• Prentice Alvin

  • Tales of Alvin Maker, Book 3
  • By: Orson Scott Card
  • Narrated by: full cast
  • Length: 13 hrs and 49 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (2,056 ratings)

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Prentice Alvin  By  cover art

Prentice Alvin

By: Orson Scott Card
Narrated by: full cast
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Publisher's summary

The saga of Alvin Maker, set in an alternative version of the American frontier country, continues, in a tale full of folklore and magic.

Young Alvin returns to the town of his birth and begins his apprenticeship with Makepeace Smith, committing seven years of his life in exchange for the skills and knowledge of a blacksmith. But Alvin must also learn to control and use his own talent, that of a Maker, or else his destiny will be unfulfilled.

Don't miss other titles in the Tales of Alvin Maker series.
©1989 Orson Scott Card (P)2007 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic reviews

"The most important work of American fantasy since Stephen Donaldson's original Thomas covenant trilogy." (Chicago Sun-Times)
"A beguiling book...[a] robust but reflective blend of folktale, history, parable and personal-testimony pioneer narrative. The series promises to be a story of deep delight." (Publishers Weekly)
"Card's epic tale of a magical, alternate America demonstrates his skill in graceful storytelling. Recommended, along with Seventh Son and Red Prophet, for most fantasy collections." (Library Journal)

What listeners say about Prentice Alvin

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    1,378
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  • 3 Stars
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Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • 3 Stars
    99
  • 2 Stars
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Interesting yet...

I know this is fiction and loosely based on some american history. Being an african american, it is kind of hard to listen to the imaginative world where it's ok to slaughter, rape, kill, and sell people to delevope the west. Even though I know those things happened.

It's still clasic Card. You decide.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Weird but addictive

Any additional comments?

This series is super weird, but somehow just leaves me wanting more every time. Excellent reading of this strange tale by a great cast.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fun story with a great cast!

Story is a little slower then the first two books but has some big character building moments for Alvin. Card does a good job of letting the reader/listener learn with Alvin and see that he dosen't know everything right from the get go. He helps paint him as more then just a normal straight laced hero type character he makes some bad calls and even spiteful ones but they really help develop the character.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Most Intense Maker Yet

I appreciated the tactful manner that this book addresses and portrays serious topics such as rape and racism. This entire series is written about a time in America where things were very different than today. I like that the MC appears to be more enlightened than many of the time. The story is engaging and makes me want to continue in the series. Card always gets great audio performances for his books.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Alvin just seems too tentative about everything

Prentice Alvin is Orson Scott Card's third installment in the Tales of Alvin Maker series. Alvin has finally made it to his apprenticeship at the same time Peggy, the torch has skipped town for the big city. The other development is the appearance of a mixed race child that Peggy's parent take responsibility to raise. Alvin learns his trade, faces off with the unmaker and vows for a life of nonviolence going forward. Peggy meanwhile is obtaining an education and eventually returns in disguise to Hatrack as the school marm. Finders eventually track down (finding is a knack) the child and while Alvin along with some help, saves the day, he makes enough enemies in the meantime, that he returns to Vigor Church which also leaves him feeling alone.

While the story is engaging and compelling, there's too much stereotype and caricature. The 'city folk' are all phony. The Southerners are simple and stupid and easily corrupted by the unmaker to perform vile acts as if by religious dictum. Characters tend to be either completely good or completely evil. There's also an extreme amount of excessive introspective rumination that results in overthinking everything that becomes, 'he thinks that I think that he thinks that she thinks...'

The narration is well done in terms of character rendition, but the corn-fed accents can get tiresome.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

With writting this good it only just does matter..

... what the story is, and it is, good story telling I mean.
This is book two after "Seventh Son" of a seventh son. In the first years of the nineteenth century Alvin Miller is born an infant destened to have a knack for whatever catches his attention, he can just do it like a four year old mastering the grand piano. Not just the common stuff, but hands on healing, sixth senses etc.
This writting, this storytelling, is Classics quality writing.
- Thank You Orson

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

good read

this was a good continuation of the series.i got bored in a couple of short spots, but otherwise it was interesting and attention holding

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Wondering if I should go on

Would you try another book from Orson Scott Card and/or Full Cast?

I have listened to several books by Scott Card, I am a fantasy junkie.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

this series sounded promising when I started book one, but with each book I wonder if I should continue. The books get more and more preachy

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

What will Alvin become.....

What did you like best about Prentice Alvin? What did you like least?

The journey Alvin has to take, and the friends he makes along the way.

Would you recommend Prentice Alvin to your friends? Why or why not?

Yes, because of the look at life in the 1800s.

What does Full Cast bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The different nuances and personalities of the characters.

Do you think Prentice Alvin needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Yes, and it has one, so we're good.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Love these stories!

I have read all of the tales of Alvin maker previously to the audio book and I love them. But it is nice to just sit down and listen to the stories all over again.

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