The Crystal City (Tales of Alvin Maker, Book 6)

by Orson Scott Card

Hardcover, 2003

Status

Available

Call number

813.54

Series

Tales of Alvin Maker (6)

Genres

Fantasy

All Topics

Fiction

Publication

Tor Books (2003), Edition: 1st, Hardcover, 384 pages

Description

Fantasy. Fiction. Historical Fiction. HTML: 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..… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member SockMonkeyGirl

So, I own this book because I loved the first few Alvin Maker books. I rated it three stars out of respect to the previous books but I didn't particularly enjoy how this series shaped up. Alvin's relationship with Peg seemed forced and unrealistic no matter how Card tried to finagle it. A

disappointing end to a series with a strong start.

Show Less

9 more

LibraryThing member comfypants

Easily the worst Alvin Maker book so far. It feels a little like he's writing it just to get on with wrapping up the series.

LibraryThing member HippieLunatic

Certainly not the strongest of the series, but still a necessary read to understand all of Card's authoring capabilities. I personally felt as though the characters lost all of the drive of the former books once the ending was in sight. This was sad and disappointing, given that the "end" of the

series was not necessarily final. Rather, it was a closing of a journey and the beginning of real growth. (This reader appreciates that kind of ending, making me realize that a character's life can continue even though I am no longer a witness to it.)

The characters just kind of dwindled into what they had been. Perhaps the lesson was that a person needs to learn to accept their true personality in order to find fulfillment... I want to see more from a novel, though.

Show Less

LibraryThing member Karlstar

This is a continuation of Card's alternate history series about Alvin Maker in his version of early America. Card blends in historical figures, magic and Alvin's effect on the colonies to make an intriguing history. Unfortunately, this book feels a little less finished than the others, almost as if

Alvin has something else to do, that even he doesn't know about. Still good reading.

Show Less

LibraryThing member laileana

Come live in an America that might have been. Where everyday people used hexes and charms in their homes and lives. Where a slave turned into a bird and flew to freedom with infant in her arms. Where Red men created a powerful magic with the sacrifice of their lives and in doing so created a

barrier no white man could ever cross. Where a Weaver sits in her cabin weaving our lives-as her ancestress did in the old country-as her cousins in the old country do even now-and as her daughter in the Red mans land does as well. Where Ben Franklin was a Wizard and a Maker and George Washington was beheaded. Where the Iroquis-in the books the Irawaka are one of the original states that sign the constitution-known in the books as The Compact. A Compact that makes Red men-Native Americans- citizens as well as black men-no slaves. The books tell the tale of Alvin, who is the seventh son of a seventh son and a very powerful Maker-almost like a wizard. He fights against the Unmaker. The books also feature a very prominent Torch-or psychic. In these novels Card weaves a wonderful Continent full of powerful characters.

Show Less

LibraryThing member yonitdm

Great mixture of AU satire pure comedy action adventure emotion wonder likeable characters and plot. A great read and a great addition to the Alvin Maker series.

LibraryThing member Snukes

I'm bored with these books. I'm bored with the characters. At this point I keep going because I'm so far in already, I might as well see how it ends.

LibraryThing member AltheaAnn

Card is an extremely good writer, and his books are always a pleasure to read, but at times I did feel that the stories here occasionally suffered for being too allegorical, and too much about Card's ideas of morality.

6th, and at the moment last volume: 'The Crystal City.' Starting out at an

unofficial orphanage for mixed-race children, Alvin unwittingly, by trying to help a sick woman, causes a plague of yellow fever, and ends up getting run out of town. Taking the orphans with him, and then meeting a voodoo queen, La Tia, Alvin somehow finds himself at the head of an 'army' of escaped slaves, freeing more as they make their way north, seeking a place to live free. Of course, these could be the citizens of Alvin's dream of a perfect city. And Abe Lincoln, a genial shopkeeper, will do what he can to help. Meanwhile, Calvin goes off with some decidedly not-nice men to conquer Mexico and kill everyone there - which seems to be OK, as they do human sacrifice. At the end, it is made overly clear that Alvin's vision is about the Mormon Tabernacle, which is a bit annoying.

Show Less

LibraryThing member jkdavies

hmmm if this is book 6 I've missed some, no wonder it felt fragmented

LibraryThing member Audacity88

Though it felt in some of the middle books like the series was spinning out of control, in this last volume Card brought it to a satisfying finish.

Fewer