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drtlovesbooks's review
3.0
What it's about: Alvin continues to travel as he attempts to figure out how to bring about his childhood vision of the Crystal City. Accompanied by his brother-in-law and prentice maker Arthur Stuart, he travels to Nueva Barcelona (formerly New Orleans); on the way he befriends a fellow from the Noisy River territory named Abe Lincoln.
Alvin is devastated by the loss of his first child, who was born premature. Alvin wasn't able to use his skills fast enough to help the baby develop enough to live. And he's angered that his wife Margaret keeps sending him places without telling him what he's supposed to do, despite the fact that she can see people's futures.
Peggy, meanwhile, is heartbroken about the loss of their child, as well as her inability to tell Alvin about the futures she sees, lest he try to find a different path that leads to more death and destruction. Although the path she's set him on will cause hundreds, instead of thousands, to die, she knows it's the least-bad of the alternatives before Alvin; yet it pains her to have to withhold information from her husband.
But when Alvin finds himself leading a mass exodus of those who would be persecuted by the Spanish controlling the city, he also starts down the path that will allow him to finally create the Crystal City.
In the meantime, Alvin's younger brother Calvin allows his jealousy to lead him on an adventure to Mexico with a contingent of American mercenaries. They plan to kill the dangerous Mexica who sacrifice people and take control of the country. But their egotism, bolstered by Calvin's assurances, leads them into danger that even Calvin might not be able to save them from.
Of course, Alvin can't leave his youngest brother to die. But he is also not in a position to help, so he dispatches Arthur Stuart to bring Calvin a warning. But Arthur Stuart is certain the message will not be heeded, as much because Calvin hates Arthur nearly as much as he hates Alvin.
What I thought: This book broadens out the cast of characters even more. It kind of makes sense, as Alvin is travelling around, and some of these characters are interesting; but there are so many potentially excellent characters in this series that it's impossible for any of them to get a fair shake.
This book continues to play up Calvin as a narcissistic egotist who is constantly blaming the results of his selfish choices on the failings of others, and lamenting that he never has good fortune. It's fine, but it is getting old after several books' worth of it.
Why I rated it like I did: This book feels a bit like filler. And the fact that Card never finished this series makes it all the more annoying that he named the book after what is supposed to be the ultimate creation of Alvin Maker; and yet, it is barely underway at the end of the book.
Also, the section on Mexico felt a bit racist - all of the Mexica people encountered seem to be part of a human-sacrificing tribe. It's a pretty broad brush Card paints with - similar to his earlier work with the Native Americans.
There are also several plot holes. This book, ironically, starts with a disclaimer about how difficult it is to maintain continuity in a long series written over the course of a decade. It then praises those who helped keep things consistent. And then it almost immediately starts to throw in continuity errors and plot holes. Alvin has lost his son, though it was clearly stated that his unborn child in the previous book was a girl. And then there's a whole lot of Alvin trying to stop the spread of a disease, but being unable to "see that small" and work with the blood-born pathogens. But in previous books, in one of his first Makings, he changed Arthur Stuarts DNA, and he saw atoms in the golden plow. So for him to suddenly have this limitation imposed on his abilities feels completely artificial, and frustrating.
Alvin is devastated by the loss of his first child, who was born premature. Alvin wasn't able to use his skills fast enough to help the baby develop enough to live. And he's angered that his wife Margaret keeps sending him places without telling him what he's supposed to do, despite the fact that she can see people's futures.
Peggy, meanwhile, is heartbroken about the loss of their child, as well as her inability to tell Alvin about the futures she sees, lest he try to find a different path that leads to more death and destruction. Although the path she's set him on will cause hundreds, instead of thousands, to die, she knows it's the least-bad of the alternatives before Alvin; yet it pains her to have to withhold information from her husband.
But when Alvin finds himself leading a mass exodus of those who would be persecuted by the Spanish controlling the city, he also starts down the path that will allow him to finally create the Crystal City.
In the meantime, Alvin's younger brother Calvin allows his jealousy to lead him on an adventure to Mexico with a contingent of American mercenaries. They plan to kill the dangerous Mexica who sacrifice people and take control of the country. But their egotism, bolstered by Calvin's assurances, leads them into danger that even Calvin might not be able to save them from.
Of course, Alvin can't leave his youngest brother to die. But he is also not in a position to help, so he dispatches Arthur Stuart to bring Calvin a warning. But Arthur Stuart is certain the message will not be heeded, as much because Calvin hates Arthur nearly as much as he hates Alvin.
What I thought: This book broadens out the cast of characters even more. It kind of makes sense, as Alvin is travelling around, and some of these characters are interesting; but there are so many potentially excellent characters in this series that it's impossible for any of them to get a fair shake.
This book continues to play up Calvin as a narcissistic egotist who is constantly blaming the results of his selfish choices on the failings of others, and lamenting that he never has good fortune. It's fine, but it is getting old after several books' worth of it.
Why I rated it like I did: This book feels a bit like filler. And the fact that Card never finished this series makes it all the more annoying that he named the book after what is supposed to be the ultimate creation of Alvin Maker; and yet, it is barely underway at the end of the book.
Also, the section on Mexico felt a bit racist - all of the Mexica people encountered seem to be part of a human-sacrificing tribe. It's a pretty broad brush Card paints with - similar to his earlier work with the Native Americans.
There are also several plot holes. This book, ironically, starts with a disclaimer about how difficult it is to maintain continuity in a long series written over the course of a decade. It then praises those who helped keep things consistent. And then it almost immediately starts to throw in continuity errors and plot holes. Alvin has lost his son, though it was clearly stated that his unborn child in the previous book was a girl. And then there's a whole lot of Alvin trying to stop the spread of a disease, but being unable to "see that small" and work with the blood-born pathogens. But in previous books, in one of his first Makings, he changed Arthur Stuarts DNA, and he saw atoms in the golden plow. So for him to suddenly have this limitation imposed on his abilities feels completely artificial, and frustrating.
maladin's review
2.0
Ahhh- so disappointing, the previous 5 books were fantastic and i thought this would be the grand finale but, it almost felt that i missed a book between this and the last, the plot lines were disjointed, referencing things that were not covered in the previous 5 books ?? I wonder if there was book between 5 and 6 that never got published.. also it seems that this is not the last book - there are more so why call it the crystal city?!
kacey's review
1.0
A dreary end to a series that started out with, if not great promise, at least something enjoyable. The horse that is this series has been beaten and the characters do a lot of standing around doing absolutely no developing.
It seems like Card's own resignation about writing this novel worked its way into all the characters. He wrote Crystal City because the fans demanded it, not because he really wanted to (or so it seems), and this is much the way that Alvin acts towards the building of his own Crystal City; it's not something he wants to do, it's just something he's got to get around to eventually so he might as well get it out of the way.
This is the last Orson Scott Card novel I will ever read. The man himself is a jackass and if this is what all of his stories become, then I suffer no great loss.
It seems like Card's own resignation about writing this novel worked its way into all the characters. He wrote Crystal City because the fans demanded it, not because he really wanted to (or so it seems), and this is much the way that Alvin acts towards the building of his own Crystal City; it's not something he wants to do, it's just something he's got to get around to eventually so he might as well get it out of the way.
This is the last Orson Scott Card novel I will ever read. The man himself is a jackass and if this is what all of his stories become, then I suffer no great loss.
brockletsread's review
3.0
Average continuation of the last three books with an above average climax that fades into a typical happy ending. Wish the last book would come out already
ellenw's review
4.0
I'm always surprised by this series -- I'm never anxious to read the next book in the series, but then I read it and really enjoy it. I've said this before and I'll said it again: I disagree with OSC very very strongly on some pretty points of philosophy and morality, but man, can he tell a story.
lakasmoose's review
2.0
the ending was frustrating. maybe frustrating is not the right word. maybe dragging? or uneventful? anyway, this book wasn't my favorite. it lead up to the building of the crystal city but there wasn't any excitment about achieving this. the ending wasn't what i was hoping for either. i think i was hoping for a little happily ever after :) the first three books in this series was by far the best. the rest of the series kind of lost it umph.
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