The Crystal City -Book 6 – The Tales of Alvin Maker by Orson Scott Card

This evening I am sitting in the Las Vegas Airport leaving the Consumer Electronics Show fighting for plug space to keep my rechargeable batteries powered up.  On the trip out here, I listened to the 6th book of the series by Orson Scott Card of the name, The Tales of Alvin Maker.  The book itself has the name of The Crystal City.

I listened to about half of the book on the way out to Las Vegas.  I listened to a few more hours walking back and forth from the show to the hotel and other events.  So this evening, I am planning on finishing Card’s novel while flying back to Charlotte on the Red Eye.

Conflict with Christianity Mysteriously Evaporates

I have not finished the book yet, but I have noticed several aspects about the book and the series listening to this book.  For example, I have noticed that this book and almost all of its predecessors with the exception of the first book does not demonize Christianity, nor those that preach it.  In the first book, there was a distinct conflict between Christianity and people with ‘nacks’ or talents or superstitious beliefs based on real capabilities.  In the fifth book, Card touched lightly on the conflict, but skirted it only talking about the perils and evils of witch burning as opposed to any conflict.

Furthermore, many of the main characters, which seemed almost atheistic at best in the first book, now seem to have found religion themselves.  I do not write this to criticize, only to remark on the authors transition away from a conflict with religion to one of inclusion and acceptance in this American Fantasy.

The Return of the Native Americans

Also in this book, the Native American characters return with a major role in the series.  They seemed to have almost a noticeable absence in the earlier books.  Now as a total package, the void of their absence almost seems to mirror the absence of their presence from the American Fantasy world invented by Card.  The middle books were not as good because of the absence but now at a total level the series seems almost complete.

Not finished Yet . .. .

So anyway, I haven’t finished the book yet.  So I can not attest to the conclusion of the book or possibly the series if that is the case.  I will let you know in a future review . . . .