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sterling8 's review for:
The Clockwork Dynasty
by Daniel H. Wilson
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a copy of this book for review.
This is one of those books that reads like am action movie screenplay. There are some very interesting ideas in it, but when it comes right down to it it's all about the fight scenes.
The interesting ideas: the main (human) character is a historian who specializes in automatons of the ancient world. She has a personal connection to the topic through her grandfather. Little does she know that her academic obsession is about to turn into an Indiana Jones style run-for-your-life adventure!
I guess these automatons are a real piece of history, which I find fascinating. Look up "writing automaton" to see what one of these creations looked like- it's creepy and cool.
There's a secret history behind these things. About half of the story is told in flashback, as we see the awakening of an automaton- these creatures have consciousness, and maybe even souls. Each automaton has a guiding principle which is their prime motivation; for example; Honor or Knowledge.
The book is a quick read. Once the action starts, it's sort of a cross between The Terminator, The Mummy (Rachel Weicz edition) and Interview with a Vampire. I love the idea of secret supernatural histories, so I was an easy sell for this one. The characters are interesting and colorful, our heroine is kick-ass but in a way I could buy, and the setting is all over the globe from medieval Russia to Merrye Olde England to west coast USA to a mysterious mountain range somewhere on the Asian steppe.
It reads like there should be a sequel. The big fight at the end felt a bit too rushed for me, and since the concepts kind of fell to the wayside in service of action, I'd probably rate it closer to 3 1/2 stars. But it's a fun way to spend a few hours!
This is one of those books that reads like am action movie screenplay. There are some very interesting ideas in it, but when it comes right down to it it's all about the fight scenes.
The interesting ideas: the main (human) character is a historian who specializes in automatons of the ancient world. She has a personal connection to the topic through her grandfather. Little does she know that her academic obsession is about to turn into an Indiana Jones style run-for-your-life adventure!
I guess these automatons are a real piece of history, which I find fascinating. Look up "writing automaton" to see what one of these creations looked like- it's creepy and cool.
There's a secret history behind these things. About half of the story is told in flashback, as we see the awakening of an automaton- these creatures have consciousness, and maybe even souls. Each automaton has a guiding principle which is their prime motivation; for example; Honor or Knowledge.
The book is a quick read. Once the action starts, it's sort of a cross between The Terminator, The Mummy (Rachel Weicz edition) and Interview with a Vampire. I love the idea of secret supernatural histories, so I was an easy sell for this one. The characters are interesting and colorful, our heroine is kick-ass but in a way I could buy, and the setting is all over the globe from medieval Russia to Merrye Olde England to west coast USA to a mysterious mountain range somewhere on the Asian steppe.
It reads like there should be a sequel. The big fight at the end felt a bit too rushed for me, and since the concepts kind of fell to the wayside in service of action, I'd probably rate it closer to 3 1/2 stars. But it's a fun way to spend a few hours!