Seventh Son (Tales of Alvin Maker, #1) in Ender's Jeesh

Nov 06, 2008 Scott rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adults, fantasy-sci-fi, western

I actually prefer Ender's Game (it would rank 3rd on my list), but as fantasy goes, I would give Card's first volume in the Tales of Alvin Maker a strong recommendation. Not many fantasy authors try a post-medieval setting, and I haven't seen anyone else choose frontier America in the early nineteenth century.

(I hope Card finishes the series, but (**SPOILER ALERT** since he's already said that the main character will die in the end, I'm not too eager. It seems Card isn't either.)

Also recommende I actually prefer Ender's Game (it would rank 3rd on my list), but as fantasy goes, I would give Card's first volume in the Tales of Alvin Maker a strong recommendation. Not many fantasy authors try a post-medieval setting, and I haven't seen anyone else choose frontier America in the early nineteenth century.

(I hope Card finishes the series, but (**SPOILER ALERT** since he's already said that the main character will die in the end, I'm not too eager. It seems Card isn't either.)

Also recommended of his: Enchantment, Pastwatch, The Folk of the Fringe, Pathfinder (no, it doesn't have anything to do with the game), and The Gate Thief. Card is one of the few authors I would trust with my time no matter what he writes. I've read enough of his work to find that he'll only write about characters that he cares about, and that he'll quickly make you care about as a reader. He also understands what greatness of heart is, and is able to depict it well enough to move me to tears in nearly every one of his books.

Hah. Re-reading this, it seems I have a penchant for recommending books without telling much about their plot or premise. I should say a bit more. There are several books on my list of favorite fantasy series (Promise of Blood, Shades of Milk and Honey, Seventh Son) that are set in something akin to the early 19th century, which I find very unusual and very intriguing for fantasy. Seventh Son imagines two key things: (1) an America where the War for Independence against the British was lost, Washington was executed as a traitor, and a generation later the colonies are still fractured and disunited, and (2) a frontier America where the folklore magic (which was taken seriously in real 19th century frontier America) really works. Things like dowsing, doodlebugs, seer stones, and hexes play a major part in the story. Native American shamanism is equally real. Every person has at least one "knack," or power, and the seventh son of a seventh son has the most powerful of them all.

Students of Latter-day Saint history (which also has its origins in early nineteenth century frontier America) will find many parallels. The books are full of real historical figures, such as William Henry Harrison, Abraham Lincoln, and Jim Bowie, but the "tall tale" versions of them are taken seriously and taken a step or two further. For anyone who took an American History course from a teacher who actually taught it (so they know these names and the events surrounding them), Card's creative license with the past is delightful and fun. Others might find it annoying ("he didn't invent anything here--he just stole others' ideas and stories!"). I say hogwash. ...more

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Jul 09, 2009 Rachel rated it liked it

I liked this book, especially for how the author developed the characters and the way they live their lives in a way that is totally believable for their time period. I thought it was very interesting. It was not the same intensity for me as the Ender's books, but it is enough to have me hunting down the next book in the series! ...more

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Sep 20, 2008 Levi rated it liked it

I had high hopes for this series. There were some very interesting characters and the alternate American History twist was compelling. However, it lacked something I'm not sure what. I didn't see the same level of character development that Card usually employs. The story was fun to read, but by book 3 I lost interest. ...more

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