Captain Ean Tephe is a man of faith, whose allegiance to his lord and to his ship is uncontested. The Bishopry Militant knows this—and so, wh...
read full description
reviews
Dec 14, 2011
Dan
rated it: 
"It was time to whip the god." Thus begins The God Engines by John Scalzi.
Captain Tephe is ordered to humanity's homeworld, Bishop's Call, and tasked to bring the faith of Our Lord to a faithless world. But will his own fate be tested?
That's about as much summary as I can give without giving away too much of the plot. The universe John Scalzi creates in The God Engines is like no others. Humanity travels the stars in ships powered by imprisoned and tortured More...
Captain Tephe is ordered to humanity's homeworld, Bishop's Call, and tasked to bring the faith of Our Lord to a faithless world. But will his own fate be tested?
That's about as much summary as I can give without giving away too much of the plot. The universe John Scalzi creates in The God Engines is like no others. Humanity travels the stars in ships powered by imprisoned and tortured More...
7 comments
like
(23 people liked it)
Mar 02, 2011
Sandi
rated it: 
I really like John Scalzi's books. Although they aren't great literature, they have been reliably entertaining. So, I was delighted to find a copy of The God Engines at my public library. From the get-go, I didn't like this novella at all. At 130-odd pages, including pictures and blank pages, I should have been able to blast through it in a day--maybe two given the busy holiday season. I didn't like the tone or the setting of the novel. I thought the characters were too flat. It lacked Sc
More...
2 comments
like
(5 people liked it)
Mar 02, 2011
Paul
rated it: 
One of my favorite things about John Scalzi’s books is that the man is funny. Along the lines of I-barfed-a-pink-gelatinous-quivering-lung-out kind of funny, which is an incredibly hard thing to accomplish when you are dealing with only the written word. His signature mixture of humor and space opera have always made for entertaining and vastly enjoyable reads. (Especially if killing someone with your flatulence is your idea of high comedy.)
But my absolute favorite John Scalzi scene More...
But my absolute favorite John Scalzi scene More...
Mar 02, 2011
Mur
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Mar 02, 2011
Kater
rated it:
My last book was a one star review that I recommended. This is a five star review that I'm not sure if I recommend or not. It's not a long book, more like a long short story, barely even a novella. It has a short story sensibilities; unnecessary scenes have been cut out, and the prose is quite spare.
The story is one of a space-faring race who have achieved interstellar travel by using imprisoned gods to power their ships. The people themselves worship a different god, who has conque More...
The story is one of a space-faring race who have achieved interstellar travel by using imprisoned gods to power their ships. The people themselves worship a different god, who has conque More...
0 comments
like
(3 people liked it)
Apr 04, 2011
Ben
rated it:
The God Engines opens with what, along with the opening line of JPod, is now one of my favourite first lines: "It was time to whip the god."
Immediately, John Scalzi establishes a sense of difference between our universe and the one in which this book is set. In this universe, monolatrism is the order of the day. Captain Tephe and the crew of the Righteous worship a god, conveniently called "Our Lord." Captured gods serve as engines for their starships; bound by i More...
Immediately, John Scalzi establishes a sense of difference between our universe and the one in which this book is set. In this universe, monolatrism is the order of the day. Captain Tephe and the crew of the Righteous worship a god, conveniently called "Our Lord." Captured gods serve as engines for their starships; bound by i More...
0 comments
like
(3 people liked it)
Mar 02, 2011
Wealhtheow
rated it: 
Apparently Scalzi's first attempt at a fantasy novel. It still feels a bit sf--the characters fly in spaceships to distant worlds. But the spaceships are powered by the torture of gods.
Generations ago, the One True God rose to power. Ever since, the remaining gods have been enslaved by the True God's followers to power their technology. But pockets of resistance remain...
Scalzi manages to pack a great deal into 136 pages--I felt like I knew the captain and his socie More...
Generations ago, the One True God rose to power. Ever since, the remaining gods have been enslaved by the True God's followers to power their technology. But pockets of resistance remain...
Scalzi manages to pack a great deal into 136 pages--I felt like I knew the captain and his socie More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jan 22, 2012
Ron
rated it:
The God Engines is an amazing short novella. I read this a few days ago and was rather stunned. Then, like a penitent with a need to scourge myself I read it again. This is science fiction, horror and fantasy all in one small package. It is a dark story that may offend some. No, actually, I am sure it will offend some people. Scalzi's imagination knocked this one out of the park. How do people dream up stories like this? Imagine a future civilization so devout in the worship, faith and belief in
More...
Jan 20, 2012
Richard
rated it:
Rating: 4.5 horrified, terrified, vindicated stars of five
The Book Report: The Power of God...the Power of Faith...these are concrete, actual things, not powerless mouthings, in John Scalzi's 136-page gut-punch and goolie-kick of a novella. Captain Ean Tephe, commanding the Righteous, is fresh from a stinging defeat (in his mind) that, in the view of his superiors, is a victory so signal that he's summoned to HQ and given the most astonishing order: Go to a planet of those who have not More...
The Book Report: The Power of God...the Power of Faith...these are concrete, actual things, not powerless mouthings, in John Scalzi's 136-page gut-punch and goolie-kick of a novella. Captain Ean Tephe, commanding the Righteous, is fresh from a stinging defeat (in his mind) that, in the view of his superiors, is a victory so signal that he's summoned to HQ and given the most astonishing order: Go to a planet of those who have not More...
4 comments
like
(12 people liked it)
Jun 04, 2011
Carson
rated it:
The God Engines is entertaining because of its strong characters and shifting conflicts. The first pages introduce Tephe (the ship's captain) arguing with Andso (the ship's priest), who manages the ship's engine (a captive god). The god doesn't like being captive, so he's been killing people, and Tephe doesn't trust Andso to do his job, so Tephe disciplines the god himself. Since I saw Tephe immediately taking charge and putting down rebellion from both the god and the priest, I wanted to read m
More...
Nov 21, 2011
Kate
rated it:
It was the cover that caught my eye and just to prove that sometimes you can judge a book by its cover this has more than lived up to my hopes.
I've been looking for a 'way in' to Scalzi for a while and since this book literally had me cooing over it and stroking the spine (shout out to Subterranian Press who took some (very deserved) criticism recently for publishing OSC's Halmet's Ghost, but can be relied on put together damn beautiful books) it seemed as good an entry point as I was ever More...
I've been looking for a 'way in' to Scalzi for a while and since this book literally had me cooing over it and stroking the spine (shout out to Subterranian Press who took some (very deserved) criticism recently for publishing OSC's Halmet's Ghost, but can be relied on put together damn beautiful books) it seemed as good an entry point as I was ever More...
Aug 21, 2011
James
rated it:
The God Engines
I knew this would be dark fantasy...but jiminy. Dark almost feels like the wrong word. Maybe "harsh fantasy" would be a more appropriate descriptor. Because it's certainly that. Some of the sequences were really tough to read (or, in my case, listen to): violent torture, grisly human sacrifice, and an ending that is most assuredly not a happy one all combine to make this a rather disturbing tale.
Which isn't to say that it's bad. It's not. Not at all. More...
I knew this would be dark fantasy...but jiminy. Dark almost feels like the wrong word. Maybe "harsh fantasy" would be a more appropriate descriptor. Because it's certainly that. Some of the sequences were really tough to read (or, in my case, listen to): violent torture, grisly human sacrifice, and an ending that is most assuredly not a happy one all combine to make this a rather disturbing tale.
Which isn't to say that it's bad. It's not. Not at all. More...
Jul 16, 2011
Alice
rated it:
I read this to see if I could get a good idea of whether I would like Scalzi's writing at all. I enjoy his blog immensely, after all, and some of his books have sounded intriguing.
If they're written anything like this, though, I can't see myself making it through hundreds of pages to find out. Not that female characters are a requirement for all decent books, but I was disappointed that the only women to show up were fanatical prostitutes or were mowed down by Our Hero. Why are wo More...
If they're written anything like this, though, I can't see myself making it through hundreds of pages to find out. Not that female characters are a requirement for all decent books, but I was disappointed that the only women to show up were fanatical prostitutes or were mowed down by Our Hero. Why are wo More...
Jun 06, 2011
Forrest
rated it:
There isn’t a lot here to review. The God Engines is a brief little novella about a culture of humans that are completely dedicated to their god, a nameless superentity from a race of creatures that survive on human faith and can warp the laws of the universe. These humans use the defeated husks of enemy gods to power their spaceships, ever wary of heresy and waning faith.
Faced with a mysterious enemy who is defeating them at every turn, Captain Tephe, his crew and his god-prisone More...
Faced with a mysterious enemy who is defeating them at every turn, Captain Tephe, his crew and his god-prisone More...
Mar 06, 2011
Natalie
rated it:
This is no Flying Spaghetti Monster story. If you've ever caught yourself wondering whether piety creates faith? Whether faith can redeem regardless of where it is placed? Then this is a story for you that holds nothing back.
My friend Charlie posted this quote by Bertrand Russell:
"What is wanted is not the will to believe, but the will to find out, which is the exact opposite. Does this notion inspire you?
Even if it doesn't there is plenty more to enjoy More...
My friend Charlie posted this quote by Bertrand Russell:
"What is wanted is not the will to believe, but the will to find out, which is the exact opposite. Does this notion inspire you?
Even if it doesn't there is plenty more to enjoy More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Feb 07, 2012
Matt
rated it:
In the world John Scalzi has created for this novella humans fly in ships powered by Gods. How this works I am not actually sure, perhaps the Gods have warp nacelles coming out of their butts? Anway, you have to have faith.
All the starship engine Gods were enslaved by one big bad God and by worshiping him, you are like enlisted in Star Fleet. However, all is not what it appears to be, and if you faith is broken, you are in big trouble.
If you like your fantasy or scie More...
All the starship engine Gods were enslaved by one big bad God and by worshiping him, you are like enlisted in Star Fleet. However, all is not what it appears to be, and if you faith is broken, you are in big trouble.
If you like your fantasy or scie More...
Mar 02, 2011
JW
rated it: 
Just how much did I hate this book? I really want to spoil it to save your from trudging through it. It's really, really bad. The writing is flat, the characters mathematically one dimensional and the story... The ending.... It's got to
be some kind of Author Tract, or sourced from a bad dream.
Just don't read this book. Read Old Man's War. Hell, read Agent to the Stars. Skip this awful misfire.
be some kind of Author Tract, or sourced from a bad dream.
Just don't read this book. Read Old Man's War. Hell, read Agent to the Stars. Skip this awful misfire.
0 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Jun 15, 2011
Grant
rated it:
Talk about a fast read. This was something I picked up while at the library browsing through the books. I had read Old Man's War by John Scalzi previously and thought I'd give him another chance. While this story was interesting, I was more intrigued by how it's affecting my own writing.
If you compare the ideas that are actually the book, Scalzi has made a huge universe (or makes sure your imagination provides one) for a very quick story. This reads almost like an exercise - Take More...
If you compare the ideas that are actually the book, Scalzi has made a huge universe (or makes sure your imagination provides one) for a very quick story. This reads almost like an exercise - Take More...
Dec 28, 2011
Morgan
rated it:
For the full review, visit http://darkladyreviews.tumblr.com/
I’ve seen The God Engines described as dark fantasy, but I definitely put it in the sci-fi genre. It just happens to have some fantastic elements. It is unquestionably very dark though. There are a few really gruesome scenes, and Scalzi does not hesitate to describe every detail. I’m not especially squeamish, but if this were a movie I would probably have my eyes closed about a third of the time.
There’s an ele More...
I’ve seen The God Engines described as dark fantasy, but I definitely put it in the sci-fi genre. It just happens to have some fantastic elements. It is unquestionably very dark though. There are a few really gruesome scenes, and Scalzi does not hesitate to describe every detail. I’m not especially squeamish, but if this were a movie I would probably have my eyes closed about a third of the time.
There’s an ele More...
Mar 02, 2011
Tim
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Jan 11, 2012
Roger
rated it:
A nice blend of sf and fantasy,"The God Engines" is an interesting take on the old "gods are real" plot device that goes beyond the usual western mythologies and pushes that always intereresting "what if" out into the cosmos - treating gods as a species that exists throughout the universe. Harnessed as supernatural power sources, they are the unwilling "engines" of mankind's interstellar travel.
My only quibble is that I wish the book was a little More...
My only quibble is that I wish the book was a little More...
Sep 07, 2011
Orren
rated it:
I'm a sucker for science fiction with a fantasy/theological touch, and this novella is just that. Scalzi creates a world in which men are space faring, except rather than using indigenous high-tech FTL engines and other systems, the spacecraft use captured and imprisoned gods to generate life support, other systems, and to be the ship's engine. The gods are kept imprisoned by faith, and of course faith is a malleable thing--and there is our tale.
The twists aren't entirely unexpected bu More...
The twists aren't entirely unexpected bu More...
Jan 15, 2012
Kat
rated it:
http://tinyurl.com/6qx9kx7
This is by far one of the best science-fiction stories I have ever read. In fact, if Scalzi does this well with novellas, all his books should be this length. At least all his books that have one very vital thing to say about our culture and our path forward.
I don't want to say much more about it. I fondly hope that those who are a) already sci-fi fans and b) haven't read it, will seek it out and devour it as I did. I will say three things, though. 1 More...
This is by far one of the best science-fiction stories I have ever read. In fact, if Scalzi does this well with novellas, all his books should be this length. At least all his books that have one very vital thing to say about our culture and our path forward.
I don't want to say much more about it. I fondly hope that those who are a) already sci-fi fans and b) haven't read it, will seek it out and devour it as I did. I will say three things, though. 1 More...
Jul 18, 2011
Katy
rated it:
I'm a huge Scalzi fan and I was all set to love this book. I didn't love it. It was as different from the other stuff of his that I have read as is possible to be while still falling within the same general genre. It was dark and humorless and the overriding theme in the book was deeply strange and kind of uncomfortable. Original, though, as always with Scalzi, his originality is quite something.
I would say that if you're a Scalzi fan, this is worth reading simply to get a feel for h More...
I would say that if you're a Scalzi fan, this is worth reading simply to get a feel for h More...
May 19, 2011
Rob
rated it:
...The idea behind The God Engines is intriguing but in the end the novella didn't work for me. Parts could certainly have used a bit more subtlety and the story as a whole could have done with some more words to mature. The main character never really convinced me. I guess I'm not surprised that it didn't win those awards it was nominated for. I understand it is a bit of a departure from Scalzi's other works, which tend to be science fiction of the military kind. Perhaps one of those would work
More...
2 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Sep 02, 2011
Jesse
rated it:
This fun and cool novella's only real problem was it's length. The universe described here could easily hold a whole trilogy, and it was a shame to have to leave it so quickly. While the whole work really on scratches the surface of what's possible here. The end in particular came off as abrupt, and wasn't quite the payoff that this excellent novella warranted. Don't let these quibbles distract from the fact that the work is one of my favorite recent sci-fi adventures.
The prose is soli More...
The prose is soli More...
Jun 01, 2011
apple
rated it:
If there’s a limbo between sci-fi and fantasy, it is where Captain Ean Tephe pilots his spaceship the Righteous which is powered solely by imprisoned god (with lowercase G) and chanting acolytes of the Bishopry Militant.
The God Engines got me hooked from first sentence… “It was time to whip the god”. John Scalzi really knows how to start off the story with a bang. The tone of this book is very dark and at times all out NC-17 horror movie scary. Just before the ending all hell litera More...
The God Engines got me hooked from first sentence… “It was time to whip the god”. John Scalzi really knows how to start off the story with a bang. The tone of this book is very dark and at times all out NC-17 horror movie scary. Just before the ending all hell litera More...
May 08, 2011
Lightreads
rated it:
A science-fantasy novella about spaceships powered by gods, who are in turn powered by the crew’s faith. I feel utterly neutral about this – it was an interesting idea executed competently, and complete with follow through, but the circuit never really closed. I understand this is the Scalzi curse: writing which is creative and active, but still somehow inert. Fundamentally shallow. And the trouble with shallow is it has to be my shallow, my vaguely embarrassing id fixations and narrative kinks.
More...
0 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Apr 11, 2011
I am not rating this book because I don't think it deserves a 1-star rating--it's a fascinating premise, well-conceived, compelling, well-executed. But I hated it. This is a personal and visceral reaction to the content, characters, and resolution. This was so *very* not the book for me.
So this book is why it's good that certain titles are lendable with the kindle. I understand from glancing at some reviews that this is not typical of Scalzi--so I will probably borrow another of his ti More...
So this book is why it's good that certain titles are lendable with the kindle. I understand from glancing at some reviews that this is not typical of Scalzi--so I will probably borrow another of his ti More...
May 19, 2011
Jonathan
rated it:
This novela is a surprising twist combining elements of both science fiction and fantasy. While I've always been a fan of Scalzi's character-driven military and hard scifi, it's good to see him try something different. The story packs a lot of twists and turns and by dealing with Gods as real beings (a la Neil Gaiman's American Gods) it adds a lot of dimension. It especially deals with the dilemma of when a seemingly moral and just cause can go horribly wrong in a creative and somewhat horrifyin
More...
