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Summary: One of the most magnificent books I've ever read.
Review: This book was wonderful, magical, and beautifully written. I couldn't believe how great it was. I liked Orson Scott Card's science fiction, but I wasn't sure if it would transfer over to his fantasy. If anything, this book is far more intricately weaved and created than those are. I can't recommend it enough.
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Summary: Seventh Son: The Magic and the Struggle
Review: I enjoyed Seventh Son and would recommend it to anyone. It takes place in the colonial era of America, but there are many differences. For one, the old monarchs of England rule in the south after Oliver Cromwell took over, there is no United States of America, and most of what we consider colonial America is split into different countries. Also, many people seem to have some sort of magic or "knack." Here enters Alvin Miller, who is the seventh son of a seventh son, making him twice blessed. He was gifted with the possibility of becoming a Maker, someone who can make things out of thin air. The book is about Alvin as he grows from his birth and goes through the attempts on his life by what can only be called evil itself. Mostly he doesn't notice them because he has an unseen protector in the form of Peggy who was present at his birth.I think this book is good because it puts the presence of magic in a place we already know-our past. It makes the possibility of magic seem more likely because it includes people from our history. One such person was Benjamin Franklin, who great scientific works made many people think he was a Maker. Another was Thomas Jefferson, a politician in the country of Apalachee. The list goes on. The way Card ties real people into his work of fiction lends their credibility to his book and its events. Everybody wants to believe that magic exists, and this book brings out that feeling in its readers, igniting the hope that there is real magic, even if its only things always knowing a lie, or being able to charm people into agreeing with you, or other such "knacks" that people have. Also, like many other great stories, Seventh Son is a story about Good vs. Evil, Light vs. Dark, Creator vs. Destroyer. One such story known worldwide is Star Wars. People are attracted to that age-old struggle because it is completely universal. They talk of days when supernatural things occurred regularly, and have the same fight against evils of the world. Everybody can relate to stories such as these because they all want to live in a better world. because the better world doesn't exist here, we all like to hear or read or see stories where we see people fighting for, and achieving, that goal. If you are a science fiction/fantasy fan, I highly recommend this book to you. It is a short read, and it has a great story line. If you aren't a sci-fi/fantasy fan, i still recommend this book to you, and pretty much for the same reasons. If you like it, than I urge you to read the rest of the series, which continues on with Alvin's life and have the same motif as Seventh Son.
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Summary: Very good
Review: Like some of the rest of you have mentioned I thought it very interesting that this was set in an altnate early 19th century. You don't see that very often. Good story the charecters have life and ambitions. Very good work Mr. Card
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Summary: Card impresses again
Review: Prior to this book, the only Card I had read was the Ender's Game series. That being one of my favorite series, I didn't expect him to be able to improve on it. He hasn't...yet. The story starts off rather slowly, and doesn't really ever pick up much. I found the ending a little disappointing, until I was informed that there were more books in the series. I anxiously look forward to reading the remaining books in this series, since Seventh Son really set the stage for a great story.
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Summary: Huh? Where did Old Card go?
Review: I love Card's old work, and Ender's Game has a permanent spot on my top 10 list. But what has happened? The man is slipping, as he cannot keep a coherent story going. Xenocide and Children of the mind come to mind. I got this hoping I could forget those travesties of writing, and yet, Seventh Son falls into the same pit. Card doesn't really bring up one reason why I should care AT ALL for any of the characters. So the priest is being fooled, its not like he did a good job of covering that up, he gives it away time and again! Not suspenseful in the least... Heck, I could already tell you the plot to the rest of the books after having read this one. Now that I think about it, if you read Ender's Game, you could probably figure out the plot from this one. Does "Extremely Gifted Child" sound familiar to you? Skip this and go try out some new author, SciFi needs some new voices, not Card (who spends his time screaming for attention... just look at his web site).
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Summary: A great reading
Review: Nana Visitor really brings this work to life, instantly pulling you into the story. One of Card's "tricks" as a writer is to change the "accent" of the narrative to that of the character being discussed (even when that character is not talking). Ms. Visitor deftly handles such shifts, transparently pulling you into the mind of the character. I wish all audio books were like this. I deduct one star for the writing of the ending, which dragged along a bit.
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Summary: Amazing Card
Review: Orson Scott Card continues to amaze me with his writing. I began reading this book during exam week and couldn't put it down. Card constructs each character in such a way that I find myself concerned with everything that happens to them, making the book more of a rollercoaster ride that slams me back in my seat and won't let me up till the it's over. I loved this book. Like all of Card's writings, this book deals with religious issues. The current trend in literature seems to lean towards ignoring the religious lives of characters all together. Card uses each character's religion to develop the characters into who they are. As a Christian, this book brought up some issues that allow for some great discussion. I would recommend it to anyone.
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Summary: Amazing! Orson Scott Card never disappoints
Review: Seventh Son is set in the early 1800s--a tale of "a magical America that might have been." In this world, hexes and spells work. Alvin Miller Jr. is the seventh son of a seventh son, a very magical birth indeed. Alvin is no ordinary child--all his life, he has had a "knack" for making things (hence the name of the series, Alvin Maker). When a Presbyterian preacher from Scotland builds a church near the Miller homestead, things turn worse for young Alvin. The preacher alienates Alvin Sr. immediately, preaching that hexes and the like don't work and are just foolishness. The preacher, Philadelphia Thrower, is told by a Visitor that he must turn Alvin to God's way before he is fourteen years old. Thrower seems to hate Alvin, constantly trying to 'reform' the mischievous boy, making Sundays a nightmare. Then a wanderer named Taleswapper comes to town... This is a really great book! I loved it, and I can't wait to read the next one. Once you pick it up, you can't put it down! Orson Scott Card is a wonderful writer. I've *never* been disappointed by one of his books. Seventh Son is a superb (did I spell that right?) novel!
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Summary: Few comments
Review: I just say one thing. READ IT. ps: There's a english rock band called Iron Maiden, who have made an album about this book. The name of the album, @:-) is Seventh Son of a Seventh Son. Try to listen to it. As perfect as the book Buy them all
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Summary: 5,4,3,2,1 ... *!@#*!*
Review: Like the Ender series the first book is excellent ... 5 stars. The second book is good ... 4 stars. The third starts to get dull(3) and the fourth is tedious(2). I think I'll pass on the fifth(1?). Definitely read this one ... it is very good.
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