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Songmaster Audiobook
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(3.01) - 4,257 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Kidnapped at an early age, Ansset has been raised in isolation at a mystical retreat called the Songhouse. His life is filled with music, and having only songs for companions, he develops a voice that is unlike any other.
But Ansset's voice is both a blessing and a curse—for it reflects all the hopes and fears of his audience, and, by magnifying their emotions, can be used either to heal or to destroy.
When it is discovered that his is the voice that the Emperor has waited decades for, Ansset is summoned to the Imperial Palace on Old Earth. Many fates rest in Ansset's hands, and his songs will soon be put to the test: either to salve the troubled conscience of a conqueror or drive him, and the universe, into mad chaos.
Songmaster is a haunting story of power and love—the tale of a man who would destroy everything he loves to preserve humanity's peace, and a boy who might just sing the world away.
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"It's been a while since I've read anything by him and I'd definitely forgotten how beautiful how world building is. His prose is so lovely and he'll contrast it by writing in an event or something so horrible or ugly that it sometimes takes another read or two of the passage to comprehend what exactly happened. Songmaster follows one man from events that make his existence significant to his death. The young man transforms from a gifted young singer in an isolated school to the companion of an emperor to a man of great consequence in his own right and finally his return to the home of his youth. There is love, both familial and romantic, cut-throat political maneuvering, bold kidnappings, and whirlwind fight scenes. I really enjoying reading this novel."
— Allisyn (4 out of 5 stars)
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“Stefan Rudnicki narrates this novel with the power that the prose demands…Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.”
— AudioFile -
“The audiobook is narrated beautifully by Stefan Rudnicki. Mr. Rudnicki conveys an introspective and measured performance that suits the novel perfectly…The recording is up to the usually high standards that we expect of a Blackstone audiobook.”
— SFFAudio.com -
“Card understands the human condition and has things of real value to say about it. He tells the truth well—ultimately the only criterion of greatness.”
— Gene Wolfe, Nebula and World Fantasy award-winning author of science fiction
Awards
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Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award
Songmaster Listener Reviews
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" This is one of the few books I read annually. I could go on and on about OSC's genius and the way he brings out the child-hero in everyone, but I think that saying "I read this book annually" is pretty much all that needs saying. This book lives on a special shelf with "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "A Prayer for Owen Meany" "
— Tori, 2/20/2014 -
" admittedly it's been 20 years since I read this book, but i loved it at the time-- memory is a bit veiled now, but it was a vibrant fantasy-sci fi book. "
— Natalie, 2/19/2014 -
" I read this book when I was very young so that is likely influencing this rating. At the time it had been the most moving book I'd ever read. I may have become more demanding since then. "
— Noah, 2/18/2014 -
" This was one of my favorite books when I was growing up. "
— Erin, 1/28/2014 -
" Sad. A warning. Like reading a prophet's speech. "
— Hanabrighton, 1/15/2014 -
" This is perhaps my favorite Orson Scott Card book. It has a richly developed universe and characters and covers the entire lifetime of the main character. I did not want to put it down and when the book was over, I felt as if I had been in the presence of a great person and was happy to have joined him on his journey. This book is a science fiction, but has a similar feel to a lot of epic fantasy, so would probably be good for fans of either genre. "
— Dallas, 1/13/2014 -
" Very violent story of child gifted with song/singing that can manipulate. Eventually "given" to the emperor for six years, he becomes caught up in conspiracy and betrayal. Homosexual scenes. "
— Tessa, 1/11/2014 -
" Probably 3 1/2 stars. Not nearly as good as Ender's Game, but still, an interesting storyline. "
— Katy, 1/3/2014 -
" What a strange little story. Card is at his best when he takes you on an adventure through the mind of a child. Did not disappoint...don't judge this book by its lame cover! "
— Kate, 12/27/2013 -
" Very interesting and different Sci-Fi book. Reccomended "
— Jeremiah, 12/24/2013 -
" This is one of my favorite books by one of my favorite authors "
— Steve, 12/17/2013 -
" Well worth the read, or in this case the reread.....a fine story with interesting characters and a good plot line.... "
— Edward, 12/14/2013 -
" Beautiful, inventive and unforgettable. "
— Fran, 11/10/2013 -
" A story with characters who communicate primarily through music and thought. The plot was decent but the characters were too shallow for me. I didn't enjoy this. "
— Rae, 12/10/2012 -
" Very interesting book. I heard a snippet on siriusxm book radio, and was intrigued enough to check it out. Card really does capture agony, redemption and a whole host of other human experiences in this novel. Very moving. "
— Shana, 10/27/2012 -
" Not my favorite orson scott card book but still a good one "
— Kirstin, 7/22/2012 -
" Uncle Orson, you know I love you. But I got about 3 chapters in and I just couldn't go any further. Sorry. "
— Jane, 6/19/2012 -
" I was really into it...until the end. I was disgusted. Don't bother reading it "
— Gillie, 3/14/2012 -
" Another great stand alone by one of my favorite authors. You haven't read this story before. "
— Amanda, 2/19/2012 -
" This book is breathtakingly lovely for the first half, which I must have read in just a day, but I had to quit halfway through. It burned me, and I just cannot forgive it. "
— Annie, 1/28/2012 -
" In my opinion, his best besides Ender's Game. "
— Patti, 8/19/2011 -
" there is something i totally loved about this book. i think it's the emotional intensity that card kept all through the book. "
— Liz, 7/15/2011 -
" One of my favorites of all time. "
— Blackbook, 6/12/2011 -
" I swear Orson Scott Card smokes pot while he writes. His books are always so way out there and interesting. "
— Leslie, 4/24/2011 -
" Probably 3 1/2 stars. Not nearly as good as Ender's Game, but still, an interesting storyline. "
— Katy, 4/4/2011 -
" I read this when I was much younger and found it quite confronting, but also incredibly captivating. "
— Emily, 3/10/2011 -
" An old favorite that was as good as I remembered. An original story that was told really well. "
— Melissa, 2/27/2011 -
" I both look forward to and dread the day my boys will be old enough to read this. "
— Jennifer, 2/24/2011 -
" What a strange little story. Card is at his best when he takes you on an adventure through the mind of a child. Did not disappoint...don't judge this book by its lame cover! "
— Kate, 2/8/2011 -
" Another fascinating story by Orson Scott Card. "
— Plop246, 12/18/2010 -
" Some disturbing scenes, not a very happy outcome. kind of a strange story. "
— Emily, 12/3/2010 -
" I liked this book and the way the Card looks at the different kinds of power, and use of that power. It wasn't quite the page turner that some of his other books are, but still good. Warning - there is a homosexual relationship in it. "
— Pam, 10/1/2010 -
" It was very interesting. A totally new idea! But the life stories were just too depressing for me and the gay guy stuff was... um, just not what I really wanted to read. "
— Brandi, 9/30/2010 -
" Another great stand alone by one of my favorite authors. You haven't read this story before. "
— Amanda, 9/26/2010 -
" Fascinating combination of ideas. Music, war, aging, power. "
— Cristov, 7/24/2010
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.
About Stefan Rudnicki
Stefan Rudnicki first became involved with audiobooks in 1994. Now a Grammy-winning audiobook producer, he has worked on more than five thousand audiobooks as a narrator, writer, producer, or director. He has narrated more than nine hundred audiobooks. A recipient of multiple AudioFile Earphones Awards, he was presented the coveted Audie Award for solo narration in 2005, 2007, and 2014, and was named one of AudioFile’s Golden Voices in 2012.