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seanwpace's review
adventurous
fast-paced
3.5
3.5/5.0
The primary purpose of this novel is to flesh out and tell the narrative story of the Clockwork Angels album, and to that end, it's pretty great. It fills in the gaps, gives you scenes to imagine while you listen to the album, and shows how the more far-flung lyrics of "Seven Cities of Gold" and "The Wreckers" tie in with everything else.
If you were to take away the tie-in with the album and judge this book on its own as a novel, it's only okay. The core plot is a very generic coming-of-age story. The protagonist runs away from home and joins a circus,and one of the overall themes is literally "the real treasure is the friends you make and the lessons you learn along the way." But some of that is by design as Neil Peart admits in the afterword that he pulled very heavily from Voltaire's Candide for inspiration. It's also worth mentioning that there are a lot of references to Rush songs and lyrics, even those outside of Clockwork Angels. And, while they're fun, they can be a little distracting, especially when some of the dialogue is pulled straight from a song.
Also, while the protagonist gets a happy ending, I found the ultimate conclusion of the story a little disappointing. Which, after reading Geddy Lee's memoir, it seems like a glimpse into Peart's personal philosophy and hopes for his own life. And I do have thoughts about that, but this is a book review, not a critique of a dead musician's beliefs.
However, despite its shortcomings, I did like the worldbuilding very much. The exploration of the characters of the Watchmaker and the Anarchist was very interesting and creates potential for discussion and commentary that's far deeper than where the book actually landed. I am very interested in reading more stories within this world outside of the bounds of the album's narrative, so I will definitely be reading the other books in the series.
The primary purpose of this novel is to flesh out and tell the narrative story of the Clockwork Angels album, and to that end, it's pretty great. It fills in the gaps, gives you scenes to imagine while you listen to the album, and shows how the more far-flung lyrics of "Seven Cities of Gold" and "The Wreckers" tie in with everything else.
If you were to take away the tie-in with the album and judge this book on its own as a novel, it's only okay. The core plot is a very generic coming-of-age story. The protagonist runs away from home and joins a circus,
Also, while the protagonist gets a happy ending, I found the ultimate conclusion of the story a little disappointing. Which, after reading Geddy Lee's memoir, it seems like a glimpse into Peart's personal philosophy and hopes for his own life. And I do have thoughts about that, but this is a book review, not a critique of a dead musician's beliefs.
However, despite its shortcomings, I did like the worldbuilding very much. The exploration of the characters of the Watchmaker and the Anarchist was very interesting and creates potential for discussion and commentary that's far deeper than where the book actually landed. I am very interested in reading more stories within this world outside of the bounds of the album's narrative, so I will definitely be reading the other books in the series.
cosmicwillow's review
1.75
honestly this was quite boring. it felt like half a story in a half built world, and i feel like ive read this type of story a million times but this way lacked a lot of creativity.
noshyira's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
foucvnt's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
jfrotz's review
5.0
While steampunk isn't my normal genre, I found this book to be a reasonable read that bloomed wonderfully by the end. Well written and paced. I struggled with the blind character optimism at first, but enjoyed the Rush lyrical references throughout the book. I highly recommend listening to the entire Rush portfolio if you read this incrementally. Kevin Anderson does a masterful job taking Neil Peart's lyrics and folding it seamlessly into the dialog and narrative. The surprise "pop" of music and lyric as you read floated from interesting artifact to highly enjoyable as bars of music float through your head while the context of the story shape a new image in your head.
Though not referenced explicitly in the appendix it seemed clear to me that Clockwork Angels was a thematic homage to Hemispheres with the Watchmaker (Apollo) and the Anarchist (Dionysus).
I look forward to listening to Clockwork Angels again and see if what I'd been missing has been filled in by having read this book. (Certainly the enumeration of lyrics from the album in the appendix made total sense after immediately finishing the book.)
Looking forward to reading the sequel and see what surprises lay in store...
Though not referenced explicitly in the appendix it seemed clear to me that Clockwork Angels was a thematic homage to Hemispheres with the Watchmaker (Apollo) and the Anarchist (Dionysus).
I look forward to listening to Clockwork Angels again and see if what I'd been missing has been filled in by having read this book. (Certainly the enumeration of lyrics from the album in the appendix made total sense after immediately finishing the book.)
Looking forward to reading the sequel and see what surprises lay in store...
theuneditedbookreview's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
aadaenyaa's review
2.0
It continued in in much the same vein. Some beautiful prose and imagery. but I found the plotline to be severely lacking. I actually think I flashed back to the plot of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Whilst it didnt involve jailing all children, it definitely put me in that frame of mind, with everyone having to follow the plan and do exactly what the Watchmaker said...
kat2112's review
2.0
2 1/2 stars
When I first heard Neil Peart would collaborate with author Kevin J. Anderson on a fiction project connected to the latest Rush album, I was intrigued. For about two years, since the release of the band's single "Caravan," we waited for something - anything - resembling a larger project that might necessitate a tour for support. The hardcore fan base saw that wish realized with the release of Clockwork Angels the album (which I do enjoy) and the corresponding novel of the same time, which crafts the various themes of Peart's songs into a story that blends steampunk and fantastic imagery with the humanist ideals for which the band is known.
If you follow Rush religiously (sorry for the pun), you may find the former elements curious, since steampunk isn't something one would associate with them. Having browsed Anderson's bibliography, steampunk doesn't appear to be a major genre for him, and I would hesitate to place Clockwork Angels the novel solely in this category. As I read the story I didn't get a true sense of time to go with the settings - odd considering time is a primary theme. One could see this as a fantasy or dystopian adventure as well.
Anderson and Peart's clockwork world is comprised of a few major continents and cities with names drawn from mythology and ancient tradition: Posiedon City, Atlantis, and Albion...an ancient name for the island of Great Britain. Here the people seem more apt to pursue manual labor, save for those who study at the Alchemy College. We are told that the country of Albion had suffered turmoil and crime before the appearance of the benevolent and enigmatic Watchmaker. For the following two hundred years through the present day, Owen's bucolic home of Barrel Arbor, the more cosmopolitan Crown City, and surrounding villages live in peace and punctuality. You can literally set your watch by everything that happens, from the distribution of national news to changes in the weather. All is for the best, as the Watchmaker is known to proclaim, and few people argue with those words.
The two who do challenge this order have different motives. Owen seeks adventure and the opportunity to live out a story he can tell his grandchildren one day; the legendary Clockwork Angels who parrot the Watchmaker's maxims draw him to Crown City, and the wonder of a traveling carnival entices him to extend his journey. The story's antagonist, the Anarchist, creates havoc in hopes of waking people to the realization that the Watchmaker doesn't exactly have Albion's best interests at heart. The way he carries on, of course, makes one wonder if the Anarchist's view of the world is any better.
In keeping with the story's connection to Clockwork Angels the album, an assortment of song lyrics and characters provide ample references, perhaps a bit much. A reader more familiar with Anderson's work than Rush's may be able to breeze through the book without making many connections, but I have to admit I found the Easter egg-style lines distracting at times. Anderson doesn't limit himself to the recent album, either, in this respect. A character shouts, "Presto!" and I know there's more to it than the parlor trick he's performing.
What disappoints me more about this book, however, is the overall style. Between the many instances of telling instead of showing (and this is not another song reference) and repetitiveness of narrative and dialogue (more than once the author has Owen recapping his adventures and echoing lines) made it difficult for me to appreciate the story. I get the impression, too, that maybe the author hoped to attract the YA reading audience in addition to Rush's older fan base. Owen's young age and the dialogue may imply that, but I think of other books I've read in the dystopian YA genre (most notably The Hunger Games) and find them more sophisticated in style and dialogue.
Clockwork Angels had the potential to deliver a thought-provoking adventure, but the writing just didn't grab me. When I think of the other Anderson/Peart collaboration, the story "Drumbeats" (reviewed on this blog), I find I enjoyed that more. For its length, "Drumbeats" is a tighter story with better dialogue - it is also in first person, which makes me wonder if Anderson had attempted Clockwork Angels in that POV would the story be improved.
Will you like this book more if you're a Rush fan? You certainly don't have to be one to read it. The book hasn't changed my perception of the album, but I do know I'll revisit the songs more than the story.
When I first heard Neil Peart would collaborate with author Kevin J. Anderson on a fiction project connected to the latest Rush album, I was intrigued. For about two years, since the release of the band's single "Caravan," we waited for something - anything - resembling a larger project that might necessitate a tour for support. The hardcore fan base saw that wish realized with the release of Clockwork Angels the album (which I do enjoy) and the corresponding novel of the same time, which crafts the various themes of Peart's songs into a story that blends steampunk and fantastic imagery with the humanist ideals for which the band is known.
If you follow Rush religiously (sorry for the pun), you may find the former elements curious, since steampunk isn't something one would associate with them. Having browsed Anderson's bibliography, steampunk doesn't appear to be a major genre for him, and I would hesitate to place Clockwork Angels the novel solely in this category. As I read the story I didn't get a true sense of time to go with the settings - odd considering time is a primary theme. One could see this as a fantasy or dystopian adventure as well.
Anderson and Peart's clockwork world is comprised of a few major continents and cities with names drawn from mythology and ancient tradition: Posiedon City, Atlantis, and Albion...an ancient name for the island of Great Britain. Here the people seem more apt to pursue manual labor, save for those who study at the Alchemy College. We are told that the country of Albion had suffered turmoil and crime before the appearance of the benevolent and enigmatic Watchmaker. For the following two hundred years through the present day, Owen's bucolic home of Barrel Arbor, the more cosmopolitan Crown City, and surrounding villages live in peace and punctuality. You can literally set your watch by everything that happens, from the distribution of national news to changes in the weather. All is for the best, as the Watchmaker is known to proclaim, and few people argue with those words.
The two who do challenge this order have different motives. Owen seeks adventure and the opportunity to live out a story he can tell his grandchildren one day; the legendary Clockwork Angels who parrot the Watchmaker's maxims draw him to Crown City, and the wonder of a traveling carnival entices him to extend his journey. The story's antagonist, the Anarchist, creates havoc in hopes of waking people to the realization that the Watchmaker doesn't exactly have Albion's best interests at heart. The way he carries on, of course, makes one wonder if the Anarchist's view of the world is any better.
In keeping with the story's connection to Clockwork Angels the album, an assortment of song lyrics and characters provide ample references, perhaps a bit much. A reader more familiar with Anderson's work than Rush's may be able to breeze through the book without making many connections, but I have to admit I found the Easter egg-style lines distracting at times. Anderson doesn't limit himself to the recent album, either, in this respect. A character shouts, "Presto!" and I know there's more to it than the parlor trick he's performing.
What disappoints me more about this book, however, is the overall style. Between the many instances of telling instead of showing (and this is not another song reference) and repetitiveness of narrative and dialogue (more than once the author has Owen recapping his adventures and echoing lines) made it difficult for me to appreciate the story. I get the impression, too, that maybe the author hoped to attract the YA reading audience in addition to Rush's older fan base. Owen's young age and the dialogue may imply that, but I think of other books I've read in the dystopian YA genre (most notably The Hunger Games) and find them more sophisticated in style and dialogue.
Clockwork Angels had the potential to deliver a thought-provoking adventure, but the writing just didn't grab me. When I think of the other Anderson/Peart collaboration, the story "Drumbeats" (reviewed on this blog), I find I enjoyed that more. For its length, "Drumbeats" is a tighter story with better dialogue - it is also in first person, which makes me wonder if Anderson had attempted Clockwork Angels in that POV would the story be improved.
Will you like this book more if you're a Rush fan? You certainly don't have to be one to read it. The book hasn't changed my perception of the album, but I do know I'll revisit the songs more than the story.
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