by Orson Scott Card
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Product Description
Come here to the magical America that might have been, and marvel as the tale of Alvin Maker unfolds. The seventh son of a seventh son is a boy of mysterious powers, and he is waking to the mysteries of the land and its own chosen people.
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Average Customer Review:
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
 Alvin champions the cause of Native Americans, 2008-05-27
In a pre-industrial America where magic, religion, and science compete for ascendancy, Card has created a unique alternate history wherein the states are not united, various regions owe allegiance to various central governments, and Native Americans represent a dangerous and unpredictable force. Picking up the story of Alvin Miller begun so impressively in Seventh Son, Card introduces Alvin to the mystical world of aboriginal Americans. From his "Red" mentor Tenskwa-Tawa, Alvin learns the folk magic of Native Americans, who "run with the Greensong," drawing power from the wild, uncultivated land. This puts them in conflict with the White frontiersmen, whose growing domination of the land is destroying the very wilderness that the "Reds" depend on and revere. Also in this second installment, Card begins the practice of introducing famous names from history (e.g. LaFayette, Napoleon, William Henry Harrison) and imagining how they fit in this vastly different world. Harrison plays the heavy in this version of history, and sets events in motion that change Alvin and his family forever. There are a couple of unforgettable scenes of horrific violence and its terrible aftermath that are easily among the most powerful in the series, but may be too intense for younger readers. Nonetheless, this a very engrossing read, propelled by Card's seemingly effortless prose and storytelling skill. Further volumes in the series are: Prentice Alvin, Alvin Journeyman, Heartfire, and The Crystal City, but be forewarned that as of this writing, the series has no definite conclusion.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
 Not Free SF Reader, 2007-09-03
Dull, mormon wish fulfillment just fantasy. Card may have come up with some clever and complex science fiction, but he has also accomplished some terribly turgid fantasy. A suggestion and loaned from a friend, the stinking rotter. :)
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
The Seventh Son gets darker, 2007-08-26
More of a continuation of Seventh Son than a sequel it actually begins some time before the first book ended. The story starts at a meeting between Andrew Jackson and William
Henry Harris, talking about the removal of Red (or Indians) from newly acquired lands in the West. From there the story follows two Red brothers; one is Lolla-Wossiky, who starts out as a nearly insane and eventually becomes a great spiritual leader advocating peaceful co-existence with white settlers. The other is strong warrior Ta-Kumsaw who wants to lead the Reds in revolt against the expanding white men with the help of the French and Napoleon Bonapart. In the middle is young Alvin Miller, the Maker. Alvin is still learning how to use his magic for good, and has a bad feeling about helping Ta-Kumsaw in rising against his own, but helps none the less because he knows the Reds cause is right, if not the means.
I must be honest I didn't like this book as well as I did "Seventh Son". First it was a lot bigger in scope, which I understand was the idea, but I liked the last books focus on Alvin and his private war with The Unmaker. Also I didn't like the attitude Scott had against white people spoiling everything they touch. I know this was a prevalent attitude that the Native Americans had (and some still do), but I thought that the sentiment was taken too far, and made me uncomfortable while reading "Red Prophet". Also the battle scenes are barely described in any detail; not the massacre at Prophetown or the battle at Detroit.
I did like the characterizations of the people involved though. They all rang true, especially Ta-Kumsaw. Alvin is a sweet young kid with powers he doesn't understand, and that seemed real as well.
All in all, I just didn't care for this book. I hope you'll enjoy it more than I did.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Greatly expands the scope of the story., 2007-08-06
The scope of the Tales of Alvin Maker series greatly expands with this book. New characters and places, as well as much deeper insights into the political landscape of the [imaginary] time make this story so much more than the telling of a special child growing up in Vigor Church. Characters familiar to us from our own world history play a much larger role in this book, with William Henry Harisson and Napoleon having the most impact. As with 'Seventh Son', Card relies heavily on vernacular from "Ol-timey America" to emphasize and bring to life his characters. This also influences the naming of geographical features like rivers and mountains (with the Big Muddy being referred to as the Mizzipy). Some reviewers have complained about this, saying they get tripped up over the vocab, but IMHO it works great and adds life to the story.
One very noticeable difference between this book and the previous one is the escalation in the amount of and the explicit nature of violence. OSC has a gift of being able to portray feelings and emotion in a powerful way, as well as being able to paint extremely vivid pictures with his words. A couple of scenes in this book (especially revolving around Mike Fink and Measure) are very graphic and brutal. Some of this material may not be appropriate for young or sensitive readers. This book is definitely more mature and darker than any other OSC books I've read (Ender and Homecoming series). Just a warning.
'Red Prophet' opens up by telling the story of the Shining Man that appears in 'Seventh Son', who is known in this book as Lolla-Wossiky, Tenskwa-Tawa, or simply The Prophet. In fact, the first quarter of this book has an overlapping timeline with the first book, telling of broader events occurring while the more personal events of Alvin growing up are happening. The story eventually catches up to where 'Seventh Son' ends, with Alvin setting of to apprentice as a blacksmith. Instead of that, he and his brother Measure find themselves captives of some pretty evil Reds hired by the even more evil William Henry Harisson. The majority of the book follows Alvin as he learns more about his abilities and about Red-magic from a powerful new character named Ta-Kumsaw. Meanwhile, grand events are taking shape that will lead to a major confrontation between the Reds and the Whites that could shatter hope for a peaceful future.
All in all, this book does a great deal to progress the overall theme of the series, with Alvin undergoing much maturing, and the world around him being shaped by many powerful forces. Can't wait to read the rest of the series.
0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
American Fantasy, 2007-04-05
I love the concept of an alternate American History that the author uses. The story is amazing and I can't wait to see how it unfolds.
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