Songmaster

Rating:
Summary: Another compelling OSC novel
Review: 'Songmaster' is, as usual, an ambitious work of sci-fi from the pen of Orson Scott Card. I have been familiar with Card for some time now, and his thoughtful brand of writing shines through within this novel. Card is not afraid to explore emotions, good or bad, and has a knack for exploring truths.

As a science fiction story, 'Songmaster' does not bog down the reader with overly descriptive science; rather, Card is more concerned with creating a world that is an expression of ideas made flesh. Great sci-fi can project ideas far into the future, and create worlds in which today's ideas have been brought to their logical conclusion. 'Songmaster' is set at least 20,000 years from now, so parallels to today's world are few; however human behavior and motivations are still very much the same as they are now. Only the surroundings have changed.

'Songmaster' tells the life story of Ansset, a boy being trained since birth in the Songhouse, a place where young people are trained to be Songbirds, the most colorful and esteemed singers in the galaxy. Wealthy individuals from across the galaxy purchase the services of the Songhouse singers, many paying extravagant amounts of money for the privilege. When the Emperor requests a Songbird, it is many years before a suitable singer can be found to serve his individual needs properly. That Songbird is Ansset.

Card once again uses his writing gifts to produce another well-drawn picture of childhood. Card always knows how to express the point of view of young people, and 'Songmaster' is no exception. He can express joy, sorrow, grief, guilt, laughter, embarrassment, pain (both mental and physical), and the full spectrum of human emotions. There are scenes in Songmaster which make you want to cry, and also scenes of great beauty and happiness.

As Ansset grows, so do the characters he interacts with. Each person he comes into contact with is changed in some way through the songs he sings. The ideas herein are not exactly new, but Card has such a powerful voice that he can make even a potentially silly idea leap off the page with flair.

I have to lower my rating to 4, only because I think Card missed an opportunity about ¾ through this novel. SPOILER ALERT ' do not read the rest of this paragraph if you haven't read the book. Ansset grows into manhood over the course of this novel, and loses is ability to sing. Ansset then takes a governmental position, and we follow his career as it unfolds. Unfortunately, I think these events are not fully realized, and I think more could have been made regarding the loss of his singing skills. The closing portions of 'Songmaster' redeem Card and prove that he certainly DID have powerful ideas for ending the novel, and that the 'weaker' sections were a fluke, not an indication of Card giving up on the story.

All in all, this novel ranks high among my recent reads. I strongly recommend 'Songmaster' for those familiar with the Ender books. Many ideas here have parallels within the Ender books, and fans of that series would be missing out if they choose to skip this novel. 'Songmaster' is another compelling novel from Card, and worthy of reading time and again.

Rating:
Summary: Strange undercurrents in a haunting book
Review: One reviewer here says s/he objects to Card's negative view of homosexuality. Did we read the same book? "Songmaster" is certainly in the best Card vein, the exceptional-boy à la Ender tradition; but the ambivalence about homosexuality in it is very apparent. The author may object to acting out one's homosexuality, but almost all the scenes between the Emperor, Mikal, and Ansset are heavy with homosexual desire, very well expressed too. (Nothing R-rated; it's elegantly done in undercurrents.) Anssett's subsequent fate belongs straight in the hurt/comfort subgenre. Of all OSC books, this is probably the one that reads the most like quality fanfiction, and I mean this certainly as a compliment: it's satisfying at a deep level of self-fulfillment, almost as if the author was really writing for himself long before thinking of his audience. I wonder if this is why it's out of print now -- some readers might find the subject-matter a little dicey.

Rating:
Summary: A landmark accomplishment for OSCard
Review: It has been several years since I have read this particular book, however its power and poignancy still stays with me. Ansset's journey from the innocence of a child through his trials and tribulations as an adult through his final days at the school are brought forth in such a way as to make him a part of who you are. A tragedy of epic proportions, yet with successes to finally, when all is said and done, leave you with happiness in your heart that you read the book and shared such a story, yet saddened to have finished it. Anyone who finishes this book without being affected in a fairly profound manner has no poetry.. no music in their soul.

Rating:
Summary: A Disappointment
Review: I have loved many of Orson Scott Card's books, but I couldn't even finish this one. I was very disappointed, and I'm very surprised by the positive reviews I've read. Read the Ender's Game series or the Homecoming Saga if you are looking for a good book.

Rating:
Summary: Probably my favorite Card novel
Review: I've always been a fan of Orson Scott Card (that is, until I read The Folk of the Fringe) and this was not the first book of his that I read. I read this after I read the Ender Saga, the Earth Saga, Pastwatch, and many others. And yet, this remains my favorite. This is perhaps his most emotionally charged of all his novels, it has elements that are absent from his more popular fiction. And I think that is a pity, because even though this book can become so caught up in morality that it can become hard to read, there are moments so full of emotion that you can't put it down and you simply can't stop thinking about it. So even while this book lacks the readability of Ender's Game and the engrossing plot of Pastwatch, this book has a creativity and a flow of raw emotion that sets this book apart from the others: here we have a book that is pure and emotional, and yet complex, which requires a certain thoughtfulness and and pondering to truly appreciate.

Rating:
Summary: First of Many
Review: This was a book I found on a library shelf at the age of 14. I have had an affair with the author ever since. I have re-read this book right around 20 times, and still enjoy it. The story is sweet, mysterious, and action packed. I have pushed this story off on many of my friends, and most are now just as big a fan as I am. If you enjoy this book, try the Alvin Maker series, OR the Ender Wiggins saga. I have yet to read a book by O.S. Card that I did not love.

Rating:
Summary: Will have you weeping...
Review: In our modern lives, we have become so jaded, so bombarded with images and news of savagery, bombings, etc., that our hearts have become desensitized to all that surrounds us.

Songmaster is an antidote to that feeling of disconnectedness. This book reached out and grabbed my heart and kept it. By the end I was crying with a swirl of emotions. One of Card's most effective books.

This is about a boy with an unearthly good voice who becomes a Songmaster, a talent so powerful that it becomes more than just music.

A truly wonderful book, it's a tragedy that this is out of print!

Rating:
Summary: How does he do it?
Review: This was my first Orson Scott Card book, and the second I finished it I rushed out to get another. In my opinion, Card is one of the best American authors ever, and he proves it in Songmaster. This book has so many complex ideas, feelings, nuances, and plot lines, I have no idea how Card dreamed it all up. He never ceases to amaze me, and I never cease to praise his written creations! This book will rock your world.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful book
Review: I read this book when it was first published. I was fascinated by it and have often thought of the story. I recently found it on my bookshelf and intend to read it again. It is a story of song, of human communication, and its ramifications. It is a story of the cost of achievement. Do yourself a favor and read it.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: Orson Scott Card outdid himself on this book. It is simply amazing. This work of fiction shows you how powerful a song can be. Even in real life, songs work magic within people. This story is based around Ansset. The emporer in this book asked the songhouse for a songbrid (which is a true singer, one that can look into the soul and sing wat is their back to you.) The songmaster at the time tells him that he will find him the songbird but that it might take a lifetime to fit him with a perfect songbird. The songhouse finds Ansset. He goes through many trials during his life in the songhouse. In the end, he learns to sing his own song that is written on his soul. An example of how powerful songs are is when Ansset is singing a song to the songhouse. "His voice filled every part of the hale, but there was no resonance from the walls to distort the tone. Indeed, for Ansset's song was so priviate that no two people could hear it the same way."(104) These sentences show how private and how amazing songs can have an effect on people. For the rest of the story, Ansset is tested and found worthy in life and finally comes back to die at the songhouse. Again, this book is simply amazing and I would suggest that anyone who loves singing and also likes fiction should read this book.