Overview

From the primal depth's of the world's greatest myths comes this gripping fantasy of a boy, born to be a Maker, whose dangerous journey towards knowledge and power makes history ... Amid the deep woods where the Red Man still holds sway, a very special child is born. Young Alvin is the seventh son, and such a boy is destined to become great - perhaps even a man with the enormous powers of a Maker. But even in the loving safety of his home, dark forces reach out to destroy him. Somewhere out there is a power that will do anything to prevent him growing up ... More information on this book and others can be found on the Orbit website at www.orbitbooks.co.uk

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9781841490212

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The most important work of American fantasy since Stephen Donaldson's original Thomas Covenant trilogy. Chicago Suntimes Card has exceeded his own high standards ... The man's versatility makes him unique Anne McCaffrey

The most important work of American fantasy since Stephen Donaldson's original Thomas Covenant trilogy. - Chicago Suntimes Card has exceeded his own high standards ... The man's versatility makes him unique - Anne McCaffrey

First of a series from Card (Ender's Game; Speaker For the Dead), set in an alternate-world frontier America (early 19th century) west of the Appalachee Mountains, where folk magic works, a stern Lord Protector still rules in Britain, and Red men live peaceably (most of the time) alongside their colonist neighbors. Young Alvin Miller, born with a caul, is the seventh son of a seventh son, and thus highly magical: he can work miracles of healing, and effortlessly manipulates stone and wood; he may even be a Maker, one able to remake the world according to his own desires (Alvin is warned in a vision, however, not to use his gifts selfishly). But there are powers in the world apparently determined to prevent Alvin from growing up: evil spirits of water, which frequently try to kill him; his own father, plagued by terrible and irrational urges to harm the the boy he loves; the Reverend Thrower, a Scottish minister convinced that Alvin is the devil's spawn; and the Unmaker, a shimmery, ill defined thing that Alvin keeps at bay by small creative acts. Still, Alvin has useful friends, among them the itinerant story-teller, Taleswapper, and an unknown benefactor who helps Alvin through long distance magic. Card has uncovered a rich vein of folklore and magic here, to which his assured handling of old-time religion and manifest love of children is admirably suited: an appealing and intriguing effort, and his best so far. (Kirkus Reviews)

'The most important work of American fantasy since Stephen Donaldson's original Thomas Covenant trilogy.' CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 'Card has exceeded his own high standards ... The man's versatility makes him unique' ANNE MCCAFFREY 'In SEVENTH SON, Card achieves the near-miracle of bringing something new to fantasy' LOCUS

Author Information

Orson Scott Card is the award-winning author of the Ender saga, the Alvin Maker series and the Homecoming series. He lives with his wife and children in the US.

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