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The Crystal City

The Crystal City

FantasyFolklore
Pages
354
Published
2003
Language
English

Synopsis

Orson Scott Card crafts an alternate North America where the folk-magic of its settlers is real and has shaped history. Charms, hexes, and potions are integral to daily life in this world. Dowsers find water, second sight warns of danger, and torches can reveal a person's future or their heart.

Prose complexity
4/10

Vibe

WhimsicalAdventurousAtmospheric

Genres

Fantasy Folklore History Alternate History Magical Realism

About the author

O
Orson Scott Card

Orson Scott Card is an American novelist, critic, public speaker, essayist and columnist. He writes in several genres but is known best for science fiction. His novel Ender's Game (1985) and its sequel Speaker for the Dead (1986) both won Hugo and Nebula Awards, making Card the only author to win both science fiction's top U.S. prizes in consecutive years.

Characters

All characters in The Crystal City

Frequently asked questions

  • Is The Crystal City part of a series?

    This novel is the sixth book in the Tales of Alvin Maker series, continuing the story of Alvin Maker's journey in an alternate America where folk magic is real.

  • Do I need to read the previous books in the Alvin Maker series before The Crystal City?

    While each book in the Tales of Alvin Maker series can be enjoyed to some extent on its own, reading the preceding five books will provide a richer understanding of the characters' development and the overarching plot.

  • How does The Crystal City connect to Orson Scott Card's other works?

    The Crystal City is part of the Tales of Alvin Maker series, which explores themes of destiny, power, and the shaping of a new American identity, distinct from his more widely known Ender's Game universe.