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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book would be a dud on it's own. It's almost completely set-up for what is to come in later stories. The conflict just doesn't feel very intense and the "big showdown" is the reverend coming in to cut Alvin's artery to kill him and comically seeing himself out of Alvin's room and the house because of a protection hex in other words, not very climactic. But it did get me interested in what's to come later in Alvin's story. Also - poor Peggy!
Totally different series for OSC. Alternate american history where small magic (protect spells, elemental magic) exists and clashes with christianity for people's hearts. First chapter is difficult, but excellent book. First in the Tales of Alvin Maker series
This book had a slow start for me, partially based on the frontier language, and partially because I really disliked the name Peggy. But as it turns out, about halfway through the book picks up with a new character. The book really has the feel of being the first in a series. You really can't finish the first book and not continue, or I feel like you never really would have gotten started with the story.
So I haven't read the sequels yet, but based on what I've read, it's a 4 star story in the making. Very different in tone from Ender's Game -- almost feels like a different author.
Bottom line: Worth a read, especially if you're craving something a little different.
So I haven't read the sequels yet, but based on what I've read, it's a 4 star story in the making. Very different in tone from Ender's Game -- almost feels like a different author.
Bottom line: Worth a read, especially if you're craving something a little different.
I was way more intrigued by the alternate folky early America here than the Epic Battle Between Good and Evil. Any fantasy worth its salt is more about the humanity of the characters and the choices they face when caught up in said battle. The Ender's series is all over that, but I guess there's a reason why OSC's other stuff hasn't been as successful. The characters here are richly developed and struggling with those choices, but to the reader it's clear that the right people will always be in the right place at the right time and fall in love with the right people and come out on the right side. Boring. And as I said the underlying Maker v Unmaker, magic v theology deal just doesn't keep my interest enough to keep reading this series.
This was pretty good. I liked the fusion of the old frontier and magic, plus the tension between magic and religion.
A Mormon woman at my mother's church once approached me as I was sitting in the lobby of said church after being dragged there to attend services. She asked what I was reading--even at a young age, I was never without a book. I showed her that it was Ender's Game, my favorite of Card's works. She then started raining down abuse on both my head and his, calling his books "trash" and saying that he should be excommunicated for writing such filth, because obviously he must be a terrible Mormon if he writes as he does.
If Orson Scott Card is an example of a "bad Mormon," then he's pretty much the only one I want to know; 95% of the Mormons I've encountered (and remember, my mother was one) are stuck-up, hypocritical, abusive, delusional, stuck-in-the-Dark-Age zealots. And in Card's books, it's always the zealots who are closest to the Devil.
This book is the one that has come closest to challenging "Ender's Game" as my favorite of his works. At first glance, it seems tailor-made for me: an alternate history version of early pioneers staking their claims west of the Appalachians. Two of my favorite things meshed into one. Actually reading the book, however, reveals an incredible story about the nature of faith, superstition, miracles, and religion. The philosophy is outstanding, the writing is amazing, the characters are well-drawn, and the conversations between Young Alvin and Reverend Thrower make me laugh out loud. Through Al, Card points out the contradictions in Thrower's beliefs, and the punishments to which Thrower subjects the boy to for his curiosity (beating, shaming, and even worse) point out the flaws in all people who blindly follow and choose to remain ignorant of other possible truths.
So I suppose it might be this book that woman was talking about, how Card's protagonists question doctrine. I believe that's a good thing, since any book that can scare a zealot of any faith must be one worth reading. I can't wait to get the next one!
If Orson Scott Card is an example of a "bad Mormon," then he's pretty much the only one I want to know; 95% of the Mormons I've encountered (and remember, my mother was one) are stuck-up, hypocritical, abusive, delusional, stuck-in-the-Dark-Age zealots. And in Card's books, it's always the zealots who are closest to the Devil.
This book is the one that has come closest to challenging "Ender's Game" as my favorite of his works. At first glance, it seems tailor-made for me: an alternate history version of early pioneers staking their claims west of the Appalachians. Two of my favorite things meshed into one. Actually reading the book, however, reveals an incredible story about the nature of faith, superstition, miracles, and religion. The philosophy is outstanding, the writing is amazing, the characters are well-drawn, and the conversations between Young Alvin and Reverend Thrower make me laugh out loud. Through Al, Card points out the contradictions in Thrower's beliefs, and the punishments to which Thrower subjects the boy to for his curiosity (beating, shaming, and even worse) point out the flaws in all people who blindly follow and choose to remain ignorant of other possible truths.
So I suppose it might be this book that woman was talking about, how Card's protagonists question doctrine. I believe that's a good thing, since any book that can scare a zealot of any faith must be one worth reading. I can't wait to get the next one!
Because I saw they were making a movie, I went back to this book I first read in junior high. I liked it much more this time (probably because, back then, I wanted more action-packed sequences). It is a subtle take on alternate history and Card does a nice job not getting bogged down in creating that history, but allows the story to simply play out. Looking forward to the next installment.
I'm sadly behind on this review...I actually finished the book on August 19 but between being generally brain-dead after a week of orientating graduate students and spending all evening for the last three nights watching "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" episodes/clips on Youtube, I just haven't gotten my act together on Seventh Son. But we'll give this a whirl so I can move on to other books....
Seventh Son is the first novel in Orson Scott Card's alternate American history series. It's set in the early 19th Century in an America where folk magic holds sway and the fate of the New World has taken a slightly different path. Yes, there are United States, but not quite the same ones as here in our timeline. Yes, there was a first president, but it wasn't George Washington. And there is an Indian Nation state that has representatives to vote.
In this world, seventh sons are magical and seventh sons of seventh sons are even more magical than their fathers--and quite rare. Alvin Miller, Jr. is such a one. In fact, Alvin is a Maker, a seventh son with the power to not only create new things out of old, but also to make things whole and to heal. He has a destiny that can help create a good positive future for America. But from the moment of his birth an ancient, dark force, the Unmaker, who will stop at nothing to destroy Alvin and prevent him from fulfilling his destiny.
I am just a bit torn on rating this one. I'm pulled towards a four-star rating by the world-building and the fresh, original feel to this American fantasy/alternate reality. The characters are delightful--particularly Peggy (Alvin's far-off "guardian angel") and Alvin and the writing is particularly strong. There is a character called Taleswapper who goes from place to place telling stories and collecting new ones and the entire book reads like a tale told by a grand old storyteller around the fire. But I'm also pulled toward a lower three-star rating by the infusion of religion. You want to create an America that's based on folk magic and secret powers? Cool. You want to set up dark forces to destroy the ones who hold that power for good? Hey, absolutely. I'm all for that Good vs. Evil thing. But...can't we just do that within the folk magic scenario? That's why we created a whole different timeline America, right? I do get the whole Pilgrim/Puritan vs. "witchcraft" background. Salem and witch burning. I know it was part of the early days of America. But was it necessary to bring in religion and make those who represent it the bad guys? Maybe it was--but when I was reading it just didn't settle right.
My other small quibble is that the blurb on my edition made much of the positive role of Native Americans in this version of America and, perhaps, since this is a series there will be more of a Native American presence in the following books. But there is little here. The mention of those who have voting rights. And a man who is healed by Alvin (in an unexpected way) and who goes off to be a prophet to his people. But no real direct contact with Native Americans beyond that. When I specifically polled some of my friends for alternate history books that involved Native Americans, this series was one that was mentioned. I had hoped for more Native American influence in the opening novel.
Quibbles aside, Card is quite the storyteller in Seventh Son and the story was compelling and interesting. I will definitely be looking to read the next book in the series (Red Prophet--perhaps the title is an indication that there will be more Native Americans....). ★★★ and a half.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
Seventh Son is the first novel in Orson Scott Card's alternate American history series. It's set in the early 19th Century in an America where folk magic holds sway and the fate of the New World has taken a slightly different path. Yes, there are United States, but not quite the same ones as here in our timeline. Yes, there was a first president, but it wasn't George Washington. And there is an Indian Nation state that has representatives to vote.
In this world, seventh sons are magical and seventh sons of seventh sons are even more magical than their fathers--and quite rare. Alvin Miller, Jr. is such a one. In fact, Alvin is a Maker, a seventh son with the power to not only create new things out of old, but also to make things whole and to heal. He has a destiny that can help create a good positive future for America. But from the moment of his birth an ancient, dark force, the Unmaker, who will stop at nothing to destroy Alvin and prevent him from fulfilling his destiny.
I am just a bit torn on rating this one. I'm pulled towards a four-star rating by the world-building and the fresh, original feel to this American fantasy/alternate reality. The characters are delightful--particularly Peggy (Alvin's far-off "guardian angel") and Alvin and the writing is particularly strong. There is a character called Taleswapper who goes from place to place telling stories and collecting new ones and the entire book reads like a tale told by a grand old storyteller around the fire. But I'm also pulled toward a lower three-star rating by the infusion of religion. You want to create an America that's based on folk magic and secret powers? Cool. You want to set up dark forces to destroy the ones who hold that power for good? Hey, absolutely. I'm all for that Good vs. Evil thing. But...can't we just do that within the folk magic scenario? That's why we created a whole different timeline America, right? I do get the whole Pilgrim/Puritan vs. "witchcraft" background. Salem and witch burning. I know it was part of the early days of America. But was it necessary to bring in religion and make those who represent it the bad guys? Maybe it was--but when I was reading it just didn't settle right.
My other small quibble is that the blurb on my edition made much of the positive role of Native Americans in this version of America and, perhaps, since this is a series there will be more of a Native American presence in the following books. But there is little here. The mention of those who have voting rights. And a man who is healed by Alvin (in an unexpected way) and who goes off to be a prophet to his people. But no real direct contact with Native Americans beyond that. When I specifically polled some of my friends for alternate history books that involved Native Americans, this series was one that was mentioned. I had hoped for more Native American influence in the opening novel.
Quibbles aside, Card is quite the storyteller in Seventh Son and the story was compelling and interesting. I will definitely be looking to read the next book in the series (Red Prophet--perhaps the title is an indication that there will be more Native Americans....). ★★★ and a half.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
Lovely world building, great characters, humour and deep questions. Amazing book, I intend to read the entire series
As with ENDER'S GAME, it's hard for me to understand how a novel that so deeply humane can come from someone who sometimes speaks so inhumanely.