Clockwork Angels

Jul 09, 2012 Jeff LaSala rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is a short review of only the first few chapters of Clockwork Angels. As a longtime Rush fan, a sci-fi/fantasy novelist, and editor-in-training, I was honored to have receive a teaser copy from KJA to scope out.

To be clear, there is absolutely a certain level of bias feeding my opinions. From the moment I heard Fly by Night as a kid, I'd been won over by the musicianship, lyrics, and imagination of Rush. I've thrilled at the darkly wondrous "2112" and "Cygnus X-1," the epic fantasies of "Xa...more This is a short review of only the first few chapters of Clockwork Angels. As a longtime Rush fan, a sci-fi/fantasy novelist, and editor-in-training, I was honored to have receive a teaser copy from KJA to scope out.

To be clear, there is absolutely a certain level of bias feeding my opinions. From the moment I heard Fly by Night as a kid, I'd been won over by the musicianship, lyrics, and imagination of Rush. I've thrilled at the darkly wondrous "2112" and "Cygnus X-1," the epic fantasies of "Xanadu," "The Necromancer," "The Fountain of Lamneth," and "Hemispheres." And only two years ago, the steampunk-flavored sets and music of The Time Machine tour (click here to see my view of the latter). So yeah, I'm predisposed to like this. But I'm also a writer of speculative fiction myself and have what I believe is a discerning eye for a good story.

Kevin J. Anderson and Neil Peart collaborated on Clockwork Angels: The Novel and these first three chapters, which merely set the stage for the grander adventure, showcases both Anderson’s well-honed world-building talents and Peart’s luminous, fairytale narration.

In the first chapter, we’re introduced to the protagonist, Owen Hardy, and the predictable, "like clockwork" world he lives in. While it’s dry and commonplace to him (a fact which is only occurring to him as he prepares to come of age), it’s still quite interesting to us: Steamliner caravans float across the sky, then descend to tracks on their way to Crown City, laden with iron, copper, or lumber from distant mountains. Weather alchemists issue almanacs across the land that state, down to the precise minute, when the next thunderstorm will occur. Everything occurs as planned, and people are seldom harmed . . . thanks to the benevolence of the Watchmaker, who brought about the Stability.

As you would expect, there is a quiet, ordered oppression lurking in this seeming utopia, and Owen feels a sense of yearning to break from his well-defined role and see the larger world. I daresay it’s instantly reminiscent of the narrator’s words in "The Fountain of Lamneth," who yearns to see the world beyond "the mountains in the east." Or perhaps the "android on the run" in "The Body Electric"? Or how about the young man who challenges the ordered paradigm of the Temples of Syrinx? Oh yes, this is a Rush tale.

This book is set up to be an instant pleaser for Rush fans: the writing is synchronized with the lyrics in Clockwork Angels, fleshing out the full story only alluded to in the music, and it’s even peppered with lyrics from beyond that album. What I’m most curious about: How will this book hold up to non-Rush fans? It’s hard to say, but as a guy very familiar with fantasy and science fiction, and an appreciator of the marriage between book and music, I find that it holds up splendidly. Yes, there is a certain level of familiarity in the set-up. There are a few tropes and schemes we’ve seen before (which is unavoidable in a known genre), but there are already story elements that suggest more than a fresh coat of paint on an otherwise well-trodden genre. This is a steampunk fantasy as written by veterans of music and imagination.

In any case, I’m still talking about only the first three chapters. Things are only just getting started. We know from the corresponding album that Owen Hardy is going to make it to Crown City and see the Clockwork Angels with his own eyes, will witness the “evil” of the Anarchist, will fall in misguided love with a carnie, and have perilous adventures in his headlong flight. But how and why? And what will the resolution be? I can’t wait to find out.

I hope fans of Rush and Anderson, and anyone who enjoys good speculative fiction, joins me in this!(less)

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Sep 28, 2012 Jim Razinha rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Disappointing, but not wholly without value.

A novelization of the band Rush's latest album (with the same title), it expands on the songs of that album, but is a flatly rendered and weak story with little depth to the characters or the world they inhabit.

Disclosure #1: I've been a fan of Rush since the late 1970s.
Disclosure #2: I've listened to Clockwork Angels four times now and it still hasn't grabbed me, though the latest time was at the halfway point in this book, and the context provided b...more

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Apr 09, 2013 Tim Hicks rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: science-fiction

2.6 stars, rounded up. Peart says in the Afterword that Anderson sometimes dictated book chapters while mountain climbing. I'm not surprised. I've read other books by him that left the impression he wasn't giving it all his attention.

The book is a collection of Young Adult adventure tropes, stitched together over Peart's frame. I remembered Mieville's Railsea, and a whole bunch of other "young man talks his way onto a ship" books.

I've started thinking of Anderson as more of a carpenter than a...more

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Mar 03, 2013 Anonymous rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: anyone! ever! go, read it! now! <3

Recommended to Anonymous by: Nobody; I'm simply a huge rushian.

An amazing book, with an amazing storyline, amazing characters- amazing illustrations, from an amazing lyricist and writer, and- .......okay, all I can truly say clearly, is that it was AMAZING.

Many surprises and turn-arounds in this one! It also bears the emotions and certain vibes that of real life, since events like this do somewhat occur in the real world.

"In a world where I feel so small, I can't stop thinking big" - a line well followed, in this story. The songs start to make so much more...more

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Dec 14, 2012 David Matta rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Clockwork Angels: The Novel
Kevin J. Anderson, Neil Peart Review

The only reason I ever had any profound interest in this book was because I am a loyal Rush fan, and following the release of the album, Clockwork Angels, the main thing I was drawn to was the story, and the lyrics that illustrated it. It told of the story of a young boy, his yearning for adventure, how he met his true love, and other generalities. But the story was incomplete and many questions arose, such as what was the story beh...more Clockwork Angels: The Novel
Kevin J. Anderson, Neil Peart Review

The only reason I ever had any profound interest in this book was because I am a loyal Rush fan, and following the release of the album, Clockwork Angels, the main thing I was drawn to was the story, and the lyrics that illustrated it. It told of the story of a young boy, his yearning for adventure, how he met his true love, and other generalities. But the story was incomplete and many questions arose, such as what was the story behind the song ‘Carnies’, or ‘The Anarchist’ or ‘Wish Them Well’? There were so many missing parts, and you could only grasp little bits, or what ever you could conjure up from the lyrics. So when I heard about this novel, I was immediately drawn to this book that told the whole story, in which I could complete the connection between the boy and myself.

For the last two centuries, the country of Albion has been governed by the benevolent Watchmaker, who has created an extremely structured and routine society, like a colony of honeybees, where “Ignorance is well and truly blessed”. But the Anarchist also has his extreme views on life, values of spur-of-the-moment actions and rebellion. And their battle revolves around the main protagonist, Owen Hardy, who is coming of age in a world similar to our own. But Owen is not the usual Albion citizen, Owen is a dreamer, who longs to get away from his current situation and see the magnificence of the world around him. But the two extreme philosophical views of The Watchmaker and the Anarchist are being imposed upon him, without his knowing, the novel illustrates the story of Owen trying to find out the truth of life and where he belongs, tribulations that most people go through.

Overall the story is extremely intriguing, and the underlying philosophical messages gave the story a strong backbone, to which I could connect. The theme that Peart originally intended to portray is much more interesting than the actual plot itself. Being a Rush fan, and knowledgeable about Neil Peart, it is easy to tell that the values portrayed are exactly what Peart feels life is about, though there is no bias towards either side, it is up the reader to decide. But the tone and the diction of the book were complex yet easy to read and understand, and the plot engaging, as there are many twists and turns that keep the reader hooked, as if on a line. The most intriguing part is trying to unravel the mystery behind this new steampunk world that is created, a world like I have never read about before. The partnership between Peart and Anderson is perfect; the story does not detract from the underlying themes, which makes for an easy, but certainly not shallow read.

The only negative thing is that the characters tones are all the same, which becomes somewhat irritating after a while, but Owens, the Anarchists and The Watchmakers tones are different. Also the story is a bit slow in the beginning, but doesn’t last very long, as it soon picks up. The final thing that was entertaining and amusing just as it was irritating for me was the many Rush lyrical references, from songs in their entire catalog. Normally, it wouldn’t be irritating, but being a big Rush fan, they were easy to spot and somewhat amusing. Excluding these tiny details, I extremely enjoyed this intriguing, profound novel about life, love, adventure, power, trust and freewill, as would any reader of any age.

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Dec 05, 2012 Stephen Ormsby rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads

I have been reading Kevin Anderon for many years now, and will always line up for one of his books. So when I heard he was collaborating with some band called Rush, I found myself interested in the result. Okay, before you all yell at me for the throw-away remark about Rush, let me explain.

The Canadian band Rush have not made much impact out here in Australia. I must admit that I did look them up after Kevin mentioned them to me, and now I must say I am a proud owner of some of their albums with...more

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Oct 07, 2012 OpenBookSociety.com rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Autumn

Owen Hardy has lived a full and orderly life, but has always dreamed of what worlds lay just beyond. He decides to tell the story of the adventures of his youth near the end of his days. It is of a magical “steampunk” world that includes the precision of Watchmakers and the maelstrom of Anarchists, pirates and fantastic carnivals.

I honestly loved the way this book was written. The poetic prose leads the reader along in such a way that you actually visualize t...more

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Sep 22, 2012 Theophania Elliott rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Clockwork Angels is the companion book to the new Rush album of the same name. It's a steampunk fantasy describing a young man's dissatisfaction with his safe, ordered life in the Watchmaker's precisely ordered realm (even the rain arrives on time) and his embarkation on an impulsive adventure that rapidly spirals out of control. Through the book, the hero - Owen Hardy - changes from a naive boy to a young man.

However, if you are expecting complex plotting and multi-layered characters, you will...more

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Sep 16, 2012 Steven rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I’m a Rush fan and an avid reader. That is the main reason I wanted to read this book. After listening to the latest Rush album, Clockwork Angels, it was obvious that the song lyrics told a story. Although typical to many albums of this nature, it did not tell the complete story, only what would fit lyrically along with the music in order to make a coherent musical recording. So when I heard that Kevin J. Anderson was writing a book based on the story told by the songs on the album, I naturally...more I’m a Rush fan and an avid reader. That is the main reason I wanted to read this book. After listening to the latest Rush album, Clockwork Angels, it was obvious that the song lyrics told a story. Although typical to many albums of this nature, it did not tell the complete story, only what would fit lyrically along with the music in order to make a coherent musical recording. So when I heard that Kevin J. Anderson was writing a book based on the story told by the songs on the album, I naturally felt compelled to read it. I really didn’t expect the book itself to be anything beyond mediocre when standing on its own – in other words, when not being read by a Rush fan or at least a fan of the album. Surprisingly, I found the book Clockwork Angels to be thoroughly enjoyable not because it was based on an album by a band I am a fan of, but rather because it is a very well written thought provoking story.

In general, Clockwork Angels is a coming of age story that revolves around the main character, Owen Hardy, who has grown up in a steampunk world parallel to our own, where life is very structured with all aspects of it planned out for you by The Watchmaker and the Clockwork Angels. It is a peaceful existence where everyone accepts their place without question. But Owen is a dreamer who longs for something more. And he gets it, in many ways he never dreamt possible. Through his adventures, the story compares the benefits and pitfalls of two extreme philosophical views of social structure. Eventually the ideology of a well-structured society that allows very little personal choice and the concept of complete freedom for the individual to do as they choose with no governing intervention are pitted against each other. This underlying theme provided much depth to the story and made it far more interesting than the simple story presented on the surface.

Overall, the story is well written. The main characters and settings are well developed in the beginning of the book, which tends to make the first half move a bit slower than the latter part. But this was probably necessary in order to have the reader grasp the differences between the steampunk world in which the story takes place and our own -in some ways it is more technologically advanced than our world, in other ways, it far behind us – and to delve into what it is that motivates the main characters. Author Kevin J. Anderson does an excellent job of keeping the philosophical aspects more subliminal, making it feel more like a story of adventure than something more philosophically thought provoking. He also avoids lending any bias to either of the extreme views, leaving it up to the reader to reach their own conclusions.

As a longtime fan of the band Rush, it was entertaining to find lyrical references to many of their songs scattered throughout the story. Unfortunately, I found this overall, to somewhat detract from the story, At times seeming to be forced in where they didn’t fit ad well as some other dialogue might have. This may be because as a long time Rush fan, I am overly familiar with Neal Peart’s lyrics, making them stand out to me more than they would to someone else. Still, that is the only negative I can say about what is otherwise a very entertaining, insightful and well written book - one that any avid reader will enjoy, whether they are a Rush fan or not.
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Aug 22, 2012 Mark rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Don’t know how much of this is known, but I am a big fan of RUSH, the Canadian rock band recently celebrating over 35 years of activity. As I type, I have a signed album copy of their album Hold Your Fire over my desk. (It’s not their most exciting cover, but I like it, even more so the album, and the signatures stand out all the more because of its simplicity.)

There’s been quite a bit of excitement in the fact that their latest album, their twentieth, is a full-blown concept album. Their most f...more

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Dec 13, 2012 Perry Watson rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, high-fantasy

This book takes a bit of time to get into, but I'm glad I did. I finished two days after I bought it, so it must be good.

The slow start comes from a pretty bland opening, with a naive, good-hearted dreamer named Owen Hardy as our protagonist. Having grown up in the sleepy rural village of Barrel Arbor, under the absurdly rigid rule of the Watchmaker, he longs for a bit of adventure and excitement before he gets married and his life becomes entirely predictable from there on out.

Aside from the in...more This book takes a bit of time to get into, but I'm glad I did. I finished two days after I bought it, so it must be good.

The slow start comes from a pretty bland opening, with a naive, good-hearted dreamer named Owen Hardy as our protagonist. Having grown up in the sleepy rural village of Barrel Arbor, under the absurdly rigid rule of the Watchmaker, he longs for a bit of adventure and excitement before he gets married and his life becomes entirely predictable from there on out.

Aside from the inciting incident (a mysterious man helps Owen hitch a ride on a cargo train to see the magnificent capitol Crown City), nothing much interesting happens for the first half of the book. He sees plenty of interesting sights, and meets some interesting characters, but until about halfway through it never feels like there's anything at stake for him, and he's never in any danger. Things get much more exciting then, but this book is about a young man's coming of age, with adventure serving more of a means to an end, rather than the whole focus of the story.

What that leaves us with is sort of a cross between Jeffrey Ford's The Well Built City trilogy and Voltaire's Candide. The latter was actually a heavy influence, and there are numerous references to it throughout the text. There is symbolism in abundance (not as deep as Ford's, though), and the recurring theme is the balance between extreme stability (represented by the benevolent, though misguided Watchmaker) and extreme freedom (represented by the villainous Anarchist). It requires the right mindset to enjoy, I think. Unlike most stories I've read, where something goes terribly wrong right at the beginning and the drama comes from the characters overcoming it, the events in Clockwork Angels just sort of happen, some good, some bad, and we get to see how Owen reacts to them and learns from them.

The setting of this story is excellent, though it also takes some time to become interesting, since it begins in a sleepy rural village, after all. It's steampunk, after a fashion, due to the abundance of clockworks and steam power, but it differs significantly from the usual steampunk by the inclusion of alchemy. All their steam boilers are powered by alchemical reactions, namely a chemical called "coldfire." Throughout the book, their civilization's mastery of alchemy lends the setting a unique feel, where lists of exotic reagents (molybdenum, natrium, potassium, precision gems, moonstone, dreamstone, redfire opals, etc.) can create dazzling, magical effects. What's more, since this is an young man's coming of age adventure, we see numerous locales, each very distinct and very well realized.

The characters are quite good, as well. Though I started off not really liking Owen for his ignorance and naivete, towards the end of the book he becomes a much more well-rounded and self-assured character. Then you have the Watchmaker and his misguided benevolence, the Anarchist, with his pent up anger and dangerous "freedom at all costs" philosophy, a troupe of carnies he travels with for a time, and more. It is a world populated by all sorts.

Though it may have been slow to start, and not exactly the sort of fantasy book I'm accustomed to reading, I found it to be a very enjoyable and refreshing experience. I strongly recommend it.(less)

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Sep 12, 2012 Karen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I found this book to be an absolutely amazing, emotional, beautiful piece of literature! I am familiar with co-writer Kevin J. Anderson's work and I think this is a very strong effort from him. That being said, as an avid fan of Rush and an equally avid fan of Rush drummer Neil Peart's books ("Masked Rider: Cycling in West Africa," "Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road," "Traveling Music: the Soundtrack to My Life and Times," "Roadshow: Landscape With Drums -- A Concert Tour By Motorcycle,"...more

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Oct 22, 2012 Troy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

So at first I avoided this book like the plague. I had read a lot about Kevin Anderson's Dune novels and most people appear to have despised them so I had a low (albeit uneducated) opinion of him as a writer. After seeing the band perform most of the CA album live back in September I took the plunge and decided I needed to rest of the story.

A lot of reviews point out how jarring Anderson's use of countless Rush references were and that they were kind of a big weakness of the book. To an extent I...more So at first I avoided this book like the plague. I had read a lot about Kevin Anderson's Dune novels and most people appear to have despised them so I had a low (albeit uneducated) opinion of him as a writer. After seeing the band perform most of the CA album live back in September I took the plunge and decided I needed to rest of the story.

A lot of reviews point out how jarring Anderson's use of countless Rush references were and that they were kind of a big weakness of the book. To an extent I agree. There are a TON of references to song titles and lyrics in here, and while it was cute for the first few times eventually it got a little lame. Was it that the majority seemed to come from what I consider Rush's low point musically (counterparts, give or take a few years)? Maybe, but they were fairly jarring.

Aside from that though I found the story very engaging. Is it going on the shelf as one of my favorite books? No, but the pace kept me turning pages and many time it made me stop and think about what was being said. 2 days later I am still thinking about several points in the story and what they might mean beyond the words on the page. A lot of people are labeling this as a coming of age story, and while that's part of it, I thought the real story was about the philosophical battle being waged over the main character's life. All together the story felt very 2112-Farewell to Kings-Hemispheres (heart vs. mind). You take it as order vs. chaos or stability vs. risk or even freedom vs. oppression, and while these are all similar concepts I imagine every reader will see this conflict a different way, which is kind of why I am still thinking about the story. There are several angles you can read into it and I found myself flipping between them throughout.

A lot of people say the book felt rushed (along with all the appropriate pun disclaimers). The end did indeed feel rushed to me as it just kind of ends... Not sure how else to say it. It seemed real weird for a while but after considering how it ended I decided (and all may not agree) that the authors must have wanted us to make up our own mind on why it ended the way it did. There are several explanations you could reasonably assume and I think depending on the readers own personality the exact reason for the ending could change. I have no idea if this was intentional (hard to say with Neil Peart involved) but I like the idea that it is up to me on why the story ended the way it did. A lazy reader might just look at it and chalk it up to a poor author or rushed publishing schedule, but if one really thought about the story while reading they might find that maybe it is our job to say how we thought it really ended.

So it doesn't make it into my top books of all time, but it sure did make me think and that is worth some extra points as far as I'm concerned.(less)

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Sep 09, 2012 Steven Ellis rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Just finished reading this book and what can I say? It's the perfect accompaniment to the album of the same name by the immortal prog-rock band Rush.
The book is set in a steam punk, near future universe presided over by the order-obsessed but benevolent Watchmaker and follows a young man named Owen Hardy on the cusp of becoming an adult as he ventures beyond the village he has lived in all his life.
Though it is more or less a generic coming of age story, the book manages to stay interesting due...more

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Mar 01, 2013 David Brawley rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013, audio-book, library

I was browsing the new audiobook shelf in the library when I saw this book. Curious, I picked it up to see what it was about. Based on a CD by Rush? Read by the drummer? As I stood looking at the back of the box, wondering if this was really a novel based on a CD the library lights turned off. And stayed off for a good 15 seconds. Then came the announcement that library patrons are to gather their things and get out.

Ok, they didn’t say it exactly like that, but that was the jist.

So, since it was...more

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Sep 24, 2012 Carl rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A Classic coming of age narrative, using Voltaire's Candide as a starting point. If you are looking for a fun light read, this is a book for you. If you are looking for great depth or a high literary style this is not the book you are looking for. This is a simple tale told simply very well.

Owen Hardy's adventures are fun intriguing and involving enough, even if in parts you can see what will probably occur before it actually does.

Also for me a long-time Rush fan, it was great fun to encounter a...more

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Sep 18, 2012 David Spencer rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Disappointed in this one. "It was okay" about sums it up -- it's a fairly bland coming-of-age story with some inspired elements, but it's dragged down by the attempts to shoe-horn Rush references everywhere he could.

A novella that fleshed out the story of Clockwork Angels, the album, would have been fine. By making it a full-length novel we end up with the author spoon-feeding us way more than we need of the protagonist's mental state, along with clumsy Rush lyrics thrown into just about every c...more

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May 18, 2013 Iain rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'm a lifelong fan of Rush, and a huge admirer of Neil Peart's lyrics, so when I first heard that their latest album (excellent, by the way) was to be novelised, I was excited... though I must be honest and admit that a considerable portion of that excitement vanished when I heard that it was to be done by Kevin J Anderson. I'm not that familiar with Mr Anderson's work, having read only a couple of his collaborations and a short story or two, but I was aware that he didn't have a great critical...more I'm a lifelong fan of Rush, and a huge admirer of Neil Peart's lyrics, so when I first heard that their latest album (excellent, by the way) was to be novelised, I was excited... though I must be honest and admit that a considerable portion of that excitement vanished when I heard that it was to be done by Kevin J Anderson. I'm not that familiar with Mr Anderson's work, having read only a couple of his collaborations and a short story or two, but I was aware that he didn't have a great critical reputation.

So I went into this novel with lowered expectations, expecting a competent but uninspiring expansion of Peart's basic story, perhaps. And that's more or less what this is, but with flaws that really undermine the whole exercise.

The concept is basically a steampunk-infused retelling of Candide - indeed the album openly references Voltaire's story, and so does the novelisation (there's even a character named Pangloss, though confusingly he bears no resemblance to the original, and plays no comparable role).

The basic points of the plot are familiar from the album. Our hero, nameless on the album but here christened 'Owen Hardy', tires of his predictable life in the land of Albion, where the powerful and ancient Watchmaker schedules everything down to the weather. He runs off one night on a whim, encounters the rebellious Anarchist, sees the wonders of Crown City, joins a carnival, gets caught up in the Anarchist's plot, flees overseas and has many adventures before returning, older and wiser, to 'tend his garden'.

So far, so Voltaire. But early in the novel, Anderson adds the information that our Owen has a Destiny: and that the Watchmaker and the Anarchist are both aware of this, both seeing him as the key to their conflict, and both manipulating events deliberately from the start to win him over to their ideology. This is unnecessary and detracts from the story: frankly, it's pretty hard to avoid the conclusion that Anderson lacks the imagination or the courage to simply let the story work itself out, and is relying on a tired and unimaginative trope to drive the narrative instead. Really bad idea.

It doesn't help that the characters are underdeveloped and bland. Owen himself never seems to develop a consistent, individual voice: he's intended to play the role of an everyman, of course, but his only real characteristic is being good-hearted. It's difficult to understand why Francesca ever develops a romantic interest in him, or why Pangloss befriends him, but since they're fairly one-note too, it's perhaps predictable. (The resolution to the romance sub-plot, incidentally, is another particularly ill-judged plot point.) There's some attempt to give the Watchmaker and the Anarchist believable backstory, which works moderately well in the interlude chapters where they're alone, but drops off the page when they rejoin the main narrative.

The prose is rather bland and plodding, never really conveying the beauty or wonder needed to make us feel Owen's adventures. It's not helped by the decision to insert various Rush lyrics into the text, which is a nice idea and kind of amusing at first but rapidly becomes clumsy and breaks the flow.

The good points: I did enjoy some bits and pieces of the worldbuilding, and the book is beautifully illustrated by longtime Rush artist Hugh Syme. But in the end, I can only recommend this for Rush fans, and with some qualification even then: in its own right, it's just not a book you need to read. (less)

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Nov 23, 2012 Hope rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My Thoughts:

I saw this book at my local bookstore, it was if in fantasy section. It was the cover that drew me in and than the title. I read the description and I new I had to have this book. So I went home and bought an ebooks version. Another reason that for getting this book, it falls into steampunk category and I have recently started to enjoy the genera.

Owen Hardy was a seventeen year old boy when he set out on his unplanned adventure. It was never planned but he still dreamed about it. Ow...more My Thoughts:

I saw this book at my local bookstore, it was if in fantasy section. It was the cover that drew me in and than the title. I read the description and I new I had to have this book. So I went home and bought an ebooks version. Another reason that for getting this book, it falls into steampunk category and I have recently started to enjoy the genera.

Owen Hardy was a seventeen year old boy when he set out on his unplanned adventure. It was never planned but he still dreamed about it. Owen lived in a small village and he was an assistant orchard manager at his father apple orchard. He was content with his life, or so he thinks. He still dreamed of having an adventure, seeing the Clockwork Angels in Crown City and meeting the Watchmaker.

His unplanned travels take him on a excellent adventure, he gets to see the world outside of his little village. Owen is a very naive and in a sense ignorant boy when he leaves his village in the midnight train. But as the story progresses you will see Owen grows as a character, he becomes a different man by the end of the book. He left his village a boy and by the end of the story he was a man.

Watchmaker vs Anarchist are very interesting characters, two extremes if you will. i would have liked to see more of them in the story. Watchmaker demands and needs complete stability over everything, world and people's lives. There is place and time for everything; people depend on the Watchmaker to uphold that stability because without it they would be lost. Yes, they would be lost but they would be able to find their way without it too. Whereas Anarchist is the opposite, he want the freedom of choice, chaos, and no Watchmaker. Owen is stuck between these two man without even realising it at first; these two man struggle to shape and manipulate his destiny, they both want him on their side for their own selfish purpose.

Overall this was a good book, I loved the idea behind it. It shows how the freedom of will is important and how you should never take it for granted (that is if you believe that you have free will?). There was a lot of character growth and development, we see Owen grow from a seventeen year old boy into a man. He left the village with certain view on life and plenty of ignorance but through his travels learned so much more. As much as I enjoyed reading this books I wished that it was more to it. For me there was something missing for me, I found it to slow at times. I do admit that the book was very well written and there was a lot of character growth. There was some world development but not as much as I would have liked to have seen.

i give this book 3/5 STARS - Happy Reading!!! (less)

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Nov 18, 2012 Mari Nisha rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

An absolutely fantastic expansion of the universe of Clockwork Angels. The album itself is a masterpiece, but delving deeper into the world created in collaboration by Neil Peart and Kevin J. Anderson is, well... Frankly, I have no words.
The world is detailed, rich, inviting, vivid. Owen Hardy's adventures, his discoveries and development will echo in the reader's mind and heart, for sure. Much like many of Rush's albums, the novel provides an opportunity to delve deeper into oneself and look...more

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Sep 10, 2012 Dillon Hills rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book was one hell of a fascinating journey. I started it before leaving on a trip to Seattle and could not put it down. I planned on it lasting me til I got back home but I still have two days before I head back!

From the first sentence I was hooked. It's a classic coming of age adventure filled with all the excitement and terror one would expect from the minds of Kevin J Anderson and Neil Peart.

I love the latest Rush album, Clockwork Angels. So was more than pleased when I heard they were...more

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Mar 19, 2013 Grace S. rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

As an album, Clockwork Angels took me a few listens to really appreciate. It just didn't grab me like the first two pre-released tracks did. It took me all of 30 seconds to adore Halo Effect, a song with a tenderness from Alex that recalls moments of Snakes and Arrows, but which steps into uncharted waters for Rush, lyrically speaking. But as for the rest of it, I just never fell into the hugeness that the album was trying to convey, story-wise. For me, the literary underpinnings of 2112 were al...more As an album, Clockwork Angels took me a few listens to really appreciate. It just didn't grab me like the first two pre-released tracks did. It took me all of 30 seconds to adore Halo Effect, a song with a tenderness from Alex that recalls moments of Snakes and Arrows, but which steps into uncharted waters for Rush, lyrically speaking. But as for the rest of it, I just never fell into the hugeness that the album was trying to convey, story-wise. For me, the literary underpinnings of 2112 were always just...there. Obvious. But I couldn't quite dig down into Clockwork Angels as deeply as I felt like Neil wanted me to.

So I can't say I was surprised when I heard the album was being novelized. He'd spent such time building his universe, how could he be satisfied with the stories he only half told? And that's exactly what Clockwork Angels the novel accomplishes. It paints between the lines of the lyrics, sketching us a more detailed understanding of the story, with all its philosophy, allegory and symbolism.

I'm not sure it's possible to fairly evaluate the novel's literary merit without having read Voltaire's Candide. I'm fortunate enough to have read and studied Candide in French, and once you understand the links there (a scathing condemnation of the "best of all possible worlds" theory, an examination of a hero who is naive and optimistic to a fault, and how the things that hero was taught hold up as he encounters a series of progressively uglier and more violent realities, for starters) it really helps Clockwork Angels click into place as a companion volume to Voltaire, rather than pioneering any philosophical assertions itself. (Even such details as the appearance of Candide's maitre Pangloss, and the somewhat inverted journey to El Dorado--presented by Anderson/Peart as extreme poverty rather than extreme wealth--nod to Voltaire.)

The rest of the nodding is done to Rush lyrics. Now I'm an avid Rush fan, whose hardest decision of the day is sometimes which album to listen to on the drive to work. But while I appreciate the spirit of the "find the Rush lyric" scavenger hunt sprawled through the pages of Clockwork Angels, I've got to say that sometimes the reach was just too far. Certain instances--a clown "rolling the bones", a tarot reading pulled straight from Peaceable Kingdom, the lake between sun and moon of legend, a subtle reference to a tide running red--were excellent, contextualized, and subtle. Others, though...the cries of "Presto!" at the carnival, Owen feeling "a pounding in his temples and a surge of adrenaline" and his later assertion "I'm nobody's hero", and oh so many of the lyrics from Clockwork Angels the album, were so awkwardly placed that they rang with the mental groan of an anticipated yet painful pun. In the best case, these out-of-placers jolted you right out of the story to hum a few verses to yourself before trying to get your head back into the book. At the worst, it felt as though Anderson compromised his narrative flow and tone of his writing, just to make a hundred-and-fiftieth "hidden" Rush reference. Aww, Watchmaker! Did you have to say "Wheels within wheels"? There's nobody in the room with you! Who are you talking to?

Unfortunately, the out-of-placers completely got in my way of appreciating or even really caring too much about the story. It was simultaneously too short and too long (a feeling, ironically, that I also have about Candide)--jumping from continent to continent with reckless abandon, while hanging itself up far too much on re-restating that Owen's doing something outside the norm.

I did really like certain details that had nothing to do with Rush or Voltaire: (view spoiler)

As the punky little brother of Candide, Clockwork Angels is a slam-dunk. As a furthering of stories and themes the album only had time to brush, it's quite effective. As a stand-alone story and minefield for Rush lyrics from five decades, it belly-flopped a little. Three stars.(less)

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Dec 24, 2012 Peter rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: alternate-history, anarchism, books-about-books, canadiana, fiction, steampunk

This is part of what is now known as a transmedia production...don't worry, it's not hard and actually adds much to your enjoyment. Kevin J. Anderson added to the efforts of Neil Pert and Rush in crafting a somewhat magical tale of the coming of age of OwenHardy in the land of Albion which exists under the strict calculation and eye of the Watchmaker. This is pure steampunk and admittedly owes much to previous coming of age books as well as the growing sensibility of steampunk writing, music and...more

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Feb 04, 2013 Liz Berry rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: rush fans, steampunk fans

Shelves: gave-up-audiobook

I tried to read this, but alas, I turned to the audiobook (good on them, I paid for it twice.)

The audiobook was good because Neil Peart is the narrator and I wish fervently he were my dad so he could have read me bedtime stories at night when I was a kid. He has a magnificent, soothing voice... which actually didn't suit the parts of the book you could classify as "action" because he read it all the same.

The story itself didn't grab me. I don't think it had anything to do with the writing, I thi...more

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Jan 25, 2013 Jeff rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I went back and forth on my rating for this book. There were parts that I really liked, and parts that I didn't like much at all. The book is based on Neil Peart's lyric and story for the Rush album by the same name. I've been a big fan of Rush for many years, but don't agree with Neil's philosophy on life. I'm a Christian, and he's pretty much an atheist, and believes in complete "free will." At first I thought that his "Watchmaker" was supposed to be a representation of God, but I decided that...more I went back and forth on my rating for this book. There were parts that I really liked, and parts that I didn't like much at all. The book is based on Neil Peart's lyric and story for the Rush album by the same name. I've been a big fan of Rush for many years, but don't agree with Neil's philosophy on life. I'm a Christian, and he's pretty much an atheist, and believes in complete "free will." At first I thought that his "Watchmaker" was supposed to be a representation of God, but I decided that it couldn't be, because God is nothing like the Watchmaker in this story. But then, when people who don't believe in God try to represent him, they always get him wrong, because they don't understand him.

Anyway...the book follows the adventures of young Owen Hardy, a youth from the city of Barrel Arbor, in Albion. He lives his life in the realm of the Watchmaker, who predetermines everything, even down to what time it rains. The Watchmaker brought about what is known as "The Stability" in the land. There are catch phrases galore, such as, "All is for the best," and, "Everything has its place and every place has its thing." One day, Owen decides to rebel against what he is supposed to do and hops a freightliner bound for Crown City. He plans to only spend a few days there and go back home, but one thing leads to another, and he winds up having some pretty incredible adventures, from travelling with a carnival to search for Cibola and the Seven Cities of Gold. In many ways, the book is quite fun, but I found young Owen Hardy to be quite the whiner, and frequently grew weary of him. It is also unlikely that someone as fresh and inexperienced in life as he was could have successfully pulled off some of those adventures, even with the help he had.

Other Rush fans will quickly recognize many song titles that Anderson worked into the novel. I found "Vapor Trail," and "Nobody's Hero" on the same page, just to name a couple. (Didn't see "Red Barchetta" anywhere.) The book also comes with the complete lyrics of the album, after the story ends, along with a nice afterword by Neil Peart, describing the process by which the book came about.(less)

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Mar 18, 2013 James Murrell rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Okay, first off I want to say that I'm a huge fan of the band Rush, & that I think that Clockwork Angels is my favorite album by Rush. With that fact put aside, I have to say that I really enjoyed reading this book. The book answered many questioned that I had about the lyrics to the album. It was easy to read & was a joy to read.

I'm not an avid reader of new fantasy and/or new science fiction, and so my opinion is not based on any reference point to those genres. I'm just a fan of the...more

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Sep 29, 2012 Timothy Finucane rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The story here is a pretty classic coming of age story and everyone reading it will find something that mirrors their own experiences growing up in the world. The loss of our created illusions is clearly exposed by Owen Hardy's journey across his steampunk world, one world of many worlds. And the battle between anarchy and order should be familiar enough to everyone; a clear unmasking of the dangers that come from extreme ideologies. But though the concepts are not new, the way the story is told

...more

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Oct 04, 2012 g-na rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-and-scifi

Clockwork Angels is a collaborative project written by novelist Anderson with input by Peart, the drummer and lyricist for the band Rush. It was based upon, and published shortly after the release of, the band's album of the same name, and expands on the story contained in those songs. I bought the book because I am both a long-time Rush fan and a fan of sci-fi and fantasy, but at the same time I was more critical of it than I might otherwise be, not wanting to like the story simply because I li...more Clockwork Angels is a collaborative project written by novelist Anderson with input by Peart, the drummer and lyricist for the band Rush. It was based upon, and published shortly after the release of, the band's album of the same name, and expands on the story contained in those songs. I bought the book because I am both a long-time Rush fan and a fan of sci-fi and fantasy, but at the same time I was more critical of it than I might otherwise be, not wanting to like the story simply because I liked the band. Happily, the novel stands tall on its own.

My first impression is the physical book is itself a work of art, with beautiful illustrations by Hugh Syme sprinkled throughout. As you begin to read you find yourself drawn into an idyllic and alchemy-driven steampunk world as you are introduced to our hero Owen Hardy. What follows are adventures and experiences that Hardy had previously only dreamed of as he attempts to find himself. Or lose himself. Or lose those following him. It's the ageless tale of extremes and balances, of searching for something then wishing for what you left behind. While the plot isn't particularly complex or surprising, it is well-written and I found the book to be a fun and enjoyable read.

As a bonus for Rush fans, scattered throughout the book are many song titles and lyric snippets. They're not thrown in there randomly, seemingly out of place, however. Rather, they are inserted where they fit seamlessly into the story and can only be picked out if you are familiar with the band's works.

EDIT: After a few days I decided to change my rating on this book from 4 stars to 3. It really does read like a Young Adult novel; there are so many scenarios that should have more description and depth to them, but they do not. Some key chapters and plot points are glossed over and as a result it does not feel as flushed out or complete as it could have been. I still think the story was interesting; it just didn't live up to its full potential.(less)

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Oct 09, 2012 Paul Harmon rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi

Clockwork Angels was written By Kevin J Anderson and Rush Drummer Extraordinaire Neil Peart and it goes along Rush's new album of the same name. I an not a Rush "fan" but I have enjoyed their music for decades so my opinions are in no way biased by a fanboys view.

I enjoyed the book just fine, much more so from "the Wreckers" Climax on ( not a spoiler since its the chapter and coinciding song's name) but I wasn't overwhelmed by it the way I had hoped going in. I think my expectations based on the...more

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Sep 27, 2012 Thomas Albert rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Clockwork Angels is a collaborative effort between science fiction author Kevin J. Anderson writing the prose and Rush drummer Neil Peart providing the story idea. The storyline centers on Owen Hardy, a young man from a small town whose entire life is planned out for him by the all-powerful controller of his highly ordered society, known as the Watchmaker. Owen, however, has a restless spirit and vivid imagination that drive him to want to see the world before he must settle down and live out hi...more Clockwork Angels is a collaborative effort between science fiction author Kevin J. Anderson writing the prose and Rush drummer Neil Peart providing the story idea. The storyline centers on Owen Hardy, a young man from a small town whose entire life is planned out for him by the all-powerful controller of his highly ordered society, known as the Watchmaker. Owen, however, has a restless spirit and vivid imagination that drive him to want to see the world before he must settle down and live out his pre-destined life. The young man seizes an opportunity to catch a ride to Albion's capital city and see the wonderous Clockwork Angels of the Watchmaker that he has heard about throughout his childhood. This is the start of a series of adventures that take him to all the amazing places he has heard about. Along the way, he meets the Watchmaker, as well as the enigmatic Anarchist who is working to destroy the great Stability of Albion. Throughout the story, Owen also meets many ordinary people, some of whom help and befriend him, while others take advantage of him and his naïvete about the world.

The book is set in an alternate universe in which electricity is not used; however, the science of alchemy has progressed to the point where chemical reactions provide the power for the steam engines that drive the machinery of the society. This places the story in the steampunk genre, providing the conceit used throughout of the Watchmaker, clockwork machinery (like the Angels), and steam powered vehicles of land, sea, and air. In addition to this, there are small touches of magical realism thrown in, such as the centuries-old fortune teller gypsy who is hybridized with clockwork gears and controllers.

Ultimately, Clockwork Angels is a parable that describes Neil Peart's basic philosophy of life, filled with archetypal characters representing various aspects of human behavior and societal norms. Based on his impressive collection of lyrics over the decades, as well as his non-fiction writing, it is clear he is a strong-minded individualist who has always stressed personal integrity, honesty, and self-reliance. Many of his previous works have talked about the evils of a centralized government or group that controls the lives of everyday people, and this book can be added to those. Mr. Peart has often described himself as a "bleeding-heart libertarian," demonstrating both his love of individual freedom and responsibility, and his concern for the Everyman of society. These concepts are demonstrated throughout the book in vivid descriptions of the world and the rules it contains throughout the various cities Owen encounters.

Being a long-time fan of Neil Peart's work and his overall philosophy was actually an obstacle to enjoying this book and the reason I can only give three stars. As I read, I found many of the twists and story points to be predictable because they were echoes of what Mr. Peart has already covered in his lyrics and prose. In fact, Anderson has included dozens of snippets of these lyrics and song titles all through the story. Sometimes these seemed strained or out of place, as if placed there for primarily for the benefit of Rush fans but not necessarily an uninitiated reader. The text is generally unremarkable, using a large number of similes in the descriptions that sometimes work, but occasionally overwhelm. However, this book is not about the sparkling use of words but the concepts they convey. Kevin Anderson provided the words, but the fundamental ideas and themes for the story are all Neil Peart - and that is a very good thing. In the end, Owen's life parallels Peart's (who just turned 60) in that he becomes an itinerant entertainer for most of the year, and, borrowing from Voltaire's Candide, a "tender of his garden," for the rest.

I heartily recommend Clockwork Angels to those readers who enjoy the steampunk genre or fantasy adventures, but I would also suggest it to those who enjoy a read that has deeper philosophicals levels that make you think and, perhaps, even change your outlook on your own behavior and interaction with those around you.
(less)

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