Prentice Alvin
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 Cover of first edition (hardcover) |
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| Author | Orson Scott Card |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Tales of Alvin Maker |
| Genre(s) | Alternate history/ Fantasy novel |
| Publisher | Tor Books |
| Released | 1989 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover & Paperback) |
| Pages | 342 pp |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-312-93141-7 |
| Preceded by | Red Prophet |
| Followed by | Alvin Journeyman |
The third book in Orson Scott Card's series The Tales of Alvin Maker, Prentice Alvin (1989) is set in an alternative history of North America where the people inhabiting the New World have a variety of powers known as 'knacks'. It was nominated for the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 1989 and the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 1990.
In this book, Alvin leaves his family to become a Prentice Smith in the town of his birth, and learns more about himself and other people than he bargained for.
[edit] Plot summary
After being released from his time with Ta-Kumsaw, an Indian leader who taught Alvin the ways of Indian people, the young boy sets out to start his apprenticeship as a Smith in the town where he was born.
While there he meets a young black boy by the name of Arthur Stuart, the son of a runaway who has been adopted by the owners of the local guesthouse.
Another new friend comes in the form of Miss Larner, who he later discovers to be the "torch" who helped him to be brought into the world so many years ago, and has been strangely linked with since that day.
Eventually, Alvin is forced into helping Arthur to escape some slave-hunters, something that requires him to change the cells of Arthur enough to prevent the hunters' knacks from identifying the runaways child. Alvin also creates a plow of living gold, which is bestowed with magical properties, as his journeyman piece to release himself from his apprenticeship as a Smith (and also as a Maker).
The story ends with Alvin and Arthur leaving the town and returning to Alvin's home in the west.
