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Tales of Alvin Maker #6
The Crystal City
This full-cast production of Orson Scott Card's newest title is finally available on audio
From the end of the 18th century, Americans travelled west to find new homes and new lands. They brought with them the magics of plain people. It is from these roots of the American dream that award-winning writer Orson Scott Card has crafted what the Charlotte Observer called a uniquely American fantasy. Using the lore and the folk magic of the men and women who settled a continent, and the beliefs of the tribes who were here before them, Card has created an alternate frontier America. Charms, beseechings, hexes, and potions all have a place in the lives of the people of this world.
Alvin Miller is the seventh son of a seventh son, born while his six brothers all still lived. Such a birth is a powerful magic; such a boy is destined to perhaps become a Maker. Rejoin the tale of Alvin and his wife Peggy as they work to create the Crystal City of Alvin's vision, where all people can live together in peace.
From the end of the 18th century, Americans travelled west to find new homes and new lands. They brought with them the magics of plain people. It is from these roots of the American dream that award-winning writer Orson Scott Card has crafted what the Charlotte Observer called a uniquely American fantasy. Using the lore and the folk magic of the men and women who settled a continent, and the beliefs of the tribes who were here before them, Card has created an alternate frontier America. Charms, beseechings, hexes, and potions all have a place in the lives of the people of this world.
Alvin Miller is the seventh son of a seventh son, born while his six brothers all still lived. Such a birth is a powerful magic; such a boy is destined to perhaps become a Maker. Rejoin the tale of Alvin and his wife Peggy as they work to create the Crystal City of Alvin's vision, where all people can live together in peace.
Audio CD
First published January 1, 2003
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About the author
Orson Scott Card
891 books20.7k 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 - 30 of 339 reviews
September 8, 2010
The Alvin Maker series is a marvelously clever, folk-magical alternate history of North America, in which the author creates a fit forum for the brilliant, preachy, clever, and morally neurotic characters that seem to be his specialty. I think his take on famous historical characters is often marvelous, as is his frequent twisting and borrowing of details from his Mormon tradition.
Despite this general admiration, I must say that this is clearly the weakest of the series and not just because as a sequel it is a typically less passionate, less clever, less well crafted product than its predecessors. I think there are at least a couple of other flaws which earn this a 2-3 star rating compared to its 4 and 5 star siblings.
First I think the book showed Card’s interest in the series flagging. He left huge gaps in his story, with major characters dropped and significant dramas unresolved. This makes the disappointed reader feel like he missed a volume somehow.
The second greatest problem with this book is common to much of Card’s fiction. The characters take turns being the witty banterer, the clever rebutter, and the self-doubter. And when it is their turn on stage, they all tend to sound like the same person. I am generally amused by Card’s clever sitcom-like dialogue, full of insults, and one liners. And most of the time I buy into his rustic dialogue (even though I think much of the crudity is gratuitous). But all too frequently the sympathetic characters lapse into the same voice.
Similarly, Card’s characters tend to take turns wallowing in the same angst. I think that in small doses this kind of neurotic inner dialogue is OK, but when it goes on and on, and each character beats the same drum beat of his designated obsession, it gets trite and a bit boring. In this book Calvin is the best example. He is a bore. His well worn routine of accusation, and self-justification is not merely petty. Petty is believable. But Calvin is one dimensional. Instead of a cardboard demon, he has become a cardboard petty-miester. That may be a step up from most cliched villains, but it is a small step - in this book at least.
I have read so many of Card’s novels that I fear I have come to take many of his gifts for granted. For instance, one of this author’s strengths is his ability to weave morality into his plots and his characters. Card’s characters tend to be preoccupied with right and wrong, and are often obsessively resistant to conscience. Crystal City is no exception. The heroes are trying to do right, and see aright, and the villains are full of self-justification and pettiness. But in this case I think characters both good and bad are much more shallow than we should expect of such a fine author.
Because there is clearly an audience committed to re-entering the world of Alvin Maker, the author and publisher have less incentive to put out a quality product. And sadly, though this story may have made for a quick write, and a fast buck, it contributed little to the novelty, passion or characterization of the series. Alas, such is the economy of the sequel.
Despite this general admiration, I must say that this is clearly the weakest of the series and not just because as a sequel it is a typically less passionate, less clever, less well crafted product than its predecessors. I think there are at least a couple of other flaws which earn this a 2-3 star rating compared to its 4 and 5 star siblings.
First I think the book showed Card’s interest in the series flagging. He left huge gaps in his story, with major characters dropped and significant dramas unresolved. This makes the disappointed reader feel like he missed a volume somehow.
The second greatest problem with this book is common to much of Card’s fiction. The characters take turns being the witty banterer, the clever rebutter, and the self-doubter. And when it is their turn on stage, they all tend to sound like the same person. I am generally amused by Card’s clever sitcom-like dialogue, full of insults, and one liners. And most of the time I buy into his rustic dialogue (even though I think much of the crudity is gratuitous). But all too frequently the sympathetic characters lapse into the same voice.
Similarly, Card’s characters tend to take turns wallowing in the same angst. I think that in small doses this kind of neurotic inner dialogue is OK, but when it goes on and on, and each character beats the same drum beat of his designated obsession, it gets trite and a bit boring. In this book Calvin is the best example. He is a bore. His well worn routine of accusation, and self-justification is not merely petty. Petty is believable. But Calvin is one dimensional. Instead of a cardboard demon, he has become a cardboard petty-miester. That may be a step up from most cliched villains, but it is a small step - in this book at least.
I have read so many of Card’s novels that I fear I have come to take many of his gifts for granted. For instance, one of this author’s strengths is his ability to weave morality into his plots and his characters. Card’s characters tend to be preoccupied with right and wrong, and are often obsessively resistant to conscience. Crystal City is no exception. The heroes are trying to do right, and see aright, and the villains are full of self-justification and pettiness. But in this case I think characters both good and bad are much more shallow than we should expect of such a fine author.
Because there is clearly an audience committed to re-entering the world of Alvin Maker, the author and publisher have less incentive to put out a quality product. And sadly, though this story may have made for a quick write, and a fast buck, it contributed little to the novelty, passion or characterization of the series. Alas, such is the economy of the sequel.
January 11, 2023
Note, Jan. 11, 2023: I've just edited this review to break up a very long, run-on sentence.
Throughout most of the preceding books of the series, Alvin's ultimate goal has been to understand how he's supposed to bring into being the "Crystal City" he saw in the vision he had as a child. Here, the pieces of that puzzle will fall into place, bringing the series to a satisfying ending point, though not a tidy HEA to wrap everything up with a neat bow --in this world (and in our real one! :-)), Card makes clear, life and its challenges are an ongoing story.
One of my Goodreads friends who reviewed this series, rather worn out by its 6-volume length, was pleased that this book seemed to be consciously shortened, as if the author were deliberately trying to bring the saga to an end with minimum delay. I had the same perception in places, but I didn't view it as a plus; I wasn't as bothered by the length of the series as a whole, because I thought the detailed world-building and the interrelationships of the characters added depth and texture to the story as a whole. Some of that was sacrificed here, I felt. For instance, the trip to Nueva Barcelona isn't described directly, even though it produced some incidents with real significance to the plot; these are referred to retrospectively, but I'd have preferred to have the book begin there. Card's Mexico --still Aztec-ruled; in this world, the Aztecs (called "Mexica" here) succeeded in overthrowing and driving out the Spaniards, and continue, in the 1820s, to practice large-scale human sacrifice-- is one of this series' most intriguing settings, but he doesn't develop it as much as he could have. And plotlines such as the relationship between Verily and Purity could have been profitably explored much more. That accounted for the rating of four stars here, rather than five.
Nevertheless, the book was still both enjoyable and profound. The plot took on an epic cast; Card's writing remains lyrical in places, and humorous in others (my wife not infrequently laughed out loud over it); and his moral and psychological insight doesn't falter. His characterizations continue to be marvelous: it's fun to see Arthur Stuart growing up, Calvin is as infuriating as ever, new fictional characters La Tia, Marie d'Espoir, and "Papa Moose" and "Mama Squirrel" are masterpieces, and a young Abe Lincoln heads the cast of real-life figures here. (Texan history buffs, and Alamo enthusiasts, may not like the portrayals of Stephen Austin and Jim Bowie.) And the message is ultimately a good one, and thoroughly relevant to real life --like Alvin and Measure, all of us are called to "love the Making," to spend our lives using what we've been given, what we are and what we have, to build up and create something good that makes the world better, instead of tearing down and destroying.
That message is certainly compatible with a theistic, religious view of the universe, but it's cast in essentially nonsectarian, secular terms. This could be said of the series as a whole. In this book, the rescue of the slaves and the downtrodden from Nueva Barcelona, their wilderness wanderings, and their crossing of the Mizzippy (Mississippi) parallels events in the history of ancient Israel (also escaped slaves). But though La Tia says "we the book of Exodus, us," Alvin doesn't claim any Divine mandate and doesn't bring any religious message. He believes in God, and characters give thanks to God at some points; but any participation by God in the narrative is veiled behind secondary causes, implicit rather than explicit, and without any direct revelation. Indeed, not all the characters are Christian; Tenska-Tawa and La Tia draw their spirituality from Native American and African, not biblical, roots. The name ultimately picked for the main building in Alvin's city is the Tabernacle; but it's not a place of worship or preaching, and he explicitly says it isn't intended as a church. It's made of crystal the surfaces of which will show visions; and two of the characters invest it with a religious significance ("instead of you go and a priest pretend to be God, we go inside and find out where he live in our heart! ...In the Bible, the tabernacle was a place where only the priest would go.... But our tabernacle, everybody's the priest, everybody can go inside, man and woman, to see what they see and hear what they hear"). But the contents of the visions described are of a practical, not theological, character; and even the quotations above (which Alvin himself doesn't make, or endorse), while they certainly express a kind of theological viewpoint, certainly don't express one that's recognizably Mormon --indeed, it sounds much more characteristic of Low-church Protestant evangelicalism than of hierarchical, clergy- dominated Mormonism. Also, the dates and biographical details of Alvin's life bear no similarities to Joseph Smith's (beyond sharing the last name Smith, and the location of the Crystal City in what would be, in our world, Illinois, where Nauvoo was built). The social and demographic makeup of Alvin's following is nothing like Joseph Smith's; and as noted in reviews of earlier books in the series, the social messages here have no similarity to those of 19th-century Mormonism. And there is a total absence in Alvin's teaching of any attempt to found a religious movement, or to proclaim any Mormon doctrines (readers will look in vain for any suggestion of plurality of gods, polygamy, long-buried ancient scriptures, etc.). As I've said before, I think that in this parallel world, Alvin Smith does replace Joseph Smith. But replacing him isn't at all the same as duplicating him; and I think the above facts establish that this series is not, per se, about Mormonism, nor is it veiled Mormon propaganda as such.
Throughout most of the preceding books of the series, Alvin's ultimate goal has been to understand how he's supposed to bring into being the "Crystal City" he saw in the vision he had as a child. Here, the pieces of that puzzle will fall into place, bringing the series to a satisfying ending point, though not a tidy HEA to wrap everything up with a neat bow --in this world (and in our real one! :-)), Card makes clear, life and its challenges are an ongoing story.
One of my Goodreads friends who reviewed this series, rather worn out by its 6-volume length, was pleased that this book seemed to be consciously shortened, as if the author were deliberately trying to bring the saga to an end with minimum delay. I had the same perception in places, but I didn't view it as a plus; I wasn't as bothered by the length of the series as a whole, because I thought the detailed world-building and the interrelationships of the characters added depth and texture to the story as a whole. Some of that was sacrificed here, I felt. For instance, the trip to Nueva Barcelona isn't described directly, even though it produced some incidents with real significance to the plot; these are referred to retrospectively, but I'd have preferred to have the book begin there. Card's Mexico --still Aztec-ruled; in this world, the Aztecs (called "Mexica" here) succeeded in overthrowing and driving out the Spaniards, and continue, in the 1820s, to practice large-scale human sacrifice-- is one of this series' most intriguing settings, but he doesn't develop it as much as he could have. And plotlines such as the relationship between Verily and Purity could have been profitably explored much more. That accounted for the rating of four stars here, rather than five.
Nevertheless, the book was still both enjoyable and profound. The plot took on an epic cast; Card's writing remains lyrical in places, and humorous in others (my wife not infrequently laughed out loud over it); and his moral and psychological insight doesn't falter. His characterizations continue to be marvelous: it's fun to see Arthur Stuart growing up, Calvin is as infuriating as ever, new fictional characters La Tia, Marie d'Espoir, and "Papa Moose" and "Mama Squirrel" are masterpieces, and a young Abe Lincoln heads the cast of real-life figures here. (Texan history buffs, and Alamo enthusiasts, may not like the portrayals of Stephen Austin and Jim Bowie.) And the message is ultimately a good one, and thoroughly relevant to real life --like Alvin and Measure, all of us are called to "love the Making," to spend our lives using what we've been given, what we are and what we have, to build up and create something good that makes the world better, instead of tearing down and destroying.
That message is certainly compatible with a theistic, religious view of the universe, but it's cast in essentially nonsectarian, secular terms. This could be said of the series as a whole. In this book, the rescue of the slaves and the downtrodden from Nueva Barcelona, their wilderness wanderings, and their crossing of the Mizzippy (Mississippi) parallels events in the history of ancient Israel (also escaped slaves). But though La Tia says "we the book of Exodus, us," Alvin doesn't claim any Divine mandate and doesn't bring any religious message. He believes in God, and characters give thanks to God at some points; but any participation by God in the narrative is veiled behind secondary causes, implicit rather than explicit, and without any direct revelation. Indeed, not all the characters are Christian; Tenska-Tawa and La Tia draw their spirituality from Native American and African, not biblical, roots. The name ultimately picked for the main building in Alvin's city is the Tabernacle; but it's not a place of worship or preaching, and he explicitly says it isn't intended as a church. It's made of crystal the surfaces of which will show visions; and two of the characters invest it with a religious significance ("instead of you go and a priest pretend to be God, we go inside and find out where he live in our heart! ...In the Bible, the tabernacle was a place where only the priest would go.... But our tabernacle, everybody's the priest, everybody can go inside, man and woman, to see what they see and hear what they hear"). But the contents of the visions described are of a practical, not theological, character; and even the quotations above (which Alvin himself doesn't make, or endorse), while they certainly express a kind of theological viewpoint, certainly don't express one that's recognizably Mormon --indeed, it sounds much more characteristic of Low-church Protestant evangelicalism than of hierarchical, clergy- dominated Mormonism. Also, the dates and biographical details of Alvin's life bear no similarities to Joseph Smith's (beyond sharing the last name Smith, and the location of the Crystal City in what would be, in our world, Illinois, where Nauvoo was built). The social and demographic makeup of Alvin's following is nothing like Joseph Smith's; and as noted in reviews of earlier books in the series, the social messages here have no similarity to those of 19th-century Mormonism. And there is a total absence in Alvin's teaching of any attempt to found a religious movement, or to proclaim any Mormon doctrines (readers will look in vain for any suggestion of plurality of gods, polygamy, long-buried ancient scriptures, etc.). As I've said before, I think that in this parallel world, Alvin Smith does replace Joseph Smith. But replacing him isn't at all the same as duplicating him; and I think the above facts establish that this series is not, per se, about Mormonism, nor is it veiled Mormon propaganda as such.
July 27, 2021
This is last published volume of this series and I have to say that I'm fine with that. This odd alternate history is really not my bag. At all.
This book finds Alvin in New Barcelona (referred to as Barcy) known to us as New Orleans. Because of political manoeuvring between the French, Spanish and Portuguese, Alvin ends up leading a large group of people out of the area by using his amazing Maker skills. He's very much a Moses figure, leading his people to the promised land of freedom and equality. In fact Card has a character expressly say this, just in case you're not quick on the uptake.
There's a side story consisting of Calvin signing up with Jim Bowie to go “deal with" the Aztecs of Mexica. This seems to be mostly to reacquaint the reader with how selfish and entitled Calvin is. He both loves and despises Alvin--I'm just not sure what he's supposed to be meaning to me as a reader. The Crystal City itself might be an interpretation of Salt Lake City, in keeping with Card's Mormon roots. The whole series seems to be thinly veiled allegory of a lot of Christian and LDS lore, troweled on thickly and rather confusingly. Card mixes his metaphors all over the place.
I have to say that I hate what the author does with historical figures like Abraham Lincoln. Yes, they were ordinary humans, but Card seems to be intent on kicking them off their pedestals and making them ultra-ordinary, even kind of goofy. Rather like Calvin is always attempting to do to Alvin.
Is his point that people are just people and that utopia is impossible? If so, thanks but we already know that. If he's used six books just to say that using our talents to build things is a good thing, even if our efforts don't last, well duh! I find his opinions and personal beliefs baked into these novels, but the point of that is not at all clear to me. I really liked Ender's Game, but having read these books, I find myself not liking the author very much. I don't think he's someone I would want to spend time with.
I hear that Card is planning to write one more book in this series, and I can see that there are still unanswered questions, but I am laying it down right here. No further will I read. I will celebrate freedom just as fervently as Alvin's followers.
Book number 421 of my Science Fiction & Fantasy Reading Project.
This book finds Alvin in New Barcelona (referred to as Barcy) known to us as New Orleans. Because of political manoeuvring between the French, Spanish and Portuguese, Alvin ends up leading a large group of people out of the area by using his amazing Maker skills. He's very much a Moses figure, leading his people to the promised land of freedom and equality. In fact Card has a character expressly say this, just in case you're not quick on the uptake.
There's a side story consisting of Calvin signing up with Jim Bowie to go “deal with" the Aztecs of Mexica. This seems to be mostly to reacquaint the reader with how selfish and entitled Calvin is. He both loves and despises Alvin--I'm just not sure what he's supposed to be meaning to me as a reader. The Crystal City itself might be an interpretation of Salt Lake City, in keeping with Card's Mormon roots. The whole series seems to be thinly veiled allegory of a lot of Christian and LDS lore, troweled on thickly and rather confusingly. Card mixes his metaphors all over the place.
I have to say that I hate what the author does with historical figures like Abraham Lincoln. Yes, they were ordinary humans, but Card seems to be intent on kicking them off their pedestals and making them ultra-ordinary, even kind of goofy. Rather like Calvin is always attempting to do to Alvin.
Is his point that people are just people and that utopia is impossible? If so, thanks but we already know that. If he's used six books just to say that using our talents to build things is a good thing, even if our efforts don't last, well duh! I find his opinions and personal beliefs baked into these novels, but the point of that is not at all clear to me. I really liked Ender's Game, but having read these books, I find myself not liking the author very much. I don't think he's someone I would want to spend time with.
I hear that Card is planning to write one more book in this series, and I can see that there are still unanswered questions, but I am laying it down right here. No further will I read. I will celebrate freedom just as fervently as Alvin's followers.
Book number 421 of my Science Fiction & Fantasy Reading Project.
March 9, 2024
20 May 2007 – ***. This is the sixth book in a series, preceded by Seventh Son, Red Prophet, Prentice Alvin, Alvin Journeyman, and Heartfire - and I doubt it is the last. I began reading this series almost 20 years ago when it was new, and while there is definitely an order to them, they are easy reads, with sufficient recap to resume the story. The setting is a frontier America where everyone has some magical "knack", rooted in their European, African, or "Red Indian" heritage.
In this one, Alvin Maker and his young brother-in-law, Arthur Stuart travel to Nuevo Barcelona (New Orleans in our world) and become involved with the open-hearted and open-door family of Mama Squirrel and Papa Moose. You gotta love these people. Alvin's well-intentioned meddling leads eventually to an exodus of escaped slaves, underclass French, and others from Nuevo Barcelona. Biblical allusions are everywhere as Alvin parts the waters of Lake Ponchartrain and crosses paths with his unhappy and selfish brother Calvin. But this is all done with a light, sort of Universalist sensibility, not in a preachy way. I enjoyed this as much as ever in this return to the folksey, yet wise, universe Card has created.
However, I have a concern. Near the end of this book, the wandering tribe of refugees is led to establish a semi-autonomous community on the banks of the Mizzippy, that just happens to be near the actual location of Nauvoo - the onetime location of a historical Mormon community. My concern is that after 5 maybe 6 books, Card is now going to take this highly creative series in the direction of a sectarian religious theme. This is something he has done before, in the Homecoming series, and in the Ender's Shadow series. I guess we'll see what happens in the next volume if it ever gets written.
In this one, Alvin Maker and his young brother-in-law, Arthur Stuart travel to Nuevo Barcelona (New Orleans in our world) and become involved with the open-hearted and open-door family of Mama Squirrel and Papa Moose. You gotta love these people. Alvin's well-intentioned meddling leads eventually to an exodus of escaped slaves, underclass French, and others from Nuevo Barcelona. Biblical allusions are everywhere as Alvin parts the waters of Lake Ponchartrain and crosses paths with his unhappy and selfish brother Calvin. But this is all done with a light, sort of Universalist sensibility, not in a preachy way. I enjoyed this as much as ever in this return to the folksey, yet wise, universe Card has created.
However, I have a concern. Near the end of this book, the wandering tribe of refugees is led to establish a semi-autonomous community on the banks of the Mizzippy, that just happens to be near the actual location of Nauvoo - the onetime location of a historical Mormon community. My concern is that after 5 maybe 6 books, Card is now going to take this highly creative series in the direction of a sectarian religious theme. This is something he has done before, in the Homecoming series, and in the Ender's Shadow series. I guess we'll see what happens in the next volume if it ever gets written.
February 25, 2009
Like this whole series, it has continuity issues, which Card treats cavalierly in the acknowledgments. The central story itself is more compelling, though I found it frustrating that it picked up so long after the previous book without allowing us to see the culmination of storylines Card left hanging that I as a reader had invested in. Having Alvin only with Arthur Stuart through most of the novel and other core characters appearing so late and some minimally is also frustrating. The analogy of the Exodus of the Hebrews from Egypt was well done for the most part, and Alvin's ongoing struggle to find his destiny as a Maker is very human. The series continues to have a lot to recommend it, and Card's alternate history for many famous historical figures is also interesting. I still do not quite understand the relationship between Alvin and Margaret, and can't figure out why. Most of Alvin's other close relationships are so well articulated. We have to be told they love each other because it is hard to see it in action.
November 21, 2012
Originally posted at FanLit. http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
The Crystal City is the (maybe) final novel in Orson Scott Card’s TALES OF ALVIN MAKER. This series started off strongly with Seventh Son and Red Prophet, but it bogged down during books three and four (Prentice Alvin and Alvin Journeyman) and I was ready to give up. However, since I had already downloaded the audio version of the sixth book, The Crystal City, from my library, I decided to finish the series. (My library didn’t have the fifth book, Heartfire, so I just read a plot summary of that one.)
Alvin and Peggy are married and have lost a child. Alvin continues his work as a Maker, trying to prepare people for his Crystal City, while Peggy is trying to end slavery. Alvin and Arthur are now in New Orleans. When Alvin heals a woman with yellow fever, she is well enough to go outside and spread it among the city, starting a plague. Alvin tries to heal as many as he can and, in the process, is suspected of witchery. It’s looking like a good time to leave New Orleans, so when a woman asks Alvin to lead thousands of runaway slaves and French refugees across the Mississippi river to freedom, he agrees to do it.
Thus The Crystal City is the Exodus story and Alvin is both a Moses figure and a Jesus figure. He teams up with his old friend Tenskwa-Tawa, the Red Prophet, to lead 5,000 people out of slavery and into the promised land. Other highlights include the introductions of Jim Bowie and Abraham Lincoln and, finally, Alvin’s dawning understanding of his purpose and the beginnings of the crystal city.
The Crystal City was hard to get through for the same reason I had trouble with books three and four in this series. The plot drags because there’s too much brooding interior monologue and far too much teasing banter amongst the characters. Almost every conversation on nearly every page of the novel is snarky or sarcastic. This is usually playful (e.g.,” I hope I grow up to be as perfect as you!”) and it feels very realistic, but it becomes incredibly boring after listening to it for so long during this series. I had to skim some of it in order to finish The Crystal City. I listened to the audio version, so basically I sped up the narration to about triple the normal rate in parts, especially the dialogue. The Blackstone audio versions are very good, by the way, though I always had to speed them up. The narrator Stephen Hoye is particularly excellent in this series.
It’s not clear whether there will be any more books in the TALES OF ALVIN MAKER series. The ending is open and some readers will be disappointed that it doesn’t tie up all the loose ends. I’m at the point that I don’t care. Either way, I’m done with Alvin Maker.
The Crystal City is the (maybe) final novel in Orson Scott Card’s TALES OF ALVIN MAKER. This series started off strongly with Seventh Son and Red Prophet, but it bogged down during books three and four (Prentice Alvin and Alvin Journeyman) and I was ready to give up. However, since I had already downloaded the audio version of the sixth book, The Crystal City, from my library, I decided to finish the series. (My library didn’t have the fifth book, Heartfire, so I just read a plot summary of that one.)
Alvin and Peggy are married and have lost a child. Alvin continues his work as a Maker, trying to prepare people for his Crystal City, while Peggy is trying to end slavery. Alvin and Arthur are now in New Orleans. When Alvin heals a woman with yellow fever, she is well enough to go outside and spread it among the city, starting a plague. Alvin tries to heal as many as he can and, in the process, is suspected of witchery. It’s looking like a good time to leave New Orleans, so when a woman asks Alvin to lead thousands of runaway slaves and French refugees across the Mississippi river to freedom, he agrees to do it.
Thus The Crystal City is the Exodus story and Alvin is both a Moses figure and a Jesus figure. He teams up with his old friend Tenskwa-Tawa, the Red Prophet, to lead 5,000 people out of slavery and into the promised land. Other highlights include the introductions of Jim Bowie and Abraham Lincoln and, finally, Alvin’s dawning understanding of his purpose and the beginnings of the crystal city.
The Crystal City was hard to get through for the same reason I had trouble with books three and four in this series. The plot drags because there’s too much brooding interior monologue and far too much teasing banter amongst the characters. Almost every conversation on nearly every page of the novel is snarky or sarcastic. This is usually playful (e.g.,” I hope I grow up to be as perfect as you!”) and it feels very realistic, but it becomes incredibly boring after listening to it for so long during this series. I had to skim some of it in order to finish The Crystal City. I listened to the audio version, so basically I sped up the narration to about triple the normal rate in parts, especially the dialogue. The Blackstone audio versions are very good, by the way, though I always had to speed them up. The narrator Stephen Hoye is particularly excellent in this series.
It’s not clear whether there will be any more books in the TALES OF ALVIN MAKER series. The ending is open and some readers will be disappointed that it doesn’t tie up all the loose ends. I’m at the point that I don’t care. Either way, I’m done with Alvin Maker.
August 7, 2007
Didn't read it, because the story seemed to be petering out in the last book.
My one star review is for the lame cover art.
I felt insulted by that bullshit, and don't want to be seen with that romance novel looking book in my hands. How do you tell someone with taste that this is a really clever alternative history of America while they are looking at Fabio floating there on the cover?
The publishers are making their fantasy books impossible to recommend!
Stop it!
My one star review is for the lame cover art.
I felt insulted by that bullshit, and don't want to be seen with that romance novel looking book in my hands. How do you tell someone with taste that this is a really clever alternative history of America while they are looking at Fabio floating there on the cover?
The publishers are making their fantasy books impossible to recommend!
Stop it!
January 5, 2009
Great conclusion to the series.
I don't recall which book it was, but it was said of Alvin's brother: He was the life of the party, unless being so would show someone else to be a buffoon in which case, he would remain silent rather than embarrass them. (So people stopped inviting buffoons to the parties they invited him to.) Interesting cocktail party image.
I don't recall which book it was, but it was said of Alvin's brother: He was the life of the party, unless being so would show someone else to be a buffoon in which case, he would remain silent rather than embarrass them. (So people stopped inviting buffoons to the parties they invited him to.) Interesting cocktail party image.
November 14, 2018
Finally the end of the series. I'm glad I finished it, but not sure I really should have bothered. An average series that dragged on far too long, not one of Card's better endeavours...
September 3, 2020
To be honest, I am mad I spent the time on this series. This last book was rushed and did little to wrap up the series in any satisfactory way for me. Won't be reading any more of his books.
mooched
February 25, 2021Mooched in February 2021!
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Current BookMooch inventory: http://bookmooch.com/m/inventory/jonmoss
January 13, 2025
I didn't like the first half because we retread so much old ground. It's like Card took the previous character growth away, and forgot his original plan for the story.
April 7, 2015
Ever since I started this series and realized that it wasn't finished. And that it's been 7 years since the last installment and that Orson Scott Card isn't dead, I've been mildly upset. But I listened to each book anyway and enjoyed them. I was pleasantly surprised that this book actually had a resolved ending. The series could end here and I would be content. The only loose string is Peggy's torchy vision of Alvin's future death when Calvin comes back around. I for one can be contented with never knowing the details. Though I'm sure if Mr. Card ever gets around to writing his promised last book, Alvin's death will be beautiful and meaningful. My only other complaint is that the cover art for each book makes them look like trashy romance novels. Which they are not.
July 29, 2009
The three's a gift for finishing the series . . . kind of.
Card had mercy on us. It's easy to detect in the telling of The Crystal City where Card jumped over enough time and material to have written another novel between Heartfire and this book. Thankfully, he didn't.
As I said before, the less you know about Card's religious beliefs, the more you'll enjoy this series (unless, of course, you share those beliefs).
Card had mercy on us. It's easy to detect in the telling of The Crystal City where Card jumped over enough time and material to have written another novel between Heartfire and this book. Thankfully, he didn't.
As I said before, the less you know about Card's religious beliefs, the more you'll enjoy this series (unless, of course, you share those beliefs).
June 27, 2017
Good, but the series seemed to lose momentum... possibly due to the time it took to get to this book. I'm getting generally unhappy with authors who write multiple series at a time, creating so much gap that you've lost continuity with the characters.
(Do you hear me, Brandon Sanderson!?)
Still - a compelling compilation of good, folksy characters, altered history, Mormon theology and 19th-century folk magic. Card is still one of my favorites
(Do you hear me, Brandon Sanderson!?)
Still - a compelling compilation of good, folksy characters, altered history, Mormon theology and 19th-century folk magic. Card is still one of my favorites
January 22, 2009
I've read the series - in each of the six, there are plenty of observations of human nature that give one pause and a reason to reflect. Another great set for those who like the idea of ruminating on what would a slightly to significant different America look like, while humans in this imagined scenario still faced with all the struggles and choices we deal with.
August 26, 2014
Good, but I'm growing weary of this series having no conclusion. After the first two books, none of the books end in a way that anticipates the next book, but nothing gets finished either. At some point, there has to be a final confrontation between Alvin and the Unmaker, and there has to be a resolution/destiny for Calvin. Please?
May 19, 2019
Tardé 3 años en encontrar este libro... Esta es una saga que seguramente a muy pocos gustaría; pero hay algo que desde hace 10 años me unió a Orson Scott Card y a la historia de Alvin Maker... ahora me tocará esperar a que el escritor decida escribir el 7o y último libro; ojalá no sean muchos años de espera ❤️❤️❤️
March 10, 2012
Easily the weakest of the series. There is no dramatic tension at all, just people going to different places, doing things, and having things happen to them. As a reader, there was never any doubt in my mind that everything would work out fine and that no major characters would suffer in the end.
July 10, 2007
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2020
With the end of this series in sight, it seems that the focus of The Crystal City is back on track. That being said, there are a few curious omissions that made it somewhat frustrating to read. I understand that some stories aren’t meant to be part of full books, but when these side short stories sound much more interesting by their mere inference, then I wonder why they weren’t included in the main storyline to begin with. Still, there were enough exciting developments in The Crystal City to keep me wondering what the conclusion will bring in the next book.
While I appreciated the historical name dropping earlier in the series, now they seem to be coming left and right, with little-to-no impact on the story other than to say, “Look! Here’s someone you should know, and here’s how they’re different now!” Part of this is due to the short stories that introduced interesting characters like Jim Bowie and Steve Austin. It could be the fact that the altered timeline is so far away from known history that figures like Abraham Lincoln don’t seem to have nearly the same impact as they did in our current understanding of history.
It was nice to see some character development, especially in Arthur Miller, who up until now had felt more like a sidekick and shadow to Alvin and not necessarily a full character in his own right. I also appreciated some of the more grandiose events, like the eruption of a volcano, even if it felt a little like cutting off another sub-plot that could have had some incredibly interesting outcomes. In the end, it is nice to see some of the loose ends starting to be tied up, even if I don’t enjoy these books nearly as much as when I started six books ago.
A foreshadowing of the end of the series, I give The Crystal City 3.5 stars out of 5.
1/2
For more reviews of books and movies like this, please visit www.benjamin-m-weilert.com
While I appreciated the historical name dropping earlier in the series, now they seem to be coming left and right, with little-to-no impact on the story other than to say, “Look! Here’s someone you should know, and here’s how they’re different now!” Part of this is due to the short stories that introduced interesting characters like Jim Bowie and Steve Austin. It could be the fact that the altered timeline is so far away from known history that figures like Abraham Lincoln don’t seem to have nearly the same impact as they did in our current understanding of history.
It was nice to see some character development, especially in Arthur Miller, who up until now had felt more like a sidekick and shadow to Alvin and not necessarily a full character in his own right. I also appreciated some of the more grandiose events, like the eruption of a volcano, even if it felt a little like cutting off another sub-plot that could have had some incredibly interesting outcomes. In the end, it is nice to see some of the loose ends starting to be tied up, even if I don’t enjoy these books nearly as much as when I started six books ago.
A foreshadowing of the end of the series, I give The Crystal City 3.5 stars out of 5.
1/2
For more reviews of books and movies like this, please visit www.benjamin-m-weilert.com
July 18, 2017
What do you do with a series where the protagonist is a godlike figure who essentially has no major character flaws? He can get out of any situation, resolve any problem, heal any disease or ailment. He has become even more than a superhero and reached god status. It just got boring. The Unmaker, the antagonist of sorts, was flimsy in this installment. Some plot lines were largely abandoned or swiftly resolved with a lazy pen stroke. Why did it take six books to get to a cheesy agrarian setting where there is a weak Cain-Abel scenario playing out, but Cain (Calvin) still isn't strong enough to challenge Abel (Alvin)? It seemed like the author had a few basic ideas for the series but made things up as he went along. The Crystal City is not nearly as cool as was imagined in previous books. It also skips a large segment of time from when Alvin's baby is born to suddenly all of the people are in the town ready to build the city and Peggy and the baby are there. Six books, thousands of words, and the Crystal City is just a Mirror of Erised?? I feel let down. Not to mention, if you look up Orson Scott Card, on his official website there is a whole section devoted to mansplaining his personal beliefs on homosexuality and other topics. It's not that hard to believe considering that despite all the many people Alvin meets on his travels, not a one is gay. I am hoping that Verily Cooper is gay, as his character eschews female advances and he seems overly jealous of anyone close to Alvin. All of the other relationships are strictly heterosexual, with the females assuming stereotypical housewife roles and submitting to their husbands. Maybe in the next installment if there is one, Calvin will join with Verily, his love thus spurned, and together they will bring down Alvin in a dark rainbowy cloud of homosexual love, and hatred for this absolutely perfect, boring person with no depth or character development at all. Oops, I probably predicted what will actually happen because author will loosely base it on his groundless fears of gay people. Wompwomp. Now you don't have to read it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2023
pitiful end to an increasingly mediocre series.
especially in the first 4 or so books, the characters were woefully one-dimensional, like a moralizing children's tale that is required to have clear delineations of right and wrong, good and evil. This makes for a tepid read, where even if there's technically action or plot, it somehow manages to bore.
And as the series reached it's end, long built-up relationships and conflicts just fizzled out pitifully. The supposed great conflict arc between the two brothers had no climax, much less a conclusion. And the way the two used their powers was consistently lame. The first couple books were great, as a young Alvin explored the limits of his skills. But grown-up Alvin was such an unbelievable bore. And writer Orson Scott Card completely lacked the ability to wow the reader with the scenes that were certainly intended to be amazing.
A shitty bridge across water is the coolest thing Alvin ever does? Um, you mean like ice? As a maker how just tells molecules how they should be, and they carry on the instructions, the basic fundamentals of the magic system make it clear that creating an ice bridge should be trivial. And yet for some silly reason we are asked to be amazed by this "crystal" bridge he builds. Not to mention this lame-ass plow he carries around everywhere.
I suspect that much of the lame plot stemmed from a need to maintain some type of symmetry with Mormon myths and "symbolism" in early books.
I've recently recommended some other Orson Scott Card books to people, like Speaker for the Dead and Xenocide, and I shudder to think that childhood may have clouded my vision, and in fact these books are as bad as the Alvin Maker series.
In summary, Orson managed to take a freaking awesome premise -- magical realism in early 1800s frontier america -- and bore the reader to tears with one-dimensional characters, lame mormon shout outs, characters that refused to use their magic in interesting ways, and a weird absence of a meaningful climax or resolution.
especially in the first 4 or so books, the characters were woefully one-dimensional, like a moralizing children's tale that is required to have clear delineations of right and wrong, good and evil. This makes for a tepid read, where even if there's technically action or plot, it somehow manages to bore.
And as the series reached it's end, long built-up relationships and conflicts just fizzled out pitifully. The supposed great conflict arc between the two brothers had no climax, much less a conclusion. And the way the two used their powers was consistently lame. The first couple books were great, as a young Alvin explored the limits of his skills. But grown-up Alvin was such an unbelievable bore. And writer Orson Scott Card completely lacked the ability to wow the reader with the scenes that were certainly intended to be amazing.
A shitty bridge across water is the coolest thing Alvin ever does? Um, you mean like ice? As a maker how just tells molecules how they should be, and they carry on the instructions, the basic fundamentals of the magic system make it clear that creating an ice bridge should be trivial. And yet for some silly reason we are asked to be amazed by this "crystal" bridge he builds. Not to mention this lame-ass plow he carries around everywhere.
I suspect that much of the lame plot stemmed from a need to maintain some type of symmetry with Mormon myths and "symbolism" in early books.
I've recently recommended some other Orson Scott Card books to people, like Speaker for the Dead and Xenocide, and I shudder to think that childhood may have clouded my vision, and in fact these books are as bad as the Alvin Maker series.
In summary, Orson managed to take a freaking awesome premise -- magical realism in early 1800s frontier america -- and bore the reader to tears with one-dimensional characters, lame mormon shout outs, characters that refused to use their magic in interesting ways, and a weird absence of a meaningful climax or resolution.
November 12, 2017
Book #6, and the Alvin Maker series is definitely running out of steam. I'll stick out the planned seven because Orson Scott Card is an interesting writer and I want to know how he envisions the end of Alvin's quest. But considered as novels, the series hasn't really worked too well since the end of book #3.
In this book at least Alvin is making things happen, not sitting moodily in some jail cell somewhere. It seems Card recognized the need to get the main arc of the series back on track after book #5. Again Card begins the book by placing Alvin in some interesting location in 1820's America-- New Orleans this time-- and tracing out the "magic" and historical figures of the place. But this time the local color becomes part of Alvin's main plot arc, and he finds himself-- quite suddenly, even for the reader-- preparing to build the crystal city of the title, the one he'd been clueless about for the past four books.
This could actually have made for a decent plot, and there are certainly hints in that direction-- but Card just doesn't give the story enough energy to make it exciting or engaging. His historical-figure cameos, especially a young Abraham Lincoln, don't quite work; his token attempts to throw the basically omnipotent Alvin into danger don't quite work; his gestures at developing other major characters, like Arthur and Calvin, don't quite work. I'm having trouble pointing to anything that's obviously bad-- Card is, as always, a capable writer-- but somehow the heart's not in it. It feels very much like wooden, result-driven storytelling. Which is a shame, because readers of the Alvin Maker series will still be interested by what Card has to say about his alternate-history magical American frontier-- and if they're like me, they'll still want to see how Card wraps it up.
In this book at least Alvin is making things happen, not sitting moodily in some jail cell somewhere. It seems Card recognized the need to get the main arc of the series back on track after book #5. Again Card begins the book by placing Alvin in some interesting location in 1820's America-- New Orleans this time-- and tracing out the "magic" and historical figures of the place. But this time the local color becomes part of Alvin's main plot arc, and he finds himself-- quite suddenly, even for the reader-- preparing to build the crystal city of the title, the one he'd been clueless about for the past four books.
This could actually have made for a decent plot, and there are certainly hints in that direction-- but Card just doesn't give the story enough energy to make it exciting or engaging. His historical-figure cameos, especially a young Abraham Lincoln, don't quite work; his token attempts to throw the basically omnipotent Alvin into danger don't quite work; his gestures at developing other major characters, like Arthur and Calvin, don't quite work. I'm having trouble pointing to anything that's obviously bad-- Card is, as always, a capable writer-- but somehow the heart's not in it. It feels very much like wooden, result-driven storytelling. Which is a shame, because readers of the Alvin Maker series will still be interested by what Card has to say about his alternate-history magical American frontier-- and if they're like me, they'll still want to see how Card wraps it up.
February 12, 2019
I only finished this book because I had already read the first 5.
Now to be clear, there are no books between #5 heartfire and #6 The Crystal City. I'm putting that first because I spent 30 minutes googling that to see if I missed something. When you read this book you will feel like you missed something. You didn't. Orson Scott Card just got lazy again (he always gets lazy on the last book or two in any series, except the ender universe).
This book starts roughly 5 years after the last one. The characters have had adventures that they keep referring too but never actually explain (making the reader feel like they missed a book). Oh and that good hearted main character you love? Well he's changed and in the first moments of the book wants to beat his little brother in law.
The side characters who were adding to the story and you loved? All gone, well except Calvin. But don't worry they all show up at the end and do pretty much nothing. But Orson remembered to bring them back at least.
Seriously this book might have been better if there was a book 5.5# that helps explain all the changes in story. I know that in real life people leave, and come back changed with stories you are not a part of, but in a book series doing that with the MAIN CHARACTER just feels like Orson was being lazy and wanted to skip ahead.
Other than that the basics of Alvin learning makering is pretty much the same.
Now to be clear, there are no books between #5 heartfire and #6 The Crystal City. I'm putting that first because I spent 30 minutes googling that to see if I missed something. When you read this book you will feel like you missed something. You didn't. Orson Scott Card just got lazy again (he always gets lazy on the last book or two in any series, except the ender universe).
This book starts roughly 5 years after the last one. The characters have had adventures that they keep referring too but never actually explain (making the reader feel like they missed a book). Oh and that good hearted main character you love? Well he's changed and in the first moments of the book wants to beat his little brother in law.
The side characters who were adding to the story and you loved? All gone, well except Calvin. But don't worry they all show up at the end and do pretty much nothing. But Orson remembered to bring them back at least.
Seriously this book might have been better if there was a book 5.5# that helps explain all the changes in story. I know that in real life people leave, and come back changed with stories you are not a part of, but in a book series doing that with the MAIN CHARACTER just feels like Orson was being lazy and wanted to skip ahead.
Other than that the basics of Alvin learning makering is pretty much the same.
May 16, 2017
I was really disappointed with this book. Not only is is an awful conclusion for the Alvin Maker series (and it DOES seem to be the conclusion, both because it's marketed that way and there hasn't been a new Alvin book in nearly 15 years at this point -- and Card clearly lost the momentum for this series around book 3 anyhow), but it is disappointing on its own.
Too much of the book is about events and characters in Alvin's past that we haven't actually seen in any Alvin Maker book, so a lot of it comes at the reader cold. Additionally, a lot of the threads left hanging in previous volumes and characters the reader has come to know and care about are barely mentioned at all. The whole thing just lacks a lot of the care and effort Cart put into the first few books, and really feels as though he wrote it to have an end to the Alvin Maker saga rather than anything else.
There are a few beautifully written scenes, of course, because Card is still Card, but most of the book seems to consist of Alvin and Peggy moping over the fact that they never communicate and how they could be so much happier if they did -- and still not choosing to do so. Because reasons.
The climax scene of the book is great, honestly -- I just wish the rest of the book lived up to that potential, instead of feeling half-hearted and unfinished and leaving too many plot threads hanging.
Too much of the book is about events and characters in Alvin's past that we haven't actually seen in any Alvin Maker book, so a lot of it comes at the reader cold. Additionally, a lot of the threads left hanging in previous volumes and characters the reader has come to know and care about are barely mentioned at all. The whole thing just lacks a lot of the care and effort Cart put into the first few books, and really feels as though he wrote it to have an end to the Alvin Maker saga rather than anything else.
There are a few beautifully written scenes, of course, because Card is still Card, but most of the book seems to consist of Alvin and Peggy moping over the fact that they never communicate and how they could be so much happier if they did -- and still not choosing to do so. Because reasons.
The climax scene of the book is great, honestly -- I just wish the rest of the book lived up to that potential, instead of feeling half-hearted and unfinished and leaving too many plot threads hanging.
December 3, 2017
Like the rest of the series I did like the characters a lot, they felt well rounded and I think the story line was pretty good and it kept me interested through reading the series to the end...however I have to say I was a bit dissapointed in the ending. It seemed very open ended as far as what happened with the main character Alvin and his younger jealous brother Calvin... It didn't feel like they ever completely resloved their issues and the plot is left hanging as to wether or not Calvin ever ends up actually murdering Alvin...or causeing his death as Alvin's wife predicted might happen. I would have liked to see that part of the plot wrapped up a bit more. I also think that through the last couple of books I kept expecting Taleswapper to show up and be a larger part of the story again since he was such a huge part of the stories at the begining of the series and I was a little dissaopointed in how the author dragged him back in at the end as it seemed a bit forced just to wrap the story up and end it. I would have liked to have seen Taleswapper play a bigger role though the last two books and have added more in his own "book of tales" as it were, as it seems like it would made the plot seem more complete and less forced as he was there as a character at the end but didn't seem to have much to add to the plot really.
October 20, 2023
A bit of time has passed and Alvin is still on his journey to discover how to build the Crystal City. His wife can see the future, but will not give him all the information he needs so it is causing tension in their marriage. On top of that, their first child died before Alvin could figure out how to heal its lungs. Both are hurting. Now Peg is pregnant again and has sent Alvin on another journey. He does not know what he is supposed to do, but he knows he has to go. Alvin does his best to do what is right no matter the consequences to himself. Just by being himself, he stumbles across the answers to his questions about building the Crystal City.
This book deals with the historical issues of emancipation and the yellow fever epidemic. We also get to spend time with Abraham Lincoln which was a favorite part of mine. I will have to say this was my least favorite Alvin Maker book though. It was slow-paced and did not seem to do anything new or have anywhere special to go. The Crystal City was a disappointment and of course, Calvin has to spoil things. It is left open for another edition but I cannot imagine we will see it.
This book deals with the historical issues of emancipation and the yellow fever epidemic. We also get to spend time with Abraham Lincoln which was a favorite part of mine. I will have to say this was my least favorite Alvin Maker book though. It was slow-paced and did not seem to do anything new or have anywhere special to go. The Crystal City was a disappointment and of course, Calvin has to spoil things. It is left open for another edition but I cannot imagine we will see it.
September 5, 2019
No me puedo enojar con Card. Así que voy a culpar a las expectativas del lector en este caso.
Primera vez que me decepciona uno de sus libros. Quizá una vez terminada la historia completa uno pueda entender como encaja esta pieza dentro del contexto general, pero creo que no va a mejorar mucho.
Hay una pérdida de foco con respecto a los libros anteriores que hacen que uno se pase la primera mitad del libro tratando de entender que pasó. los personajes que se venían delineando como compañeros de Alvin desaparecen y son reemplazados por otros, situaciones que se preveían como importantes para el desarrollo de la historia son explicadas al pasar con unos comentarios dando a entender que ya pasaron y no tuvieron mayor incidencia. Al final, cuando uno ha contextualizado todo este nuevo enfoque van reapareciendo los antiguos personajes así como por obligación.
Confío en que en la próxima entrega (porque asumo que no puede haber terminado así, tan antivclimático e irresoluto), Card pueda reordenar esto y recomponer el rumbo.
Primera vez que me decepciona uno de sus libros. Quizá una vez terminada la historia completa uno pueda entender como encaja esta pieza dentro del contexto general, pero creo que no va a mejorar mucho.
Hay una pérdida de foco con respecto a los libros anteriores que hacen que uno se pase la primera mitad del libro tratando de entender que pasó. los personajes que se venían delineando como compañeros de Alvin desaparecen y son reemplazados por otros, situaciones que se preveían como importantes para el desarrollo de la historia son explicadas al pasar con unos comentarios dando a entender que ya pasaron y no tuvieron mayor incidencia. Al final, cuando uno ha contextualizado todo este nuevo enfoque van reapareciendo los antiguos personajes así como por obligación.
Confío en que en la próxima entrega (porque asumo que no puede haber terminado así, tan antivclimático e irresoluto), Card pueda reordenar esto y recomponer el rumbo.
January 10, 2021
Yes there are spoklers in this Review. You have been warned.
I'd put it down as 3.5 if I could because I really do like this book and the series. Still wondering if he evers plans to release book 7 Master Alvin, like ever. Still its a solid nding in its own right. He has begun to ful fill his life's
work of building the Crystal City and managed to save his baby all sorts of yay!!!! As with most of the series my biggest complaint is that their seems to be certain scenes and information that is unnecessary and/or doesn't seem to add anything I'd real substance to the story. Like I get why the Prophet wanted to blow the volcano and everything but it kinda felt tossed in there like "Oh, here's some action out of nowhere near the end of the book". Don't get me wrong it was cool but felt random.
I'd put it down as 3.5 if I could because I really do like this book and the series. Still wondering if he evers plans to release book 7 Master Alvin, like ever. Still its a solid nding in its own right. He has begun to ful fill his life's
work of building the Crystal City and managed to save his baby all sorts of yay!!!! As with most of the series my biggest complaint is that their seems to be certain scenes and information that is unnecessary and/or doesn't seem to add anything I'd real substance to the story. Like I get why the Prophet wanted to blow the volcano and everything but it kinda felt tossed in there like "Oh, here's some action out of nowhere near the end of the book". Don't get me wrong it was cool but felt random.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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