Helpful Score: 4
This little-known book may be my favorite Card novel. The characters are real and the relationships are moving. It is a complete, stand-alone story that hasn't been ruined with terrible sequels. It is about humanity and the impact we have on those around us; the power of music and love; the ease with which power can be corrupted; and the difficulty and intensity of expressing or suppressing true emotions (guilt, love, greed, passion, anger, resentment, etc). It has been said that Card truly understands the human condition. I believe Songmaster is the truest proof of this.
Helpful Score: 2
Marvellous book. Typical of Card, in that it is an in-depth exploration of relationships. This one is also about the life of the emotions, controlling the expression of emotions for the sake of releasing them as art, and how that affects the artist's relationships. On top of that, it's just great sci-fi.
Helpful Score: 2
This book is about a boy, Annset, a songbird from the Songhouse, which is a dwelling on a planet where the focus is singing and all that is possible (and even more) with one's voice. We follow Annset from his beginnings as he learns about himself and learns to be himself, and watch how he makes his mark on life (and vice versa).
I have to say, this book moved me to tears. Wonderfully written, very poignant: when i finished it I felt like i'd just listened to a lovely song. I don't want to spoil it so i won't go into details, but it's a really great book! I think that Card is one of very few really talented authors who can draw emotions from you, and do so in a wholesome, beautiful way. A good read.
I have to say, this book moved me to tears. Wonderfully written, very poignant: when i finished it I felt like i'd just listened to a lovely song. I don't want to spoil it so i won't go into details, but it's a really great book! I think that Card is one of very few really talented authors who can draw emotions from you, and do so in a wholesome, beautiful way. A good read.
Helpful Score: 1
Ansel is a songbird sent to live with the emperor in order to change the world. This novel deals with the darkness of humankind.
Compelling story and characters. I thought about this one after I finished.
Recommended
Compelling story and characters. I thought about this one after I finished.
Recommended
Helpful Score: 1
Even better than Ender's Game. I couldn't put it down and when I finished I felt emotionally depleted.
Helpful Score: 1
This is my favorite book by Card. Much like his other books, he explores the importance of social upbringing and status. Being a musician myself, I found the world just sucked me right in. The inner conflict in the characters is much like anybody else; torn between family and future.
I cannot say this is my favorite book by OSC beacsue of some of the elements in it that made me uncomfortable. but as always his writing is seamless and the escape to another world is instanteous and complete.
Very interesting. New concepts. Good.
A haunting tale of a young singer raised at the mystical Songhouse, whose music magnifies feeling and heals. One of Card's best.
A haunting story of power and love--a tale of the man who would destroy everything he loves to preserve humanity's peace, and the boy who might just sing the world away.
Great read with lots of mystery as to who is behind the strategy and where it will lead. Wonderful story of love, sexuality, power and need. By the author of Ender's Game.
An SF classic from the author of Ender's Game. Kidnapped at an early age, the young singer Ansset has been raised in isolation at the mystical retreat called the Songhouse. His life has been filled with music, and having only songs for companions, he develops a voice that is unlike any heard before. Ansset's voice is both a blessing and a curse, for the young Songbird can reflect all the hopes and fears his auidence feels and, by magnifying their emotions, use his voice 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.
Songmaster is a haunting story of power and love--the tale of the man who would destroy everything he loves to preserve humanity's peace, and the boy who might just sing the world away.
Songmaster is a haunting story of power and love--the tale of the man who would destroy everything he loves to preserve humanity's peace, and the boy who might just sing the world away.
Good, but not great. Really brilliant concept for a story, and Card gets a lot of mileage out of it.
But just not quite as good as some of his other books
But just not quite as good as some of his other books
Different from other Orson Card books, This is a fantasy rather than Sci-Fi. Been a while since I read it, so I can't give to many specifics of the story.
