Red Prophet (Tales of Alvin Maker, Book 2) (urspr publ 1988; utgåvan 1992)

the Reds are manuvered into war

one was enough. ( )

This takes the viewpoint of the Indian who becomes The Prophet mentioned in 7th Son. A bit too much of redman is just SO in touch with the land and practically perfect and the whiteman is nothing but evil". Other than that, it was a good story." ( )

This really should have been a good book. It's the second in the Alvin Maker series and it's about Tecumseh's brother, the Prophet. The author, in a forward, said that the story of Alvin Maker goes on and on and on for nine or ten episodes. That's what really makes it drag on and on. If the story were snappy and to the point, with some magic pizazz, it would be better. I really enjoy the historical details that went into this work--but they occur only after the book drags on and on. Get it? I probably missed Card's point by looking for something to happen in the slowness of this alternate history. I give up--I can read something more enjoyable than Alvin Maker #3. ( )

The second in the Alvin Maker series.
Similar to what Card did in the 'Ender' series, this book starts off covering a lot of the same time period and events as the previous book, but taken from a different character's perspective. It also ventures further into 'alternate history' territory (and boy is it alternate!)
It's about the well-known Native American leader Tecumseh, and his brother Tenskwatawa, who was known as a prophet. (all true).
I have to say that I think the book would have worked better as a pure fantasy story rather than alternate history. As it stands, it doesn't just venture into; it is ALL ABOUT the stereotypes of Native American culture. It's a very allegorical story, but if you want to have a culture be part of an allegory, it works better if it's a made-up culture, not peoples' real lives and history.
For example, an critical point in the story is the famous battle at Tippecanoe. In reality, this was a bloody but equally joined battle between Tecumseh's forces and those of to-be-President Harrison (who, in the book is more-evil-than-evil). In reality, Harrison did win, but there were an about-even number of casualties (less than 100) on each side.
In the book, "Tippy-Canoe" is a massacre: In revenge for the supposed killing of two white boys, white gunmen slaughter NINE THOUSAND Natives who, sworn to peace and non-violence, peacefully line up, unarmed, to be slaughtered.
Now, if Card wants to make a point about martyrdom, that's all well and good, but I have issues with completely rewriting reality like that. And I know I'm not the only one who gets tired of seeing Native Americans portrayed as mystically close to nature, blah, blah, blah. ( )