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Title: Seventh Son (Tales of Alvin Maker | Book 1) |
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Review of Seventh Son (Tales of Alvin Maker, Book 1)
- From the author of Enderâs Game, an unforgettable story about young Alvin Maker: the seventh son of a seventh son. Born into an alternative frontier America where life is hard and folk magic is real, Alvin is gifted with the power. He must learn to use his gift wisely. But dark forces are arrayed against Alvin, and only a young girl with second sight can protect him.
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Comments for Seventh Son (Tales of Alvin Maker | Book 1)
- Posted on 2008-06-02
Incredibly slow
I could not believe the amount of words in this text. I love long books, when they have a lot to say. One could probably tell this story in about 50 pages. It is unnecessarily descriptive, and all the description adds nothing to the experience of the reading of the book.
Score: 1
- Posted on 2008-05-22
An understated opening for a grand series
An engrossing tale from this giant of the genre. Card takes us to the frontier of a pre-industrial America where magic, religion, and science exist in uncomfortable proximity, each competing for ascendancy in the hearts and minds of the people. Card has created a unique alternate history wherein the states are not united, various regions owe allegiance to various central governments, and Native Americans represent a dangerous and unpredictable force. With all this as a backdrop, Card elects to start his series with a small and homey tale that focuses on just one family, the Millers, and specifically young Alvin Miller, Jr., the seventh son of a seventh son, who possesses seemingly limitless magical potential. But will his power be enough to defeat the enemy of order known as the Unmaker? Or will the Water forces that oppose him find a way to destroy him? Don't expect to find out in this book, which is only the beginning of a series of novels, but count on being entranced enough with Card's seemingly effortless prose and captivating storytelling skill to stay with him through this volume's crisis, and eagerly await the next one, Red Prophet (which turns out to be even better).
Score: 5
- Posted on 2008-04-02
Meet Alvin Maker
Seventh Son is an excellent read and a great intro to the Alvin Maker Saga. Orson Scott Card weaves a great tale full of mystery and magic placed in the era of America's western expansion.
In this tale several of the most important characters of the saga are introduced and developed. They are likeable and believable as is the alternate history that Card develops throughout the tale. Many of the characters are based on actual historical figures but their role in the tale is purely fictional.
A fantastic read and a wonderful story. Seventh Son and the whole Alvin Maker Saga are a must read for Card fans.
Score: 5 - Posted on 2008-03-07
A phenomenal read!
Orson Scott Card has always been one of my favorite authors and this series is no exception. Seventh Son is the first of the Alvin Maker series, a tale set in a colonial America where magic is real and history went somewhat differently. Alvin is the seventh son of a seventh son which means he was born to be something special and powerful. The book is hard to put down and captivates you from beginning to end.
My only big complaint about the Alvin Maker series came about this past rereading of it. My copies of the Alvin Maker series are all suffering from being read so many times. This last reread made realize how often religion plays a part. Perhaps in the past I somehow overlooked it, though I'm not sure how. Every few pages is mentioning, questioning or referencing some form of spiritual entity. I'm not uncomfortable reading about religion, but when I look forward to reading a fun alternate-history fiction saga, I'd prefer it with slightly less preaching in it.
Score: 4
- Posted on 2008-02-07
Slow? Says who?
I have to disagree with the reviewers who found Seventh Son too slow an opening to the unique and endearing Alvin Maker series. I couldn't put it down. I found Card's take on the frontiersy speech patterns of pioneers easy to accept and loved the way it kept me anchored in the story, even thorough long narrative passages. The characters are exceptionally well developed, deep, and human - but this is no surprise, given that Card's greatest strength out of all his many literary talents is the creation of wholly believable, real characters.
As I progressed through the rest of the series, I was delighted to see characters taking unexpected turns and changing in ways that were definitely not in keeping with cliche. Seventh Son is a very fine opening to a very fine series, worth reading for any fan of fantasy or historical fiction.
Score: 5