The Tales of Alvin Maker V.

''The Tales of Alvin Maker comprising Seventh Son (1987), Red Prophet (1988) , Prentice Alvin (1989), Alvin Journeyman (1995) and HEARTFIRE (1998) - is set on Earth, an alternate-world version of the USA. On the basis of the first three volumes, it seems to come as close as humanly possible to the telling of an sf tale as Mormon parable, for the life of Alvin Maker clearly encodes the life of Joseph Smith (1805-1844), the founder of the Mormon Church. The early 19th-century USA in which he grows up has never experienced a Revolution; certain forms of magic are efficacious; and Alvin may become a Maker, one who can delve to the heart of things and transform them. As the sequence progresses, the Indian Nations set up a demarcation line, which is observed, along the Mississippi; and Alvin seems due to become a Maker'' (John Clute/Encyclopedia of SF).