end Alvin's life. 100,000 first printing. $100,000 ad/promo. Tour.
381 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 1995
103 people are currently reading
3309 people want to read
About the author
Orson Scott Card
892 books20.7k followersOrson Scott Card is an American writer known best for his science fiction works. He is (as of 2023) the only person to have won a Hugo Award and a Nebula Award in consecutive years, winning both awards for his novel Ender's Game (1985) and its sequel Speaker for the Dead (1986). A feature film adaptation of Ender's Game, which Card co-produced, was released in 2013. Card also wrote the Locus Fantasy Award-winning series The Tales of Alvin Maker (1987–2003).
Card's fiction often features characters with exceptional gifts who make difficult choices with high stakes. Card has also written political, religious, and social commentary in his columns and other writing; his opposition to homosexuality has provoked public criticism.
Card, who is a great-great-grandson of Brigham Young, was born in Richland, Washington, and grew up in Utah and California. While he was a student at Brigham Young University (BYU), his plays were performed on stage. He served in Brazil as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and headed a community theater for two summers. Card had 27 short stories published between 1978 and 1979, and he won the John W. Campbell Award for best new writer in 1978. He earned a master's degree in English from the University of Utah in 1981 and wrote novels in science fiction, fantasy, non-fiction, and historical fiction genres starting in 1979. Card continued to write prolifically, and he has published over 50 novels and 45 short stories.
Card teaches English at Southern Virginia University; he has written two books on creative writing and serves as a judge in the Writers of the Future contest. He has taught many successful writers at his "literary boot camps". He remains a practicing member of the LDS Church and Mormon fiction writers Stephenie Meyer, Brandon Sanderson, and Dave Wolverton have cited his works as a major influence.
Card's fiction often features characters with exceptional gifts who make difficult choices with high stakes. Card has also written political, religious, and social commentary in his columns and other writing; his opposition to homosexuality has provoked public criticism.
Card, who is a great-great-grandson of Brigham Young, was born in Richland, Washington, and grew up in Utah and California. While he was a student at Brigham Young University (BYU), his plays were performed on stage. He served in Brazil as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and headed a community theater for two summers. Card had 27 short stories published between 1978 and 1979, and he won the John W. Campbell Award for best new writer in 1978. He earned a master's degree in English from the University of Utah in 1981 and wrote novels in science fiction, fantasy, non-fiction, and historical fiction genres starting in 1979. Card continued to write prolifically, and he has published over 50 novels and 45 short stories.
Card teaches English at Southern Virginia University; he has written two books on creative writing and serves as a judge in the Writers of the Future contest. He has taught many successful writers at his "literary boot camps". He remains a practicing member of the LDS Church and Mormon fiction writers Stephenie Meyer, Brandon Sanderson, and Dave Wolverton have cited his works as a major influence.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 328 reviews
March 10, 2009
In his introduction, Card acknowledges that when "Alvin Journeyman" was first published, some fans had been waiting several years for the next installment in the series. Had I been one of those fans, I would have probably been really annoyed that I'd waited a long time and only got "Alvin Journeyman."
Just as is the case with the later Ender novels, the Alvin series seems to have descended into a series where people sit around and have lots of philosophical conversations that, while interesting, don't really do much to advance the plot. The most frustrating part of this is that we have some interesting subplots in here such as the rift between Calvin and Alvin that are brought up, sort of developed and then left dangling once the final pages are turned. Card hints at something more to come and maybe this novel is groundwork for that, but it still feels like an incomplete read. Or maybe this is just one long preview for the next installment in the series.
"Alvin Journeyman" seems to be more concerned with wrapping up bits from the last book and introducing a plethora of new characters more than it is about advancing the story of Alvin and his becoming a maker. Enough with visions of the Crystal City. Let's get onto actually building it or bringing it back.
Just as is the case with the later Ender novels, the Alvin series seems to have descended into a series where people sit around and have lots of philosophical conversations that, while interesting, don't really do much to advance the plot. The most frustrating part of this is that we have some interesting subplots in here such as the rift between Calvin and Alvin that are brought up, sort of developed and then left dangling once the final pages are turned. Card hints at something more to come and maybe this novel is groundwork for that, but it still feels like an incomplete read. Or maybe this is just one long preview for the next installment in the series.
"Alvin Journeyman" seems to be more concerned with wrapping up bits from the last book and introducing a plethora of new characters more than it is about advancing the story of Alvin and his becoming a maker. Enough with visions of the Crystal City. Let's get onto actually building it or bringing it back.
July 21, 2020
I have a lot to think about, with respect to this book. On one hand, the author has set up an alternate history of the growth of America, one with a better chance for Native Americans, and a somewhat better chance for Blacks. It's only the early 1800s, and there is still much hate, fear, and inequality, but given the weight of actual history, I'm not sure he could have done much better.
On the other hand, he's a straight white LDS guy, writing at a time that the majority of SF&F readers were straight, white, and I assume a majority of guys, and I am a straight, white old guy myself, so what do I know?
On the other hand, he's a straight white LDS guy, writing at a time that the majority of SF&F readers were straight, white, and I assume a majority of guys, and I am a straight, white old guy myself, so what do I know?
July 19, 2014
Card continues his top-notch storytelling in this fourth volume of Alvin's saga. One of my Goodreads friends was distinctly displeased with this installment, complaining that it brought the series no closer to its resolution, and introduced characters and subplots only for the sake of lengthening the story. My take on these points, though, is quite different. The characters and subplots don't simply lengthen the saga; they add depth and complexity to it. You can tell a great (in the epic sense) tale --and what Card has in mind is indeed an epic tale, the story of a life-work of monumental moral significance-- at short length, like a condensed, thin-volume overview history of the Civil War; and such concise overviews serve an educational purpose. In real life, though, that kind of process isn't short and neat and linear; instead, it's more like a kaleidoscope with a lot of different people's contributions and a lot of messy subplots, all of which add to the total picture, and the people living through it don't experience it as something hurried through. Although Card's is a fictional history in an alternate America, his method of story-telling is the kind that would more accurately reflect reality as it's lived --to keep the Civil War analogy, it's not a concise, 150 page overview, but more like Shelby Foote's monumental narrative in three massive volumes. :-)
Nor is it correct to say that this volume doesn't advance the plot of the series as a whole. True, when it ends, Alvin doesn't know any more about how to build the Crystal City of his vision than he does at the beginning. But his method of trying to learn how will change in this book; an important issue will be resolved; and he'll gain two new companions whose roles will undoubtedly be pivotal. In this book, too, the character of Alvin's brother and rival Calvin will come into its own, as a major present (and future) force in the plot. And not to include any spoilers, but this installment of the series will be epochal in Alvin and Peggy's relationship.
Along the way, Card will show us glimpses of the best and worst of human behavior, and the muddled intermediates of fallible, confused humans; depict moral redemption in the most apparently unlikely individuals, and testify to the power of forgiveness in one of the most luminous passages of the series. His world-building fascinates, and sweeps us from frontier America to London and Paris; his characters live and breathe (his portrayal of Balzac has me intriguied enough to be resolved to read Pere Goriot!); and the alternate-history riff on real historical events, in a world where things unfold in a way that's the same but different, both sometimes in surprising ways, never ceases to delight --at least for me; that's one of the chief things I like about alternate history, and that draws me to it. :-) Not surprisingly, I'm eager to go on to the next volume, Heartfire!
Nor is it correct to say that this volume doesn't advance the plot of the series as a whole. True, when it ends, Alvin doesn't know any more about how to build the Crystal City of his vision than he does at the beginning. But his method of trying to learn how will change in this book; an important issue will be resolved; and he'll gain two new companions whose roles will undoubtedly be pivotal. In this book, too, the character of Alvin's brother and rival Calvin will come into its own, as a major present (and future) force in the plot. And not to include any spoilers, but this installment of the series will be epochal in Alvin and Peggy's relationship.
Along the way, Card will show us glimpses of the best and worst of human behavior, and the muddled intermediates of fallible, confused humans; depict moral redemption in the most apparently unlikely individuals, and testify to the power of forgiveness in one of the most luminous passages of the series. His world-building fascinates, and sweeps us from frontier America to London and Paris; his characters live and breathe (his portrayal of Balzac has me intriguied enough to be resolved to read Pere Goriot!); and the alternate-history riff on real historical events, in a world where things unfold in a way that's the same but different, both sometimes in surprising ways, never ceases to delight --at least for me; that's one of the chief things I like about alternate history, and that draws me to it. :-) Not surprisingly, I'm eager to go on to the next volume, Heartfire!
November 12, 2012
Originally posted at FanLit.http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
Alvin Miller is finally a journeyman blacksmith and a Maker. He’s back home in Vigor Church, trying to teach others his Making skills because he believes he needs Makers to create the Crystal City he’s dreamed of. But the Unmaker is hard at work, trying to unravel Alvin’s plans. With the help of a girl who has a crush on Alvin, the Unmaker manages to get Alvin to flee back to Hatrack River where Makepeace Smith is waiting to sue him for that golden plow. The prosecutor is none other than Daniel Webster.
Alvin’s brother Calvin, who is jealous of Alvin, has gone to Europe to learn from Napoleon Bonaparte. While he’s there, he meets a young lawyer who is also a Maker and, inadvertently, sends him to Alvin’s defense. Meanwhile, Peggy, who continues to watch over Alvin and Calvin, is on a crusade to end slavery. She’d also like to ruin William “Tippecanoe” Harrison’s chance of being elected president. When she realizes that Alvin is in danger, she goes to warn him and picks up a transformed Mike Fink along the way.
Alvin Journeyman, which won the 1996 Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel, is the fourth book in Orson Scott Card’s TALES OF ALVIN MAKER. There were some great moments in Alvin Journeyman, such as when the slave finders try to identify Arthur Stuart, but at this point in the series, the plot has slowed drastically and this book feels like a detour. Alvin spends most of his time in jail and most of the word count consists of characters’ verbal sparring with each other, usually in a teasing manner. Some of this is clever, but it becomes increasingly tiresome. The same thing happened with Card’s ENDER WIGGIN series. Orson Scott Card’s characters talk too much. I’m ready for everyone to shut up and get moving. Come on, let’s go!
I’m still listening to Blackstone Audio’s version which is very good. To their credit, the narrators don’t appear to be as bored as I am.
Alvin Miller is finally a journeyman blacksmith and a Maker. He’s back home in Vigor Church, trying to teach others his Making skills because he believes he needs Makers to create the Crystal City he’s dreamed of. But the Unmaker is hard at work, trying to unravel Alvin’s plans. With the help of a girl who has a crush on Alvin, the Unmaker manages to get Alvin to flee back to Hatrack River where Makepeace Smith is waiting to sue him for that golden plow. The prosecutor is none other than Daniel Webster.
Alvin’s brother Calvin, who is jealous of Alvin, has gone to Europe to learn from Napoleon Bonaparte. While he’s there, he meets a young lawyer who is also a Maker and, inadvertently, sends him to Alvin’s defense. Meanwhile, Peggy, who continues to watch over Alvin and Calvin, is on a crusade to end slavery. She’d also like to ruin William “Tippecanoe” Harrison’s chance of being elected president. When she realizes that Alvin is in danger, she goes to warn him and picks up a transformed Mike Fink along the way.
Alvin Journeyman, which won the 1996 Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel, is the fourth book in Orson Scott Card’s TALES OF ALVIN MAKER. There were some great moments in Alvin Journeyman, such as when the slave finders try to identify Arthur Stuart, but at this point in the series, the plot has slowed drastically and this book feels like a detour. Alvin spends most of his time in jail and most of the word count consists of characters’ verbal sparring with each other, usually in a teasing manner. Some of this is clever, but it becomes increasingly tiresome. The same thing happened with Card’s ENDER WIGGIN series. Orson Scott Card’s characters talk too much. I’m ready for everyone to shut up and get moving. Come on, let’s go!
I’m still listening to Blackstone Audio’s version which is very good. To their credit, the narrators don’t appear to be as bored as I am.
December 9, 2019
2.5 stars?
This is such a weird alternate history series! Welcome to a North America that has been torqued into a strange shape by this author. The race relations have a really odd feel, with Indigenous people retreated to an area beyond a river and a mysterious bank of cloud which prevents Caucasians from visiting them. Black people’s lives are more similar to actual history, with slaves, slave finders, and free people of colour (who nonetheless face discrimination).
The most obvious theme in this installment is that of Cain and Abel, two brothers at odds with one another. In this case, it’s Calvin and Alvin, with Calvin resenting his older brother so much that he elects to leave their community and seek his own position in the world. Unfortunately, he has an undeservedly high opinion of himself and a nasty disposition. Why be kind when you can blackmail, amiright? (Wikipedia helpfully tells me that Cain's name means "smith" and resembles the verb 'to make' in Hebrew, perhaps significant as both Alvin and Calvin are Makers and Alvin is a smith?)
Although it doesn’t happen in this volume, Calvin has obviously decided to make Alvin’s life difficult. No doubt that will happen in the next book.
Book number 337 in my Science Fiction and Fantasy Reading Project.
This is such a weird alternate history series! Welcome to a North America that has been torqued into a strange shape by this author. The race relations have a really odd feel, with Indigenous people retreated to an area beyond a river and a mysterious bank of cloud which prevents Caucasians from visiting them. Black people’s lives are more similar to actual history, with slaves, slave finders, and free people of colour (who nonetheless face discrimination).
The most obvious theme in this installment is that of Cain and Abel, two brothers at odds with one another. In this case, it’s Calvin and Alvin, with Calvin resenting his older brother so much that he elects to leave their community and seek his own position in the world. Unfortunately, he has an undeservedly high opinion of himself and a nasty disposition. Why be kind when you can blackmail, amiright? (Wikipedia helpfully tells me that Cain's name means "smith" and resembles the verb 'to make' in Hebrew, perhaps significant as both Alvin and Calvin are Makers and Alvin is a smith?)
Although it doesn’t happen in this volume, Calvin has obviously decided to make Alvin’s life difficult. No doubt that will happen in the next book.
Book number 337 in my Science Fiction and Fantasy Reading Project.
February 24, 2016
Rating a book is never easy. And the worst mistake one does is my comparing a book with another. This book deserves a solid 4 star.
Orson Scott Card is no Brandon Sanderson or Patrick Rothfuss. Those guys get 5 stars just for being them. Everything is different from their books. From the pace of the tale to the language it speaks to you, from the intricate magical systems to minimalist plot lines. I've seen people give 3 stars to Robin Hobb just because it didn't entice them as much as Abercombie's words did.
Keeping everything in mind and upon reading book 4 of Alvin Maker, I was actually thoroughly pleased to have read it. Alvin continues his journey of being a Maker finds himself in jail (of all places) with some serious folks deadfast against him. This book also finally starts the story of Calvin, Alvin's brother. Reminds me of Kane and Abel, those two. Funny how disharmony always begins at home. So we have the two brothers going separate ways trying to be the best of the best men in this world, while the Unmaker aka the really evil dark lord or some shitbag enigmatic presence is trying his best to destroy what they create.
2 books left and the best bits are yet to come. I'm hoping for a showdown.
Orson Scott Card is no Brandon Sanderson or Patrick Rothfuss. Those guys get 5 stars just for being them. Everything is different from their books. From the pace of the tale to the language it speaks to you, from the intricate magical systems to minimalist plot lines. I've seen people give 3 stars to Robin Hobb just because it didn't entice them as much as Abercombie's words did.
Keeping everything in mind and upon reading book 4 of Alvin Maker, I was actually thoroughly pleased to have read it. Alvin continues his journey of being a Maker finds himself in jail (of all places) with some serious folks deadfast against him. This book also finally starts the story of Calvin, Alvin's brother. Reminds me of Kane and Abel, those two. Funny how disharmony always begins at home. So we have the two brothers going separate ways trying to be the best of the best men in this world, while the Unmaker aka the really evil dark lord or some shitbag enigmatic presence is trying his best to destroy what they create.
2 books left and the best bits are yet to come. I'm hoping for a showdown.
June 25, 2019
Синдромът на средната част продължава със страшна сила. Слава богу, Кард е успял да скалъпи приличен сюжет и го няма онова "нищо-не-ставане" както при много други автори, но пък не мога да се отърва от усещането, че напредъкът е минимален.
Главната сюжетна линия със съдебния процес срещу Алвин, честно казано, беше малко разочароваща. Както и липсата на развръзка в конфликта Алвин-Калвин. Авторът просто мести фигурите по дъската и много се надявам, че знае какво прави и всичко това ще се отплати впоследствие.
Хубаво е, че се срещнахме отново с доста герои, които бяхме позабравили. За съжаление повечето от тях се мяркат съвсем закратко и не оставят кой знае каква следа. Все пак има силни податки, че ще играят важна роля нататък.
Четири звезди и стискам палци в следващата книга нещата най-после да се раздвижат.
Главната сюжетна линия със съдебния процес срещу Алвин, честно казано, беше малко разочароваща. Както и липсата на развръзка в конфликта Алвин-Калвин. Авторът просто мести фигурите по дъската и много се надявам, че знае какво прави и всичко това ще се отплати впоследствие.
Хубаво е, че се срещнахме отново с доста герои, които бяхме позабравили. За съжаление повечето от тях се мяркат съвсем закратко и не оставят кой знае каква следа. Все пак има силни податки, че ще играят важна роля нататък.
Четири звезди и стискам палци в следващата книга нещата най-после да се раздвижат.
June 17, 2008
LOOK WE CAN MAKE LAWS AND SIT IN COURTS AND TALK A LOT REALLY MAGIC AND WONDER AND ALL THAT IS IRRELEVANT IN A FANTASY NOVEL
So help me I don't know why I'm still reading this mess.
You should know that this is book four. I read a third of the way through book five before I realized I'd skipped a book. I can totally summarize the whole of what happens in this book:
Alvin's accused of junk and then is acquitted.
The end. 300 pages later.
Orson, I know you're bigheaded and people will buy your books no matter what I say, but why is the farther along in a series you get, the more we end up with talking heads? Preachy talking heads. OHNOESFATE
So help me I don't know why I'm still reading this mess.
You should know that this is book four. I read a third of the way through book five before I realized I'd skipped a book. I can totally summarize the whole of what happens in this book:
Alvin's accused of junk and then is acquitted.
The end. 300 pages later.
Orson, I know you're bigheaded and people will buy your books no matter what I say, but why is the farther along in a series you get, the more we end up with talking heads? Preachy talking heads. OHNOESFATE
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2016
With book four the series starts to slow again and characters are made to retread old paths. Alvin returns home and attempts to train more Makers. While it starts to feel as if the first three books peaked with Prentice Alvin, then we're now on the other side of that hill and Card is trying to restart the story somewhat. To an extent this is borne out just from the publishing schedule - books 1 through 3 were published a year apart, this one took a six year jump for him to get back to world of Alvin Maker.
It's an enjoyable read though - if a little slow - and we do get some new characters and some older characters that step up from supporting cast to regular.
It's an enjoyable read though - if a little slow - and we do get some new characters and some older characters that step up from supporting cast to regular.
March 9, 2024
1 February 1997 – ***. Fantasy is not my usual comfort zone. But this is genre combination of fantasy and alternate history. It is an intriguing saga of an alternate late 18th century America where magical knacks are real. This is Volume 4; you should start with Seventh Son.
July 7, 2025
I read and continued reading the book because I’m invested in the story. But honestly, it was quite a boring read. There were only about 3 things of note that happened in Alvin’s journey in this long book, and I felt like the rest of it wasn’t enjoyable to follow. This is basically a book about a meaningless and odd trial of law that brought in unimportant details for no purpose. To Card’s credit, it was written well, but I just didn’t like the story. I hope the next book is better!
May 28, 2019
Excellent. Love the “alternate” history in this series.
December 7, 2020
Un peu moins bon que les précédents titres de la saga car beaucoup de répétitions.
Mais un excellent moment de lecture tout de même.
C'est un plaisir de continuer les aventures d'Alvin !
Mais un excellent moment de lecture tout de même.
C'est un plaisir de continuer les aventures d'Alvin !
May 24, 2020
From the books of this series I've read so far, this one was very good. I didn't enjoy Calvin's parts as much, but he always does a good job of setting up the next book.
January 19, 2023
Rereading this series is interesting. When I first started this series back in 2012 I read the first two and wrote it off as "Mormon Narnia," amusing but nothing more. When I got to book three I finally caught on to what Card is really doing, and it got better the farther I went.
At that time, this was my favorite installment in the series. It's definitely the one that come closest to the epic fantasy of the 1990s, with an enormous sprawl, and rather than a clear beginning, middle and end. There's a sense of narrative scope here, though, strangely, it's contained to the physical realm, whereas that scope was previously explored through more esoteric means. This volume is all about people, relationships, motives, and other material aspects of life. It makes for excellent drama, and is powerfully thematically charged.
This book, more than any other in the series, I think, tries to get at the themes Card wishes to make. By now, Alvin has enormous power and could do all sorts of things, if he chose to. But Alvin's life has previously trained him to trust that, as a Maker, his responsibility to the natural order of the universe, even as someone who can shape that universe, keeps him in check. And thus we see how to interact with the world, how to be a Maker, and how to be happy, is to pursue a state of equilibrium. (Card's appreciation for Earthsea is a documented fact.)
This volume introduces Calvin as a viable character and burgeoning antagonist. He's bitter because he's also a Maker, but he feels impelled to use his powers for self-gratification, and he feels as if Alvin keeps constantly eclipses him. It's very Cain and Abel, and Card pulls it off well.
Another character I'm fond of is Verily Cooper, whom I just like. I think it's because he's so guileless but also so shrewd. And I'm 95% certain the court scene when he defends Alvin is heavily lifted from My Cousin Vinny, my favorite lawyer film.
Still, there were some things in this book that bothered me this time through. Peggy's talk about working for the abolition of slavery felt forced, like it's a goal I'm supposed to recognize as noble and just accept that it's a solid motive, rather than actually convincing me that Peggy feels drawn to this mission. Felt a bit like lip-service, is my point. And the scene with Tenskwa-Tawa at the end felt a bit leaden. These are both extremely important aspects of the series, but I'm not certain Card pulled them off. And, of course, there are certain tics Card has that bother me – the way he talks about sex always manages to be straightforward and also ironic, which is just confusing; there're some random passages where I just scratch my head at how extensively he wrote about something (e.g. when Mike Fink apprehends some would-be assassins in the forest, and we get half of page explaining how he tied them up); some of the dialogue is a bit force; and, most egregiously in this volume, the songs are bad. Like, worse than Tolkien's song bad. And he actually has a song about Lord of the Rings, and I have no idea what to make of it. It's just weird.
Still, this book is a winner. I no longer think it stands definitively above the rest, though that's more because of how my opinion of those books has grown and less about any major defects in this one. I love this series, and it's great to be back!
At that time, this was my favorite installment in the series. It's definitely the one that come closest to the epic fantasy of the 1990s, with an enormous sprawl, and rather than a clear beginning, middle and end. There's a sense of narrative scope here, though, strangely, it's contained to the physical realm, whereas that scope was previously explored through more esoteric means. This volume is all about people, relationships, motives, and other material aspects of life. It makes for excellent drama, and is powerfully thematically charged.
This book, more than any other in the series, I think, tries to get at the themes Card wishes to make. By now, Alvin has enormous power and could do all sorts of things, if he chose to. But Alvin's life has previously trained him to trust that, as a Maker, his responsibility to the natural order of the universe, even as someone who can shape that universe, keeps him in check. And thus we see how to interact with the world, how to be a Maker, and how to be happy, is to pursue a state of equilibrium. (Card's appreciation for Earthsea is a documented fact.)
This volume introduces Calvin as a viable character and burgeoning antagonist. He's bitter because he's also a Maker, but he feels impelled to use his powers for self-gratification, and he feels as if Alvin keeps constantly eclipses him. It's very Cain and Abel, and Card pulls it off well.
Another character I'm fond of is Verily Cooper, whom I just like. I think it's because he's so guileless but also so shrewd. And I'm 95% certain the court scene when he defends Alvin is heavily lifted from My Cousin Vinny, my favorite lawyer film.
Still, there were some things in this book that bothered me this time through. Peggy's talk about working for the abolition of slavery felt forced, like it's a goal I'm supposed to recognize as noble and just accept that it's a solid motive, rather than actually convincing me that Peggy feels drawn to this mission. Felt a bit like lip-service, is my point. And the scene with Tenskwa-Tawa at the end felt a bit leaden. These are both extremely important aspects of the series, but I'm not certain Card pulled them off. And, of course, there are certain tics Card has that bother me – the way he talks about sex always manages to be straightforward and also ironic, which is just confusing; there're some random passages where I just scratch my head at how extensively he wrote about something (e.g. when Mike Fink apprehends some would-be assassins in the forest, and we get half of page explaining how he tied them up); some of the dialogue is a bit force; and, most egregiously in this volume, the songs are bad. Like, worse than Tolkien's song bad. And he actually has a song about Lord of the Rings, and I have no idea what to make of it. It's just weird.
Still, this book is a winner. I no longer think it stands definitively above the rest, though that's more because of how my opinion of those books has grown and less about any major defects in this one. I love this series, and it's great to be back!
September 8, 2007
It has been said that any plot which depends on a dramatic courtroom trial is doomed to mediocrity. ALVIN JOURNEYMAN, unfortunately, is one of those plots. In this fourth instalment of Orson Scott Card's alternate-history and Mormon allegory "The Tales of Alvin Maker", Alvin is put on trial for his life. We, the readers, spend half the book being dragged through courtroom melodrama with a protagonist the reader is having a hard time caring about any more.
At the end of PRENTICE ALVIN, Alvin finished his prentice stint with Makepeace Smith and had returned to his hometown of Vigor Church to teach Making. ALVIN JOURNEYMAN sees him return almost immediately to Hatrack River due to the slander of a young lady in love with him. Upon his arrival, however, he is arrested and put on trial for theft of the golden plow, and his young ward Arthur Stuart faces being taken back to slavery in Appalachee. Verily Cooper, a young English lawyer with a knack for binding things together, is brought to the United States by rumours of a Maker and defends Alvin. And while Alvin endures his hardships in Hatrack River, his malevolent brother Calvin heads for Europe to learn from Napoleon himself how to rule over others.
Orson Scott Card wrote ALVIN JOURNEYMAN five years after the previous installment, and it is pretty evident that he has grown somewhat tired of the series and no longer sure of what direction it will take. Alvin teaches Making in Vigor Church, but how can you teach that, what exactly would you be teaching? Card can't come up with an answer either and thus he abandons the topic as soon as this installment begins. There are several blatant errors with geography (a judge refers to "the state of Kennituck" when Card had already said that Kennituck was a county of Appalachee). After fleeing from Vigor Church and wandering for a bit, Alvin and Arthur Stuart's return to Hatrack River seems forced. Why would Alvin return to a place where his enemies await him? A bit of the novel is dedicated to the comeback of White Murderer Harrison, but after he is elected, Card quickly dispatches him almost beneath the reader's notice. The ending resolves nothing and is little more than a Taleswapper cameo.
The novel is also frustrating because it accomplishes little for the series. We see no progress towards the building of the Crystal City, and the only indication of where the series is headed are the occasional foreboding references to how Alvin should not visit Carthage City lest he die, just as the founder of Mormonism, Joseph Smith, met a violent end in Carthage, Illinois. However, in ALVIN JOURNEYMAN Orson Scott Card does start to go off track with the formerly solid Mormon allegory. The trial of Alvin is obviously symbolic of the trials of Joseph Smith, but while Alvin is acquitted, the young Joseph Smith was found guilty of moneydigging. ALVIN JOURNEYMAN leaves the reader drifting, totally ignorant of what is going to happen next or, indeed, what the point of the series is any more.
The first two volumes of The Tales of Alvin Maker were quite entertaining and the third volume, while it had its moments, was a disappointment. It is becoming increasingly difficult to recommend the series.
At the end of PRENTICE ALVIN, Alvin finished his prentice stint with Makepeace Smith and had returned to his hometown of Vigor Church to teach Making. ALVIN JOURNEYMAN sees him return almost immediately to Hatrack River due to the slander of a young lady in love with him. Upon his arrival, however, he is arrested and put on trial for theft of the golden plow, and his young ward Arthur Stuart faces being taken back to slavery in Appalachee. Verily Cooper, a young English lawyer with a knack for binding things together, is brought to the United States by rumours of a Maker and defends Alvin. And while Alvin endures his hardships in Hatrack River, his malevolent brother Calvin heads for Europe to learn from Napoleon himself how to rule over others.
Orson Scott Card wrote ALVIN JOURNEYMAN five years after the previous installment, and it is pretty evident that he has grown somewhat tired of the series and no longer sure of what direction it will take. Alvin teaches Making in Vigor Church, but how can you teach that, what exactly would you be teaching? Card can't come up with an answer either and thus he abandons the topic as soon as this installment begins. There are several blatant errors with geography (a judge refers to "the state of Kennituck" when Card had already said that Kennituck was a county of Appalachee). After fleeing from Vigor Church and wandering for a bit, Alvin and Arthur Stuart's return to Hatrack River seems forced. Why would Alvin return to a place where his enemies await him? A bit of the novel is dedicated to the comeback of White Murderer Harrison, but after he is elected, Card quickly dispatches him almost beneath the reader's notice. The ending resolves nothing and is little more than a Taleswapper cameo.
The novel is also frustrating because it accomplishes little for the series. We see no progress towards the building of the Crystal City, and the only indication of where the series is headed are the occasional foreboding references to how Alvin should not visit Carthage City lest he die, just as the founder of Mormonism, Joseph Smith, met a violent end in Carthage, Illinois. However, in ALVIN JOURNEYMAN Orson Scott Card does start to go off track with the formerly solid Mormon allegory. The trial of Alvin is obviously symbolic of the trials of Joseph Smith, but while Alvin is acquitted, the young Joseph Smith was found guilty of moneydigging. ALVIN JOURNEYMAN leaves the reader drifting, totally ignorant of what is going to happen next or, indeed, what the point of the series is any more.
The first two volumes of The Tales of Alvin Maker were quite entertaining and the third volume, while it had its moments, was a disappointment. It is becoming increasingly difficult to recommend the series.
September 12, 2016
Storyline: 2/5
Characters: 4/5
Writing Style: 4/5
World: 3/5
As I started the book I was immediately struck by the off-beat and heavy-handed writing. I have liked every book in the series thus far, and I wondered if somehow my mood had changed, or my favorable prejudices had been smoothed over, and if this is what critics of the writing and series had found so off-putting. It turned out that I needn't have worried. There was, admittedly, that first section with an omniscient narrator droning on in an unconvincingly self-deprecating manner. It was the only such portion, however, and it was short. Thereafter the book returned to form. As a fan of the previous I was relieved. As a critic proud of and pleased of my own opinion and biases, I was also relieved, for I feel further validated that this is indeed an extremely well-written series. At the very least, I think I'm consistent.
Card, too, is consistent with number four in the series. Here, though, it is a weakness. At this point in the series Card needed to push boundaries. This book covers no new ground. Card continues with great insights into people and fills his characters full of welcome eccentricities, musings, or weaknesses. He captures the mid-western, rural pace, outlook, and style with his writing. These positives, enough to make it a well-written book, were not enough to make it a great story. It was time for Card to discuss the Unmaker; time to better understand knacks and doodlebugs; time to explore the alternate history side of this fantasy tale. This story pleases few parties: those ready for exciting adventures will be disappointed because there is very little excitement or adventure, fantasy fans will be disappointed that the magical system continues to be the simplest and weakest part of a what was a promising foundation, and alternate history fans will see Card take the cheap and easy options instead of pursuing a challenging and inventive post-colonial America.
This would have been better paired with #3 and submitted as a single 723-page book. Both halves of the book would have been better for the pairing, and fans could have treated it as a middle volume that was slow but rich. This book, instead, took six years to come out. I'm glad that I wasn't reading this as they were published. I can very well understand why some fans might have been resentful at this volume. I won't begrudge the author taking the time he needed to develop the story, but I do begrudge his decision to run the story into circles instead of taking us onward.
I still very much like the series and consider it in the better half of science fiction and fantasy series that I've encountered.
Characters: 4/5
Writing Style: 4/5
World: 3/5
As I started the book I was immediately struck by the off-beat and heavy-handed writing. I have liked every book in the series thus far, and I wondered if somehow my mood had changed, or my favorable prejudices had been smoothed over, and if this is what critics of the writing and series had found so off-putting. It turned out that I needn't have worried. There was, admittedly, that first section with an omniscient narrator droning on in an unconvincingly self-deprecating manner. It was the only such portion, however, and it was short. Thereafter the book returned to form. As a fan of the previous I was relieved. As a critic proud of and pleased of my own opinion and biases, I was also relieved, for I feel further validated that this is indeed an extremely well-written series. At the very least, I think I'm consistent.
Card, too, is consistent with number four in the series. Here, though, it is a weakness. At this point in the series Card needed to push boundaries. This book covers no new ground. Card continues with great insights into people and fills his characters full of welcome eccentricities, musings, or weaknesses. He captures the mid-western, rural pace, outlook, and style with his writing. These positives, enough to make it a well-written book, were not enough to make it a great story. It was time for Card to discuss the Unmaker; time to better understand knacks and doodlebugs; time to explore the alternate history side of this fantasy tale. This story pleases few parties: those ready for exciting adventures will be disappointed because there is very little excitement or adventure, fantasy fans will be disappointed that the magical system continues to be the simplest and weakest part of a what was a promising foundation, and alternate history fans will see Card take the cheap and easy options instead of pursuing a challenging and inventive post-colonial America.
This would have been better paired with #3 and submitted as a single 723-page book. Both halves of the book would have been better for the pairing, and fans could have treated it as a middle volume that was slow but rich. This book, instead, took six years to come out. I'm glad that I wasn't reading this as they were published. I can very well understand why some fans might have been resentful at this volume. I won't begrudge the author taking the time he needed to develop the story, but I do begrudge his decision to run the story into circles instead of taking us onward.
I still very much like the series and consider it in the better half of science fiction and fantasy series that I've encountered.
July 12, 2012
Originally published on my blog here in May 2000.
After a gap of a few years, Card has continued this series, one of my favourites of the fantasy genre. It is set in a fascinating alternate history USA in which much of the country remains in the hands of the colonial powers, and where magic is relatively commonplace.
Alvin Journeyman picks up the story of Alvin (usually referred to as Smith or Maker, from his occupation and magical gifting respectively) where the previous books left off, and carries the story through the setbacks he experiences trying to teach something of his magic art to others, so that together they can build the Crystal City that Alvin has seen in visions. These setbacks include the enmity of his jealous brother Calvin, hysterical accusations from a besotted teenage girl, and a legal suit from the smith he served as apprentice.
The major characters continue to develop, though their over polarised nature (too much black and white) is a flaw of this novel as it was of its predecessors. The characters interact believably, and the climactic trial is well prepared. The backwoods American background, with the interesting twist provided by the alternate historical elements, is as convincing as ever. Alvin Journeyman is a fine addition to the series.
After a gap of a few years, Card has continued this series, one of my favourites of the fantasy genre. It is set in a fascinating alternate history USA in which much of the country remains in the hands of the colonial powers, and where magic is relatively commonplace.
Alvin Journeyman picks up the story of Alvin (usually referred to as Smith or Maker, from his occupation and magical gifting respectively) where the previous books left off, and carries the story through the setbacks he experiences trying to teach something of his magic art to others, so that together they can build the Crystal City that Alvin has seen in visions. These setbacks include the enmity of his jealous brother Calvin, hysterical accusations from a besotted teenage girl, and a legal suit from the smith he served as apprentice.
The major characters continue to develop, though their over polarised nature (too much black and white) is a flaw of this novel as it was of its predecessors. The characters interact believably, and the climactic trial is well prepared. The backwoods American background, with the interesting twist provided by the alternate historical elements, is as convincing as ever. Alvin Journeyman is a fine addition to the series.
February 4, 2020
Le compagnon, Quatrième de la série de fantasy "Alvin le faiseur" d'Orson Scott Card.
Le roman se passe dans les années 1800 et dans une Amérique où les sortilèges et les pouvoirs existent.
On y suit le développement de la haine de Calvin, le benjamin, envers Alvin, son aîné; deux frères et deux septième fils. Les deux continuent à découvrir leurs pouvoirs, même si leurs voies et leurs objectifs divergent. On pourrait dire le bien et le mal. Pendant ce temps, les évènements rattrapent Alvin; il est poursuivi pour vol et doit subir un procès qui est beaucoup plus important qu'il n'y parait pour son avenir. Car il a des ennemis, cachés et puissants, dont il ne soupçonnait pas l'existence. Mais il va se faire aussi de nouveaux amis qui vont l'aider.
L'auteur promet beaucoup, mais livre peu. On arrive à la fin du livre et il y a peu de développements majeurs dans la destinée d'Alvin, malgré ce que l'on nous laisse entrevoir.
Mais on se prend à tourner les pages et y prendre plaisir grâce au talent de conteur de Card. Pas une grande lecture, mais une histoire que j'ai bien aimé malgré tout.
Le roman se passe dans les années 1800 et dans une Amérique où les sortilèges et les pouvoirs existent.
On y suit le développement de la haine de Calvin, le benjamin, envers Alvin, son aîné; deux frères et deux septième fils. Les deux continuent à découvrir leurs pouvoirs, même si leurs voies et leurs objectifs divergent. On pourrait dire le bien et le mal. Pendant ce temps, les évènements rattrapent Alvin; il est poursuivi pour vol et doit subir un procès qui est beaucoup plus important qu'il n'y parait pour son avenir. Car il a des ennemis, cachés et puissants, dont il ne soupçonnait pas l'existence. Mais il va se faire aussi de nouveaux amis qui vont l'aider.
L'auteur promet beaucoup, mais livre peu. On arrive à la fin du livre et il y a peu de développements majeurs dans la destinée d'Alvin, malgré ce que l'on nous laisse entrevoir.
Mais on se prend à tourner les pages et y prendre plaisir grâce au talent de conteur de Card. Pas une grande lecture, mais une histoire que j'ai bien aimé malgré tout.
September 15, 2012
I'm well and hooked on this series now. I love the ease with which Card writes in dialect and the sort of rant that the narrator goes on in the first chapter. What was tough about this one is that I really hate misunderstandings that build and build through a story based on gossip and or lies and it's hard for me to stomach witch-hunt type trials, so what Alvin faces in this book grated on me. It's also rough to watch him be so clueless about the jealousy of his brother Calvin and just watch that rift grow wider...dark clouds on the horizon! What continues to be great fun is the imaginative alternate history with such changed and yet recognizable people, places, and events. Napoleon is a kick in the pants and there's a new character introduced that made me chuckle to recognize too. I have a hold on the next book and can't wait for it to come in.
June 27, 2009
For quite some time now, I have been trying to pinpoint the exact date when one of my favorite authors, Orson Scott Card, officially made the jump from writing understated, powerful novels about fundamentally good, human, exquisitely rendered characters in fantastical settings, to writing over-analyzed crap with too much dialogue, too much pontificating about political machinations and without a single bloody word edited out.
Having read both Prentice Alvin and Alvin Journeyman within the past 24 hours, I am pleased to announce that it definitively happened sometime between 1988 and 1995.
I am just plain pissed to say that the amazing and wonderful Alvin Maker series appears to be another innocent bystander, felled in this senseless self-destruction of literary talent.
Having read both Prentice Alvin and Alvin Journeyman within the past 24 hours, I am pleased to announce that it definitively happened sometime between 1988 and 1995.
I am just plain pissed to say that the amazing and wonderful Alvin Maker series appears to be another innocent bystander, felled in this senseless self-destruction of literary talent.
February 26, 2014
The title to this one is a bit misleading, I guess, considering that Alvin barely journeys at all in the book. However, a lot of interesting things do happen in that one place he's in most of the time. Calvin is just getting stranger and a bit crazy even. Romance is more visible on this book, as are the subtler intreagues of the Unmaker. I dunno. More talk, less action, but still fun. I really enjoy the new character, the Lawyer from England. He sounds like a good person and I love his rhetoric and the way he acts in court. Fun read, overall. I'm eating these up huh? lol. Time for the next oooone! ALVIIIN! :D
February 13, 2009
Trudging through the first chapter I wanted to scream. If I didn't already know that I enjoy reading books by this author I would have tossed the book. I'm sure as I continue through the story this memory will fade, but ... I just started the book, and the pain is still fresh.
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But now it's finished, and that was good reading--especially the legal bit with the court case. I liked how it was wrapped up where much of the trouble started, where Mr. Dowser had said for the well to be dug.
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But now it's finished, and that was good reading--especially the legal bit with the court case. I liked how it was wrapped up where much of the trouble started, where Mr. Dowser had said for the well to be dug.
January 22, 2015
Loved the judge in the trial scenes. Some great character development all through the town of Hatrack River. Loved the nasty, jealous brother, Calvin (not his nastiness, just for the drama he created). However, I just have not warmed up to Peggy. Last time I liked her was in Book 2. I can't give away what happened to her in Book 3, but read it yourself and tell me whether you agree or not.
Also, every time the story veers toward the Red Man, I say to myself, "Huh? What? How much longer do I have to put up with this?"
Also, every time the story veers toward the Red Man, I say to myself, "Huh? What? How much longer do I have to put up with this?"
July 25, 2009
Yeap, just kept getting sillier. More extraneous characters, more side plots for the sake of drawing things out, less progress toward the resolution of the series.
Suddenly, Card introduces a third person framing narrative in the opening and closing chapters of the fourth book of the series. Why? Ask him.
Not sure if I'll read any more. Card is a great storyteller, but he has unraveled his story so badly that I'm not terribly interested how it ends.
Suddenly, Card introduces a third person framing narrative in the opening and closing chapters of the fourth book of the series. Why? Ask him.
Not sure if I'll read any more. Card is a great storyteller, but he has unraveled his story so badly that I'm not terribly interested how it ends.
November 13, 2015
If you enjoy the Ender series, be sure to read the Alvin Maker series.
September 25, 2018
This is the fourth book of the Alvin Maker series and the fourth that I've read (probably the 15th or 20th OSC book I've read overall). I first started the series about a year and a half ago. Although I enjoyed Alvin Journeyman, I think this was the weakest in the series so far.
Alvin's character was pretty inconsistent; sometimes he's preternaturally wise, almost omniscient, while at other times he can be whiny and under-confident. The female characters were rather one-dimensional (a Card theme IMO). The Unmaker was an inconsistent antagonist, sentient and cunning at times, then just an unguided destructive force at others. The plot was a little plodding. Also, the magical living golden plow was lame.
That being said, I really like the alternate early American world that he has created! The magic system is unique and well fleshed out without being over-explained. In particular I like that the magic is specific to the region from which it came, with natives using a nature based magic (greensong), European settlers bringing witchcraft filled with world altering hexes and knacks, and African slaves bringing a more mysterious tribal "voodoo". And, of course, the church demonizing and trying to banish any magic in the world (this happens in so much fantasy it's almost a trope at this point). The alternate history where there are several countries on the North American continent made for an interesting setting. Several real historical figures, such as Napoleon and William Henry Harrison, also appear in this universe.
The courtroom drama scenes were a high point in the story. The banter between the lawyers, witnesses, and judge was convincing and entertaining. The interweaving of magic in this part of the story was well done (e.g. Veronica using hexes to make it appear the Alvin had escaped his cell when the deputy came in to check on him).
The parallel story of Calvin's journey to learn from Napoleon was enjoyable. Henri was a particularly well written character whom I really disliked, as I believe was intended. It was also nice to see some characters from earlier books return such as Taleswapper, Harrison, and Ta Kumsaw.
The writing itself was very good. Never did I find myself taken out of the story by an awkward sentence or unbelievable dialog. The flow was good, the chapters were of consistent length, and the regional dialects didn't carry over past the dialog and/or internal monologue.
Lastly, as I listened to the audiobook version of this, I thought I'd mention that the narration was excellent! It was read by several voice actors, with unique accents, twangs, and inflections for each POV.
This is my first Goodreads review! I'm an avid reader and hope to do many more. I listen to mostly audiobooks, so most of my reviews will be from that format. When discussing audiobooks, I find that the narration quality adds another dimension to the reading experience beyond that of a printed or e-book. So for each review I submit, I'll be rating three metrics: plot, prose, and narration. I'll average the three for the final rating.
Plot: 3 Prose: 4 Narration: 5
Alvin's character was pretty inconsistent; sometimes he's preternaturally wise, almost omniscient, while at other times he can be whiny and under-confident. The female characters were rather one-dimensional (a Card theme IMO). The Unmaker was an inconsistent antagonist, sentient and cunning at times, then just an unguided destructive force at others. The plot was a little plodding. Also, the magical living golden plow was lame.
That being said, I really like the alternate early American world that he has created! The magic system is unique and well fleshed out without being over-explained. In particular I like that the magic is specific to the region from which it came, with natives using a nature based magic (greensong), European settlers bringing witchcraft filled with world altering hexes and knacks, and African slaves bringing a more mysterious tribal "voodoo". And, of course, the church demonizing and trying to banish any magic in the world (this happens in so much fantasy it's almost a trope at this point). The alternate history where there are several countries on the North American continent made for an interesting setting. Several real historical figures, such as Napoleon and William Henry Harrison, also appear in this universe.
The courtroom drama scenes were a high point in the story. The banter between the lawyers, witnesses, and judge was convincing and entertaining. The interweaving of magic in this part of the story was well done (e.g. Veronica using hexes to make it appear the Alvin had escaped his cell when the deputy came in to check on him).
The parallel story of Calvin's journey to learn from Napoleon was enjoyable. Henri was a particularly well written character whom I really disliked, as I believe was intended. It was also nice to see some characters from earlier books return such as Taleswapper, Harrison, and Ta Kumsaw.
The writing itself was very good. Never did I find myself taken out of the story by an awkward sentence or unbelievable dialog. The flow was good, the chapters were of consistent length, and the regional dialects didn't carry over past the dialog and/or internal monologue.
Lastly, as I listened to the audiobook version of this, I thought I'd mention that the narration was excellent! It was read by several voice actors, with unique accents, twangs, and inflections for each POV.
This is my first Goodreads review! I'm an avid reader and hope to do many more. I listen to mostly audiobooks, so most of my reviews will be from that format. When discussing audiobooks, I find that the narration quality adds another dimension to the reading experience beyond that of a printed or e-book. So for each review I submit, I'll be rating three metrics: plot, prose, and narration. I'll average the three for the final rating.
Plot: 3 Prose: 4 Narration: 5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2019
With this fourth book in the Alvin Maker series, I’m starting to see why a lot of writers like to stick to trilogies. If anything, I think most readers can probably skip this volume and move on to the next one because there wasn’t anything too new or interesting that happened in it. If anything, it was a re-hash of events in the previous book with a few new characters added to it. I will concede that Alvin Journeyman did finally develop a fitting antagonist for Alvin. Still, so few pages were dedicated to this sub-plot that I’m wondering if it should have just been pulled out and made into its own novella that would span the gap between book three and book five.
Once again, the strength of the series as a whole carries through here, and some loose character arcs are tied up before moving on to more important things. However, spending the majority of the book hashing over what astute readers (or even readers who were moderately paying attention in the last few books) already knew as truth just to confirm to the rest of the characters around Alvin that he wasn’t lying seemed like a waste of words.
If anything, using the delay in Alvin’s journey to develop Calvin’s “making” abilities did provide a bit of contrast between the two and will likely pay off when the forces of good and evil clash in future volumes. I still appreciate the way Orson Scott Card integrates actual history with a fantasy explanation, though. Despite the missed step here, I’ll continue with the series to see how it resolves. At the very least, volumes like this show me why it’s not as notable as the Ender Saga, which was a solid four book set (that’s really just three books with the third split into two parts).
A weak link in the Alvin Maker series, I give Alvin Journeyman 3.0 stars out of 5.
For more reviews of books and movies like this, please visit www.benjamin-m-weilert.com
Once again, the strength of the series as a whole carries through here, and some loose character arcs are tied up before moving on to more important things. However, spending the majority of the book hashing over what astute readers (or even readers who were moderately paying attention in the last few books) already knew as truth just to confirm to the rest of the characters around Alvin that he wasn’t lying seemed like a waste of words.
If anything, using the delay in Alvin’s journey to develop Calvin’s “making” abilities did provide a bit of contrast between the two and will likely pay off when the forces of good and evil clash in future volumes. I still appreciate the way Orson Scott Card integrates actual history with a fantasy explanation, though. Despite the missed step here, I’ll continue with the series to see how it resolves. At the very least, volumes like this show me why it’s not as notable as the Ender Saga, which was a solid four book set (that’s really just three books with the third split into two parts).
A weak link in the Alvin Maker series, I give Alvin Journeyman 3.0 stars out of 5.
For more reviews of books and movies like this, please visit www.benjamin-m-weilert.com
June 10, 2017
Find this and the rest of my reviews at: https://feministquill.wordpress.com/2...
At this point I'm seriously groaning, wondering how I'm ever going to finish reviewing this series. Tales of Alvin Maker and Stephen King's Dark Tower series are what prompted me to stop reviewing for almost a year and a half - simply because these two series are too big and too badly written for me to enjoy the process of reviewing them properly.
Between the white saviour nonsense, the white guilt, the fetishization of POC, the self importance of the plot, the super cheesy writing and unnecessary details (which make no sense anyway, I can no longer pick one aspect of this book to nominate as its worst.
It's hard for me to explain why this series is no longer working. I think perhaps it's because it's fragmented and suffers from a lot of dissonance. Alvin is the star of the show, the most awesome person ever, blah blah blah. So one would be justified in expecting maturity from him, a balanced viewpoint that never comes. Alvin is a living conflict - on the one hand, he's all calm and collected and compassionate all the time (like Jesus). On the other hand he whines about Peggy and how she won't love him, and how can she be a good wife for him when she always knows better than him and keeps the important details of what she foresees from him. It's utter nonsense.
The folksy style of writing also gets on one's nerves once it becomes clear that nothing of import is being said. Alvin Journeyman contains tons of long winded passages that mean nothing and go nowhere. Calvin's adventures are slightly more interesting if only because of what a terrible character Calvin is, and how filled with his own self importance and self righteousness he is. At one point, having met White Murderer Harrison, Calvin tells him to take control of his own narrative, to claim that the bloody hands were an undeserved result of native american magic. Harrison does as Calvin suggests, his popularity surges and he's elected President of the United States. Calvin returns from France just in time for Harrison's inauguration, and promptly kills Harrison. For... fun? I don't pretend to understand his motives.
Verily Cooper's jealousy and possessiveness over Calvin is an example of an unnecessarily cheesy detail that doesn't belong anywhere. Except perhaps to show that no one has any semblance of life except that which is spent in blind adoration to Alvin. Once again, a dangerous narrative to write, especially considering this series is supposed to be an allegorical reference to an actual historical character.
At some point Card seems to make the point that men are, in general, terrible to women. But considering how inconsequential all the female characters are in his book, I think he needs a good look in the mirror.
This example actually goes to the root of Card's brand of sexism - he implies that most men are bad, while most women are good. And that's some cultural feminist rubbish right there. Humans are humans. There is no inherent goodness that comes along with being female. There are no male roles and female roles - and yet, his female characters are all fulfilling supporting roles. Are they strong? Sure, strong in character. But that doesn't make them strong characters. It's really not the same thing, Mr. Card.
Another aspect of this book that I found hilarious was Alvin's supporters - Peggy chief among them - attacking Marty Laws for doing his job as the counsel for the county in the process of Alvin's trial.
Marty is a conscientious man, one that gives due respect to precedent and due process. I'm glad this passage found its way into the book. The case itself, however, isn't resolved on the basis of legal arguments as much as through Alvin going magic in the courtroom to expose the Unmaker's machinations.
What really annoys me is the "Crystal City," because that's where the series completely falls apart. Peggy sees that if Alvin were to be acquitted, then the witnesses and the jury will all be part of the Crystal City. Card sets up a lot of things like this, all leading to the Crystal City, in both this book and the next one. Unfortunately, he seems to have written the last book devoid of any connections to the rest of the series, and plenty of set up along the way is discarded or forgotten about.
At this point I'm seriously groaning, wondering how I'm ever going to finish reviewing this series. Tales of Alvin Maker and Stephen King's Dark Tower series are what prompted me to stop reviewing for almost a year and a half - simply because these two series are too big and too badly written for me to enjoy the process of reviewing them properly.
Between the white saviour nonsense, the white guilt, the fetishization of POC, the self importance of the plot, the super cheesy writing and unnecessary details (which make no sense anyway, I can no longer pick one aspect of this book to nominate as its worst.
It's hard for me to explain why this series is no longer working. I think perhaps it's because it's fragmented and suffers from a lot of dissonance. Alvin is the star of the show, the most awesome person ever, blah blah blah. So one would be justified in expecting maturity from him, a balanced viewpoint that never comes. Alvin is a living conflict - on the one hand, he's all calm and collected and compassionate all the time (like Jesus). On the other hand he whines about Peggy and how she won't love him, and how can she be a good wife for him when she always knows better than him and keeps the important details of what she foresees from him. It's utter nonsense.
"What kind of marriage is it, when my wife knows everything but she never tells me enough to make up my own mind! Instead she always makes up my mind for me. Or tells me exactly what she needs to tell me in order to get me to do what she thinks I ought to do.” - Alvin Maker
The folksy style of writing also gets on one's nerves once it becomes clear that nothing of import is being said. Alvin Journeyman contains tons of long winded passages that mean nothing and go nowhere. Calvin's adventures are slightly more interesting if only because of what a terrible character Calvin is, and how filled with his own self importance and self righteousness he is. At one point, having met White Murderer Harrison, Calvin tells him to take control of his own narrative, to claim that the bloody hands were an undeserved result of native american magic. Harrison does as Calvin suggests, his popularity surges and he's elected President of the United States. Calvin returns from France just in time for Harrison's inauguration, and promptly kills Harrison. For... fun? I don't pretend to understand his motives.
“I’d rather be ignorant and sound educated than be educated and sound ignorant,” and I said, “Why?” and he says to me, “Because if you sound educated then nobody ever tests you to find out, but if you sound ignorant they never stop.” - Calvin and Taleswapper.
Verily Cooper's jealousy and possessiveness over Calvin is an example of an unnecessarily cheesy detail that doesn't belong anywhere. Except perhaps to show that no one has any semblance of life except that which is spent in blind adoration to Alvin. Once again, a dangerous narrative to write, especially considering this series is supposed to be an allegorical reference to an actual historical character.
Because once there was a woman by that name who freed her slaves and protected them all the way north, and then hired and looked after them until they learned the ways of free men and women and could stand on their own. It is a name of great honor. No one would know of the schoolteacher who came one day and gave open words to the secret longings of Jane’s heart. - More white saviour BS. Emphasis mine.
At some point Card seems to make the point that men are, in general, terrible to women. But considering how inconsequential all the female characters are in his book, I think he needs a good look in the mirror.
If good people weren’t so trusting of bad ones, the human race would have died out long ago—most women never would have let most men near them.
This example actually goes to the root of Card's brand of sexism - he implies that most men are bad, while most women are good. And that's some cultural feminist rubbish right there. Humans are humans. There is no inherent goodness that comes along with being female. There are no male roles and female roles - and yet, his female characters are all fulfilling supporting roles. Are they strong? Sure, strong in character. But that doesn't make them strong characters. It's really not the same thing, Mr. Card.
Another aspect of this book that I found hilarious was Alvin's supporters - Peggy chief among them - attacking Marty Laws for doing his job as the counsel for the county in the process of Alvin's trial.
“So you are Alvin’s enemy, and the enemy of truth.” Peggy hurled the words, meaning them to bite.
“Accuse me all you like,” said Marty, “but my job is to make the case that Alvin stole that gold. I don’t think your testimony, based entirely on your unverifiable claim as a torch that Makepeace is a liar, should be allowed to stand unchallenged. If it did stand that way, then every half-baked dreamspeaker and soothsayer in the country would be able to say whatever he pleased and juries would believe them, and then what would happen to justice in America?”
“Let me understand you,” said Peggy. “You plan to discredit me, destroy my reputation, and convict Alvin, all for the sake of justice in America?”
“As I said,” Marty repeated, “I hope your lawyer can do as good a job defending Alvin as I’m going to do prosecuting him. I hope he can find as much damning evidence against my witnesses as Mr. Webster and I have found concerning Alvin. Because, frankly, I don’t like my witnesses much, and I think Makepeace is a greedy lying bastard who should go to jail himself for perjury but I can’t prove it.”
“How can you live with yourself, then, working in the service of evil when you know so clearly what is good?”
“It’s also good for the public prosecutor to prosecute, instead of setting himself up as judge.”
Marty is a conscientious man, one that gives due respect to precedent and due process. I'm glad this passage found its way into the book. The case itself, however, isn't resolved on the basis of legal arguments as much as through Alvin going magic in the courtroom to expose the Unmaker's machinations.
What really annoys me is the "Crystal City," because that's where the series completely falls apart. Peggy sees that if Alvin were to be acquitted, then the witnesses and the jury will all be part of the Crystal City. Card sets up a lot of things like this, all leading to the Crystal City, in both this book and the next one. Unfortunately, he seems to have written the last book devoid of any connections to the rest of the series, and plenty of set up along the way is discarded or forgotten about.
December 9, 2019
If you have enjoyed the previous 3 books, Alvin Journeyman would still fit your taste. The beginning of this book annoyed me as it was an author/narrator basically telling people with complaints about the previous books to go grab a shovel. However, I do feel like this book is more polished than some of the others. There were a lot of interesting things that happened in this book, but nothing truly spectacular. There is still a sense of plot destiny that makes it seem like there are never any problems that aren't ultimately going to be solved by some small and fantastically discovered tweak in Alvin's super-powers.
The characters and balance of this book were better. The divisions of the narrative were far better, but you still get a sense that Orson Scott Card was a growing author at this time he wrote this book. The awkwardness of a torch who can see many futures but ends up seeing brand new futures at the last minute (convenient to the plot) is still annoying; however, OSC in this book has done a lot to explain and try to place this problem into a reasonable context.
Ultimately this book is interesting if you like this setting and you enjoyed the previous novels, but there is nothing extraordinary in the writing. The whole plot has been working towards this Crystal City that "Alvin Saw" in a vision but aside from a vague description, I still have only a vague idea and interest in this city. Quite frankly I can think of a ton of cool things Alvin good do with his powers that would be more interesting, but the novel is sort of stuck on Alvin being a "Good Boy" and following his "Destiny."
The characters and balance of this book were better. The divisions of the narrative were far better, but you still get a sense that Orson Scott Card was a growing author at this time he wrote this book. The awkwardness of a torch who can see many futures but ends up seeing brand new futures at the last minute (convenient to the plot) is still annoying; however, OSC in this book has done a lot to explain and try to place this problem into a reasonable context.
Ultimately this book is interesting if you like this setting and you enjoyed the previous novels, but there is nothing extraordinary in the writing. The whole plot has been working towards this Crystal City that "Alvin Saw" in a vision but aside from a vague description, I still have only a vague idea and interest in this city. Quite frankly I can think of a ton of cool things Alvin good do with his powers that would be more interesting, but the novel is sort of stuck on Alvin being a "Good Boy" and following his "Destiny."
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