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Summary: More than a story--an experience unto itself
Review: This is absolutely the most powerful work of fiction I've read. Card's treatment of his characters is tender and yet brutally honest, woven into the fabric of a world that seems more real than reality from the first page on in. I was not a Card fan before I read this book, but I think he has found his voice here and I applaud him for it. Do yourself a favor and pick this one up, if you can find it! And to the publishers on high, I beg for a re-print.
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Summary: Keeping this book out of print is criminal
Review: My twelve year old son calls this his favourite book, and it's mine too. It's quite similar to Enders Game and Enders Shadow, but richer. This book has the haunting flavour of a Nobel literature prize winner.
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Summary: somewhat entertaining story marred by bigotry
Review: At the time I read this book, I had no idea of the author's personal ideas about homosexuality [which are quite vehemently negative]; however, I now see the treatment of his homosexual character in Songmaster, which I was even uncomfortable with initially, as unpardonably grotesque. The message he relates is that homosexuals must be punished for their love and desire. The story itself was passably entertaining, but the emotions of all of his characters are described as if by someone wholly unaquainted with any emotion at all except disgust. Like a bad translation, they feel artificial and second-hand. Consequently, I had a difficult time relating to any of the characters, or taking his story seriously. I don't recommend it, but those already fans of Card's may enjoy it.
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Summary: Sheer brilliance...
Review: This was my first Scott Card novel. I came across a review in Amazon's very clever Listmania. I have actually found a number of "unknown" (to me at least) authors this way, not the least of whom is Orson Scott Card. I LOVE THIS BOOK! I had to get it through Z-shops. How can anything this good be out-of-print? To describe the plot is to do an injustice to all concerned, but I'll attempt to give some idea. The theme of teaching children to use their voices in song as communication, healing, education, destruction is not new, but it has never been done like this. This is what I always hoped to read, but could never find. The characters are complex, beautiful, touching. The unfolding of a story in which such beauty must be exposed to such ugliness, in which such love must endure such betrayal, and yet it ends on such a note of hope, victory, courage, triumph of human spirit and wisdom... I did not want it to end. I'll have to re-read this at least once. And so, a boy is trained to use his talent, and becomes a SongBird. This is the story of his life and the music he makes in strange and sometimes not so wonderful times, in strange and sometimes not so wonderful places. If you want the depth and magic of it, you'd best read it yourself! It is sheer brilliance.
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Summary: The best book of all time....
Review: This may not be the absolute best, but it's pretty darn close. The plot is incredible! I've read this book at least 3 times cover to cover, and many more times just read the highlights. This book covers the entire life of a young boy with an incredible talent. It tears at your heart, rips it out, and sets it on fire! Read this book!
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Summary: entertaining story, difficult characters
Review: The way people relate to each other in this book seems.. I don't know.. if not naive, then at least archaic. I couldn't really relate to any of the characters, or get into the story too much because they didn't seem like real people to me. Still, it entertained me enough.
Rating: 
Summary: So-So
Review: Songmaster is a great book, don't think it's not. But I, personally, didn't like it that much. It's boring. Really. If you're a fan of Orson Scott Card, you're probably thinking that it's just because I'm one of those people who don't appreciate the slow build-up of good books, and only wants fast paced action. But I liked all the other Orson Scott Card books I read. I don't know what's missing in this book- it shouldn't be boring. Good plot. 3-D characters. Believable story. Maybe it's the narration. It tends to drag a bit. And that takes the reader's mind off the really important things. Also, unlike other OSC books, this one sounds a bit pretentious. It has an airy kind of feel. I thought that maybe it was just me, but I had my friends read it too, who are OSC fans, and they said that they didn't like it as much as the other books, too. I don't know, maybe you'll think that this book is absolutely the best. It depends on the reader, I guess. And anyway, despite the things I mentioned, it IS a good book. Don't mistake me on that. My advice is, try it yourself. You probably are not going to hate it, although you may not like it that much.
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Summary: This is definitely one of my favourites
Review: I have read about 10 books from card so far. The three that stand out are "Ender's Game", "Speaker of the dead" and "Songmaster".Songmaster tells the complelling story about a boy, kidnapped as a baby and raised in an institution called The Songhouse that is dedicated to singing. The children who are tought there are given to patrons once they are out 10 years old to sing for them. Because Ansset, the hero of the story, is the best Singer ever and has a special talent with other peoples emotions his patron is the Empire of mankind, who has butched millions of people on dozens of worlds to get the throne and who is seeking redemption. The emperor grows to genuinely love the boy. All seems well for some time, but at the place where mankind is ruled complications and intrigue are certain to arise...
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Summary: Songmaster "rings" true.
Review: A Mormon science fiction writer? Yes... and a good one at that. Orson Scott Card writes inventive and fresh "what if?" stories that always carry a strong ethical message... that we must care about each other and our environment in order to survive.. that is, that the best in us may survive. As a professional musician, the passages about music and the power of music rings clear and true. Scott Card must, I believe, be as sensitive and thoughtful a musician as he is a sensitive and thoughtful writer.
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Summary: Pleasant Enough, but Haven't We Seen it Before?
Review: It's easy to tell 'Songmaster' was written at different times. The breaks between each section disrupt the narrative flow. Card seems torn between which story to tell. At one point, he's telling the story of the Songhouse, then Ansset's quest for love, then Ansset's redemption. Just when I'd figured out what the book was about..it changed. The problem with the changing theme, is that none of it matters by the end. When Ansset returns to the Songhouse, the love he's felt for Mikal or Josif or Kyaren doesn't matter. It's superfluous. Another complaint...doesn't the book's theme seem familiar? Young boy..prodigy..better than everyone else. It's Ender's Game all over again, with Card exploring the same themes he did in the entire Ender series. Young prodigy, outcast from the main struggles for acceptance..which is why this is not a great book.
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