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Dreaming Cities #1
The Emperor's Railroad
Global war devastated the environment, a zombie-like plague wiped out much of humanity, and civilization as we once understood it came to a standstill. But that was a thousand years ago, and the world is now a very different place.
Conflict between city states is constant, superstition is rife, and machine relics, mutant creatures and resurrected prehistoric beasts trouble the land. Watching over all are the silent Dreaming Cities. Homes of the angels, bastion outposts of heaven on Earth. Or so the church claims. Very few go in, and nobody ever comes out.
Until now…
Conflict between city states is constant, superstition is rife, and machine relics, mutant creatures and resurrected prehistoric beasts trouble the land. Watching over all are the silent Dreaming Cities. Homes of the angels, bastion outposts of heaven on Earth. Or so the church claims. Very few go in, and nobody ever comes out.
Until now…
175 pages, Paperback
First published April 19, 2016
28 people are currently reading
1753 people want to read
About the author
Guy Haley
288 books718 followersGuy Haley is the author of over 50 novels and novellas. His original fiction includes Crash, Champion of Mars, and the Richards and Klein, Dreaming Cities, and the Gates of the World series (as K M McKinley). However, he is best known as a prolific contributor to Games Workshop's Black Library imprint.
When not writing, he'll be out doing something dangerous in the wild, learning languages or gaming.
When not writing, he'll be out doing something dangerous in the wild, learning languages or gaming.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
May 1, 2020
Actual rating: 3.82457896 stars. More or less and stuff.
⚠️ Friendly warning: this review might or might not be ever so slightly longer than the novella it is about. You're welcome.
Zombies and dragons and knights, oh my!
My Little Barnacles…Please allow me to introduce…Slightly Improbable Book of the Year (SIBotY™) #2! First there was City of Lights, with its dubious mix of Sci-Fi and full-on UF! Now we have The Emperor's Railroad, with its fishy combination of Fantasy stuff and Dystopian stuff and Horror stuff! And as disastrous as this recipe might sound, it bloody works! Now that's some pretty glorious cooking, if you ask me.
See? Even Julia Child seems to agree with me about this one. From the tomb, too, which makes her approval super extra special and stuff.
So, let's see, what do we have here? A post-apocalyptic US setting. Which sounds about as exciting as a world without me and my murderous crustaceans in it, I know. But have a little trust, my Little Barnacles. If I say this book is slightly awesome, then it obviously is. Anyone who tells you otherwise undoubtedly needs to have his or her little head examined. But I digress. Okay, where were we? Oh yes, the Not Non-Exciting Post-Apocalyptic US Setting (NNEPAUSS™). So this slightly screwed up world has been brought about by a war {insert yawns of utter disinterest and total indifference here} Oh, will you shut your Little Barnacle mouths for a minute and let me explain?! We're never going to get this review over with if you keep interrupting me, you know Sooooooo, this war that slightly screwed up the US. It was between the freaking Angels of the Dreaming Cities (one such city being Pittsburgh and the others being I-Can't-Bloody-Remember-Because-Early-Alzheimer's-And-Stuff) and the Emperor of Virginia. What? You didn't know Virginia was once ruled by an emperor? Oh well, it doesn't really matter now since he's slightly dead and stuff. But anyway. There was a war and everybody was somewhat pissed off because of it (especially the Angels, but that's totally expected because angels are always assholes and so we ended up with total desolation. And desperadoes and slavers roaming the land! And everybody out for themselves in a delightfully ruthless way! Aaaaaannnnnnnd yummy zombies! Aaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnd glorious dragons! Aaaaannnnnnnnnd tasty knights! Okay, so there's only one knight in this particular story. BUT he is sorta lusciously luscious, so there. His name is Quinn, by the way. And he is a teensy little bit mysterious. And he has a gun. And he has a sword. And he is slightly hot. AND he is slightly mine.
I don't have to tell you I'm doing the Poof! Gone! Harem! (PGF™) on Quinn here, do I? Good, that's what I thought. But in case you're one of those Clueless Barnacles who don't know about my Hardly Noticeable Undying Love for Rehashing (HNULfR™), let me say something real quick here: I'm doing the Poof! Gone! Harem! on Quinn! Surprise, surprise, my Lovely Arthropods! Okay, my little hormones seem to be in check for the time being, so let me tell you about Quinnis mine here. So Quinn is a knight. But not any knight. He is a Knight. And a freaking Knight of the Dreaming City of Atlantis at that. Meaning he serves the asshole angels. So of course I slightly fell for him. I mean, how can you not fall for a sword-wielding hot dude who roots for the bad guys? Okay, so I'm not 100% sure the asshole angels are the bad guys here, but they sure show promise. Anyway, my Quinn was doing his thing (whatever that thing might be), and roaming the land for dubious reasons unknown, when he stumbled upon a 12-year-old kid called Abney and his dear mommy. And thus our love story began. BUT. Thus a slightly abominable, distasteful thing came to be, too. Because it turns out that our love story was narrated by Abney. As in Abney, the bloody shrimping 12-year-old kid. Why me?
Sorry, I tend to freak out when Disgusting Little Kids (DLK™) are involved. Just needed to get some fresh air for a minute there. I'm back now, so you can resume breathing and stuff.
So YES, I gave this book an almost-4-star rating even though it is narrated by a DLK™. That should tell you something right there. And it should tell you something else, too. It should tell you that, had this story NOT been narrated by a DLK™, I would have most probably rated it 5+ stars. Yep yep yep yep. Because this ain't no Fluffy Bunny World (FBW™), my Little Barnacles. This world is deliciously dark and a bit on the shrimped up side and stuff. Which is slightly delightful and somewhat awesome and stuff. Plus, this world is super duper original and oh-so-fresh and ooh-yeah-I-want-more and stuff. Plus plus we've got some awfully yummy action scenes. An even though some Silly Barnacles seem to think the pace is kinda slow at first, I didn't. Think the pace was kinda slow at first, I mean. And that should tell you something again. What should that tell you? Don't ask me, I have no idea. Anyway, since we're talking about Silly Barnacles here: this story only has a 3.55 star average rating *gasps* You know what this proves, right? Yep, absolutely. It proves once again that the above mentioned Silly Barnacles are kinda sorta clueless. And that they read this story very wrong indeed. And that their case is desperately desperate and stuff.
I'm afraid you're right, Gertrude. But worry not, my dear. We've survived thus far, and there is no way we will let a bunch ofharebrained nitwits poor, lost souls divert us from the path to enlightenment and joy.
➽ And the moral of this There is no Freaking Way I Will Let a Disgusting Little Kid Come Between Me and My Quinn Crappy Non Review (TinFWIWLaDLKCBMaMDCNR™) is: this book is not entirely crappy. This book is less than 200 pages, too, and therefore ADHD-enabled. AND, this book is so cheap it should be outlawed. So be bold and stuff, my Little Barnacles! Don't let Those of the Despicable Book Taste (TotDBT™) cloud your judgement! Buy this! Read this! You're welcome!
➽ And the other moral of this There is no Freaking Way I Will Let a Disgusting Kid Come Between Me and My Quinn Crappy Non Review (TinFWIWLaDLKCBMaMDCNR™) is: my Quinn narrates book 2. YUM.
➽ And the other, other moral of this There is no Freaking Way I Will Let a Disgusting Kid Come Between Me and My Quinn Crappy Non Review (TinFWIWLaDLKCBMaMDCNR™) is:
· Book 2: The Ghoul King ★★★
⚠️ Friendly warning: this review might or might not be ever so slightly longer than the novella it is about. You're welcome.
Zombies and dragons and knights, oh my!
My Little Barnacles…Please allow me to introduce…Slightly Improbable Book of the Year (SIBotY™) #2! First there was City of Lights, with its dubious mix of Sci-Fi and full-on UF! Now we have The Emperor's Railroad, with its fishy combination of Fantasy stuff and Dystopian stuff and Horror stuff! And as disastrous as this recipe might sound, it bloody works! Now that's some pretty glorious cooking, if you ask me.
See? Even Julia Child seems to agree with me about this one. From the tomb, too, which makes her approval super extra special and stuff.
So, let's see, what do we have here? A post-apocalyptic US setting. Which sounds about as exciting as a world without me and my murderous crustaceans in it, I know. But have a little trust, my Little Barnacles. If I say this book is slightly awesome, then it obviously is. Anyone who tells you otherwise undoubtedly needs to have his or her little head examined. But I digress. Okay, where were we? Oh yes, the Not Non-Exciting Post-Apocalyptic US Setting (NNEPAUSS™). So this slightly screwed up world has been brought about by a war {insert yawns of utter disinterest and total indifference here} Oh, will you shut your Little Barnacle mouths for a minute and let me explain?! We're never going to get this review over with if you keep interrupting me, you know Sooooooo, this war that slightly screwed up the US. It was between the freaking Angels of the Dreaming Cities (one such city being Pittsburgh and the others being I-Can't-Bloody-Remember-Because-Early-Alzheimer's-And-Stuff) and the Emperor of Virginia. What? You didn't know Virginia was once ruled by an emperor? Oh well, it doesn't really matter now since he's slightly dead and stuff. But anyway. There was a war and everybody was somewhat pissed off because of it (especially the Angels, but that's totally expected because angels are always assholes and so we ended up with total desolation. And desperadoes and slavers roaming the land! And everybody out for themselves in a delightfully ruthless way! Aaaaaannnnnnnd yummy zombies! Aaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnd glorious dragons! Aaaaannnnnnnnnd tasty knights! Okay, so there's only one knight in this particular story. BUT he is sorta lusciously luscious, so there. His name is Quinn, by the way. And he is a teensy little bit mysterious. And he has a gun. And he has a sword. And he is slightly hot. AND he is slightly mine.
I don't have to tell you I'm doing the Poof! Gone! Harem! (PGF™) on Quinn here, do I? Good, that's what I thought. But in case you're one of those Clueless Barnacles who don't know about my Hardly Noticeable Undying Love for Rehashing (HNULfR™), let me say something real quick here: I'm doing the Poof! Gone! Harem! on Quinn! Surprise, surprise, my Lovely Arthropods! Okay, my little hormones seem to be in check for the time being, so let me tell you about Quinn
Sorry, I tend to freak out when Disgusting Little Kids (DLK™) are involved. Just needed to get some fresh air for a minute there. I'm back now, so you can resume breathing and stuff.
So YES, I gave this book an almost-4-star rating even though it is narrated by a DLK™. That should tell you something right there. And it should tell you something else, too. It should tell you that, had this story NOT been narrated by a DLK™, I would have most probably rated it 5+ stars. Yep yep yep yep. Because this ain't no Fluffy Bunny World (FBW™), my Little Barnacles. This world is deliciously dark and a bit on the shrimped up side and stuff. Which is slightly delightful and somewhat awesome and stuff. Plus, this world is super duper original and oh-so-fresh and ooh-yeah-I-want-more and stuff. Plus plus we've got some awfully yummy action scenes. An even though some Silly Barnacles seem to think the pace is kinda slow at first, I didn't. Think the pace was kinda slow at first, I mean. And that should tell you something again. What should that tell you? Don't ask me, I have no idea. Anyway, since we're talking about Silly Barnacles here: this story only has a 3.55 star average rating *gasps* You know what this proves, right? Yep, absolutely. It proves once again that the above mentioned Silly Barnacles are kinda sorta clueless. And that they read this story very wrong indeed. And that their case is desperately desperate and stuff.
I'm afraid you're right, Gertrude. But worry not, my dear. We've survived thus far, and there is no way we will let a bunch of
➽ And the moral of this There is no Freaking Way I Will Let a Disgusting Little Kid Come Between Me and My Quinn Crappy Non Review (TinFWIWLaDLKCBMaMDCNR™) is: this book is not entirely crappy. This book is less than 200 pages, too, and therefore ADHD-enabled. AND, this book is so cheap it should be outlawed. So be bold and stuff, my Little Barnacles! Don't let Those of the Despicable Book Taste (TotDBT™) cloud your judgement! Buy this! Read this! You're welcome!
➽ And the other moral of this There is no Freaking Way I Will Let a Disgusting Kid Come Between Me and My Quinn Crappy Non Review (TinFWIWLaDLKCBMaMDCNR™) is: my Quinn narrates book 2. YUM.
➽ And the other, other moral of this There is no Freaking Way I Will Let a Disgusting Kid Come Between Me and My Quinn Crappy Non Review (TinFWIWLaDLKCBMaMDCNR™) is:
· Book 2: The Ghoul King ★★★
March 20, 2017
Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths.
My rating is 3.5 stars.
The Emperor’s Railroad by Guy Haley is a genre blending delight, mixing zombies, dragons, guns, swords, and knights with a post-apocalyptic, dystopian world. This mesmerizing recipe serving up something fresh and original, something unique and creative; something all fans of speculative fiction would do well to try, because the future for the Dreaming Cities series certainly appears very bright.
Told from the point of view of a 12-year-old boy, Abney, this tale relays his and his mother’s journey from their zombie destroyed home town to the apparent safety of a cousin’s residence in the town of Winfort. Their path taking them along the Emperor’s railroad to the city of Charleston, Virginia, then on to their destination.
But their route is perilous, as the Kingdom of Virginia has many dangers: the unliving scattered throughout the land; brigands hiding about; city people preying on their fellow human beings; and even a dragon in the northlands. All of this having arisen to plague people since the war between the Angels of the Dreaming Cities of Columbus and Pittsburgh; Virginia’s dead Emperor having taken sides during the conflict before seeing his own ally unleash plague after plague upon his lands. The budding promise of a renewal of lost civilization quickly crushed under the judgment of God’s chosen shepherds for humanity.
With the Angels being to blame for the obstacles in their path, it is thus ironic that the fate of Abney and his mother lies with another creation of these same Angels: Quinn, a Knight of the Dreaming City of Atlantis. This servant of the Angels a gun-totting, sword-wielding relic of the Angelic Wars; his true identity and shadowy motives worth overlooking due to his ability to deal swift death to both zombies and other (more human) predators. Abney’s mother forced to pay a steep asking price in order to secure this “knights” services as their guide and guardian until they reach Winfort.
From this beginning, The Emperor’s Railroad pulls off slowly from the station, loaded down with expectations, but Haley’s locomotive steadily picks up speed. Action-packed scenes, subtle world building, swift characterization, and mesmerizing mysteries propelling this one down the tracks until it is running at a blistering pace by the end. The brakes only applied after an emotional and rousing conclusion to Abney’s story. And as that last page is read, all a reader feels is a deep need, deep desire to know more, more, MORE!
Well, at least, that is how I felt after completing this novella. This narrative the perfect balance of size and story: Short enough not to be a huge time sink, but long enough for Mr. Haley to deliver a satisfying story, which adequately painted this world and the characters as well as setting up the series going forward.
My favorite thing about The Emperor’s Railroad was, without a doubt, the brilliant dystopian setting. Mr. Haley adding in some unique, creative features to this classic post-apocalyptic stage. Foremost of these, the mysterious Angels, who are revered as servants of God, come down from heaven; their divinely appointed task to shepherd over the wayward people of this earth. And while this belief is very quickly established and perfectly espoused by Abney’s mother, Knight Quinn’s innuendos and obvious disdain for his creators perfectly sets up the doubt as to who and what these “Angels” really are, what they are really doing, and why.
The other great feature here was Mr. Haley’s chosen narrator and his delivery style. I personally found an old Abney relating the tale of his long ago journey with a knight the perfect way to convey this tale. It slowly built empathy for the people of this place, revealed the world through the eyes of a child, and introduced our (I’m assuming) main character Quinn without ruining any of his mysterious past and hidden motives. The southern flavor of Abney’s dialect only make it more attractive, since it added an authentic touch to this story of a future Virginia.
Pure fun to read, The Emperor’s Railroad not only entertained me it won me over. I have to admit being fairly hard to please when it comes to post-apocalyptic, dystopian stories, having read so many of them over the course of my reading life, so I went into my sampling of this work convinced I could not be surprised by anything Mr. Haley threw at me. But I was. This world of angels and zombies, knights and dragons, guns and swords making me sit up and take notice. And, now, all I need is another fix of this fascinating series, because it is very, very addictive.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank them for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone.
My rating is 3.5 stars.
The Emperor’s Railroad by Guy Haley is a genre blending delight, mixing zombies, dragons, guns, swords, and knights with a post-apocalyptic, dystopian world. This mesmerizing recipe serving up something fresh and original, something unique and creative; something all fans of speculative fiction would do well to try, because the future for the Dreaming Cities series certainly appears very bright.
Told from the point of view of a 12-year-old boy, Abney, this tale relays his and his mother’s journey from their zombie destroyed home town to the apparent safety of a cousin’s residence in the town of Winfort. Their path taking them along the Emperor’s railroad to the city of Charleston, Virginia, then on to their destination.
But their route is perilous, as the Kingdom of Virginia has many dangers: the unliving scattered throughout the land; brigands hiding about; city people preying on their fellow human beings; and even a dragon in the northlands. All of this having arisen to plague people since the war between the Angels of the Dreaming Cities of Columbus and Pittsburgh; Virginia’s dead Emperor having taken sides during the conflict before seeing his own ally unleash plague after plague upon his lands. The budding promise of a renewal of lost civilization quickly crushed under the judgment of God’s chosen shepherds for humanity.
With the Angels being to blame for the obstacles in their path, it is thus ironic that the fate of Abney and his mother lies with another creation of these same Angels: Quinn, a Knight of the Dreaming City of Atlantis. This servant of the Angels a gun-totting, sword-wielding relic of the Angelic Wars; his true identity and shadowy motives worth overlooking due to his ability to deal swift death to both zombies and other (more human) predators. Abney’s mother forced to pay a steep asking price in order to secure this “knights” services as their guide and guardian until they reach Winfort.
From this beginning, The Emperor’s Railroad pulls off slowly from the station, loaded down with expectations, but Haley’s locomotive steadily picks up speed. Action-packed scenes, subtle world building, swift characterization, and mesmerizing mysteries propelling this one down the tracks until it is running at a blistering pace by the end. The brakes only applied after an emotional and rousing conclusion to Abney’s story. And as that last page is read, all a reader feels is a deep need, deep desire to know more, more, MORE!
Well, at least, that is how I felt after completing this novella. This narrative the perfect balance of size and story: Short enough not to be a huge time sink, but long enough for Mr. Haley to deliver a satisfying story, which adequately painted this world and the characters as well as setting up the series going forward.
My favorite thing about The Emperor’s Railroad was, without a doubt, the brilliant dystopian setting. Mr. Haley adding in some unique, creative features to this classic post-apocalyptic stage. Foremost of these, the mysterious Angels, who are revered as servants of God, come down from heaven; their divinely appointed task to shepherd over the wayward people of this earth. And while this belief is very quickly established and perfectly espoused by Abney’s mother, Knight Quinn’s innuendos and obvious disdain for his creators perfectly sets up the doubt as to who and what these “Angels” really are, what they are really doing, and why.
The other great feature here was Mr. Haley’s chosen narrator and his delivery style. I personally found an old Abney relating the tale of his long ago journey with a knight the perfect way to convey this tale. It slowly built empathy for the people of this place, revealed the world through the eyes of a child, and introduced our (I’m assuming) main character Quinn without ruining any of his mysterious past and hidden motives. The southern flavor of Abney’s dialect only make it more attractive, since it added an authentic touch to this story of a future Virginia.
Pure fun to read, The Emperor’s Railroad not only entertained me it won me over. I have to admit being fairly hard to please when it comes to post-apocalyptic, dystopian stories, having read so many of them over the course of my reading life, so I went into my sampling of this work convinced I could not be surprised by anything Mr. Haley threw at me. But I was. This world of angels and zombies, knights and dragons, guns and swords making me sit up and take notice. And, now, all I need is another fix of this fascinating series, because it is very, very addictive.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank them for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone.
December 25, 2016
This is a short story or novella and it reads like one: a slice of a post apocalyptic fantasy tale with angels, dragons, zombies and knights. An enjoyable story told to us through the eyes of a 12 year old boy.
November 26, 2019
7.5/10
Libro bastante entretenido con un worldbuilding que mezcla todo tipo de elementos fantásticos, desde zombies, pasando por ángeles, hasta dragones. En principio está extraña combinación podría generar dudas, pero el tono oscuro de la historia ayuda a que al final todo funcione bastante bien.
Interesante también tener en cuenta al protagonista de la historia, una especie de Geralt de Rivia, aunque algo menos carismático, por ahora, y una personalidad bastante enigmática.
La trama en sí, tampoco es la leche, pero al final el libro se lee bien y me ha dejado con ganas de continuar leyendo sobre este mundo tan peculiar.
Libro bastante entretenido con un worldbuilding que mezcla todo tipo de elementos fantásticos, desde zombies, pasando por ángeles, hasta dragones. En principio está extraña combinación podría generar dudas, pero el tono oscuro de la historia ayuda a que al final todo funcione bastante bien.
Interesante también tener en cuenta al protagonista de la historia, una especie de Geralt de Rivia, aunque algo menos carismático, por ahora, y una personalidad bastante enigmática.
La trama en sí, tampoco es la leche, pero al final el libro se lee bien y me ha dejado con ganas de continuar leyendo sobre este mundo tan peculiar.
January 29, 2016
I received this from the publisher at no cost.
I'm not a huge zombie-story fan, so this story wasn't really aimed at me. That said, turns out I can be quite a fan of your post-apocalyptic, back-to-vaguely-old-west-America stories, so that aspect was quite enjoyable. I do like the image of human creations being subsumed into nature.
Quinn, the hero of the story, is intriguing, and through him we get glimpses into the rest of the world that the story is set in. There are angels and dragons - I kept wondering whether this would turn out to be a fantasy or a science fiction story, and it's not entirely resolved - and Quinn is a knight, commissioned by an angel but now on his own sort of quest. It's a long time since I've read them but I was put in mind of the Terry Brooks Word&Void series; the child narrator, Abney, is fully aware that his world has extraordinary things in it but is still something of an innocent of the realities, while Quinn has seen too much.
Despite my not loving zombies, I did read and enjoy the whole story, so that says something for the characters and for the fairly fast-paced style.
I'm not a huge zombie-story fan, so this story wasn't really aimed at me. That said, turns out I can be quite a fan of your post-apocalyptic, back-to-vaguely-old-west-America stories, so that aspect was quite enjoyable. I do like the image of human creations being subsumed into nature.
Quinn, the hero of the story, is intriguing, and through him we get glimpses into the rest of the world that the story is set in. There are angels and dragons - I kept wondering whether this would turn out to be a fantasy or a science fiction story, and it's not entirely resolved - and Quinn is a knight, commissioned by an angel but now on his own sort of quest. It's a long time since I've read them but I was put in mind of the Terry Brooks Word&Void series; the child narrator, Abney, is fully aware that his world has extraordinary things in it but is still something of an innocent of the realities, while Quinn has seen too much.
Despite my not loving zombies, I did read and enjoy the whole story, so that says something for the characters and for the fairly fast-paced style.
September 6, 2017
Nice Fantasy/Apocalyptic blend for a story line. Interesting main character and world setting that I hope to learn more of the history of as the series progresses. I will definitely try the 2nd book. Nice entertaining read. Recommended
March 30, 2016
When I was in high school, I remember getting a certain feeling when I sat down with an assigned reading novel - GRENDEL or A SEPARATE PEACE or THE GREAT GATSBY or what have you. I would start out daunted, and then as I read, realize that it was really a simple book. The prose was tight, the story was easy to follow, and then as I got farther and farther I started to realize that what I had thought was simple was well plotted and immensely enjoyable. There was a reason, in other words, why these assignments had become classics.
I don't know why, but about 45 pages into THE EMPEROR'S RAILROAD I had that same shiver of recognition. This felt like reading a classic. The waters were still, but deep. The story was short but elegant. Nothing seemed out of place, nothing seemed contrived, but every piece of the puzzle as it fell into place just felt like it had always been meant to be there.
I'm blathering a bit. Let's get down to brass tacks. I've read Haley before and he has a talent for metafiction - in other words, using the fact that someone is narrating a story as a part of the story. The narrator is Abney, a young boy in the yarn, whose future we gradually learn in dribs and drabs as the first person narrative wends its way through a fascinating yarn.
Abney grew up at an undetermined time in our future, after American society has fallen and something feudalistic has risen in its place. Lords, knights, and dragons occupy places like Pittsburgh, Charleston, and Columbus, in a future that resembles the past. Oh, and did I mention the dead have risen? In a strange way, THE EMPEROR'S RAILROAD is equal parts science fiction, fantasy, and horror. I've rarely seen two genres, let alone three, blended with this deft of a hand.
The fall of New Karlsville was was a fingernail-biting setpiece on par with the finale of the original "Dawn of the Dead." Quinn's final battle with...well, I probably shouldn't spoil it, anyway, the grand finale of the book could've come straight out of a fairy tale or the life of some Eastern European saint. Well, except for one thing, which is that all throughout the book - and in that final fight in particular - hints about a far more futuristic reality abound.
I haven't read a book this good in a long, long time. Guy Haley is one of my favorite authors, and rather than change my mind about that, THE EMPEROR'S RAILROAD only cements that legacy. Fans of sword and sorcery, the walking dead, and futuristic dystopias alike will all find something to love in THE EMPEROR'S RAILROAD. And it's just an elegant, beautifully written book.
I don't know why, but about 45 pages into THE EMPEROR'S RAILROAD I had that same shiver of recognition. This felt like reading a classic. The waters were still, but deep. The story was short but elegant. Nothing seemed out of place, nothing seemed contrived, but every piece of the puzzle as it fell into place just felt like it had always been meant to be there.
I'm blathering a bit. Let's get down to brass tacks. I've read Haley before and he has a talent for metafiction - in other words, using the fact that someone is narrating a story as a part of the story. The narrator is Abney, a young boy in the yarn, whose future we gradually learn in dribs and drabs as the first person narrative wends its way through a fascinating yarn.
Abney grew up at an undetermined time in our future, after American society has fallen and something feudalistic has risen in its place. Lords, knights, and dragons occupy places like Pittsburgh, Charleston, and Columbus, in a future that resembles the past. Oh, and did I mention the dead have risen? In a strange way, THE EMPEROR'S RAILROAD is equal parts science fiction, fantasy, and horror. I've rarely seen two genres, let alone three, blended with this deft of a hand.
The fall of New Karlsville was was a fingernail-biting setpiece on par with the finale of the original "Dawn of the Dead." Quinn's final battle with...well, I probably shouldn't spoil it, anyway, the grand finale of the book could've come straight out of a fairy tale or the life of some Eastern European saint. Well, except for one thing, which is that all throughout the book - and in that final fight in particular - hints about a far more futuristic reality abound.
I haven't read a book this good in a long, long time. Guy Haley is one of my favorite authors, and rather than change my mind about that, THE EMPEROR'S RAILROAD only cements that legacy. Fans of sword and sorcery, the walking dead, and futuristic dystopias alike will all find something to love in THE EMPEROR'S RAILROAD. And it's just an elegant, beautifully written book.
June 17, 2016
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
So the book starts off with a zombie scene. But it's not really a zombie book. Abney, our narrator, is looking back and telling the story (almost a folk tale) about how he and his mother traveled from New Karlville after its devastation by zombies through rough and dangerous country in the company of a knight. This knight, Quinn, has Abney fascinated, since there aren't many knights anymore.
Really, the book is a post-apocalyptic tale, with science acting like magic to those who aren't in the know like the reader is. What caused this apocalypse is never quite spelled out, but it has left the world a dangerous place, with walled cities to keep out the undead (or are they undead, really?), dragons roaming the wilds, and angels giving dispensation to their chosen ones and smiting those who displease them.
I'm having a bit of a problem with the trend toward novellas. While novellas are generally long enough to set up an interesting idea, too often I find that they end with me wanting to know more. It's like a really good meal with too-small portions. That's the case for me and this book. There's clearly a ton of backstory that's only alluded to. Quinn the knight is sort of a post-apocalyptic version of Shane of the wild west, traveling alone, getting mixed up with people's lives but then walking away again while a boy runs after him wishing he'd stay. The Mysterious Stranger is a trope that I don't mind necessarily, but I wanted to learn more about what made this world tick. This book could have been an interlude in a longer work quite easily. I believe that there's another novella to come, "The Ghoul King", so maybe I'll get my wish and get to spend more time with this interesting, enigmatic knight.
So the book starts off with a zombie scene. But it's not really a zombie book. Abney, our narrator, is looking back and telling the story (almost a folk tale) about how he and his mother traveled from New Karlville after its devastation by zombies through rough and dangerous country in the company of a knight. This knight, Quinn, has Abney fascinated, since there aren't many knights anymore.
Really, the book is a post-apocalyptic tale, with science acting like magic to those who aren't in the know like the reader is. What caused this apocalypse is never quite spelled out, but it has left the world a dangerous place, with walled cities to keep out the undead (or are they undead, really?), dragons roaming the wilds, and angels giving dispensation to their chosen ones and smiting those who displease them.
I'm having a bit of a problem with the trend toward novellas. While novellas are generally long enough to set up an interesting idea, too often I find that they end with me wanting to know more. It's like a really good meal with too-small portions. That's the case for me and this book. There's clearly a ton of backstory that's only alluded to. Quinn the knight is sort of a post-apocalyptic version of Shane of the wild west, traveling alone, getting mixed up with people's lives but then walking away again while a boy runs after him wishing he'd stay. The Mysterious Stranger is a trope that I don't mind necessarily, but I wanted to learn more about what made this world tick. This book could have been an interlude in a longer work quite easily. I believe that there's another novella to come, "The Ghoul King", so maybe I'll get my wish and get to spend more time with this interesting, enigmatic knight.
August 6, 2017
I didn’t actually read much about this beforehand; I picked it up because it’s one of the Tor.com novellas, and I’ve generally found them worth trying, even if they haven’t all been my thing. I was a little wary in that I’ve read part of one of Guy Haley’s books before and didn’t really get into it. Not so with this one: it has a strong voice and it’s set in a fascinating post-apocalyptic world. I’d love to know more about it, and I’ll definitely pick up the sequel. The main character, Abney, isn’t really the important one, despite the fact that it’s told from his point of view: instead, it’s his short journey with the knight Quinn that matters. I really want to know more about Quinn, but I don’t care about spending more time with Abney — his story’s pretty much told. Fortunately, looks like that’s exactly the direction Guy Haley took.
Not that Quinn is the only attraction of this book; Abney’s mother might be the only female character, and it’s a shame she dies, but she is also a strong woman who makes a place for herself in what appears to be a man’s world. I’ve read that there are more female characters in the sequel, which is good to hear.
Also, I really want to know what’s going on with “angels” and “dragons”.
Reviewed for The Bibliophibian.
Not that Quinn is the only attraction of this book; Abney’s mother might be the only female character, and it’s a shame she dies, but she is also a strong woman who makes a place for herself in what appears to be a man’s world. I’ve read that there are more female characters in the sequel, which is good to hear.
Also, I really want to know what’s going on with “angels” and “dragons”.
Reviewed for The Bibliophibian.
April 15, 2016
The Emperor’s Railroad is an utterly pedestrian story that is only rescued from total mediocrity by some intriguing world building. Unfortunately, Guy Haley’s novella never manages to full utilize the potential of its setting, and the ending leaves the reader with far more questions than answers.
Read the full review at SF Bluestocking.
Read the full review at SF Bluestocking.
October 17, 2022
Memory, biggest traitor there is.
3.5 stars. This was a pretty interesting mix of genres and it made for a really unique story. It's fantasy with a bit of a paranormal/horror element, but could also be classified as science fiction, and it does have a bit of a western vibe. These things didn't clash as much as it might sound like they would. The world building was just really interesting, and if we had gotten some more of that, and more of an explanation for how the world came to be this way and the history of things, I might have enjoyed this more. We're following a young boy, his mother, and a knight as they try to travel through zombie-ridden lands in a post-apocalyptic far future. I really wish we'd gotten to know more about the lore of angels and knights, because that's what fascinated me the most. The actual story was fine. I didn't love any of the characters, but the writing was really solid.
Listened to the audiobook as read by Tim Gerard Reynolds. I liked it a lot. I don't know if this is a series that I would come back to, but there's always the possibility.
Content warnings:
Want to read
April 30, 202030 April 2020: $3.99 on Kindle
August 10, 2016
Review also published here
Disclaimer: I received an ARC for this novella from the publisher. However, I had already preordered a copy the moment I saw it, back in October 2015, long before I was approached by Tor. Make of that what you will.
The Emperor's Railroad is a science fantasy novella set in a post-apocalyptic future. Mankind has declined, and the cities and technologies of old are in ruins and forbidden. Angels govern the world from their Dreaming Cities, fickle in their attentions and approval.
The knights of the Dreaming Cities are nigh extinct, and the works of the Gone Before humbling reminders of God's wrath. Myth and technology mix into one as humanity stumbles onwards, dogged by the living dead and worse, ever fearful of the punishment of their angels.
In this restless time, Abney, a twelve year old boy (and the story's narrator, albeit with the benefit of old age and the wisdom that comes with it), and his mother make their way across the kingdom, escaping from a small town recently overrun by the undead plague. Abney's mother plans to meet with a relative in the town of Winfort, to secure her family's wellbeing.
They soon meet Quinn, a knight of the Dreaming Cities, who strikes a deal with the boy's mother to take them to their destination. Their way leads them along the old Emperor's Railroad, which, for all its might, pales in comparison to the wonders of the Gone Before.
During their days of travel, the trio encounter the undead and cutthroats alike, and risk venturing into the territory of the dragon, bane of the old Emperor, punishment sent by the angels of Pittsburgh after their war with their counterparts in Columbus, which left the latter devastated.
Things are really not looking up for mankind in this version of the future!
I've got to say, I absolutely loved the eccentric, down to earth first person narrative from the moment I read an excerpt a couple of months back. Abney's account of the events is wonderfully commentated, full of introspection and a tone that makes you feel like you are sitting right with him as his audience. At times stern and preachy, at others emotional, and whimsical at yet others, it drew me in and made me forget the world beyond the screen of my eReader.
And then there was Quinn, with his pair of swords and handgun at his hips. Enigmatic yet easy to like, the man made for a strong character to lead mother and son through the wilderness, giving commentary and explanations about the world they inhabit along the way. While many questions about him are left open by the end of the novella, I never felt like he was out of touch or too mysterious. Seeing his relationship with Abney develop throughout was delightful, and even a little sad.
I am honestly stoked to see him again in the sequel, The Ghoul King.
I am usually not a fan of zombies. Not in the least. This is mostly down to how they have been handled by authors, directors, game developers and artists.
But The Emperor's Railroad features the living dead, and I ain't got no problem with that. I never felt like they were the point of the story, or a gimmick - they are simply a symptom of the post-apocalypse and humanity's fall.
As a result, I can tell you that these zombies here were just right. Menacing, dead things, but never overused or overstaying their welcome. They had a time and place in the story, and a good amount of impact on the characters.
The post-apocalyptic fantasy isn't new, of course. Mark Lawrence, for example, made up his own setting of this type for his Broken Empire series. However, even limited by the novella format, I found The Emperor's Railroad to yield far more in that regard than Lawrence's series. It is richly detailed and contextualized to the point of making me see these places in front of me.
This is yet another example of Haley's worldbuilding skills, which I have long admired. Everything clicks together, while still leaving room for further exploration and instilling a sense of longing for more in the reader. There are so many things left to find out about this world, its inner workings and the nature of the angels. Guy Haley has created a rich environment that he will hopefully elaborate on through many more stories in the future.
The Emperor's Railroad is a wonderful blend of themes, and underlines the old saying that technology can feel indistinguishable from magic. The whole world design, the references to real places and musings about mankind's hubris, it all comes together to create something grander than the sum of its parts.
I'd urge you to give it a try, and am eagerly awaiting the follow-up.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC for this novella from the publisher. However, I had already preordered a copy the moment I saw it, back in October 2015, long before I was approached by Tor. Make of that what you will.
The Emperor's Railroad is a science fantasy novella set in a post-apocalyptic future. Mankind has declined, and the cities and technologies of old are in ruins and forbidden. Angels govern the world from their Dreaming Cities, fickle in their attentions and approval.
The knights of the Dreaming Cities are nigh extinct, and the works of the Gone Before humbling reminders of God's wrath. Myth and technology mix into one as humanity stumbles onwards, dogged by the living dead and worse, ever fearful of the punishment of their angels.
In this restless time, Abney, a twelve year old boy (and the story's narrator, albeit with the benefit of old age and the wisdom that comes with it), and his mother make their way across the kingdom, escaping from a small town recently overrun by the undead plague. Abney's mother plans to meet with a relative in the town of Winfort, to secure her family's wellbeing.
They soon meet Quinn, a knight of the Dreaming Cities, who strikes a deal with the boy's mother to take them to their destination. Their way leads them along the old Emperor's Railroad, which, for all its might, pales in comparison to the wonders of the Gone Before.
During their days of travel, the trio encounter the undead and cutthroats alike, and risk venturing into the territory of the dragon, bane of the old Emperor, punishment sent by the angels of Pittsburgh after their war with their counterparts in Columbus, which left the latter devastated.
Things are really not looking up for mankind in this version of the future!
I've got to say, I absolutely loved the eccentric, down to earth first person narrative from the moment I read an excerpt a couple of months back. Abney's account of the events is wonderfully commentated, full of introspection and a tone that makes you feel like you are sitting right with him as his audience. At times stern and preachy, at others emotional, and whimsical at yet others, it drew me in and made me forget the world beyond the screen of my eReader.
And then there was Quinn, with his pair of swords and handgun at his hips. Enigmatic yet easy to like, the man made for a strong character to lead mother and son through the wilderness, giving commentary and explanations about the world they inhabit along the way. While many questions about him are left open by the end of the novella, I never felt like he was out of touch or too mysterious. Seeing his relationship with Abney develop throughout was delightful, and even a little sad.
I am honestly stoked to see him again in the sequel, The Ghoul King.
I am usually not a fan of zombies. Not in the least. This is mostly down to how they have been handled by authors, directors, game developers and artists.
But The Emperor's Railroad features the living dead, and I ain't got no problem with that. I never felt like they were the point of the story, or a gimmick - they are simply a symptom of the post-apocalypse and humanity's fall.
As a result, I can tell you that these zombies here were just right. Menacing, dead things, but never overused or overstaying their welcome. They had a time and place in the story, and a good amount of impact on the characters.
The post-apocalyptic fantasy isn't new, of course. Mark Lawrence, for example, made up his own setting of this type for his Broken Empire series. However, even limited by the novella format, I found The Emperor's Railroad to yield far more in that regard than Lawrence's series. It is richly detailed and contextualized to the point of making me see these places in front of me.
This is yet another example of Haley's worldbuilding skills, which I have long admired. Everything clicks together, while still leaving room for further exploration and instilling a sense of longing for more in the reader. There are so many things left to find out about this world, its inner workings and the nature of the angels. Guy Haley has created a rich environment that he will hopefully elaborate on through many more stories in the future.
The Emperor's Railroad is a wonderful blend of themes, and underlines the old saying that technology can feel indistinguishable from magic. The whole world design, the references to real places and musings about mankind's hubris, it all comes together to create something grander than the sum of its parts.
I'd urge you to give it a try, and am eagerly awaiting the follow-up.
April 29, 2016
You can find this review and more on my blog.
Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you a little gem in post-apocalyptic genre? This is a relatively short novella (only a little over 100 pages long), but it's packed full of goodies: huge and very interesting world, a great catastrophe the cause of which is not fully explained, strange beings that might or might not be angels, a mysterious knight, and an engaging narrator. What else would you need for a wonderful book?
Our narrator, Abney, is a 12-year-old boy, and the whole story is told through the prism of his knowledge and perception, even though he tells it as an old man, many years later. And this is important to know, because Abney's world had not extended past his little town until it got destroyed by the living dead. He is thrown into this vast and dangerous world after a traumatic event and armed only with the stories and beliefs his mother instilled into him.
So to him the Angels are supreme and perfect beings. God is almighty and everything that happened to mankind, from the war that destroyed all the cities of old to the plague of walking dead and even the dragon, is his punishment for the hubris of men of old. And Quinn is a Knight, which to little Abney makes him about just as legendary as the Dreaming Cities and the Angels themselves.
Even though this novella is a story of Abney's journey through the perilous Kingdom of Virginia to the village of Winfort and the safety of his cousin's home, it's also Abney's journey towards adulthood, complete with disillusionment, injustice and loss. The Angels are not as perfect as he believed them to be. God's justice isn't always just. And Knights are not the noble warriors almost larger than life he'd pictured them to be.
I loved this book. It's a small glance into a rich and complex world, but just because it's a small story of a little boy traveling a short distance (a mere 50 miles or so) through dangerous country to reach a new town, it doesn't mean that it's not interesting. In fact, it manages to introduce this world without resorting to info dumps and leaves the reader with a sense of satisfaction, because Abney's journey is done, but also with a head full of questions about what the heck happened to make the world this way and what the Dreaming Cities really are.
I can't wait to pick up the next book in the series because I want to know more about this world. Who are those Angels? Are they really winged beings sent down by God or are they robots, AIs or aliens something like that like Quinn implied? Speaking of Quinn, what promise did he break that he is seeking penance for? And who is the person he is determined to find in a place that everybody thinks is a dead wasteland? And what are the Knights? From what Abney described, Quinn has a lot more stamina and healing speed than any normal human should have.
A first book in a series did a good job when it managed to tell a compelling and self-sufficient story AND leave you with enough questions to want to pick up the next book. I say good job, Mr. Haley, because I can't wait to read the next one
PS. I received an advanced reader copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you a little gem in post-apocalyptic genre? This is a relatively short novella (only a little over 100 pages long), but it's packed full of goodies: huge and very interesting world, a great catastrophe the cause of which is not fully explained, strange beings that might or might not be angels, a mysterious knight, and an engaging narrator. What else would you need for a wonderful book?
Our narrator, Abney, is a 12-year-old boy, and the whole story is told through the prism of his knowledge and perception, even though he tells it as an old man, many years later. And this is important to know, because Abney's world had not extended past his little town until it got destroyed by the living dead. He is thrown into this vast and dangerous world after a traumatic event and armed only with the stories and beliefs his mother instilled into him.
So to him the Angels are supreme and perfect beings. God is almighty and everything that happened to mankind, from the war that destroyed all the cities of old to the plague of walking dead and even the dragon, is his punishment for the hubris of men of old. And Quinn is a Knight, which to little Abney makes him about just as legendary as the Dreaming Cities and the Angels themselves.
Even though this novella is a story of Abney's journey through the perilous Kingdom of Virginia to the village of Winfort and the safety of his cousin's home, it's also Abney's journey towards adulthood, complete with disillusionment, injustice and loss. The Angels are not as perfect as he believed them to be. God's justice isn't always just. And Knights are not the noble warriors almost larger than life he'd pictured them to be.
I loved this book. It's a small glance into a rich and complex world, but just because it's a small story of a little boy traveling a short distance (a mere 50 miles or so) through dangerous country to reach a new town, it doesn't mean that it's not interesting. In fact, it manages to introduce this world without resorting to info dumps and leaves the reader with a sense of satisfaction, because Abney's journey is done, but also with a head full of questions about what the heck happened to make the world this way and what the Dreaming Cities really are.
I can't wait to pick up the next book in the series because I want to know more about this world. Who are those Angels? Are they really winged beings sent down by God or are they robots, AIs or aliens something like that like Quinn implied? Speaking of Quinn, what promise did he break that he is seeking penance for? And who is the person he is determined to find in a place that everybody thinks is a dead wasteland? And what are the Knights? From what Abney described, Quinn has a lot more stamina and healing speed than any normal human should have.
A first book in a series did a good job when it managed to tell a compelling and self-sufficient story AND leave you with enough questions to want to pick up the next book. I say good job, Mr. Haley, because I can't wait to read the next one
PS. I received an advanced reader copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 27, 2016
Vou dar uma nota 3.5/5, mas é um 3.5 tendendo mais para 4 do que para 3 porque o livro melhora um tanto no final e, como é o primeiro livro, eu diria que isso é um bom sinal.
Particularmente achei a primeira metade do livro um tanto quanto indigesta. É muita coisa misturada e o autor não vai te introduzindo pouco a pouco ao mundo. Ele simplesmente vai jogando algumas infomações e você que se vira para entender o funcionamento do mundo. Vc aos poucos percebe que esse livro se passa em uma espécie de EUA alternativo em um futuro que "regrediu". E nesse mundo existem zumbis. E existem anjos. E aparentemente existem dragões. E essas informações são jogadas assim mesmo. E o fato de o narrador ser uma criança não ajuda muito no aspecto de clareza. Além disso, é meio repetitivo em alguns aspectos e isso é uma coisa que me incomoda demais.
Porém, a segunda metade melhora consideravelmente. Melhora a ponto da bagunça que foi a primeira metade começar a fazer algum sentido e me fazer ter vontade de ler o próximo livro em breve. Como os livros são curtinhos, vale a pena dar uma chance. E olha que eu nem sou o maior fã de histórias de zumbis.
Particularmente achei a primeira metade do livro um tanto quanto indigesta. É muita coisa misturada e o autor não vai te introduzindo pouco a pouco ao mundo. Ele simplesmente vai jogando algumas infomações e você que se vira para entender o funcionamento do mundo. Vc aos poucos percebe que esse livro se passa em uma espécie de EUA alternativo em um futuro que "regrediu". E nesse mundo existem zumbis. E existem anjos. E aparentemente existem dragões. E essas informações são jogadas assim mesmo. E o fato de o narrador ser uma criança não ajuda muito no aspecto de clareza. Além disso, é meio repetitivo em alguns aspectos e isso é uma coisa que me incomoda demais.
Porém, a segunda metade melhora consideravelmente. Melhora a ponto da bagunça que foi a primeira metade começar a fazer algum sentido e me fazer ter vontade de ler o próximo livro em breve. Como os livros são curtinhos, vale a pena dar uma chance. E olha que eu nem sou o maior fã de histórias de zumbis.
November 1, 2017
The Emperor's Railroad is all about the world-building. Because, to be honest, not that much happens in this novella.
In our future, after some vague war brought about by creatures known as Angels, America is divided into Kingdoms and Dreaming Cities. Virginia. Pittsburgh. Columbus. These places have Knights, who do the bidding of the Angels and rulers.
And Quinn is a Knight. Of where, I won't say. Because it's a spoiler, and it's COOL. He's got two swords, and a gun. And he needs them, because of the zombies. Did I mention the zombies? Well, the book starts out with a zombie fight, and you think it's going to be just another zombie book. But it's not.
It's about Quinn helping a boy and his mother reach the "safety" of a new home. The boy, Abney, is a old man, relating the tale from when he was 12. And as he does he slowly pulls back the curtain on this world. It's done in a natural way. He's telling this to people who live in that world, so he'll leave out details that anyone would leave out if they were telling this to a contemporary. That's so real, and it makes the narrative feel alive.
We never find out who or what the Angels are--we don't even see them! But Haley's built this world so well that I want nothing more than to read the next book to see if we'll find out.
It's not perfect. I found the dragon (and that entire scene) to be goofy. I found the character of Abney's mother to be full of fascinating potential, but then underutilized and minimized. Abney talks about how remarkably well-spoken Quinn is, but in the telling of this tale Quinn never uses verbiage or language other than what the other characters use. They're small things. And as I said, I'll be reading the next novella. Haley's world of the Dreaming Cities is terrific.
In our future, after some vague war brought about by creatures known as Angels, America is divided into Kingdoms and Dreaming Cities. Virginia. Pittsburgh. Columbus. These places have Knights, who do the bidding of the Angels and rulers.
And Quinn is a Knight. Of where, I won't say. Because it's a spoiler, and it's COOL. He's got two swords, and a gun. And he needs them, because of the zombies. Did I mention the zombies? Well, the book starts out with a zombie fight, and you think it's going to be just another zombie book. But it's not.
It's about Quinn helping a boy and his mother reach the "safety" of a new home. The boy, Abney, is a old man, relating the tale from when he was 12. And as he does he slowly pulls back the curtain on this world. It's done in a natural way. He's telling this to people who live in that world, so he'll leave out details that anyone would leave out if they were telling this to a contemporary. That's so real, and it makes the narrative feel alive.
We never find out who or what the Angels are--we don't even see them! But Haley's built this world so well that I want nothing more than to read the next book to see if we'll find out.
It's not perfect. I found the dragon (and that entire scene) to be goofy. I found the character of Abney's mother to be full of fascinating potential, but then underutilized and minimized. Abney talks about how remarkably well-spoken Quinn is, but in the telling of this tale Quinn never uses verbiage or language other than what the other characters use. They're small things. And as I said, I'll be reading the next novella. Haley's world of the Dreaming Cities is terrific.
November 18, 2018
I have always been a fan of apocalyptic fiction. Maybe reading George R Stewart's Earth Abides as a kid is what did it to me. In The Emperor's Railroad approximately one thousand years have passed since the fall of man. As this is the first book in a series author Guy Haley does not spend a lot of time explaining things-a Knight (Quinn) agrees to transport a boy and his mother thru dangerous territory to a place of (relative) safety. The boy (Abney) narrates the story and we get to witness a world very much unlike ours on the journey. Certain technologies are forbidden, there is a plague of what I am going to have to call zombies, you better practice the right (and only) religion, and dragons walk the Earth. This was an intriguing read. On to Part Two.
April 26, 2016
The Emperor's Railroad is a post-apocalyptic, dystopian novella.
A zombie plague, knights and angels (?), a mechanical beast, protected compounds....
The story is told in retrospect by Abney, who was a twelve-year-old boy fleeing with his mother from a town overrun by zombies at the time of the story. Now, Abney is an old man, but his stories still carry weight.
Abney relates how Quinn, a wandering knight, aids Abney and his mother on their journey to a place of safety. There are some interesting elements to the world that Haley has built, and he obviously has a larger picture in his mind; he has, however, focused on this one little episode, this journey in which Quinn accompanies Abney and his mother.
I'm not a great fan of novellas, although this one has the feeling of being part of a more overarching storyline that would reveal more about the situation of this post-apocalyptic world.
NetGalley/Tor/Forge
SciFi/Fantasy/Dystopian. April 19, 2016. Print length: 176 pages.
A zombie plague, knights and angels (?), a mechanical beast, protected compounds....
The story is told in retrospect by Abney, who was a twelve-year-old boy fleeing with his mother from a town overrun by zombies at the time of the story. Now, Abney is an old man, but his stories still carry weight.
Abney relates how Quinn, a wandering knight, aids Abney and his mother on their journey to a place of safety. There are some interesting elements to the world that Haley has built, and he obviously has a larger picture in his mind; he has, however, focused on this one little episode, this journey in which Quinn accompanies Abney and his mother.
I'm not a great fan of novellas, although this one has the feeling of being part of a more overarching storyline that would reveal more about the situation of this post-apocalyptic world.
NetGalley/Tor/Forge
SciFi/Fantasy/Dystopian. April 19, 2016. Print length: 176 pages.
May 14, 2016
“The future is ashes, the past is treasure. When you get where I am the past’ll look brighter to you as well.”
A finely-told novella about a dystopic future with zombies. Normally, I would have quit before discovering how well written it is. Well crafted.
“God has redeemed us to the level we deserve.”
The zombies cost Haley a star. They are an unnecessary, unimaginative shortcut. He’s good enough; if he’d thought about it he could have accomplished the same effect without resorting to such a tired trope.
“Everyman ever born thinks he knows how to save the world, but most of them sit on their hands.”
“Minding your own business is not a choice open to us … what great men does affects you.”
A finely-told novella about a dystopic future with zombies. Normally, I would have quit before discovering how well written it is. Well crafted.
“God has redeemed us to the level we deserve.”
The zombies cost Haley a star. They are an unnecessary, unimaginative shortcut. He’s good enough; if he’d thought about it he could have accomplished the same effect without resorting to such a tired trope.
“Everyman ever born thinks he knows how to save the world, but most of them sit on their hands.”
“Minding your own business is not a choice open to us … what great men does affects you.”
May 14, 2016
4 stars
I enjoyed this, but the narrator's frequent descriptions of his surroundings were confusing and not very interesting. I loved the amount of action, though, and really liked Quinn, a knight of the Dreaming Cities of Atlantis. There are zombies, a dragon, and plenty of hardships to keep you turning the pages. I'm looking forward to the next installment of the series. This was a short novel, providing a quick, entertaining read.
I enjoyed this, but the narrator's frequent descriptions of his surroundings were confusing and not very interesting. I loved the amount of action, though, and really liked Quinn, a knight of the Dreaming Cities of Atlantis. There are zombies, a dragon, and plenty of hardships to keep you turning the pages. I'm looking forward to the next installment of the series. This was a short novel, providing a quick, entertaining read.
May 3, 2016
This was absolutely stellar, I think I have offically changed my mind about novellas, This one is loaded down with a great post apocalyptic, dystopian world . Engaging characters, and strangely to me, a British author who does southern characters well.
Scifi, fantasy, horror all smashed into a 100 plus page package, read this one, you won't regret it.
Scifi, fantasy, horror all smashed into a 100 plus page package, read this one, you won't regret it.
April 25, 2016
This could have been a great tale. Dystopian. Fantastic. Full of interesting characters, but the dialogue is as weak as the plot is engaging. This story could have been a classic; instead it is a literary miss. Sad.
July 29, 2016
First 3/4 of this piece was interesting, well written, but very slow and a bit un-engaging. However, I loved the last 1/4, the action, the drama, the interpersonal relationship. Pretty encouraging piece from Haley.
January 31, 2017
Good story. I particularly enjoyed the dystopian world created by the author.
April 13, 2016
3.5/5 Rating Review originally posted at MyLifeMyBooksMyEscape
Fantastic history to this world
*Disclaimer: I was provided with a review copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion and review
Zombies, machines relics, prehistoric beasts, angels and heaven, and knights. These things may not seem like they would belong together, but for this story they do. Guy Haley has taken these seemingly unrelated items, and put them together to create a truly fantastic world and history.
Abney and his mother are leaving their home of New Karsville to join their cousin in Winfort. After the war, the angels set a plague of the unliving loose in Virginia, and that destroyed their home. On their way off, they are picked up by a mail-carrier to escort them - to help protect them on the road - but he soon suffers an accident which brings his death. Abney and his mother, now alone on the road, with a broken carriage, seem to be doomed to wait for either zombies or other humans to end their life. Lucky for them, their first wanderer is a knight from a Dreaming City. It is a steep price to pay for his services - half of Mrs. Collin's bridal price she'd saved - but it is a price they must pay if they wish to survive the unliving, the road, and the other half of the Emperor's Punishment: the dragon.
The story starts off fairly tense: we have a zombie attack right off the bat, with Quinn, the knight, coming in wielding two swords and a gun. After that, I was expecting an action-packed story for the whole ride, with knights and zombies. Sounds awesome right? Well, the action did lay back a little (up until the end, that is), but it turns out, the knights and zombies were only the tip of iceberg for this world.
Without a doubt, my favorite aspect of this story was the world-building and the backstory of how the world came to be as it is. At the start we have these zombies and knights - which made me think maybe a medieval setting? Then we hear about the "Gone Before" people, who created things such a concrete - which got me thinking some type of apocalyptic event happened. Okay, I'm with you so far, Mr. Haley. Then we learn of kingdoms... like, the kingdom of Pittsburg? And that there are angels... like, angels of Virginia? And that there are Dreaming Cities, where angels created knights, such as Quinn, to serve under them? And that there is also a dragon...? What is going on, and where are we?!
Turns out, that God was none to happy with what was going on down on Earth, so He took some things away (thus, the "Gone Before" people) and sent down angels to help rule. Eventually, the angels of Columbus and Pittsburg, started a war with each other, and enlisted the help of men. One of the kingdoms to help Pittsburg, was the Emperor of Virginia. In helping, the angels gave the emperor some technology from the Gone Before. The emperor did help them win the war with that technology, but he also used it for himself later on, and because of that, the angels unleashed what become known as the "Emperor's Punishment": a plaque of the unliving, and a dragon.
This backstory was slightly confusing at first for me, when the talk of angels and kingdoms of Pittsburg, and dragons, and Dreaming Cities... but eventually I was able to grasp what had happened and what was going on in the world now, and then all I wanted was to know more this world's history!
The Emperor's Railroad is told from Abney's first-person account. While he is twelve-years old in the story, the narrator Abney is an old man, recollecting to us, his time with Quinn, the Dreaming City Knight. Being from Virgnia, Abney does have a southern-accent, so it present in Abney's narration, and also the conversations of most character's dialogs. Personally, I loved this. When I was reading, in my mind, it was the voice a southern man talking, and because this dialect felt so true and good to the south, I was not forcing myself to do that; the voice came naturally, and never once did I have issue reading Abney's narrations because of it.
The only issue I had with this story, was that after that great opening scene, the story slowed down a little for me (we go back to them first leaving New Karsville and then catches back up to them at the start), and it was heavy on the narration side. Then, because of the focus on the narration, it took quite a while for the characters to develop and flush out. Abney, his mother, and Quinn, all only have a couple of lines each in dialog in the first scene, and there is nothing really unique - no idioms or anything like that - to make them stand out to me. For a while, it was "a boy" and "his mom", with "a knight" on the road. I guess I shouldn't say "boy" though. Abney is narrating, so you get a feel for him much quicker than the other two - but you understand what I'm getting at: there was nothing special to make any of their personalities feel like a character unique to this story. However, once we catch-up from the flash back (around 3 chapters in), our dialog among the three picks up and they all start to become their own.
I won't get into too much about Quinn's character, but he is a knight of a Dreaming City that made my jaw hit the ground when I found out which one it was; and when he found Abney and his mother, he was on a journey of his own, to find something that we do not know of yet...
Those few chapters at the start may not seem bad, but this novella is only 120 pages. And as much I LOVED learning the history, there was too much down time focused on world, and catching up on the character development after the slow-ish start. There are some great and tense moments throughout (there is quite an ending!), and once I hit about half way through, this novella was pure enjoyment to read!
I cannot wait for the The Ghoul King (Dreaming Cities #2) to be released in July! Quinn has a lot of mystery to him, and there is still much left to this world for us to hear about. And since we have a solid based on who Quinn's character is now, I'm expecting to learn more of his secret quest, and what happened to the angels and all the Dreaming Cities and knights. There is one other thing I am super curious about with how Haley will handle it, but to bring it up - well, that is spoiler territory. But if Haley is going to do what I think he is planning on doing with the telling of Quinn's journey, I think that is going to be pretty awesome.
3.5/5 Rating
-DJ
Fantastic history to this world
*Disclaimer: I was provided with a review copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion and review
Zombies, machines relics, prehistoric beasts, angels and heaven, and knights. These things may not seem like they would belong together, but for this story they do. Guy Haley has taken these seemingly unrelated items, and put them together to create a truly fantastic world and history.
Abney and his mother are leaving their home of New Karsville to join their cousin in Winfort. After the war, the angels set a plague of the unliving loose in Virginia, and that destroyed their home. On their way off, they are picked up by a mail-carrier to escort them - to help protect them on the road - but he soon suffers an accident which brings his death. Abney and his mother, now alone on the road, with a broken carriage, seem to be doomed to wait for either zombies or other humans to end their life. Lucky for them, their first wanderer is a knight from a Dreaming City. It is a steep price to pay for his services - half of Mrs. Collin's bridal price she'd saved - but it is a price they must pay if they wish to survive the unliving, the road, and the other half of the Emperor's Punishment: the dragon.
The story starts off fairly tense: we have a zombie attack right off the bat, with Quinn, the knight, coming in wielding two swords and a gun. After that, I was expecting an action-packed story for the whole ride, with knights and zombies. Sounds awesome right? Well, the action did lay back a little (up until the end, that is), but it turns out, the knights and zombies were only the tip of iceberg for this world.
Without a doubt, my favorite aspect of this story was the world-building and the backstory of how the world came to be as it is. At the start we have these zombies and knights - which made me think maybe a medieval setting? Then we hear about the "Gone Before" people, who created things such a concrete - which got me thinking some type of apocalyptic event happened. Okay, I'm with you so far, Mr. Haley. Then we learn of kingdoms... like, the kingdom of Pittsburg? And that there are angels... like, angels of Virginia? And that there are Dreaming Cities, where angels created knights, such as Quinn, to serve under them? And that there is also a dragon...? What is going on, and where are we?!
Turns out, that God was none to happy with what was going on down on Earth, so He took some things away (thus, the "Gone Before" people) and sent down angels to help rule. Eventually, the angels of Columbus and Pittsburg, started a war with each other, and enlisted the help of men. One of the kingdoms to help Pittsburg, was the Emperor of Virginia. In helping, the angels gave the emperor some technology from the Gone Before. The emperor did help them win the war with that technology, but he also used it for himself later on, and because of that, the angels unleashed what become known as the "Emperor's Punishment": a plaque of the unliving, and a dragon.
This backstory was slightly confusing at first for me, when the talk of angels and kingdoms of Pittsburg, and dragons, and Dreaming Cities... but eventually I was able to grasp what had happened and what was going on in the world now, and then all I wanted was to know more this world's history!
The Emperor's Railroad is told from Abney's first-person account. While he is twelve-years old in the story, the narrator Abney is an old man, recollecting to us, his time with Quinn, the Dreaming City Knight. Being from Virgnia, Abney does have a southern-accent, so it present in Abney's narration, and also the conversations of most character's dialogs. Personally, I loved this. When I was reading, in my mind, it was the voice a southern man talking, and because this dialect felt so true and good to the south, I was not forcing myself to do that; the voice came naturally, and never once did I have issue reading Abney's narrations because of it.
The only issue I had with this story, was that after that great opening scene, the story slowed down a little for me (we go back to them first leaving New Karsville and then catches back up to them at the start), and it was heavy on the narration side. Then, because of the focus on the narration, it took quite a while for the characters to develop and flush out. Abney, his mother, and Quinn, all only have a couple of lines each in dialog in the first scene, and there is nothing really unique - no idioms or anything like that - to make them stand out to me. For a while, it was "a boy" and "his mom", with "a knight" on the road. I guess I shouldn't say "boy" though. Abney is narrating, so you get a feel for him much quicker than the other two - but you understand what I'm getting at: there was nothing special to make any of their personalities feel like a character unique to this story. However, once we catch-up from the flash back (around 3 chapters in), our dialog among the three picks up and they all start to become their own.
I won't get into too much about Quinn's character, but he is a knight of a Dreaming City that made my jaw hit the ground when I found out which one it was; and when he found Abney and his mother, he was on a journey of his own, to find something that we do not know of yet...
Those few chapters at the start may not seem bad, but this novella is only 120 pages. And as much I LOVED learning the history, there was too much down time focused on world, and catching up on the character development after the slow-ish start. There are some great and tense moments throughout (there is quite an ending!), and once I hit about half way through, this novella was pure enjoyment to read!
I cannot wait for the The Ghoul King (Dreaming Cities #2) to be released in July! Quinn has a lot of mystery to him, and there is still much left to this world for us to hear about. And since we have a solid based on who Quinn's character is now, I'm expecting to learn more of his secret quest, and what happened to the angels and all the Dreaming Cities and knights. There is one other thing I am super curious about with how Haley will handle it, but to bring it up - well, that is spoiler territory. But if Haley is going to do what I think he is planning on doing with the telling of Quinn's journey, I think that is going to be pretty awesome.
3.5/5 Rating
-DJ
June 2, 2019
4.0 Stars
This is a fantastic example of a story that seamlessly blends together elements of fantasy, science fiction and horror into a cohesive narrative. While the plot was fairly predictable, I still thoroughly enjoyed the reading experience. From the first sentence, I was drawn to Quinn. He is a pretty classic badass character, yet I still loved reading about him. The story is told from the perspective of a child, which isn’t normally my favourite narrative choice, but it worked fairly well in this case. I would love to read the second novella and hopefully learn more about Quinn and his mysterious past.
This is a fantastic example of a story that seamlessly blends together elements of fantasy, science fiction and horror into a cohesive narrative. While the plot was fairly predictable, I still thoroughly enjoyed the reading experience. From the first sentence, I was drawn to Quinn. He is a pretty classic badass character, yet I still loved reading about him. The story is told from the perspective of a child, which isn’t normally my favourite narrative choice, but it worked fairly well in this case. I would love to read the second novella and hopefully learn more about Quinn and his mysterious past.
July 13, 2024
I truly am a sucker for the grizzled old man that is soft for children archetype
June 17, 2016
In the not so distant future, in a world where the dead walk and the angels rule everything, a boy and his mother undertake a treacherous journey to find their only living relative. The only thing standing between them and an army of zombies (and worse) is a knight who refuses to wear his badge.
Quinn is an agent of the angels, one of the only remaining knights in existence. But in the wake of the war and following the death of the Emperor, there's not much for a knight to do - officially. Which is fortunate for Abney and his mother. After their town was decimated, they took to the road to find Abney's mother's cousin, in the hopes that he'll offer them safe haven. But it's been some years since they last heard from the man and the journey will take them through some of the most dangerous landscape in their region.
The story is actually told from Abney's perspective some years after the events take place: he's now an older man, recounting the tale and preserving a piece of Quinn's history and legend. Which is a fabulous way to begin the Dreaming Cities series and a great premise overall - a chronicle of a man who has become legend in a world that's more akin to our own pioneer times. With zombies and monsters, of course.
The world is quite intricate and we aren't really given a full idea of the how or why of their situation. We know there was an epic battle between two groups of "angels." We also know that the angels have quashed pretty much all technology and education, infrastructure has fallen - even architecture is only to be gleaned from the remains of the Gone Before, and folks like the Emperor are controlled and eliminated if and when the angels decide they've outgrown their usefulness or become too dangerous.
Quinn, we find out, is reluctant to talk about his position. He doesn't hide it - it's quite obvious that he's a knight, but he doesn't display his badge (which shows which faction of angels he's technically tied to). The reason for this is part of Quinn's overall tale but not the focus of this particular piece.
I don't know at this time how many installments are planned for the Dreaming Cities series. I do know there is a second installment (which I've already read and have tried SO HARD not to let influence this review - because we learn more about the world) due out in July. I have my own suspicions about the angels and the truth behind this word, I'm not sure if I'll turn out to be correct or not but I think that's going to be part of the fun in reading more of this series - seeing the world unfold in the same way a mystery might. And of course learning more about Quinn, his past, and his ultimate goals!
Quinn is an agent of the angels, one of the only remaining knights in existence. But in the wake of the war and following the death of the Emperor, there's not much for a knight to do - officially. Which is fortunate for Abney and his mother. After their town was decimated, they took to the road to find Abney's mother's cousin, in the hopes that he'll offer them safe haven. But it's been some years since they last heard from the man and the journey will take them through some of the most dangerous landscape in their region.
The story is actually told from Abney's perspective some years after the events take place: he's now an older man, recounting the tale and preserving a piece of Quinn's history and legend. Which is a fabulous way to begin the Dreaming Cities series and a great premise overall - a chronicle of a man who has become legend in a world that's more akin to our own pioneer times. With zombies and monsters, of course.
The world is quite intricate and we aren't really given a full idea of the how or why of their situation. We know there was an epic battle between two groups of "angels." We also know that the angels have quashed pretty much all technology and education, infrastructure has fallen - even architecture is only to be gleaned from the remains of the Gone Before, and folks like the Emperor are controlled and eliminated if and when the angels decide they've outgrown their usefulness or become too dangerous.
Quinn, we find out, is reluctant to talk about his position. He doesn't hide it - it's quite obvious that he's a knight, but he doesn't display his badge (which shows which faction of angels he's technically tied to). The reason for this is part of Quinn's overall tale but not the focus of this particular piece.
I don't know at this time how many installments are planned for the Dreaming Cities series. I do know there is a second installment (which I've already read and have tried SO HARD not to let influence this review - because we learn more about the world) due out in July. I have my own suspicions about the angels and the truth behind this word, I'm not sure if I'll turn out to be correct or not but I think that's going to be part of the fun in reading more of this series - seeing the world unfold in the same way a mystery might. And of course learning more about Quinn, his past, and his ultimate goals!
June 9, 2016
This book is told from the POV of Abney, a 12 year-old boy that was born in the year of the Dominion of Angels 1097. Abney and his mother Sarah Hollister are on the road, trying to get from the destruction of their hometown to safety with a cousin in the town of Winfort.
The two must cross the Emperor’s Railroad in Charleston, Virginia to get to Winfort. So much easier said than done in the day and age that they live in. The Kingdom of Virginia is in constant turmoil. The states have been at war off and on for over a thousand years. A plague has killed millions of people and the undead are wandering the countryside seeking their next meal. Women are in constant danger and are valuable commodities that bring a bride’s price because they can reproduce. Humanity is now at the mercy of the angels in The Dreaming Cities. When the emperor went against church and tried to embrace the modern age, the angels sent down The Emperor’s Punishment in the form of a dragon to terrorize the country.
Abney and Sarah make the acquaintance of Quinn, a Knight of the Dreaming City of Atlantis and a servant to the angels. Quinn carries two swords, a man-killer and a dead-killer. He also carries a gun, but Abney will only ever witness him use that gun once. Sarah has struck a bargain with Quinn. Quinn will get them to Winfort safely, but it comes at a price.
Great characters in this book! I liked the fact that Abney was very realistic. He is still a child and he is scared as a child should be. He is living in constant fear for his life and his mom’s. Abney loves and respects his mother, Sarah. Sarah is a smart, capable and strong woman who has fought for her and her son’s lives to be better and taken every necessary step to make it so. Quinn is a mysterious, heroic figure but Abney and Sarah are understandably skeptical as to his true identity and motives.
All of this is set after the global devastation of our modern world, with a few other fun things thrown in from the fantasy world in the form of zombies and a dragon! And this dragon is not your average friendly dragon; this is a pretty scary, creepy dragon.
I would have liked the book to be a bit longer since this is a short dystopian read at 176 pages long. But having been introduced, I do know that I would definitely like to read more. The Emperor’s Railroad is the first book in the new Dreaming Cities series by Guy Haley.
I want to thank the publisher (Macmillan-Tor/Forge) for providing me with the ARC through Netgalley for an honest review.
The two must cross the Emperor’s Railroad in Charleston, Virginia to get to Winfort. So much easier said than done in the day and age that they live in. The Kingdom of Virginia is in constant turmoil. The states have been at war off and on for over a thousand years. A plague has killed millions of people and the undead are wandering the countryside seeking their next meal. Women are in constant danger and are valuable commodities that bring a bride’s price because they can reproduce. Humanity is now at the mercy of the angels in The Dreaming Cities. When the emperor went against church and tried to embrace the modern age, the angels sent down The Emperor’s Punishment in the form of a dragon to terrorize the country.
Abney and Sarah make the acquaintance of Quinn, a Knight of the Dreaming City of Atlantis and a servant to the angels. Quinn carries two swords, a man-killer and a dead-killer. He also carries a gun, but Abney will only ever witness him use that gun once. Sarah has struck a bargain with Quinn. Quinn will get them to Winfort safely, but it comes at a price.
Great characters in this book! I liked the fact that Abney was very realistic. He is still a child and he is scared as a child should be. He is living in constant fear for his life and his mom’s. Abney loves and respects his mother, Sarah. Sarah is a smart, capable and strong woman who has fought for her and her son’s lives to be better and taken every necessary step to make it so. Quinn is a mysterious, heroic figure but Abney and Sarah are understandably skeptical as to his true identity and motives.
All of this is set after the global devastation of our modern world, with a few other fun things thrown in from the fantasy world in the form of zombies and a dragon! And this dragon is not your average friendly dragon; this is a pretty scary, creepy dragon.
I would have liked the book to be a bit longer since this is a short dystopian read at 176 pages long. But having been introduced, I do know that I would definitely like to read more. The Emperor’s Railroad is the first book in the new Dreaming Cities series by Guy Haley.
I want to thank the publisher (Macmillan-Tor/Forge) for providing me with the ARC through Netgalley for an honest review.
December 31, 2016
The Tor novella series has been pretty reliable this year. I haven't liked all the ones I've read, but of the ones I did like, I liked them quite a bit. I'm usually hesitant to read shorter works, since I don't always feel like they have enough time to develop plots and characters enough, but I also believe that a work should only be as long as necessary, and they've hit that mark well. The Emperor's Railroad is another good one.
The novella is set in the future of our world, after a world war has devastated enough of the world to knock us back into a Medieval era. There are remnants of the world before -- the roads are no longer there, but the tunnels and cuts through the mountains remain as clear signs of the roads -- but most of them are gone. The best technology available is steam technology, but even then, its use is seen as blasphemy by many. There's a religion based around Angels who caused the devastation, and punish the living with dragons and the undead. This future world is also overrun with zombies, though this is far from being a zombie story.
The story centers on Quinn, a Knight who was put in service by the Angels. Most are dead, so Quinn is a relic of sorts, and he takes on an assignment to get a mother and her son through the wastelands so they can start a new life with a cousin. The story is told from the son's perspective as he retells the story far in the future when he's an old man, but Haley doesn't skimp on the details because of that.
The bulk of the novella is in the world-building. He tells us the state of the world and how the religion has developed from the devastation, through events as they happen in the story. The son, the mother, and the Knight are all fully realized characters, but it's their actions that tell us about this world. Haley also doesn't overlook a plot through all of this, though, as what compels us to read the story is whether or not the son makes it to the city. It's a perfect blend of plot and development.
The downside is that the bulk of the story is the world-building, tantalizing us with hints of a larger story that we won't get in this brief book. There's a second volume in this series already published (which I will definitely be reading), and I can see many more following if Haley continues it. I expect he will, since even two novellas doesn't seem like enough space to tell everything about this world.
The novella is set in the future of our world, after a world war has devastated enough of the world to knock us back into a Medieval era. There are remnants of the world before -- the roads are no longer there, but the tunnels and cuts through the mountains remain as clear signs of the roads -- but most of them are gone. The best technology available is steam technology, but even then, its use is seen as blasphemy by many. There's a religion based around Angels who caused the devastation, and punish the living with dragons and the undead. This future world is also overrun with zombies, though this is far from being a zombie story.
The story centers on Quinn, a Knight who was put in service by the Angels. Most are dead, so Quinn is a relic of sorts, and he takes on an assignment to get a mother and her son through the wastelands so they can start a new life with a cousin. The story is told from the son's perspective as he retells the story far in the future when he's an old man, but Haley doesn't skimp on the details because of that.
The bulk of the novella is in the world-building. He tells us the state of the world and how the religion has developed from the devastation, through events as they happen in the story. The son, the mother, and the Knight are all fully realized characters, but it's their actions that tell us about this world. Haley also doesn't overlook a plot through all of this, though, as what compels us to read the story is whether or not the son makes it to the city. It's a perfect blend of plot and development.
The downside is that the bulk of the story is the world-building, tantalizing us with hints of a larger story that we won't get in this brief book. There's a second volume in this series already published (which I will definitely be reading), and I can see many more following if Haley continues it. I expect he will, since even two novellas doesn't seem like enough space to tell everything about this world.
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