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Red Prophet: The Tales of Alvin Maker, Volume 1
Things are not always what they seem in an alternate American history where folk magic actually works, and there is certainly more than meets the eye to Lolla-Wossiky, a perpetually drunk Shaw-Nee who cannot seem to shake his addiction to whiskey. But as Lolla-Wossiky ventures north in search of his dream beast, he also is on a quest to cure the ceaseless presence of the "black noise" - a shroud of darkness inside his head created by the violent death of his father that he can only push back when he is drinking. But along the voyage, an experience in Wobbish territory will change Lolla-Wossiky's life forever, and change him from a drunken Red Man into the wise and powerful Red Prophet. Also includes a special Ender's story.
144 pages, Hardcover
First published May 30, 2007
7 people are currently reading
311 people want to read
About the author
Orson Scott Card
888 books20.6k 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 - 27 of 27 reviews
October 9, 2018
This graphic novel seems to be either loved or hated. Some people found it mediocre. Some people didn't like the Native American stereotypes. Some didn't like the racism. However I expect these things when I read something set a couple centuries ago. That stuff happened. Why should someone writing a period piece pretend it didn't? Also this is an alternate history so technically anything goes.
Honestly my favorite thing about it was the Native Americans. How they talked and thought, how sensitive and intune they were, how they existed with the Earth, how they felt things, and their code of honor, all made me very emotional and connected to their characters.
I thought this was an awesome story and the art was amazing! I'm really glad I gave this one a go. I can't wait for Vol 2!
Honestly my favorite thing about it was the Native Americans. How they talked and thought, how sensitive and intune they were, how they existed with the Earth, how they felt things, and their code of honor, all made me very emotional and connected to their characters.
I thought this was an awesome story and the art was amazing! I'm really glad I gave this one a go. I can't wait for Vol 2!
June 22, 2023
Now I have been reading Orson Scott Card books for some time ago but the tales of Alvin Maker was one series I never got round to reading.
So when I saw the graphic novel interpretation (it sort of covers off the first two volumes in the series) I thought I would give it a go. Now although the story is Cards as you can appreciate (rather like the Darktower series) they did take some liberties or if you prefer streamlined the story.
Either way you have a lot of familiarity and get still get a different book. Now I did notice that at the end the book promised there were further volumes to follow - I have looked but as yet have found nothing (as this is the hardback version. In paperback this was split in to two) So an interesting read and certainly an interesting introduction in to the world of Alvin Maker - the question is am I now motivated enough to want to go and read the rest of the series.
So when I saw the graphic novel interpretation (it sort of covers off the first two volumes in the series) I thought I would give it a go. Now although the story is Cards as you can appreciate (rather like the Darktower series) they did take some liberties or if you prefer streamlined the story.
Either way you have a lot of familiarity and get still get a different book. Now I did notice that at the end the book promised there were further volumes to follow - I have looked but as yet have found nothing (as this is the hardback version. In paperback this was split in to two) So an interesting read and certainly an interesting introduction in to the world of Alvin Maker - the question is am I now motivated enough to want to go and read the rest of the series.
March 11, 2018
I finished the pair of books today (Volume 1 and Volume 2). I read the original novel Red Prophet by Orson Scott Card about 22 years ago, and it is the second in a series known as the Tales of Alvin Maker. But this graphic adaptation was issued without any adaptation of the first novel, Seventh Son. As a stand-alone, the plot did suffer from occasional unexplained references to events of the first book. However, the artwork used vivid coloring and brought the characters to life in a way the written word cannot. I can't imagine what it would be like to attempt to read this graphic novel without having previously read the written novel(s).
May 15, 2012
Red Prophet was a good read. I liked the setting of the pioneering days in the old West coupled with the subtle insertion of magic users and the clash of rival cultures. While some of the art work is a little sub standard, the story is interesting and builds to a riveting climax. I am looking forward to reading more of the series.
November 7, 2017
It's been quite some time since I read the novel of the same name, yet a lot of the events in this graphic novel align perfectly. This focuses more on two Red brother, Ta-Kumsaw (a warrior) and Tenskwa-Tawa (the prophet first known as Lolla-Wossiky).
The art is extremely realistic, which I like. The colors of nature outside of towns is fantastic. But there is a lot of text which doesn't work for graphic novels so much. I found myself ignoring a lot of the art and just reading. It makes this comic much less of a summary and more of a retelling of the novel itself. Also, it's weird that both the artist and colorist change halfway through, though I understand that as far as individual issues go. It was also a break in the story.
It's an alternate universe of our own world, and magic - or having a "Knack" - is very real.
We are exposed to early America, and how Whites and Reds live together. Though, not quite in harmony. There is a treaty that says that no one sells likker (liquor) to Reds, yet Hooch Palmer through Bill Harrison does so. Hooch is a whisky runner on the Hio River.
Harrison calls the area of Wobbish a state, with Carthage City as its capital. This is important in that areas in the U.S. changed based on how many believed in a town/city/state's truth.
Ta-Kumsaw speaks the truth: Whites steal the Reds' land and English law says that's punishable by death. The Reds have been there for thousands of years; their land is being encroached.
Through his thoughts, he explains why likker is so bad for Reds - it cuts off their connection to nature, and no longer allows them to hear the green and see the magic. It's very sad to read of how numbing and addicting the likker is.
I forgot Andrew Jackson is also in the story. He wants to push the Reds west, but doesn't want to kill them for the sake of it, like Harrison does. It gives me a grumbling respect for Jackson.
Ta-Kumsaw is determined to gather his Red brothers who have not succumbed to being a whisky-Red and push the Whites back.
Lolla-Wossiky has a secret of his own.
The brothers' quests lead them to a boy named Alvin Miller, the seventh son of a seventh son - a title more than birth order, as it holds much magical power. He's a White boy with Red powers.
The minister, Reverand Thrower, is shady. My memories about him came back, even though some of the worst of it isn't until later in the series.
Tenskwa-Tawa becomes a door to truth, a door to the unity between all men and land. He has a lot of visions, even to the point of nearly time traveling along different possible futures - and the past.
The change in colorists and artists didn't break the flow like I feared it would. The story really picked up in the second half of this volume and I found myself being swept along.
Everything going on in town after Alvin Jr. and Measure are taking is very, very scary. It's a testament to the very real emotions and behaviors that must have occurred between the natives and white settlers.
I love that Adam and Eve are portrayed as being black. It's perfect for where they are thought to be from.
The art is extremely realistic, which I like. The colors of nature outside of towns is fantastic. But there is a lot of text which doesn't work for graphic novels so much. I found myself ignoring a lot of the art and just reading. It makes this comic much less of a summary and more of a retelling of the novel itself. Also, it's weird that both the artist and colorist change halfway through, though I understand that as far as individual issues go. It was also a break in the story.
It's an alternate universe of our own world, and magic - or having a "Knack" - is very real.
We are exposed to early America, and how Whites and Reds live together. Though, not quite in harmony. There is a treaty that says that no one sells likker (liquor) to Reds, yet Hooch Palmer through Bill Harrison does so. Hooch is a whisky runner on the Hio River.
Harrison calls the area of Wobbish a state, with Carthage City as its capital. This is important in that areas in the U.S. changed based on how many believed in a town/city/state's truth.
Ta-Kumsaw speaks the truth: Whites steal the Reds' land and English law says that's punishable by death. The Reds have been there for thousands of years; their land is being encroached.
Through his thoughts, he explains why likker is so bad for Reds - it cuts off their connection to nature, and no longer allows them to hear the green and see the magic. It's very sad to read of how numbing and addicting the likker is.
I forgot Andrew Jackson is also in the story. He wants to push the Reds west, but doesn't want to kill them for the sake of it, like Harrison does. It gives me a grumbling respect for Jackson.
Ta-Kumsaw is determined to gather his Red brothers who have not succumbed to being a whisky-Red and push the Whites back.
Lolla-Wossiky has a secret of his own.
The brothers' quests lead them to a boy named Alvin Miller, the seventh son of a seventh son - a title more than birth order, as it holds much magical power. He's a White boy with Red powers.
The minister, Reverand Thrower, is shady. My memories about him came back, even though some of the worst of it isn't until later in the series.
Tenskwa-Tawa becomes a door to truth, a door to the unity between all men and land. He has a lot of visions, even to the point of nearly time traveling along different possible futures - and the past.
The change in colorists and artists didn't break the flow like I feared it would. The story really picked up in the second half of this volume and I found myself being swept along.
Everything going on in town after Alvin Jr. and Measure are taking is very, very scary. It's a testament to the very real emotions and behaviors that must have occurred between the natives and white settlers.
I love that Adam and Eve are portrayed as being black. It's perfect for where they are thought to be from.
April 14, 2021
This was a very well done Graphic Novel that helped me understand the book much better, At times in the Alvin Maker series I felt a bit lost, this helped to tie things together better, Now I want to reread the entire series again. This was a Good Read. Ohhhh I almost forgot to add, That at the end of this Graphic novel there was a short story called Gold Bug, that included Ender Wiggins, I am a huge fan fo the ender series and that was like a special treat.
October 26, 2021
This adaptation of Orson Welles' Alvin Maker series has a lot going for it. It's got interested characters and does a good job of setting up a solid alternate history, and giving a mystical setting. The big problem with the book is that it was too darn verbose. Each page is covered in narration. There's very long blocks of dialogue. There were decisions that needed to be made for this to work in the graphic novel medium. Unfortunately, it didn't happen and we end up with a challenging read and not in a good way. The included "Ender's Game" universe story is fine. It suffers some of the same deficiencies as the main story but its less notable. Overall, not a great read.
June 24, 2017
A great read but the artwork seemed to be mere illustrations to the text without any new information. It would be just as well to read the books.
January 26, 2022
Honestly a lot less racist than I thought it was gonna be. Probably still could've been less racist.
August 29, 2023
Bought so I could read 'goldbug'
Don't buy the entire cow if you just want the tail.
Don't buy the entire cow if you just want the tail.
January 18, 2025
Way too bloody for me.
July 16, 2015
I'm not sure this was meant to be adapted into a graphic novel. It's part one of however many, and the story doesn't hold up on its own. The development of plot and of characters is slow, without a satisfying payoff. I liked the alternate character interpretations of historical figures such as William Henry Harrison and Tecumseh - Andrew Jackson's cameo was a particular joy - but was put off by some of the other "historical details" that have been altered... especially the spelling. I'm all for shooting for a dialect here, Mark Twain style; that's what makes "Mizzipy" instead of "Mississippi" acceptable. But what's with calling the Indiana Territory the State of Wobbish (Wabash)? For god's sake, why is liquor spelled "likker"? They're pronounced the same!
December 31, 2015
I read the whole Alvin Maker series years ago so I'm familiar with the world and the weird naming tweaks. I always knew the world had a lot of racial/racist problems but I let it slide because they were written a while ago. This just reminded me how blatant the problems are and I can't let them slide anymore. I won't be reading any of the other adaptations.
The art is solid but unremarkable.
The story does not stand alone. We have a narration shift too many times to really care about somebody. Maybe it changed between issues and I just missed it because it's a compilation. Maybe it makes more sense if you keep reading. But I won't be.
The art is solid but unremarkable.
The story does not stand alone. We have a narration shift too many times to really care about somebody. Maybe it changed between issues and I just missed it because it's a compilation. Maybe it makes more sense if you keep reading. But I won't be.
April 1, 2010
I have somewhere the first novel in this series, and, well, this felt like the Reader's Digest version of that, with full color pictures. But even if I am reading an outline of the book, I'm not sure it's a good advertisement for the novel.
At the beginning of the graphic novel this has evil whites who are liars, cheats and murderers. It has noble whites who are farmers, blonde and clearly are meant to be Mormons. It has two noble Indians, the rest are drunks. I wish for more depth in characters. Characters who breathe and grow and change. Two did.
At the beginning of the graphic novel this has evil whites who are liars, cheats and murderers. It has noble whites who are farmers, blonde and clearly are meant to be Mormons. It has two noble Indians, the rest are drunks. I wish for more depth in characters. Characters who breathe and grow and change. Two did.
August 7, 2012
This graphic novel had an interesting beginning, but not enough to make me want to continue in the series.. (this is volume 1) It is an alternate history world where magic exists in the western frontier... None of the characters were overly compelling or even interesting.. The concept that almost all Indians are drunkards was revolting to me. It just went over like a lead balloon filled with cement for me. The art was cool and the idea was interesting, but the development was slow and finally, fairly silly. not my cup of tea and I usuaully like alternate history stuff.
September 9, 2015
That was actually pretty good, but my expectations were set pretty low, being a story written by bigot-in-chief Orson Scott Card. An interesting alternative history of America's conquest by Europeans, with some fantastical elements and, very unfortunately, some gratuitous Christian nonsense thrown in.
PS: When wanting to read something by bigots and right-wing libertards, please rent it at the library, or at worst buy it used... don't feed the Beast!
PS: When wanting to read something by bigots and right-wing libertards, please rent it at the library, or at worst buy it used... don't feed the Beast!
August 16, 2009
Native Americans. 18th century America. Magic realism. Shamanic journeying. If this book had time travel, it would have every element in fiction that I love.
My friends have been telling me to read Card's work for ages. I finally gave in, and now I'm kicking myself for not reading his work earlier.
I'll finish this series, and then move on to Ender's Game...
June 18, 2011
For me the best part of this book was when it was over.
I signed up for our public libraries adult reading program. I was suppose to read a graphic novel and this one was on display for a choice. I know many people who enjoy Orson Scott Card's novels so I thought I would give it a try. I would say it was my first and my last of his I would read. Not up my alley.
I signed up for our public libraries adult reading program. I was suppose to read a graphic novel and this one was on display for a choice. I know many people who enjoy Orson Scott Card's novels so I thought I would give it a try. I would say it was my first and my last of his I would read. Not up my alley.
September 21, 2013
I haven't read the novel, so I approached this purely on its own merits and loved it. It's a fine story with strong characters in an unusual setting, especially for a comic book. There are just enough fantastic elements in it to intrigue me, and the alt.historical setting is believable enough. The only disappointment is that it's not a complete story.
January 3, 2010
While I really liked the novel this is based on and like graphic novels in general, there something about the execution of this that put me off. I found the special Ender related bonus story at the end far more engaging and gave my rating a third star just for that.
September 26, 2008
friggin awesome story, need to read novel, the book is very imaginative and I love the way that magic is real and history is an unveiling of alternate existences.
August 5, 2009
pretty good! I look forward to reading the actual BOOK, though, instead of just comics.
January 13, 2010
I like the characters. Interesting story. Things keep moving.
December 15, 2012
This series is important childhood reading.
February 12, 2014
Didn't think this had the same magic as the first book in the series but it didn't put me off carrying on.
January 31, 2014
Okay, I'm hooked on this series. Fantasy though it be, it is certainly engaging...
June 3, 2015
Smart American mythological fantasy. Too bad the author is a raging bigot.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews