Published in August of 1998, Heartfire is the fifth book in the “Alvin Maker” series. This story tells how Alvin is treated by the New Englanders while his wife is working on the slave issue down South.
Heartfire
My Thoughts
I wasn’t very impressed with this one. Alvin is getting too powerful and we are losing track of why we might like him. It’s kind of like Superman. At some point he is given all kinds of powers and is all but perfect in every way. It’s too much.
Alvin Journeyman is the 4th book in the “Alvin Maker” series by Orson Scott Card. Published in 1995, it is the story of the events of Alvin after his time as an apprentice blacksmith. His previous master was upset with him, due to his jealousy, and accused him of stealing a large sum of gold. Much of the book deals with Alvin’s arrest, trial, and the numerous people who are plotting against him. First and foremost is his younger brother Calvin who has powers similar to Alvin but is never quite good enough…
Alvin Journeyman
My Thoughts
This book moved a little slower than the others but a lot of important events happened. Alvin is still the main character but the story allowed for more development of the people around him.
What didn’t work for me was the plow. I really hope this turns into something that makes sense later on but I feel like there was so much potential story there that wasn’t realized. Maybe we will see it in the next book.
Recommendation
The series slowed down a bit with this one but it is still exciting
Prentice Alvin is the 3rd book in the “Alvin Maker” series by Orson Scott Card. Published in 1989, it tells of Alvin finally able to apprentice as a blacksmith in the town where he was born. He finds friendship in a young boy named Arthur Stewart who was the son of a runaway slave. Alvin continues his formal education from the local school teacher and he catches a glimpse of what it means to be a “maker.”
Prentice Alvin
My Thoughts
Fun book. Alvin had learned a lot about how to be a man in the previous book but this story gives him the chance to live it. He learns the lesson early on about how destructive it is to hold hate in your heart and let it fuel your actions. Alvin does his best to be a truly good person which is all any of us can do.
Published in 1988, Red Prophet is the 2nd book in the “Alvin Maker” series. Alvin is still a child but he ends up accompanying “Lolla-Wossiky” who later becomes Tenskwa-Tawa and meets his brother Ta-Kumsaw.
This book gives an fictionalized version of the Battle of Tippecanoe and talks about the people who made it come to pass. Including the then Governor William Henry Harrison who later becomes the ninth President of the United States. In this version, the name the Natives call him is “White Murderer Harrsion.”
Red Prophet
My Thoughts
This book is an interesting look at Native American religion and beliefs. I’m certain it would not stand up to the standards of today where everyone is offended on behalf of someone else. I wonder what a Native American would think of this story…
Seventh Son is the first book of the “Alvin Maker” series by Orson Scott Card dealing with a slightly different version of the early 17th century America. One where George Washington was beheaded, the South is ruled by England, and the United States is a much smaller place.
Originally published in 1987, Seventh Son is the story of Alvin Miller who was the seventh son of a seventh son. As such, he has a “knack” with things or more specifically he has powers others do not.
Alvin is swept up in much of the Native American wars in what we would know as Indiana in the early 1800s.
Seventh Son
My Thoughts
I read this book back when I was a teenager, as it was one of the books we had around the house. I was immediately drawn in as I am the seventh son and it was fun to think I might have some hidden powers…
This time around, I was more conscientious as to the background of the book. I could see how the America in the series was slightly different than the American history I knew. Far from being an irritation, it made the story that much more fun.
Published in 2003 and made into a movie in 2009, The Time Traveler’s Wife is a book about a man who keeps jumping forward and backward in time.
The Time Traveler’s Wife
My Thoughts
The premise was an interesting literary device but that’s really all the good I have to say about the book. The science was ridiculous, the language was foul, and there wasn’t a lot of morality in the characters. There wasn’t much that I could identify with so in short, I didn’t like it.
My wife asked me if I had heard about this book before and I hadn’t so I decided to read it. I had no idea they made a movie until I did the background searching after reading it. Such a sad surprise…
Ender’s Shadow was written somewhat to give some depth to the screenplay for Ender’s Game. Originally published in 1999, it followed the other book by a full 14 years.
Ender’s Shadow is the story of of Ender’s Game from the perspective of one of the main characters, “Bean”. It shadows Bean through his upbringing and how they used him to help Ender to his goal.
Ender’s Shadow
My Thoughts
I didn’t even know this book existed but I read the postscript after Ender’s Game stating why it was written. Having read “Speaker for the Dead” and “Xenocide” before, it was part of the Ender saga story I hadn’t been exposed to as of yet.
It was a good book but not amazing. It makes sense why it was written and why it was important to give some perspective to the movie. Having known this beforehand I think I liked the book better than I would have otherwise. I will wait till I finish all the books before I see the movie but I’m more excited having read this.
First published as a short story, Ender’s Game was published as a novel in 1985 but was first published as a short story a decade before. It is a science fiction story of an Earth in the future which has been invaded by aliens. These aliens were repelled but the humans want to be ready for the next time. Thus they build there military arms and look for the commanders of tomorrow. Ender Wiggin might be one of those commanders if he can survive the training.
Ender’s Game
My Thoughts
Such an enjoyable book. We teach a course using it at the Marine Corps University to spark discussion about tactics and such. I first read it when I was 10 or so and enjoyed it even then. Now, several decades later, I was still able to get into the story and enjoy it again.
I particularly enjoyed the post script in this version of the book with Orson Scott Card telling the story of how the movie came to be. That was worth the read and gave me a lot more respect for the author. I resolved to read the rest of the series based on that feeling.
The 14th and final book of the Wheel of Time books. Published in January of 2013, the series was completed and the readers get to know what happened between the Dark One and the Dragon Reborn.
A Memory of Light
My Thoughts
Sadly, the final book was a bit of let down. Sanderson brought a few themes from the 20teens that really didn’t need to be there. (I won’t go into it here because the thought police are active…)
The ending was an ending and it wrapped up quite a bit. That said, there is always plenty of story to continue if someone feels the inclination.
Recommendation
If you’ve already read the last 13 books, what’s another 900+ pages?
Published in Sept of 2010, Towers of Midnight is the thirteenth book in the Wheel of Time series. The group works their way toward the last battle and Rand starts unifying the forces of light.
Towers of Midnight
My Thoughts
There was almost as many questions raised as there were questions answered in this book. Moiraine and Thom? Really? What’s with the Eelfinn and Aelfinn? Wasn’t that needlessly complex to get the gholam? Anyway, the pieces on the board were set for the last book and that’s all I wanted from it.
