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Peggy is a Torch, able to see the fire burning in each person's heart. She can follow the paths of each person's future, and know each person's most intimate secrets. From the moment of Alvin Maker's birth, when the Unmaker first strove to kill him, she has protected him. Now they are married, and Peggy is a part of Alvin's heart as well as his life. But Alvin's destiny has taken them on separate journeys. Alvin has gone north into New England, where knacks are considered witchcraft and show more their use is punished with death. Peggy has been drawn south, to the British Crown Colonies and the court of King Arthur Stuart in exile. For she has seen a terrible future bloom in the heartfires of every person in America, a future of war and destruction. One slender path exists that leads through the bloodshed, and it is Peggy's quest to set the world on the path to peace. show lessTags
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Book five in the Alvin Maker series. These books had been steadily declining in quality as the series went on, but this one was was almost as good as the first. I think that's partly because the repetitiousness of the series didn't bother me because its been a long time since I read the last book. And partly because some new and genuinely interesting characters showed up, and making and playing with great characters is where Card is at his best.
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This is the fifth book in a fantasy series where traditional European folk magic is real and working in early nineteenth century America. For the first time, a helpful map shows that New England remains a puritan, law-based protectorate of England (still under Commonwealth rule) with John Quincy Adams in charge and his elderly father John as a senior judge; after the sudden death of his predecessor, William Henry Harrison, Andrew Jackson presides over the United States, with their capital in Philadelphia; and the Crown Colonies farther south are ruled by the King from Camelot, formerly Charleston, with his ambitious adviser John Calhoun. The cryptic expression "OK" is just becoming fashionable. show more Tensions are rising over the extent of slaveholding in the newly settled areas west of the moutains.
Into all this we inject Alvin, central character of the series, who goes by the name of Smith; it's not difficult to work out which historical character he is meant to remind us of. His dream is to build a Crystal City far into the west, and he has assembled an elect band of followers to help him. By the end of the book they are not much closer to fulfilling the dream; they have gained a new member of their circle, made deep changes to society in New England and Charleston/Camelot, and possibly tamed an enemy, but we're still left a bit in the dark as to where it's all going to end. Audubon and Balzac also make appearances. Light enough reading, and comes tolerably close to giving America a mythological interpretation of its own history. show less
This is the fifth book in a fantasy series where traditional European folk magic is real and working in early nineteenth century America. For the first time, a helpful map shows that New England remains a puritan, law-based protectorate of England (still under Commonwealth rule) with John Quincy Adams in charge and his elderly father John as a senior judge; after the sudden death of his predecessor, William Henry Harrison, Andrew Jackson presides over the United States, with their capital in Philadelphia; and the Crown Colonies farther south are ruled by the King from Camelot, formerly Charleston, with his ambitious adviser John Calhoun. The cryptic expression "OK" is just becoming fashionable. show more Tensions are rising over the extent of slaveholding in the newly settled areas west of the moutains.
Into all this we inject Alvin, central character of the series, who goes by the name of Smith; it's not difficult to work out which historical character he is meant to remind us of. His dream is to build a Crystal City far into the west, and he has assembled an elect band of followers to help him. By the end of the book they are not much closer to fulfilling the dream; they have gained a new member of their circle, made deep changes to society in New England and Charleston/Camelot, and possibly tamed an enemy, but we're still left a bit in the dark as to where it's all going to end. Audubon and Balzac also make appearances. Light enough reading, and comes tolerably close to giving America a mythological interpretation of its own history. show less
Card is an extremely good writer, and his books are always a pleasure to read, but at times I did feel that the stories here occasionally suffered for being too allegorical, and too much about Card's ideas of morality.
In the 5th volume, 'Heartfire' Alvin marries Peggy, the schoolteacher. All I have to say is, I'm not sure what Card is trying to get at here, but he seems to have a peculiar idea of marriage. Basically, they get together, conceive a child, and run off to totally separate parts of the country both doing their own political thing. Alvin can 'see' Peggy from afar, but no actual romantic love is portrayed in the story AT ALL. Very odd. Anyway, most of the story here, again, is a courtroom drama. This time, Alvin, his lawyer, show more Verily Cooper, Arthur Stuart, and John James Audubon (yes, the famous naturalist, here portrayed as a caricature of the French - it's kinda weird), encounter a young woman who suspects that she herself may be a witch. Of course, she accuses Alvin and his friends of witchcraft. But when the witch-hunter comes, she finds herself accused as well. Alvin feels the need to stick around and save her from herself. The judge in the case is John Adams (not, here, a President), and meanwhile, Calvin is hanging out with Balzac (the author). And yes, the gratuitous appearances of historical figures was annoying me (but that's just me). show less
In the 5th volume, 'Heartfire' Alvin marries Peggy, the schoolteacher. All I have to say is, I'm not sure what Card is trying to get at here, but he seems to have a peculiar idea of marriage. Basically, they get together, conceive a child, and run off to totally separate parts of the country both doing their own political thing. Alvin can 'see' Peggy from afar, but no actual romantic love is portrayed in the story AT ALL. Very odd. Anyway, most of the story here, again, is a courtroom drama. This time, Alvin, his lawyer, show more Verily Cooper, Arthur Stuart, and John James Audubon (yes, the famous naturalist, here portrayed as a caricature of the French - it's kinda weird), encounter a young woman who suspects that she herself may be a witch. Of course, she accuses Alvin and his friends of witchcraft. But when the witch-hunter comes, she finds herself accused as well. Alvin feels the need to stick around and save her from herself. The judge in the case is John Adams (not, here, a President), and meanwhile, Calvin is hanging out with Balzac (the author). And yes, the gratuitous appearances of historical figures was annoying me (but that's just me). show less
Card seems to drag this series out in this fifth installment of the Alvin Maker story. I love the main ideas of this series and yes, I read them all. As they progress, however, they seem to be less and less about telling a story and more and more about forcing characters through a weak plot in order to explore the world he created. A great author creates amazing characters and then just has them react to the world - and does not have them make strange choices just to set up scenarios that the author wants. I feel like the decision to go force a witch trial in the anti-"magic" northeast and then go confront the king in the monarchical southeast is entirely fantastical (not in the genre way) and inappropriate.
In addition, there are show more blatant reflections of an Atlas Shrugged theme of the main character collecting "special" people to form a better society that promotes individual talent. Alvin also tends to make speeches in a similar, albeit less wordy way, as Mr. Galt. Maybe Card should get together with Goodkind (an even more obvious objectivist) and they can start a little Ayn Rand fantasy club. :) Like I say about Goodkind's novels - I don't mind objectivism as a philosophy, I just don't want my books with hidden agendas. When all the good characters have one way of looking at the world and all of the bad characters have an opposing philosophy, it has gone beyond characterization and the author's views are now corrupting the story.
As harsh as this seems, Card is obviously a good writer and he writes a book that I like to read. He may make a bunch of decisions in the story that I disagree with, but the book does flow well and after I got past my eye-rolling I didn't have problems finishing it. show less
In addition, there are show more blatant reflections of an Atlas Shrugged theme of the main character collecting "special" people to form a better society that promotes individual talent. Alvin also tends to make speeches in a similar, albeit less wordy way, as Mr. Galt. Maybe Card should get together with Goodkind (an even more obvious objectivist) and they can start a little Ayn Rand fantasy club. :) Like I say about Goodkind's novels - I don't mind objectivism as a philosophy, I just don't want my books with hidden agendas. When all the good characters have one way of looking at the world and all of the bad characters have an opposing philosophy, it has gone beyond characterization and the author's views are now corrupting the story.
As harsh as this seems, Card is obviously a good writer and he writes a book that I like to read. He may make a bunch of decisions in the story that I disagree with, but the book does flow well and after I got past my eye-rolling I didn't have problems finishing it. show less
Heartfire was one of the quicker reads in the series for me, and while I enjoyed it immensely (as I do almost everything I've ever read by Card) it felt a bit too forced for me in parts. I realize that there is an end goal that Alvin Smith is attempting to reach, and each main character also has a set of goals that they live by, but these goals are smashed together.
That is not to say that I am not fully wrapped up in each goal. I want to know how the slavery issue is finalized. I was ecstatic to see the path of witch trials in Card's alternate reality. I am, of course, interested in what needs to happen to make Crystal City a reality. Does Calvin learn his lesson?
But even for a series of books, this number of goals seems too high. My show more attention is shifted over and over. Perhaps, deep down, I want as many Card books on my shelf as possible. I want a series for each goal... or at least a stand alone book for each. show less
That is not to say that I am not fully wrapped up in each goal. I want to know how the slavery issue is finalized. I was ecstatic to see the path of witch trials in Card's alternate reality. I am, of course, interested in what needs to happen to make Crystal City a reality. Does Calvin learn his lesson?
But even for a series of books, this number of goals seems too high. My show more attention is shifted over and over. Perhaps, deep down, I want as many Card books on my shelf as possible. I want a series for each goal... or at least a stand alone book for each. show less
After a rather lackluster entry for the fourth installment, I had high hopes Orson Scott Card's Tales of Alvin Maker would get back on track in book five.
Yes and no.
Yes, the story actually moves the overall plot arc forward a bit. But it also suffers from the same criticism I head of "Alvin Journeyman"--too much time spent philosophizing about the current state of things or having debates that don't really do much in terms of plot progression or character revelation.
I get it, already....Calvin is jealous of Alvin. The two are mirrors of each other, working toward an upcoming conflict that, quite frankly, I wish would just get here already so we could move on
Yes and no.
Yes, the story actually moves the overall plot arc forward a bit. But it also suffers from the same criticism I head of "Alvin Journeyman"--too much time spent philosophizing about the current state of things or having debates that don't really do much in terms of plot progression or character revelation.
I get it, already....Calvin is jealous of Alvin. The two are mirrors of each other, working toward an upcoming conflict that, quite frankly, I wish would just get here already so we could move on
A good ending, imo, to the Alvin Maker series. Alvin has gathered a group of people with knacks who believe in the Crystal City like he does. But the book ends as they are setting out. Card does not make the mistake of actually showing the Making of the City, for that will be Heaven on Earth, and no man knows how to accurately write that out.
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Orson Scott Byron Walley Card, was born in 1951 and studied theater at Brigham Young University. He received his B.A. in 1975 and his M.A. in English in 1981. He wrote plays during that time, including Stone Tables (1973) and the musical, Father, Mother, Mother and Mom (1974). A Mormon, Scott served a two-year mission in Brazil before starting show more work as a journalist in Utah. He also designed games at Lucas Film Games, 1989-92. He is best known for his science fiction novels, including the popular Ender series. Well known titles include A Planet Called Treason (1979), Treasure Box (1996), and Heartfire (1998). He has also written the guide called How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy (1990). His novel Ender's Game and its sequel Speaker for the Dead, both won Hugo and Nebula awards, making Card the only author to win both prizes in consecutive years. His titles Shadows in Flight, Ruins and Ender's Game made The New York Times Best Seller List. He is also the author of The First Formic War Series, which includes the titles Earth Unaware, Earth Afire, and Earth Awakens. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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- Canonical title
- Heartfire
- Original title
- Heartfire (The Tales of Alvin Marker V) (The Tales of Alvin Marker V); The Tales of Alvin Marker V: Heartfire; The Tales of Alvin Marker, Book 5: Heartfire
- Original publication date
- 1998
- People/Characters
- Alvin Smith; Mike Fink; Peggy Guester; Calvin Smith; Arthur Stuart (king); John James Audubon (as John-James Audubon)
- Important places
- Camelot, Duchy of Jacobia, Crown Colonies
- Dedication
- To Mark and Margaret,
for whom all heartfires
burn bright - First words
- Arthur Stuart stood at the window of the taxidermy shop, rapt.
- Quotations
- She soon learned that the library was the better teacher, for the authors of the books were helpless to shut her out because of her sex. Having put their best knowledge into print, they had to endure the ignominy of having a ... (show all)woman read it and understand it. . . .
They all looked thoughtful. Except Arthur Stuart. "So what are you going to do to her?" he demanded. "She ain't done nothing wrong."
"She hain't done nothing," said Mike Fink.
Arthur looked at the river r... (show all)at like he was crazy. "How can you correct me? You're even wronger than I was!"
"You left out the h in hain't."
“Trouble?” said Verily. “I’ve been stupefied with boredom in New England. Everything’s so peaceful here. Everything runs smoothly, most disputes are settled peacefully, neighbors pretty much get along, people are ha... (show all)ppy an extraordinary proportion of the time. I’m a lawyer, for heaven’s sake! I was about to lose my mind!” - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Miraculously, they were still there in the morning, touching, breathing, hearts beating together; heartfires bright; lives entwined.
- Original language
- English
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