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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
A seriously strong 4.5 star read, rounded up because dang, that world building. That world. If you're looking for inventive cyberpunk YA with a twist of the tech noir about it, you've come to the right multiverse.
The vividly realised setting almost becomes a character in itself. It's full of the usual futuristic things: android, space-time portals, alien worlds with flying manta rays... But even so, it feels new and different. The idea of interstellar trains criss-crossing reality is a wonderfully simple idea, yet backed up with so many little details you really want to believe in the world the author has created. The little nods to real-life to pop culture could be amusing rather than [b:Ready Player One|9969571|Ready Player One (Ready Player One, #1)|Ernest Cline|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1500930947s/9969571.jpg|14863741] style overwhelming/annoying/distracting if you don't get them (Gentlemen Take Polaroids anyone?)
Zen Starling is you usual self-serving YA trickster-thief protagonist. He's out mostly for himself, with a little thought spared for his family and friends. He could be a bit bland and unemotional as a lead, and that lack of emotion could be a little disturbing given some of the circumstances he finds himself a part of. Nova, the Motorik is a useful sidekick (), while antagonist duties are swapped between several other side characters of varying appearance lengths. Attachments between characters are subtle, carefully woven into the story without detracting from it. One thing that stood out though - a non-Caucasian protagonist. In fact, to my knowledge, there's one character described as light skinned. It's not made into a big thing, and are descriptions mostly reinforced with little culture references. It's something fairly rare to be able to read a story about someone who isn't the default straight white male but who's struggles aren't created or exacerbated because of it.
This is action-based story telling, uncomplicated and easy to read. It's filled with tropes you've read many times before, but given fresh twists and a stylish repackage. Yes, the characters are fairly shallow in that distant YA way. Yes, quite often you can see what's going to happen before it does. It didn't change my enjoyment of the story, and it's imaginative setting of mainstream, multicultural cyberpunk made it a fun ride.
The vividly realised setting almost becomes a character in itself. It's full of the usual futuristic things: android, space-time portals, alien worlds with flying manta rays... But even so, it feels new and different. The idea of interstellar trains criss-crossing reality is a wonderfully simple idea, yet backed up with so many little details you really want to believe in the world the author has created. The little nods to real-life to pop culture could be amusing rather than [b:Ready Player One|9969571|Ready Player One (Ready Player One, #1)|Ernest Cline|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1500930947s/9969571.jpg|14863741] style overwhelming/annoying/distracting if you don't get them (Gentlemen Take Polaroids anyone?)
Zen Starling is you usual self-serving YA trickster-thief protagonist. He's out mostly for himself, with a little thought spared for his family and friends. He could be a bit bland and unemotional as a lead, and that lack of emotion could be a little disturbing given some of the circumstances he finds himself a part of. Nova, the Motorik is a useful sidekick (
Spoiler
/love interest - cute but necessary? Maybe it's to show that androids/Zen really could have a heart in there somewhereSpoiler
Raven, Anais and Malik were all just a bit too distant from the story. Thought Fox, while an interesting as an unhinged sentient war-train, could be a little dark... And also easily defeated in the end. Threndoy's laid back pleasure seeker to toughened leader-in-waiting felt like the most natural progression, but even she was a little short changed. Emotionally, why would she go back to her now cowed fiancee when she'd only ever wanted to leave him? And how had Kobi gone from jealous protector to deferential figure off to the side? His character changed so oddly it didn't quite add up to me. I guess I was disappointed, expecting an antagonist to really challenge Zen and Nova when in the end it was circumstances that worked against them.This is action-based story telling, uncomplicated and easy to read. It's filled with tropes you've read many times before, but given fresh twists and a stylish repackage. Yes, the characters are fairly shallow in that distant YA way. Yes, quite often you can see what's going to happen before it does. It didn't change my enjoyment of the story, and it's imaginative setting of mainstream, multicultural cyberpunk made it a fun ride.
Actual Rating: 4.5 stars
This book was just so fun. An awesome, crazy, ride.
This book was just so fun. An awesome, crazy, ride.
Really enjoyed this one! Robots capable of thoughts and feelings? Trains that can cross worlds? Count me in!
More of my thoughts here: https://eipreel.wordpress.com/2017/01/25/railhead-railhead-1-by-philip-reeve/
More of my thoughts here: https://eipreel.wordpress.com/2017/01/25/railhead-railhead-1-by-philip-reeve/
TW/CW: violence (fairly mild), descriptions of killing animals/dead animals, fire, fear
It’s been about 5 years since I’ve read anything by Philip Reeve; I loved the Larklight trilogy but didn’t have the same luck with Fever Crumb, so he was generally hit-or-miss for me. But ultimately, I’m glad I picked Railhead up! It was the perfect antidote after reading something as heavy as Anthem; fun, light-hearted, and fast-paced. (Thanks again for the rec, Sabrina!)
The worldbuilding of Railhead made the whole book. It’s the kind of intricate worldbuilding that I aspire to have in my own writing; no stone is left unturned in terms of the little details that make the Great Network so genuine-feeling and fleshed out. Best of all, none of it is delivered in info-dumps; pieces of information are spaced out and don’t distract from the overall story. There was so much love put into every little nook and cranny of Reeve’s world, from the trains to the android history to the graffiti on the walls. I especially loved the Hive Monks—the concept behind them was so inventive! I wished we’d seen more of Uncle Bugs and the others.
As far as characters go, I didn’t get attached to many of them, but they were at least decently flushed out. Zen himself didn’t have many traits that would distinguish him from the average middle grade/YA protagonist, and having him get saddled with this trilogy’s equivalent of the chosen one trope didn’t exactly help his case. He was simply…alright for me. I felt the same way towards most of the other characters; they were distinct enough to not be trope-y, but not distinct enough to be rememberable. I did like Nova, though. She was my favorite out of the main cast—I liked her backstory a lot, and her being an android (or a “moto,” as is the lingo in Zen Starling’s world) added a unique layer to her story.
The plot itself was a little lacking for me, but its fast pace saved it. At its worst, the plot seemed to [Robert Plant voice] ramble on without any clear direction, but at its best, it was loads of fun. You do get the sense that you’re clinging to the top of a speeding train, the way the events move—it’s very fast-paced, and given both the setting and the premise, it’s perfect!
I wasn’t as invested in the main plot, but I tended to gravitate more towards the side plots, the short anecdotes that fleshed out Railhead’s world even more. The fact that I got more excited about seeing giant manta ray creatures and looking at the insides of futuristic trains than the actual should probably say something about the book itself, but those parts gave me joy, and that’s that. Again—it’s the tiny details that made Railhead as entertaining as it was.
All in all, a romp through a futuristic world at breakneck speed that shone in its detailed worldbuilding. I’m on board with continuing the rest of the series! 3.75 stars, rounded up to 4!
It’s been about 5 years since I’ve read anything by Philip Reeve; I loved the Larklight trilogy but didn’t have the same luck with Fever Crumb, so he was generally hit-or-miss for me. But ultimately, I’m glad I picked Railhead up! It was the perfect antidote after reading something as heavy as Anthem; fun, light-hearted, and fast-paced. (Thanks again for the rec, Sabrina!)
The worldbuilding of Railhead made the whole book. It’s the kind of intricate worldbuilding that I aspire to have in my own writing; no stone is left unturned in terms of the little details that make the Great Network so genuine-feeling and fleshed out. Best of all, none of it is delivered in info-dumps; pieces of information are spaced out and don’t distract from the overall story. There was so much love put into every little nook and cranny of Reeve’s world, from the trains to the android history to the graffiti on the walls. I especially loved the Hive Monks—the concept behind them was so inventive! I wished we’d seen more of Uncle Bugs and the others.
As far as characters go, I didn’t get attached to many of them, but they were at least decently flushed out. Zen himself didn’t have many traits that would distinguish him from the average middle grade/YA protagonist, and having him get saddled with this trilogy’s equivalent of the chosen one trope didn’t exactly help his case. He was simply…alright for me. I felt the same way towards most of the other characters; they were distinct enough to not be trope-y, but not distinct enough to be rememberable. I did like Nova, though. She was my favorite out of the main cast—I liked her backstory a lot, and her being an android (or a “moto,” as is the lingo in Zen Starling’s world) added a unique layer to her story.
The plot itself was a little lacking for me, but its fast pace saved it. At its worst, the plot seemed to [Robert Plant voice] ramble on without any clear direction, but at its best, it was loads of fun. You do get the sense that you’re clinging to the top of a speeding train, the way the events move—it’s very fast-paced, and given both the setting and the premise, it’s perfect!
I wasn’t as invested in the main plot, but I tended to gravitate more towards the side plots, the short anecdotes that fleshed out Railhead’s world even more. The fact that I got more excited about seeing giant manta ray creatures and looking at the insides of futuristic trains than the actual should probably say something about the book itself, but those parts gave me joy, and that’s that. Again—it’s the tiny details that made Railhead as entertaining as it was.
All in all, a romp through a futuristic world at breakneck speed that shone in its detailed worldbuilding. I’m on board with continuing the rest of the series! 3.75 stars, rounded up to 4!
The Great Network is a collection of planets connected by wormholes called K-gates, that only trains can go through. But these are no ordinary trains – they have personalities. Zen Starling is a thief whose family is barely scraping by. His mother is paranoid, his sister is gruff and he has taken to riding the rails and looking for things to steal. When he is followed one day he thinks he is finally caught, but the girl knows his name. She is seeking him out for an entirely different reason – to steal something from the Emperor of the network.
The world building was truly impressive. Not only were there numerous worlds, but each was painted in language that was detailed without being overly done. The story had twists and turns, hope and crushed dreams, and a constant pace. The characters are nuanced and diverse. The story is unique and utterly imaginative. I highly recommend this title. Grades 6 and up.
The world building was truly impressive. Not only were there numerous worlds, but each was painted in language that was detailed without being overly done. The story had twists and turns, hope and crushed dreams, and a constant pace. The characters are nuanced and diverse. The story is unique and utterly imaginative. I highly recommend this title. Grades 6 and up.
4.5 stars rounded up
After thinking about it for a couple of days I rounded up my star rating on this one. This book is just so imaginative it really deserves it.
Railhead is set in a fantastic future where sentient trains transport people across vast distances to other planets by means of K-Gates, a technology pioneered and protected by Guardians, powerful AIs who long ago appointed themselves caretakers of humanity. Zen Starling is a petty thief who is minding his own business when opportunity comes knocking with an offer it appears he can't refuse. What follows is an exciting heist story that quickly becomes something more, because of course the object of the heist is the key to a closely held and dangerous secret.
Not enough can be said about the amazing world building in this book. It is incredibly detailed and imaginative, immediately bringing the story to life. Zen Starling is a flawed main character who struggles to do the "right thing" in the face of an increasingly difficult situation. Used to being in a relatively simple world of black and white and small time stakes, he finds himself suddenly in uncertain waters and having to make decisions with implications that extend far beyond just himself.
The non-human characters in the story are equally well developed. The Motorik, or android, Nova starts out by recruiting Zen to work for her maker Raven, but it is obvious that she likes Zen too. She seems to have control over her own programming, but it's clear that Zen still harbours some bias and confusion about her motives simply because she is a machine and can be programmed.
The whole issue of how much a non-human entity can feel and how it might express self identity is dealt with very well throughout the book. This is an ongoing issue not just for the humanoid Motoriks, but also for the sentient trains themselves, and other characters such as the insect colonies who have formed into single-minded Hive Monks.
The finish to the story brings everything nicely to a close, but leaves the door open to more books being set in this world. I would be more than happy to read any that are.
After thinking about it for a couple of days I rounded up my star rating on this one. This book is just so imaginative it really deserves it.
Railhead is set in a fantastic future where sentient trains transport people across vast distances to other planets by means of K-Gates, a technology pioneered and protected by Guardians, powerful AIs who long ago appointed themselves caretakers of humanity. Zen Starling is a petty thief who is minding his own business when opportunity comes knocking with an offer it appears he can't refuse. What follows is an exciting heist story that quickly becomes something more, because of course the object of the heist is the key to a closely held and dangerous secret.
Not enough can be said about the amazing world building in this book. It is incredibly detailed and imaginative, immediately bringing the story to life. Zen Starling is a flawed main character who struggles to do the "right thing" in the face of an increasingly difficult situation. Used to being in a relatively simple world of black and white and small time stakes, he finds himself suddenly in uncertain waters and having to make decisions with implications that extend far beyond just himself.
The non-human characters in the story are equally well developed. The Motorik, or android, Nova starts out by recruiting Zen to work for her maker Raven, but it is obvious that she likes Zen too. She seems to have control over her own programming, but it's clear that Zen still harbours some bias and confusion about her motives simply because she is a machine and can be programmed.
The whole issue of how much a non-human entity can feel and how it might express self identity is dealt with very well throughout the book. This is an ongoing issue not just for the humanoid Motoriks, but also for the sentient trains themselves, and other characters such as the insect colonies who have formed into single-minded Hive Monks.
The finish to the story brings everything nicely to a close, but leaves the door open to more books being set in this world. I would be more than happy to read any that are.
Gripping for the first moment and a thrilling ride throughout.
A coming of age narrative which follows the journey of one Zen Starling, a railhead and petty thief from Cleave, in a world where the locomotive is the preferred mode of transport. He reminded me of Aladdin. Zen is a likeable character to follow, and whilst other potentially more irritating characters have their moment in the spotlight in various subplots, these are short enough that they do not overpower the overall tone, instead providing greater depth to the plot.
The pacing was facilitated by fairly short chapters, and the sense of jeopardy was high from the start. Personally I wouldn't have minded a slightly longer third act, but the pay of was still satisfying. I would give 4.5 stars if I could for that reason.
A coming of age narrative which follows the journey of one Zen Starling, a railhead and petty thief from Cleave, in a world where the locomotive is the preferred mode of transport. He reminded me of Aladdin. Zen is a likeable character to follow, and whilst other potentially more irritating characters have their moment in the spotlight in various subplots, these are short enough that they do not overpower the overall tone, instead providing greater depth to the plot.
The pacing was facilitated by fairly short chapters, and the sense of jeopardy was high from the start. Personally I wouldn't have minded a slightly longer third act, but the pay of was still satisfying. I would give 4.5 stars if I could for that reason.
A solid piece of steam punk styled Science fiction. With trains that travel across the universe, robots that seem almost human, bugs that gather together to make human-like shapes, thieves, and artists, and fools. An empire sustained for generations.
Beautiful world building. Easy read.
Beautiful world building. Easy read.
If you aren’t a fan of science fiction—the kind that plops you right down in the middle of a strange world/galaxy/universe that’s filled with strange beings/ideas/terms and expects you to keep up without question—Railhead’s likely not for you. If you’re like me, however, someone who likes to get lost in stories that are only slightly connected to real life, you should check this book out.
Read my full review on FYA.
Read my full review on FYA.