Tales of Alvin Maker

Young Alvin was born the seventh son of a seventh son. By his birthright, he possesses magical powers and is destined to become something great, perhaps even a Maker. Indeed, Alvin is special. But the boy remains vulnerable to dark forces who reach out to destroy him and are willing to do anything to keep him from growing up. Carefully weaving the lore and the folk-magic of the men and women who settled a continent, as well as the beliefs of the tribes who were there before them-Orson Scott Card has created a fascinating alternate frontier America.

Young Alvin Maker is the seventh son of a seventh son. Born into an alternative frontier America where life is hard and folk magic is real, Alvin is gifted with power—but he must learn to use his gift wisely. Dark forces are arrayed against Alvin, and only a young girl with second sight can protect him.

In the first tale of “Alvin Maker-Seventh Son”, listeners are introduced to a pioneer America where magic works and special talents are utilized in marvelous ways. In this second installment in the Tales of Alvin Maker, we learn more about those talents, both the minor gifts of white people (starting fires, finding water) and the much grander gifts of the Indians, whose lives are filled with a beautiful green music. Young Alvin Maker, the seventh son of a seventh son, is a Maker. Lolla-Wossiky, an Indian whose fate is closely linked with Alvin's, has heard black noise in his head since he watched white men murder his father. Unable to hear the green music he needs to live well, Lolla-Wossiky depends upon alcohol to still the black noise, until he meets Alvin.

Young Alvin Maker is awakening to many mysteries: his own strange powers, the magic of American frontier, and the special virtues of its chosen people, the Native Americans. Now Alvin summons all his powers to prevent the tragic war between the Native Americans and white settlers.

From the 18th century into the early years of the 19th, Americans-traveling to find new homes and new lands-crossed the Appalachian Mountains and moved across the Northwest Territory, spreading west to the banks of the great river. But in this alternate frontier America, the men and women use lore and folk-magic to settle the continent. When Alvin arrives in Hatrack River to take up his apprenticeship with Makepeace Smith and learn to be a blacksmith, he finds that nothing is as he expected. This would-be maker is on his own and the work of the Unmaker is close at hand.

In this third novel of the saga, young Alvin Maker returns to the town of his birth and begins his apprenticeship with Makepeace Smith, committing seven years of his life in exchange for training as a blacksmith. But Alvin must also learn to control and use his own talent, that of a Maker, else his destiny will be unfulfilled.

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.

In an alternate frontier where America is ruled by folk magic and mysterious charms, hexes, and potions, a man like Alvin Miller is an extraordinary person. The seventh son of a seventh son, Miller is a "Maker," with the power to create a new future for America. But first, he must defeat his ancient enemy, the "Unmaker," who threatens to destroy not just Alvin's work, but intends to destroy him. The "Unmaker" will stop at nothing until he achieves his dark goals.

Peggy Guester is a Torch, whose power is so great that she can follow the paths of each person's future and know their most intimate secrets. From the moment of Alvin's birth, Peggy has protected him. Now they are married, but their destinies have torn them apart: Alvin has gone to New England, where knacks are considered witchcraft and their use is punished with death. On a quest for world peace, Peggy has traveled south to the British Crown Colonies and the court of King Arthur Stuart. There she waits in exile, her life at risk in the hands of Alvin's younger brother Calvin, who has no intentions of showing her any brotherly love.

Peggy and Alvin are now married, but Alvin's destiny has taken them on separate journeys. Alvin has gone north into New England, which is rife with witchcraft, while Peggy has been drawn south, to the British court of King Arthur Stuart in exile, on a quest to set the world on the path to peace.

This full-cast production of Orson Scott Card's newest title is finally available on audio From the end of the 18th century, Americans travelled west to find new homes and new lands. They brought with them the magics of plain people. It is from these roots of the American dream that award-winning writer Orson Scott Card has crafted what the Charlotte Observer called "a uniquely American fantasy." Using the lore and the folk magic of the men and women who settled a continent, and the beliefs of the tribes who were here before them, Card has created an alternate frontier America. Charms, beseechings, hexes, and potions all have a place in the lives of the people of this world. Alvin Miller is the seventh son of a seventh son, born while his six brothers all still lived. Such a birth is a powerful magic; such a boy is destined to perhaps become a Maker. Rejoin the tale of Alvin and his wife Peggy as they work to create the Crystal City of Alvin's vision, where all people can live together in peace.