- Paperback: 384 pages
- Publisher: Legend paperbacks; New edition edition (15 Mar 1990)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0099638509
- ISBN-13: 978-0099638506
- Product Dimensions: 17.8 x 10.9 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 934,837 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
Following HART'S HOPE, a fantasy novel whose central character is a young singer, kidnapped at an early age and raised hearing only music. He is summoned to the Emperor when his gifts are discovered, and the fate of the universe rests upon the songs he sings to him.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Orson Scott Card is one of those rare authors that has consistently turned out top notch stories throughout his career. And Songmaster ranks right up there with his best. A Card trademark is his utilization of a young child (in this case 'Ansset') as the central character. Reminiscent of the King Saul and young boy David story of the Old Testament, Card paints a beautiful picture of how the innocence and purity of youth can soothe the savage beast. But there is a price to pay...and again, Card's portrayal of this cost unfolds as a very moving tragedy. Once you've read this book, you'll still be thinking about it for days to come.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I have read almost every Orson Scott Card book, and I find Songmaster to be the best. It is the most touching, and interesting book he has ever written. I think every OSC fan should make a point of reading this book at least once. I have never read a book more than once, but so far I have read this book four times.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Ansset is the Songmaster. Good singers can carry a tune, great singers can move you, but a master comes along only rarely and he can change your life. But one with such a great gift becomes something more, a prize to be bought by the rich and powerful and perhaps be used in other ways.
The obvious initial thought you get from this story is its similarity with Ender's Game, with its young talented central character being manipulated and used by authority but seeing through it all and surviving. But the more relevant comparison is in the quality of writing and in the creation of a situation that is plausible and characters who are never less than interesting.
The only concern I had with the tale is the premise of singers generating such massive emotions in the listeners. Being a tone-deaf philistine myself this could have been a bit too precious for my tastes. It's a great testament to Card's skill that he overcame my concerns to present such a believable yarn. The other great feature of this tale is the time span as we cover Ansset's whole life. This has the benefit of letting you feel you've seen all elements of the story played out. It also effectively rules out any sequels, thus leaving this tale as a one-off, and it so much better for it.
The obvious initial thought you get from this story is its similarity with Ender's Game, with its young talented central character being manipulated and used by authority but seeing through it all and surviving. But the more relevant comparison is in the quality of writing and in the creation of a situation that is plausible and characters who are never less than interesting.
The only concern I had with the tale is the premise of singers generating such massive emotions in the listeners. Being a tone-deaf philistine myself this could have been a bit too precious for my tastes. It's a great testament to Card's skill that he overcame my concerns to present such a believable yarn. The other great feature of this tale is the time span as we cover Ansset's whole life. This has the benefit of letting you feel you've seen all elements of the story played out. It also effectively rules out any sequels, thus leaving this tale as a one-off, and it so much better for it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A brilliant tale - but...
All fans of "Treason" will probably be delighted in this book. Orson Scott Card picks yet another new idea and takes it to the limit. Read more
Published on 19 May 2008 by Iskariot
A Song of Power
Card seems to have a predilection for having child protagonists. But not just any children, rather children who are special, who are prodigies, who in many ways are far stronger... Read more
Published on 4 Aug 2004 by Patrick Shepherd
Awakening the power of soul
In this novel the emotional power of the soul is awakened through the song of the master so strongly that the entire empire is his. Read more
Published on 4 Dec 2000
Masterful in multiple ways
A must-read for any truly technical and/or classical singer - Card really did some homework on this one. And of course, Orson Scott Card is at his usual best. Read more
Published on 7 Sep 2000
What can I learn from this book?
My concern about this book is not about the way it is written (even if it is not so accurate and closes some situations in a rather silly way), but about the meaning of the book... Read more
Published on 23 Aug 1999
This book was great, in its own way.
OSC has one of the wildest imaginations I have ever experienced. This twisting plot was a bit mind boggling, I mean you never knew what card was going to throw at you in the next... Read more
Published on 8 Jun 1999
One of the best books every
This was one of the best & most emotionally powerful books I've ever read. The story of Ansset, from his stolen childhood to emperor of mankind reaches out and grabs you. Read more
Published on 7 Jun 1999
Wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!
this is a book about a young child who is put in the middle of many disasters. It is written wonderfully. The emotions are great, they make up the story. Read more
Published on 3 Dec 1998
AMAZING!!
This is a great book about a child who is kidnapped and sold to The Songhouse. The songhouse is a place where songs are the only importent things, and you spend your whole life... Read more
Published on 26 Nov 1998
Card Puts the Reader in the story
OSC once again used his magnificent talent of creating a central character who you feel you know like a good friend. Songmaster was pure brilliance. Read more
Published on 5 Nov 1998
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