This goes out to anyone who has good ideas on the subject, not just OSC (although I'd love to hear from him!):
I'm re-reading the Alvin Maker series, and I got curious about how the historical figures who appear in the book fit into the timeline (i.e. how much did OSC "fudge" the dates and ages... if he did at all?)
Explicit dates aren't given for all books and all events, but I'm working with a few benchmarks: I want to say Alvin was born in 1801... is that right? Alvin is 12 when he begins his Apprenticeship with Makepiece Smith and 19 when it ends, Margaret is pregnant at the end of Alvin Journeyman and the baby is not born at the end of Heartfire, Alvin is stated to be 26 years old at the beginning of Crystal City and Arthur Stuart is 15. Using those pieces of data, I've pegged approximate years for each book: Seventh Son: 1801-1812 Red Prophet: 1806-1813 Prentice Alvin: 1813-1820 Alvin Journeyman: 1822-1824 Heartfire: 1824-1825 The Crystal City: 1827-1828 If these dates are close to being accurate, I just have a couple of questions: - The historical William Blake (Taleswapper) died in 1827, the same year The Crystal City begins. I'm assuming interacting with Alvin and magic in general could extend his life any number of years, so this is no biggie. - John Adams would have been 89 years old in 1824, the year I have for Heartfire to begin. Hostorically, he died at 91 years of age... so, it's okay, but, man, he'd be old! - Mike Fink was (probably) 54 in 1824, the year that I have Heartfire starting. I've seen 54 year olds that are still physically intimidating, but it does jar the image I had of him while reading the book. - Abraham Lincoln was born in 1809, making his 18 at the beginning of The Crystal City. It seems young to already be a failed storekeeper, but those were different times. Anyway, should I just chuck it all and assume that the existence of magic in this alternate history also makes the same people be born a few years earlier or later than they were in our history? Or should I just say OSC has full artistic license to muck with time to tell a better story (a sentiment with which I wholeheartedly agree)?
Posted by MateoMcD (Member # 1452) on :
Oh, yeah, Mike and Abe have a confrontation in the Crystal City, which would make it a confrontation between a 57 year-old and an 18 or 19 year-old. I guess if Stallone is making another Rocky at 60, there's no reason Mike can't take on gangly Abe.
Posted by Orson Scott Card (Member # 209) on :
Lincoln was born in '07. And it's an alternate history, so it's an alternate Lincoln. I mean, come on. And how old do you have to be to have a store fail?
Posted by Stephan (Member # 7549) on :
As long as Taleswapper isn't keep track of his tales on a palm pilot, I'm content.
Posted by MateoMcD (Member # 1452) on :
I like the idea of Lincoln being really young, just because it's a part of his life we don't really know much about historically, so it's neat to see the character we know from history being shaped and shaping the world around him.
Posted by Soara (Member # 6729) on :
I think Lincoln could have been 18 in the Crystal City, as hard as it is to imagine him that young. Posted by hugh57 (Member # 5527) on :
Maybe Lincoln's youth was at least part of the reason his store failed?
Posted by Skysophyl (Member # 7098) on :
When is the Next alivin maker book coming out ?
Posted by Stephan (Member # 7549) on :
quote:Originally posted by Skysophyl: When is the Next alivin maker book coming out ?
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