Alvin Journeyman by Orson Scott Card

Alvin Journeyman follows the journey of Alvin, a grown man and a journeyman smith, as he returns to his family in the town of Vigor Church. Here, he shares in the isolation, works as a blacksmith, and teaches anyone who wishes to learn the knack of being a Maker. Alvin has had a vision of the Crystal City he will build, and he knows that he cannot achieve this monumental task alone. However, his ancient foe, the Unmaker, whose cruel whispers and deadly plots have threatened Alvin's life at every turn, has found new hands to do his work of destruction. As Alvin navigates the challenges of his new life, he must confront these threats and rally his friends to help him realize his dream./n/nThe novel is praised for its rich narrative and has been hailed as a significant work of American fantasy. It is the fourth book in the acclaimed Tales of Alvin Maker series by Orson Scott Card, known for his intricate world-building and compelling characters. The story blends elements of magic, history, and adventure, creating a unique and immersive reading experience.

Reviews

Feminist Quill · 2017-06-10

disappointing 2.00

The series feels fragmented with dissonance, and the book contains long-winded passages that add little value. The narrative struggles to maintain a cohesive flow.

The reviewer finds the series as a whole suffers from a lack of cohesion, with Alvin Journeyman being no exception. They point out that the book is filled with lengthy passages that feel unnecessary and do not contribute significantly to the story. This makes the reading experience somewhat tedious. The reviewer also notes that the narrative struggles to maintain a consistent tone and flow, which detracts from the overall enjoyment of the book. Despite these issues, the reviewer acknowledges that there are moments of interest, but they are overshadowed by the book's structural problems.

Quick quotes

The series is fragmented and suffers from a lot of dissonance.

Alvin Journeyman contains tons of long winded passages that mean nothing and ...

The narrative struggles to maintain a cohesive flow.

Fantasy Literature · 2012-11-03

mixed 3.00

The book is verbose and talks too much, which can be overwhelming. Despite this, it won the Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel, indicating some merit.

The reviewer notes that Alvin Journeyman is quite verbose, with a tendency to over-explain and delve into excessive detail. This can make the reading experience feel overwhelming at times. However, they also point out that the book won the Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel, which suggests that it has some significant strengths. The reviewer appreciates the world-building and the depth of the characters, but they feel that the book could have benefited from a more concise narrative. Overall, they find the book to be a mixed bag, with moments of brilliance tempered by its verbosity.

Quick quotes

Alvin Journeyman, which won the 1996 Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel, is the fourth book in Orson Scott Card's TALES OF ALVIN MAKER.

The book is verbose and talks too much, which can be overwhelming.

The reviewer appreciates the world-building and the depth of the characters.

Amazon · 1995-09-01

engaging 4.00

The conversational tone is engaging and recalls the style of Manly Wade Wellman. The writer is praised for their grace and compassion.

The reviewer highlights the engaging conversational tone of the book, which they find reminiscent of the style of Manly Wade Wellman. They praise Orson Scott Card for his graceful and compassionate writing, which adds a layer of depth to the narrative. The reviewer appreciates the way the book balances fantasy elements with a thoughtful exploration of its characters and their relationships. They find the book to be a compelling read that effectively combines adventure with emotional resonance. Overall, they highly recommend it to fans of the genre.

Quick quotes

The conversational tone of this engaging fantasy recalls the Silver John novels by the late Manly Wade Wellman.

Card is a graceful and compassionate writer who ...

The reviewer appreciates the way the book balances fantasy elements with a thoughtful exploration of its characters and their relationships.

Appears in Lists

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