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Tales of Alvin Maker #5.5
Grinning Man
Alvin Maker and his traveling companion, Arthur Stuart, follow their trail through the wooded hills of eastern Kenituck. They meet a buckskin-clad hunter, a bear, and a shady miller.
This short story may be found in the book " Short novels by the masters of modern fantasy" by Robert Silverberg.
This short story may be found in the book " Short novels by the masters of modern fantasy" by Robert Silverberg.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 1998
3 people are currently reading
473 people want to read
About the author
Orson Scott Card
605 books20.8k followersOrson Scott Card is an American writer known best for his science fiction works. He is (as of 2023) the only person to have won a Hugo Award and a Nebula Award in consecutive years, winning both awards for his novel Ender's Game (1985) and its sequel Speaker for the Dead (1986). A feature film adaptation of Ender's Game, which Card co-produced, was released in 2013. Card also wrote the Locus Fantasy Award-winning series The Tales of Alvin Maker (1987–2003).
Card's fiction often features characters with exceptional gifts who make difficult choices with high stakes. Card has also written political, religious, and social commentary in his columns and other writing; his opposition to homosexuality has provoked public criticism.
Card, who is a great-great-grandson of Brigham Young, was born in Richland, Washington, and grew up in Utah and California. While he was a student at Brigham Young University (BYU), his plays were performed on stage. He served in Brazil as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and headed a community theater for two summers. Card had 27 short stories published between 1978 and 1979, and he won the John W. Campbell Award for best new writer in 1978. He earned a master's degree in English from the University of Utah in 1981 and wrote novels in science fiction, fantasy, non-fiction, and historical fiction genres starting in 1979. Card continued to write prolifically, and he has published over 50 novels and 45 short stories.
Card teaches English at Southern Virginia University; he has written two books on creative writing and serves as a judge in the Writers of the Future contest. He has taught many successful writers at his "literary boot camps". He remains a practicing member of the LDS Church and Mormon fiction writers Stephenie Meyer, Brandon Sanderson, and Dave Wolverton have cited his works as a major influence.
Card's fiction often features characters with exceptional gifts who make difficult choices with high stakes. Card has also written political, religious, and social commentary in his columns and other writing; his opposition to homosexuality has provoked public criticism.
Card, who is a great-great-grandson of Brigham Young, was born in Richland, Washington, and grew up in Utah and California. While he was a student at Brigham Young University (BYU), his plays were performed on stage. He served in Brazil as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and headed a community theater for two summers. Card had 27 short stories published between 1978 and 1979, and he won the John W. Campbell Award for best new writer in 1978. He earned a master's degree in English from the University of Utah in 1981 and wrote novels in science fiction, fantasy, non-fiction, and historical fiction genres starting in 1979. Card continued to write prolifically, and he has published over 50 novels and 45 short stories.
Card teaches English at Southern Virginia University; he has written two books on creative writing and serves as a judge in the Writers of the Future contest. He has taught many successful writers at his "literary boot camps". He remains a practicing member of the LDS Church and Mormon fiction writers Stephenie Meyer, Brandon Sanderson, and Dave Wolverton have cited his works as a major influence.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 6, 2025
I read the first Alvin Maker novel a long time ago and while it wasn’t bad I didn’t really like it enough to continue the series. Meanwhile, I read a lot of Card’s sci-fi books including the Ender series (except for the last book because I have a weird thing about not wanting to completely finish a series I really love) and now I know I may someday go back and read the Alvin Maker series too because this story was fascinating and hilarious. I don’t agree with some of Orson Scott Card’s personal viewpoints but man this guy can write!
May 6, 2018
A short story read in the final 30 minutes of a flight when I didn't want to start a larger book. Enjoyable enough of you're already reading the series, but probably for completists, die-hard OSC fans, or Davy Crockett aficionados only...
March 16, 2017
The story introduces Alvin Maker to those who haven't read the series.
Alvin Maker is traveling with Arthur Stuart. They see a man grinning down a bear who is in a tree eating honey. When the bear comes down, he wanders on his way. The grinning man introduces himself as Davy Crockett and then goes on his way while Alvin has Arthur make a canoe.
The canoe takes Alvin and Arthur down to Westville. They find that Davy Crockett has been there before them and spread suspicion on them. Eventually, they are taken in by Rack Miller, the miller.
Alvin notices that Rack is cheating the people who bring their corn to be ground. He makes a move to rectify it. Rack is not happy and keeps Arthur (with Arthur's cooperation, because he wants to know the secret of the wagon measuring tool). Alvin goes off to find Davy and the bear, because he moved somethings around in them.
The bear beats Davy in a grinning match, bringing Davy as his servant into the town. Rack's scam of the townspeople is undermined and he vanishes. The bear becomes the miller, and then they mayor. When the territory they inhabit becomes part of the United States, the bear is voted as Congressman. Davy Crockett is always with him, being his voice and, as miller's assistant, making sure the books were straight.
The author does a MUCH better job of describing the hilarious events that ensue with Alvin, Davy, Arthur and the bear. I found it quite funny and laughed out loud in places.
Alvin Maker is traveling with Arthur Stuart. They see a man grinning down a bear who is in a tree eating honey. When the bear comes down, he wanders on his way. The grinning man introduces himself as Davy Crockett and then goes on his way while Alvin has Arthur make a canoe.
The canoe takes Alvin and Arthur down to Westville. They find that Davy Crockett has been there before them and spread suspicion on them. Eventually, they are taken in by Rack Miller, the miller.
Alvin notices that Rack is cheating the people who bring their corn to be ground. He makes a move to rectify it. Rack is not happy and keeps Arthur (with Arthur's cooperation, because he wants to know the secret of the wagon measuring tool). Alvin goes off to find Davy and the bear, because he moved somethings around in them.
The bear beats Davy in a grinning match, bringing Davy as his servant into the town. Rack's scam of the townspeople is undermined and he vanishes. The bear becomes the miller, and then they mayor. When the territory they inhabit becomes part of the United States, the bear is voted as Congressman. Davy Crockett is always with him, being his voice and, as miller's assistant, making sure the books were straight.
The author does a MUCH better job of describing the hilarious events that ensue with Alvin, Davy, Arthur and the bear. I found it quite funny and laughed out loud in places.
May 16, 2018
Thankfully short. Not a bad story, mind you, but neither is it something that convinced me to read the series. Likely, however, those who've already read the series will enjoy this.
May 16, 2019
Another delightful tale of the Seventh Son.
September 6, 2020
I listened to this one, narrated by the wonderful Frank Muller...
Fantastic. Nothing more to say.
Fantastic. Nothing more to say.
October 19, 2021
Funny, enjoyable little story.
September 14, 2022
This short novella was great fun. It was a throw back to an old road movie; two buddies and their adventures and plenty of humor and; with a touch of magic!
May 12, 2023
Very weird story. I know it's fiction but it stretched way too far this time
October 15, 2024
An amusing moral fable, set in the Alvin Maker mythos with an old-timey yarn-spinning aspect to it that jars as often as it charms.
March 27, 2009
An entertaining literary diversion in the adventures of Alvin Maker.
January 24, 2015
Humorous short story about Alvin and his way to teach people ethics.
June 1, 2015
This story was short but felt like I was reading another tall tale by Mark Twain was Very Good well done.
August 24, 2016
A whimsical little story. I think it would work well even detached from the main story (though it obviously helps to know who and what Alvin and Arthur are). But it's fun to read.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews