I've been a casual reader of Mr. Card's for about 15 years, but I just started reading the Alvin books last month. I've read the first five books and both Legends storys, and am about 150 pages into Thet Crystal City. As I've been reading this book, I can't help but feel confused. It seems like I've missed a ton of plot: Alvin and Peggy's first child miscarying, Alvin having a falling out with Verily, Mike Fink disapearing completly, along with other stuff.
Did I miss some stories somewhere, or have these events not been covered yet?
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You could probably search this site and find your answers, but I'll save you the time because for some reason I'm particularly fond of the book/series.
Most people ask your question without having read the two Legends stories, and so are even more lost than you. But there is a third (as yet unwritten) short story set to occur in between novels 5 and 6, too -- probably before Grinning Man (working title White Prophet). Whether the questions will be answered or not is anyone's guess, though with as many people as there are asking him about them, it's reasonable to think he knows his readers expect answers.
Alvin and Peggy's first child -- Card has said that he just can't go through writing about the loss of a baby. As to the other questions, they don't all get answered, but I found that I wasn't as concerned about the questions. They'd probably be interesting backstory, but apparently they don't mean that much to the current situation.