Play Audiobook Sample
Alvin Journeyman Audiobook
Play Audiobook Sample
(3.00) - 8,732 listener ratings
Quick Stats About this Audiobook
Total Audiobook Chapters:
Longest Chapter Length:
Shortest Chapter Length:
Average Chapter Length:
Audiobooks by this Author:
Publisher Description
Alvin is a Maker, the first to be born in a century. Now a grown man and a journeyman smith, Alvin has returned to his family in the town of Vigor Church. He will share in their isolation, work as a blacksmith, and try to teach anyone who wishes to learn the knack of being a Maker. For Alvin has had a vision of the Crystal City he will build, and he knows that he cannot build it alone. But he has left behind in Hatrack River enemies as well as true friends. His ancient foe, the Unmaker, whose cruel whispers and deadly plots have threatened Alvin’s life at every turn, has found new hands to do his work of destruction.
If that spirit of destruction cannot stop him by magic, or war and devastation, then it will try to crush the young Maker by simpler means—more human means. By lies and innuendo, and by false accusations, Alvin is driven from his home back to Hatrack River, only to find that the Unmaker has been there before him, and that he must now stand trial for his life.
Download and start listening now!
"It was interesting in that it tied up a lot of story threads from the other books. A little less action than the first three books but then courtroom dramas to tend to be on the slow side.Definatly will be neat to see how these events play into the next book. "
— Cathrine (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
-
“Card brings to building this world and his large cast of well-wrought characters formidable scholarship in history, religion, and folklore...We are talking about the most important work of American fantasy since Stephen Donaldson's original Thomas Covenant trilogy.”
— Chicago Sun-Times -
“Just when you think you know what a writer has up his sleeve, he surprises you with a pair of aces. Orson Scott Card is that kind of writer...[He] uses language in these novels like never before...His descriptions bring the magic alive for the reader.”
— Indianapolis News -
“With delicacy and insight, incorporating folk tales and folk magic with mountain lore and other authentic details, Orson Scott Card has evoked a different vision of Americaas it might have been.”
— Greensburg Tribune-Review -
“At long last, Card returns to what promises to be his most notable creation, The Tales of Alvin Maker...From beginning to end, this novel is full of riches that include Card’s command of language (dialect, too!), sense of history, and vivid portraits of alternate versions of Napoleon, William Henry Harrison, Honore de Balzac, and others. This superb and welcome book continues the saga at the same high level as before, and is most highly recommended.”
— Booklist
Awards
-
Winner of the 1996 Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel
Alvin Journeyman Listener Reviews
-
" I really enjoyed this one! Already half way through Book 5 now. "
— Dave, 1/31/2014 -
" The Biblical/religious parallels started to pall after a while. "
— Joanna, 1/29/2014 -
" This & Prentice Alvin have been my favorites in the series so far. "
— Carina, 1/24/2014 -
" This installment of The Tales of Alvin Maker primarily concerned itself with Alvin's trial in Hatrack with a small side story concerning Calvin's journey in Europe. This isn't the only book by Mr. Card that makes me feel this way but I feel like I get through a book and hardly anything's happened. One obstacle was overcome, one marriage occurred, one curse was lifted, and one villain gained power and killed another. But pretty much everyone is in the same place they started off in. I'm just left dissatisfied as a whole. I'm going to get to the end of this series and realize that Mr. Card isn't finished. He's got another book left to finish it. That isn't a nice thing to do to fans. I understand that there is usually 1 or 2 years between installments in a series, but it's been 8 years since The Crystal City was published. Get on with it already! Toss your fans a bone and finish the series you started 23 years ago. "
— Dan, 1/20/2014 -
" I think this book is about where I couldn't take any more of this series and had to walk away. Orson Scott Card, you bastard, stop crapping on your own ideas. "
— Christian, 1/10/2014 -
" Not what I was expecting next in the story, but a good read. "
— Trent, 1/9/2014 -
" and back to the drivel. this time Orson decides to try his hand at courtroom drama. It's....... not his best...... by far. I didn't feel like he ever really got to feel for how a courtroom drama's supposed to work. This book reminded me too much of Night Court. "
— Slightly, 1/5/2014 -
" This was the best of the series so far. It is an extended allegory of gospel teachings. The persecution, the good brother, bad brother scenario. It all rings so familiar with LDS culture and teachings. I thought Mr. Card put the story together extremely well. "
— Rex, 1/5/2014 -
" Too bad OSC's little boys have to grow up. They're much more interesting as kids. "
— Alice, 12/19/2013 -
" A well crafted story compellingly told. At this point in the series it almost hurts if you have to wait at all to read the next one. "
— Tom, 12/9/2013 -
" Just really enjoy the Twain-like storytelling. "
— Melvin, 12/9/2013 -
" great series, original story in my opinion "
— Roger, 10/21/2013 -
" This is the book in the series where the story FINALLY got really good. "
— Rebecca, 9/12/2013 -
" Another great book in the series. "
— Mike, 8/12/2013 -
" Still love the Alvin Maker series and can't wait to get started on the next one. This one was great! "
— Valori, 1/22/2013 -
" This series is starting to slow down. I still like it. Just a little slow in parts. "
— Wayne, 9/27/2012 -
" I enjoyed this episode in the series. Many enjoyable commute hours. "
— Jennifer, 9/19/2012 -
" pretty good, too much courtroom for me though. seems Alvin and Peggy were being immature most of the book. "
— Evan, 5/16/2012 -
" Another good book in a fine series. So far, I've enjoyed them all. On to the next one: Heartfire. "
— pophyn, 8/24/2011 -
" Couldn't put this series down. "
— Pam, 8/16/2011 -
" great series, original story in my opinion "
— Roger, 4/25/2011 -
" The Biblical/religious parallels started to pall after a while. "
— Joanna, 4/10/2011 -
" I don't like the new story line that was added in this book when we find out that Alvin's brother is pretty much evil and filled with hate. I think it brings the story down. I did like that the love story finally moved along a bit. On to book number 5. "
— Tracy, 4/3/2011 -
" Alvin Miller discovers he has incredible powers for creating and shaping things around him.<br/><br/>A recurring and main theme of the books is the conflict between Creators and Destroyers—namely, Making such as Alvin does, and Unmaking that he confronts. "
— Toni, 3/29/2011 -
" This & Prentice Alvin have been my favorites in the series so far. "
— Carina, 2/11/2011 -
" THis series just keeps getting better! "
— Becky, 1/7/2011 -
" Didn't like this one as much as the other three or four. "
— Twoodwar, 12/20/2010 -
" pretty good, too much courtroom for me though. seems Alvin and Peggy were being immature most of the book. "
— Evan, 12/16/2010 -
" There wasn't much to this book in the Alvin Maker series. I'm not quite enjoying Alvin's brother's tale yet, but I guess the book leaves him at a build-able point.<br/><br/>What I really liked about this one was the characterization of Arthur Stuart. "
— Harsh, 11/6/2010 -
" This series is really hitting the spot right now. "
— Mrs, 10/17/2010 -
" This first book in the series intrigued me, and I had to read all the others. As I mention in other reviews of books in this series, it's not my favorite "world" by Card, but it has it's own magic. "
— Timilyn, 7/11/2010
About Orson Scott Card
Orson Scott Card, the author of the New York Times bestseller Ender’s Game, has won several Hugo and Nebula awards for his works of speculative fiction. His Ender novels are widely read by adults and younger readers and are increasingly used in schools. Besides these and other science fiction novels, Card writes contemporary fantasy, American-frontier fantasy, biblical novels, poetry, plays, and scripts.