Alvin Smith

Since last names in this book tend to reflect the profession of the person, it makes sense that Alvin's name changes several times throughout the story, reflecting his change in life position. At first, he is Alvin, Jr., the seventh son of a seventh son. His unusual birth is marked by a prophecy that he will grow up to be a Maker, which is a savior with godlike powers. Alvin has great power even from a young age, and he is able to make materials behave the way he wants them to. When Alvin becomes an apprentice, he is sometimes called Alvin Miller, after his father, and sometimes called Prentice Alvin, which emphasizes the stage of training he is in. Alvin conceals some of his power so that the people around him will not pester him constantly to fix things for them. Alvin becomes a skilled blacksmith...