Songmaster

By: Orson Scott Card

Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki

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.

A man for all genres: don't miss our many other titles by Orson Scott Card.©1978 Orson Scott Card

Critic reviews

"Orson Scott Card is a fine writer with great insight, great idealism, and love." (Science Fiction Review)
"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)

It was good

The book started out slow, but it was a good book. I really liked the ending.

Well-written but Vile

I am a long-time Card fan. This book displays the reliably well-crafted stories, scenes, psychological insights and semi-profound revelations I have come to expect from this author. However, it covers subjects that I found to be disturbing--not by their inclusion--but by their presentation. He presents clearly vile and diagusting behavior as if it is merely normal and unremarkable. It is terrible departure from the moral framework which Orson Scott Card typically draws from--that being one of the main reasons I have been a fan of his for so long.

It is an interesting read, but has very little merit overall. It is definitively the worst Card novel I have read. It got two stars instead of one, only because of the excellent quality of writing and the narrator's classic and reliable skill in performance.

Beautiful

it is an amazingly beautiful story. it is probably one of my favorite single novel stories I have ever found.

Still amazing

I first read this book as a young woman many years ago. I was riveted. I stayed up all night, two nights in a row, to finish it. I am now an old woman, and i find the book every bit as good as when i was a girl. I laughed, i cried, i was happily entertained.

I'm not crying, you're crying

Sweet and deep and hard, but worth it. I personally disagree with the reviews calling this story a book about pedophilia, because I think it's a little silly to believe children don't have to navigate the desires of the adults around them. The real criticism is around how the queer community is treated. I won't spoil, just try it and see. The performance was excellent. OSC always gets the emotions right, the jealousy, the heartbreak, the inadvertent ways we hurt and help each other.