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Made Things #1
Made Things
She was good at making friends.
Coppelia is a street thief, a trickster, a low-level con artist. But she has something other thieves don’t… tiny puppet-like friends: some made of wood, some of metal. They don’t entirely trust her, and she doesn’t entirely understand them, but their partnership mostly works.
After a surprising discovery shakes their world to the core, Coppelia and her friends must reexamine everything they thought they knew about their world, while attempting to save their city from a seemingly impossible new threat.
Coppelia is a street thief, a trickster, a low-level con artist. But she has something other thieves don’t… tiny puppet-like friends: some made of wood, some of metal. They don’t entirely trust her, and she doesn’t entirely understand them, but their partnership mostly works.
After a surprising discovery shakes their world to the core, Coppelia and her friends must reexamine everything they thought they knew about their world, while attempting to save their city from a seemingly impossible new threat.
192 pages, Paperback
First published November 5, 2019
476 people are currently reading
2965 people want to read
About the author
Adrian Tchaikovsky
191 books17.4k followersADRIAN TCHAIKOVSKY was born in Lincolnshire and studied zoology and psychology at Reading, before practising law in Leeds. He is a keen live role-player and occasional amateur actor and is trained in stage-fighting. His literary influences include Gene Wolfe, Mervyn Peake, China Miéville, Mary Gently, Steven Erikson, Naomi Novak, Scott Lynch and Alan Campbell.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 387 reviews
October 26, 2021
On the upside, I can now spell ‘Tchaikovsky.’ Anything that isn’t spelled correctly is purely a typo. On the downside, the trouble with reading some of an author’s truly impressive works–in case you are wondering, Children of Time and Doors of Eden–is you just know when they aren’t really living up to their potential. Yes, I’m like that teacher in school who refuses to give the A to a perfectly acceptable paper because I know you can do better. Tchaikovsky can do better than this, so he gets an ambivalent C+ here, just like the programmers.
He draws a portrait of a city that seems to be divided between the desperately poor and the rich magical, and that’s about as fine-tuned as it got for me. But he keeps talking about the groups in those broad-brushed terms, rarely individual, so the city never comes alive for me. With even less physical detail than Robert Jackson Bennett’s Foundryside–a similarly book that suffered a similar disjointedness–Tchaikovsky relies mainly on asides and commentary to create this idea of division:
“He was religious in that particular way that meant he took a sanctimonious pride in the whippings he doled out for petty offences, such as being poor and not running away fast enough.”
“And with just enough starry-eyed awe, the gutter urchin confronted the magnificence of [redacted], because if the mighty craved one thing, it was validation, knowing in their heart of hearts that they were never so grand as they styled themselves; even when they were made of gold and gems.”
“because the woman had bought a map of the palace downstairs from some poor human who’d been a maidservant for the mage-lords before she’d grown too old for their eyes to find pleasing, and who’d then descended by misstep and misfortune to end up in the Barrio.”
I suppose really, it’s because it’s all tell. The worst part is that I feel like I’m missing out on being told all the really interesting stuff about the young narrator, Coppelia, and about the poppets, Teq and Arc. Their ideas of how to grow and protect their society are more than a little ominous (we all knew we should be scared of dolls, right?), and yet their ideas on gender and reproduction add a nice touch of humanity to them.
It’s a rather straightforward heist scenario. Although he manages his characteristic plot twist, I did not feel as amazed or surprised as in his other works.
Remember what I said about abilities? His writing is usually above average, but this felt a little too purplish for him. Perhaps he’s better suited to the more literal prose of sci-fi?
“The workshops of her mind were minting sincerity in unprecedented quantities, depressing the market for years to come with their adulterated coinage.”
Honestly, Tchai–get a better editor and some time to breathe between re-writes. Your work will be better for it.
It’s one continuous buddy read with my fabulous buddies, Nataliya and Stephen.
He draws a portrait of a city that seems to be divided between the desperately poor and the rich magical, and that’s about as fine-tuned as it got for me. But he keeps talking about the groups in those broad-brushed terms, rarely individual, so the city never comes alive for me. With even less physical detail than Robert Jackson Bennett’s Foundryside–a similarly book that suffered a similar disjointedness–Tchaikovsky relies mainly on asides and commentary to create this idea of division:
“He was religious in that particular way that meant he took a sanctimonious pride in the whippings he doled out for petty offences, such as being poor and not running away fast enough.”
“And with just enough starry-eyed awe, the gutter urchin confronted the magnificence of [redacted], because if the mighty craved one thing, it was validation, knowing in their heart of hearts that they were never so grand as they styled themselves; even when they were made of gold and gems.”
“because the woman had bought a map of the palace downstairs from some poor human who’d been a maidservant for the mage-lords before she’d grown too old for their eyes to find pleasing, and who’d then descended by misstep and misfortune to end up in the Barrio.”
I suppose really, it’s because it’s all tell. The worst part is that I feel like I’m missing out on being told all the really interesting stuff about the young narrator, Coppelia, and about the poppets, Teq and Arc. Their ideas of how to grow and protect their society are more than a little ominous (we all knew we should be scared of dolls, right?), and yet their ideas on gender and reproduction add a nice touch of humanity to them.
It’s a rather straightforward heist scenario. Although he manages his characteristic plot twist, I did not feel as amazed or surprised as in his other works.
Remember what I said about abilities? His writing is usually above average, but this felt a little too purplish for him. Perhaps he’s better suited to the more literal prose of sci-fi?
“The workshops of her mind were minting sincerity in unprecedented quantities, depressing the market for years to come with their adulterated coinage.”
Honestly, Tchai–get a better editor and some time to breathe between re-writes. Your work will be better for it.
It’s one continuous buddy read with my fabulous buddies, Nataliya and Stephen.
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May 15, 2023
Who, as a child, didn’t imagine their toys coming to life and interacting with them? I mean, Toy Story certainly aided in that, though it was rather creepy to think they were hiding their lives from you and gave me a huge guilt-complex about throwing away old toys, but there was also that story about the cupboard that brought toys to life. Would your toys menace you or would they be your friends and aid you on epic adventures? Made Things, the novella from the marvelous Adrian Tchaikovsky, brings us into a Victorian-era-esque fantasy world where two puppets have been brought to life. Coppelia, a Dickens-esque street thief who has escaped the orphanage and is always in the processes of escaping the police, has the ability to bring tiny homunculi to life and together they form a cute and charming team. When a heist for a gollum goes wrong, the three will have to work together and need more than their magic to save them in this page-turner of a story that might be a bit light on plot but excels in fantastical world building and blissful imaginative playfulness.
‘What’s the world coming to?...I remember when this was simple. And now there’s little doll people threatening me with a shave. Fuck me.’
This is a cool story and I’ve come to really respect Tchaikovsky for his wit and charm, managing to usually balance funny and heartfelt with gritty darkness and rather deep themes and ideas. While Made Things is certainly on the lighter side for him, it still manages to blow your mind from time to time. Plus he’s always able to write really excellent women leads as well as include a lot of queer representation so naturally into his stories. He’s doing an event at our library this summer (shoutout to Annaka for being the coolest librarian ever and making that happen) so I’ll be on a Tchaikovsky kick for awhile (if you want to attend, let me know and I can make a digital link happen). The world building here is spectacular, being done with only the minimal amount of details needed to imply a much vaster magical world just beyond the pages. The story takes place in the magical city of Loretz and the whole thing feels very British and it’s impossible to read this without implying an accent in your head (especially the cops running about calling Coppelia “moppet” all the time) and that just adds to the fun. This would make a wonderful film (please adapt novellas instead of novels, they work better and you don’t have to cut things out!) and if I had my way it would be done as claymation. It’s just a really cute story with plenty of action and heart.
‘This city is ruled by magicians who hoard their magic. The poor are ruled by thieves who hoard gold and what magic they can get. Anything the human girl has can be taken from her.’
On the subject of world building, I really enjoyed how much this story gets into the society of Loretz, especially in terms of social class. We have a definite ruling class that oppresses the poorer classes, and within them there is a hierarchy such as the thief lords and their band of petty thieves. Made Things is rather trope-y and straightforward, but he uses tropes in fun and interesting ways to create this magical world. It feels familiar in a good way, the way the best of children’s films or books tend to do and makes me wonder if this would actually have been improved being written more aimed at a younger audience (which is to say, fan of Neil Gaiman would likely enjoy this book and should definitely check out his others). There is also a wonderful excursion through the world of magic and all the different sorts of living puppets. Coppelia is helping them expand their society and this becomes a rather lovely look at found families, the sort you might least expect.
Overall, this is quite cute and fun, but a bit light. I'm also very underversed in fantasy so that might play a part in it. Had this been any other author I might have enjoyed this a bit more but I just know Tchaikovsky has more in him and also after a few really excellent novels “in the genre” this just felt more like a palette cleanser than anything. Which is fine, and it works wonderfully as such and I suspect a lot of readers will have a blast with this. I will certainly be reading more Tchaikovsky.
3.5/5
‘What’s the world coming to?...I remember when this was simple. And now there’s little doll people threatening me with a shave. Fuck me.’
This is a cool story and I’ve come to really respect Tchaikovsky for his wit and charm, managing to usually balance funny and heartfelt with gritty darkness and rather deep themes and ideas. While Made Things is certainly on the lighter side for him, it still manages to blow your mind from time to time. Plus he’s always able to write really excellent women leads as well as include a lot of queer representation so naturally into his stories. He’s doing an event at our library this summer (shoutout to Annaka for being the coolest librarian ever and making that happen) so I’ll be on a Tchaikovsky kick for awhile (if you want to attend, let me know and I can make a digital link happen). The world building here is spectacular, being done with only the minimal amount of details needed to imply a much vaster magical world just beyond the pages. The story takes place in the magical city of Loretz and the whole thing feels very British and it’s impossible to read this without implying an accent in your head (especially the cops running about calling Coppelia “moppet” all the time) and that just adds to the fun. This would make a wonderful film (please adapt novellas instead of novels, they work better and you don’t have to cut things out!) and if I had my way it would be done as claymation. It’s just a really cute story with plenty of action and heart.
‘This city is ruled by magicians who hoard their magic. The poor are ruled by thieves who hoard gold and what magic they can get. Anything the human girl has can be taken from her.’
On the subject of world building, I really enjoyed how much this story gets into the society of Loretz, especially in terms of social class. We have a definite ruling class that oppresses the poorer classes, and within them there is a hierarchy such as the thief lords and their band of petty thieves. Made Things is rather trope-y and straightforward, but he uses tropes in fun and interesting ways to create this magical world. It feels familiar in a good way, the way the best of children’s films or books tend to do and makes me wonder if this would actually have been improved being written more aimed at a younger audience (which is to say, fan of Neil Gaiman would likely enjoy this book and should definitely check out his others). There is also a wonderful excursion through the world of magic and all the different sorts of living puppets. Coppelia is helping them expand their society and this becomes a rather lovely look at found families, the sort you might least expect.
Overall, this is quite cute and fun, but a bit light. I'm also very underversed in fantasy so that might play a part in it. Had this been any other author I might have enjoyed this a bit more but I just know Tchaikovsky has more in him and also after a few really excellent novels “in the genre” this just felt more like a palette cleanser than anything. Which is fine, and it works wonderfully as such and I suspect a lot of readers will have a blast with this. I will certainly be reading more Tchaikovsky.
3.5/5
November 3, 2021
Tchaikovsky-lite. Still quite good, and has some teeth, but tends to hold back the bite.
It’s a straightforward fantasy adventure with homunculi, thieves and mages, a quick and easy read under the surface of which you sense just a hint of deeper and darker themes, but it barely brushes against them. And so I assume it would be well-suited for a bit younger reader - although it’s not entirely cozy or warm/fuzzy.
It’s a good read on a chilly rainy afternoon, curled up in a chair under a warm blanket. It’s entertaining and with a good flow, and is never boring — but doesn’t quite leave a deep impression — and I think it was meant to be just that, a fun palate-cleanser. From any other author it would have been a great read, but we all know that Tchaikovsky can do better.
3.5 stars.
———
Buddy read with Carol and Stephen.
“[…]If you were a thief in Loretz, then your fingers itched for the magic the place was famous for.”
It’s a straightforward fantasy adventure with homunculi, thieves and mages, a quick and easy read under the surface of which you sense just a hint of deeper and darker themes, but it barely brushes against them. And so I assume it would be well-suited for a bit younger reader - although it’s not entirely cozy or warm/fuzzy.
“This city is ruled by magicians who hoard their magic. The poor are ruled by thieves who hoard gold and what magic they can get. Anything the human girl has can be taken from her.”
It’s a good read on a chilly rainy afternoon, curled up in a chair under a warm blanket. It’s entertaining and with a good flow, and is never boring — but doesn’t quite leave a deep impression — and I think it was meant to be just that, a fun palate-cleanser. From any other author it would have been a great read, but we all know that Tchaikovsky can do better.
“It’s not skill that makes them mage-lords. It’s a fat inheritance, is all. So: no different to any other city, save the nature of where the power comes from.”
3.5 stars.
———
Buddy read with Carol and Stephen.
November 20, 2019
Full review, first posted on Fantasy Literature:
Adrian Tchaikovsky is an unusually versatile author. I never know what to expect from him — insect and shapeshifter fantasy, Iron Man-inspired science fiction, and Regency/Napoleonic historical fantasy are just a few examples — but I know it’s going to be imaginative and intelligently written. The last work I read by him, Walking to Aldebaran, was science fictional horror with an unusual literary streak. In a nearly 180 degree turn, Tchaikovsky now offers up the novella Made Things, a magical gaslamp fantasy involving living puppets and a heist.
Coppelia is a seventeen-year-old puppeteer, with enough magic to make her a gifted artist at carving intricate, lifelike puppets. She’s also an orphan, barely scraping by in the city of Loretz, the renowned city of magic and mages. The local police, the Broadcaps, have been out to get her since she climbed out of a window of the orphanage six years ago and escaped to street life and petty thievery.
But Coppelia has made some new friends lately: some 6-inch-tall puppets made by an archmage long ago, brought to life by magic, have moved to her city and decided to throw their lot in with hers. Now when Coppelia puts on a puppet show, these living mannikins, or homunculi, sneak around the audience and pick their pockets. The mannikins and Coppelia share the spoils, and she keeps their existence a secret and helps them carve new puppets, which they can bring to life by infusing them with magic from stolen charms and enchanted trinkets.
It’s a difficult life, but gradually getting better for both Coppelia and the mannikins. Then the local crime lord takes an interest in Coppelia and decides that she would be a useful member of a crew sent to break into the mages’ palace and investigate a report of a life-size mannikin … and to steal whatever they can. The illicit adventure could make or break Coppelia.
Made Things is a well-told, whimsical fantasy adventure that, like the professional thieves, has a few nice tricks up its sleeves. There are a few unexpected twists in the plot, and an attention to detail that increases the appeal of the story. For example, the details about the homunculi are fascinating: they’re made out of wood, metal, wax, fabric and even paper or bones. Each puppet has a distinct personality, and you’ll get attached to Arc and Tef, the two puppets who have grown closest to Coppelia. The homunculi also have an interesting differing take on gender.
Tchaikovsky also weaves in the theme of the use and abuse of power, seen in both the greedy mage-lords who ruthlessly control the city and the crime lords who equally mercilessly rule the underclass. Even the puppets’ society has privileged rulers who let other puppets take all the risks.
After the horror-steeped intensity of Walking to Aldebaran, Made Things feels like a much lighter work, despite a fair amount of violence and its examination of oppression. It’s a quick, enjoyable read with some heft to it. Come for the whimsy of the living puppets; stay for the well-drawn characters and insightful writing.
I received a free copy for review from the publisher through NetGalley. Thank you!
Content notes: Some violence and gore, and a handful of F-bombs.
Adrian Tchaikovsky is an unusually versatile author. I never know what to expect from him — insect and shapeshifter fantasy, Iron Man-inspired science fiction, and Regency/Napoleonic historical fantasy are just a few examples — but I know it’s going to be imaginative and intelligently written. The last work I read by him, Walking to Aldebaran, was science fictional horror with an unusual literary streak. In a nearly 180 degree turn, Tchaikovsky now offers up the novella Made Things, a magical gaslamp fantasy involving living puppets and a heist.
Coppelia is a seventeen-year-old puppeteer, with enough magic to make her a gifted artist at carving intricate, lifelike puppets. She’s also an orphan, barely scraping by in the city of Loretz, the renowned city of magic and mages. The local police, the Broadcaps, have been out to get her since she climbed out of a window of the orphanage six years ago and escaped to street life and petty thievery.
But Coppelia has made some new friends lately: some 6-inch-tall puppets made by an archmage long ago, brought to life by magic, have moved to her city and decided to throw their lot in with hers. Now when Coppelia puts on a puppet show, these living mannikins, or homunculi, sneak around the audience and pick their pockets. The mannikins and Coppelia share the spoils, and she keeps their existence a secret and helps them carve new puppets, which they can bring to life by infusing them with magic from stolen charms and enchanted trinkets.
It’s a difficult life, but gradually getting better for both Coppelia and the mannikins. Then the local crime lord takes an interest in Coppelia and decides that she would be a useful member of a crew sent to break into the mages’ palace and investigate a report of a life-size mannikin … and to steal whatever they can. The illicit adventure could make or break Coppelia.
Made Things is a well-told, whimsical fantasy adventure that, like the professional thieves, has a few nice tricks up its sleeves. There are a few unexpected twists in the plot, and an attention to detail that increases the appeal of the story. For example, the details about the homunculi are fascinating: they’re made out of wood, metal, wax, fabric and even paper or bones. Each puppet has a distinct personality, and you’ll get attached to Arc and Tef, the two puppets who have grown closest to Coppelia. The homunculi also have an interesting differing take on gender.
Tchaikovsky also weaves in the theme of the use and abuse of power, seen in both the greedy mage-lords who ruthlessly control the city and the crime lords who equally mercilessly rule the underclass. Even the puppets’ society has privileged rulers who let other puppets take all the risks.
After the horror-steeped intensity of Walking to Aldebaran, Made Things feels like a much lighter work, despite a fair amount of violence and its examination of oppression. It’s a quick, enjoyable read with some heft to it. Come for the whimsy of the living puppets; stay for the well-drawn characters and insightful writing.
I received a free copy for review from the publisher through NetGalley. Thank you!
Content notes: Some violence and gore, and a handful of F-bombs.
February 11, 2020
This was a short, entertaining book featuring some very likeable, living puppets. Not keen on the cover though - my imagination drew much better looking ones in my head!
This author is one of my favourites and he has the most enormous range. I never know what to expect when I pick up one of his books although for me his sci fi are his masterpieces. Made Things was very imaginative. The characters were interesting as was the magic world they lived in.
I enjoyed it but it will not live on in my memory the way some of his other books do!
This author is one of my favourites and he has the most enormous range. I never know what to expect when I pick up one of his books although for me his sci fi are his masterpieces. Made Things was very imaginative. The characters were interesting as was the magic world they lived in.
I enjoyed it but it will not live on in my memory the way some of his other books do!
December 19, 2025
I've wanted to try Adrian Tchaikovsky for a while now and I figured that a little novella about magical puppets would be a good start. Considering that he mainly writes science fiction I'm not sure if this book was the most representative for his work, but I had a good time either way. The story takes place in Loretz, a city of magic, where young Coppelia is a puppeteer and a thief. Law enforcement has its eyes on her, but she always manages to escape and that is mainly because she is acquainted with a group of living puppets who help her frequently. They are the made things that the title refers to and they easily were the most fascinating part of this book. They are creatures made of metal, wood, paper, wax, fabric or bone and they have their whole own culture and interests while humans barely know of them. I personally think that the short story Precious Little Things dives into all of that way better than the original novella and I was glad that it was included in this edition. Made Things on the other hand is more about the human characters. It's a story about craftwork and creation, but also about gangs and casual thievery and a full-blown heist. There's action and violence, but there are also genuinely wholesome character moments and I liked how everyone went out of their way to rescue others. Coppelia finds herself in more danger than she's used to when she uncovers a secret of the magical city and crosses paths with a legendary being. You can probably see that there are a lot of ideas worked into this short novella and I think that a full-length novel would have explored all of them much better. There also would have been more room for character work which came a bit short here. I would love to read about Coppelia's early life or about the creation of the puppets or about the plenty of other characters that got POVs from time to time. The story could easily fill twice the amount of pages and maybe that would have helped me with warming up to the writing style better too. Sometimes I really had a hard time understanding what the puppets were talking about, but it got better as the story went on and it probably would have been no problem in a 400-page book. Overall this was an interesting little read that impressed me most with its creativity and now I'm looking forward to other works by Adrian Tchaikovsky. 3.5 stars.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan / Tor UK for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan / Tor UK for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
May 5, 2025
7/10
No se merece tener solo las 3 estrellas pero no me llega a la 4.
Ya sabéis que a mí las novelas cortas no me suelen llegar muy arriba. Los personajes siempre - y en este caso igual- me parece que se quedan cortos, a medio definir.
En este caso en 150 pags aparecen al menos 4 que tenían un potencial de la leche y que se han quedado a medio construir.
Eso sí, las criaturas fabricadas han sido de lo más originales. Y eso que el sistema de magia tb queda sin definir.
Me leo y sí, se queda en tres aunque es una lectura más que aceptable.
Vale, sí, ya sé que últimamente ando tacaño dando puntuaciones. Ya se me pasará.
No se merece tener solo las 3 estrellas pero no me llega a la 4.
Ya sabéis que a mí las novelas cortas no me suelen llegar muy arriba. Los personajes siempre - y en este caso igual- me parece que se quedan cortos, a medio definir.
En este caso en 150 pags aparecen al menos 4 que tenían un potencial de la leche y que se han quedado a medio construir.
Eso sí, las criaturas fabricadas han sido de lo más originales. Y eso que el sistema de magia tb queda sin definir.
Me leo y sí, se queda en tres aunque es una lectura más que aceptable.
Vale, sí, ya sé que últimamente ando tacaño dando puntuaciones. Ya se me pasará.
August 4, 2022
4 Stars
The sequel to Precious Little Things.
The “puppets” have left their sanctuary and have tentatively infiltrated the human world, and what they find is so much possibility but so much danger as well…
These magical impossibilities form a partnership with Moppet, a poor vagabond who survives on petty crime and making magical dolls to serve the elite. When Moppet is dragged into a heist against her will and captured, what she finds can upset her world social order. Her tiny new friends make a bold move to rescue her despite all odds.
Historical, alternate universe where magic rules all. An unique adventure that I quite enjoyed!
The sequel to Precious Little Things.
The “puppets” have left their sanctuary and have tentatively infiltrated the human world, and what they find is so much possibility but so much danger as well…
These magical impossibilities form a partnership with Moppet, a poor vagabond who survives on petty crime and making magical dolls to serve the elite. When Moppet is dragged into a heist against her will and captured, what she finds can upset her world social order. Her tiny new friends make a bold move to rescue her despite all odds.
Historical, alternate universe where magic rules all. An unique adventure that I quite enjoyed!
Read
December 4, 2019A delightful fantasy novella set in a city of magic and thieves. Ophaned puppeteer Coppelia is trying to make a dishonest living and also to build bodies for a race of tiny magical homunculi who reproduce by imbuing made bodies (of wax, paper, metal, wood etc) with magic. Things go south in a suitably dramatic way.
Beautifully written, well plotted, great characters, and a masterpiece of world building in a small space. Hugely enjoyable.
Beautifully written, well plotted, great characters, and a masterpiece of world building in a small space. Hugely enjoyable.
January 22, 2020
What a great, well considered idea! And so darn cute!
I bumped this novel up my TBR list after I read the short story prequel "Precious Little Things" a few days ago in the Tor.com short fiction Fall edition and was hooked.
Tchaikovsky's homunculi are a bit like Toy Story for adults, with more thoughtfulness and inventive worldbuilding. As with all his works he again succeeds in creating three-dimensional absolutely likeable characters, giving them distinctive voices and seasoning his storytelling with wit and love.
The plot on its own is nothing world shattering new, but it is Tchaikovsky who is working with it, so it turned - yet again - in a great comfort read that never dragged and has the reader rooting for the big small heroes.
I'm all up for more stories in this world.
(and isn't it quite handy that, if you want to read a large spectrum from scientific SF to typical D&D Fantasy, you only need to pick up one author? Tchaikovsky's broad talent never ceases to fascinate me)
I bumped this novel up my TBR list after I read the short story prequel "Precious Little Things" a few days ago in the Tor.com short fiction Fall edition and was hooked.
Tchaikovsky's homunculi are a bit like Toy Story for adults, with more thoughtfulness and inventive worldbuilding. As with all his works he again succeeds in creating three-dimensional absolutely likeable characters, giving them distinctive voices and seasoning his storytelling with wit and love.
The plot on its own is nothing world shattering new, but it is Tchaikovsky who is working with it, so it turned - yet again - in a great comfort read that never dragged and has the reader rooting for the big small heroes.
I'm all up for more stories in this world.
(and isn't it quite handy that, if you want to read a large spectrum from scientific SF to typical D&D Fantasy, you only need to pick up one author? Tchaikovsky's broad talent never ceases to fascinate me)
July 29, 2020
The Puppets Have Come to Town
Move over Pinocchio and Gepeto. There’s a new game in town. Yes, there’s a puppeteer, but she’s also a thief, an orphan, and the best friend the little people (the homunculus) ever had. The little people, you ask. Why yes, they are only six inches tall and are made of wood, metal, and paper and they’ve been brought to life by magic. This is a quieter fantasy about a city ruled mercilessly by great magi and those who would have influence battling and maneuvering for a piece of the pie. It’s filled with magic and dreams.
Move over Pinocchio and Gepeto. There’s a new game in town. Yes, there’s a puppeteer, but she’s also a thief, an orphan, and the best friend the little people (the homunculus) ever had. The little people, you ask. Why yes, they are only six inches tall and are made of wood, metal, and paper and they’ve been brought to life by magic. This is a quieter fantasy about a city ruled mercilessly by great magi and those who would have influence battling and maneuvering for a piece of the pie. It’s filled with magic and dreams.
November 25, 2019
Adrian Tchaikovsky is a versatile author. Whether he's writing about a far future, spiders, artificial intelligences, or any number of other things in his stories, I'm happy to check them out. This novella is a fantasy in a world with mages, homunculi and thieves.
The main character Coppelia is a thief and puppeteer, working for other, more successful criminals, and stealing little bits and bobs of magicked items to augment her slight magic so she can enhance her puppets. She has some help from two little homunculi, who lighten her audience of their magicked jewellery and charms. The homuculi were created by a master mage and have recently made their way to Loretz, Coppellia's city, and home to many powerful mages. When Coppelia must participate in a break-in at the mage's palace, the homunculi are with her, and together find something big and hugely important to the tiny creatures.
I was a little bit confused at the start of this story, but soon found myself enjoying the adventure and the many interesting aspects of this story. I loved the homunculi culture and the divisions within it, and the long range plans of these made people. And the sheer diversity of appearance and materials they encompassed. I also liked the way Tchaikovsky examined power and its abuses through the mages, their enforces, and the wider population of Loretz and its criminals.
This was an enjoyable story of a fascinating set of characters; I hope Tchaikovsky returns to this world again, in addition to the short story Precious Little Things.
The main character Coppelia is a thief and puppeteer, working for other, more successful criminals, and stealing little bits and bobs of magicked items to augment her slight magic so she can enhance her puppets. She has some help from two little homunculi, who lighten her audience of their magicked jewellery and charms. The homuculi were created by a master mage and have recently made their way to Loretz, Coppellia's city, and home to many powerful mages. When Coppelia must participate in a break-in at the mage's palace, the homunculi are with her, and together find something big and hugely important to the tiny creatures.
I was a little bit confused at the start of this story, but soon found myself enjoying the adventure and the many interesting aspects of this story. I loved the homunculi culture and the divisions within it, and the long range plans of these made people. And the sheer diversity of appearance and materials they encompassed. I also liked the way Tchaikovsky examined power and its abuses through the mages, their enforces, and the wider population of Loretz and its criminals.
This was an enjoyable story of a fascinating set of characters; I hope Tchaikovsky returns to this world again, in addition to the short story Precious Little Things.
January 13, 2020
Is there no limit to Adrian Tchaikovsky's creativity? This is my first fantasy work by him, but it does not disappoint. Beautifully written and wonderfully entertaining. I only wish there were more stories written in this fascinating world!
October 20, 2020
Made Things is fun; the sort of story that made you wish there was more to it, but clipped along so nicely that you are ultimately glad there wasn't.
There is something notably admirable in the way we are handed, essentially, a cut-scene from what could have been a fairly epic saga, if you ignore the ending. We land in the middle of the quest of the titular 'Made Things', magically imbued (and wonderfully inventive) little automata who simply want to find a way to survive and ideally even thrive. They find a kindred spirit in the human artisan Coppelia, who has learned to just barely survive by thievery in the magical and corrupt city of Loretz.
In such a tight little novella, we get a remarkable sense of setting, of character and of story. It is a complete little heist tale that has the hallmarks of a traditional fantasy with some cogs and magic-as-steam thrown in. There is a wide world of potential peeking around the edges of the main story, and Tchaikovsky seems content to leave all of those possibilities to the reader.
All that lurking potential, though, in a story that is really only a small scene from what feels like a grander quest, leaves one feeling like some opportunity has been missed. My biggest disappointment was the tidiness of the ending, a wrap-up that suggests that this one event was ultimately the end point for the whole thing, which just doesn't feel right.
Still, not every fantasy has to be an epic saga. This was charmingly enjoyable and mostly satisfying, without overstaying its welcome.
There is something notably admirable in the way we are handed, essentially, a cut-scene from what could have been a fairly epic saga, if you ignore the ending. We land in the middle of the quest of the titular 'Made Things', magically imbued (and wonderfully inventive) little automata who simply want to find a way to survive and ideally even thrive. They find a kindred spirit in the human artisan Coppelia, who has learned to just barely survive by thievery in the magical and corrupt city of Loretz.
In such a tight little novella, we get a remarkable sense of setting, of character and of story. It is a complete little heist tale that has the hallmarks of a traditional fantasy with some cogs and magic-as-steam thrown in. There is a wide world of potential peeking around the edges of the main story, and Tchaikovsky seems content to leave all of those possibilities to the reader.
All that lurking potential, though, in a story that is really only a small scene from what feels like a grander quest, leaves one feeling like some opportunity has been missed. My biggest disappointment was the tidiness of the ending, a wrap-up that suggests that this one event was ultimately the end point for the whole thing, which just doesn't feel right.
Still, not every fantasy has to be an epic saga. This was charmingly enjoyable and mostly satisfying, without overstaying its welcome.
November 2, 2025
A short, fun, and engaging heist fantasy from Adrian Tchaikovsky. In a somewhat magical city divided into the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’, Coppelia is a have-not, surviving through petty thievery with the help of some homunculi - tiny puppet-like companions. But when petty thievery turns to larger endeavours in the city’s richer, magical quarter, things start to get a bit “interesting”.
I enjoy Tchaikovsky’s writing, always delivering believable characters and interesting plots. And this one was no exception - some tight plotting, interesting plot twists, and a good range of unique characters. However, I was left wanting a little bit more from the depth, background, and motivation of the characters and the homunculi than was really possible in the length of a novella.
So a nice, quick, competent, distracting read, but not something I would necessarily come back to.
Thank you #NetGalley and Pan MacMillan Tor for the free review copy of #MadeThings without obligation. All opinions are my own.
I enjoy Tchaikovsky’s writing, always delivering believable characters and interesting plots. And this one was no exception - some tight plotting, interesting plot twists, and a good range of unique characters. However, I was left wanting a little bit more from the depth, background, and motivation of the characters and the homunculi than was really possible in the length of a novella.
So a nice, quick, competent, distracting read, but not something I would necessarily come back to.
Thank you #NetGalley and Pan MacMillan Tor for the free review copy of #MadeThings without obligation. All opinions are my own.
March 2, 2025
Adrian Tchaikovsky es un escritor versátil que no me ha decepcionado hasta ahora. Escribe óperas espaciales y fantasías épicas con la misma facilidad, e incluso sus obras más breves son lecturas agradables. Made Things es una pequeña novela corta sobre una ladrona huérfana con un poco de magia que crece en una ciudad de fantasía distópica. No tiene el alcance de la serie Children of Time o The Final Architecture pero al menos es una novela independiente e interesante.
Coppelia vive en una ciudad gobernada por archimagos. Se las arregla con el robo y un poco de magia, ya que muchos ciudadanos tienen algún talento mágico. Sus padres tenían un poco de talento mágico y fueron llevados a los asilos de pobres, para nunca más ser vistos. Ahora ella se las arregla como una ladrona que rinde el homenaje apropiado a los señores del crimen que gobiernan por encima de ella.
El secreto de Coppelia es que se ha hecho amiga de una tribu de homúnculos: pequeños golems construidos mágicamente que, a pesar de su construcción artificial, son seres vivos y pensantes. Hasta ahora, Coppelia ha mantenido en secreto su existencia y ellos la han ayudado en algunas de sus travesuras. No confían del todo en ella ni en ningún humano, pero tienen un plan propio: multiplicarse y establecer colonias independientes que no tengan que esconderse en las sombras.
La mayor parte de la historia está contada desde el punto de vista de Coppelia, pero Tchaikovsky también nos da una idea de las mentes y el diálogo de los homúnculos. Hay historias paralelas que se desarrollan a lo largo de esta novela: es en gran medida una historia sobre privilegios y opresión. Los señores magos de la ciudad son egoístas e insensibles, y actúan como los estereotípicos aristócratas ricos y capullos que intimidan a sus inferiores, y Coppelia y sus compatriotas ladrones revelan en sus pensamientos y acciones que la revolución está enterrada en lo más profundo de sus corazones, un sueño imposible pero que sigue estando ahí. Esto se refleja en el miedo de los homúnculos, que deben confiar en un solo humano talentoso como Coppelia, pero saben que los humanos podrían destruirlos a todos si no tienen cuidado.
Coppelia, debido a su talento para los títeres y la fabricación de intrincados objetos mecánicos (el mismo talento que atrajo a los homúnculos hacia ella), se ve envuelta involuntariamente en un atraco en la torre de un archimago. Ahí es donde empieza la acción y necesitará la ayuda de sus amigos, humanos y otros.
Me encantó la trama, la ambientación y los personajes. Homúnculos mágicos, artífices mágicos, ladrones y señores ladrones, gólems y magos corruptos. Buenos ingredientes, ¿verdad?
Espero que el autor regrese a este universo algún día. Y definitivamente leeré mucho más a Adrian Tchaikovsky
Coppelia vive en una ciudad gobernada por archimagos. Se las arregla con el robo y un poco de magia, ya que muchos ciudadanos tienen algún talento mágico. Sus padres tenían un poco de talento mágico y fueron llevados a los asilos de pobres, para nunca más ser vistos. Ahora ella se las arregla como una ladrona que rinde el homenaje apropiado a los señores del crimen que gobiernan por encima de ella.
El secreto de Coppelia es que se ha hecho amiga de una tribu de homúnculos: pequeños golems construidos mágicamente que, a pesar de su construcción artificial, son seres vivos y pensantes. Hasta ahora, Coppelia ha mantenido en secreto su existencia y ellos la han ayudado en algunas de sus travesuras. No confían del todo en ella ni en ningún humano, pero tienen un plan propio: multiplicarse y establecer colonias independientes que no tengan que esconderse en las sombras.
La mayor parte de la historia está contada desde el punto de vista de Coppelia, pero Tchaikovsky también nos da una idea de las mentes y el diálogo de los homúnculos. Hay historias paralelas que se desarrollan a lo largo de esta novela: es en gran medida una historia sobre privilegios y opresión. Los señores magos de la ciudad son egoístas e insensibles, y actúan como los estereotípicos aristócratas ricos y capullos que intimidan a sus inferiores, y Coppelia y sus compatriotas ladrones revelan en sus pensamientos y acciones que la revolución está enterrada en lo más profundo de sus corazones, un sueño imposible pero que sigue estando ahí. Esto se refleja en el miedo de los homúnculos, que deben confiar en un solo humano talentoso como Coppelia, pero saben que los humanos podrían destruirlos a todos si no tienen cuidado.
Coppelia, debido a su talento para los títeres y la fabricación de intrincados objetos mecánicos (el mismo talento que atrajo a los homúnculos hacia ella), se ve envuelta involuntariamente en un atraco en la torre de un archimago. Ahí es donde empieza la acción y necesitará la ayuda de sus amigos, humanos y otros.
Me encantó la trama, la ambientación y los personajes. Homúnculos mágicos, artífices mágicos, ladrones y señores ladrones, gólems y magos corruptos. Buenos ingredientes, ¿verdad?
Espero que el autor regrese a este universo algún día. Y definitivamente leeré mucho más a Adrian Tchaikovsky
November 29, 2025
This story about a young girl/puppeteer/thief who’s also somewhat a magician is enjoyable from the very beginning. This is what the author does so well: start somewhere right in the middle of a story and lure you in with his wonderful way of writing. And of course, his wonderful way to create characters, both good and bad. I especially love the way this story unfolds, going very well one moment but leading to absolutely catastrophic events the other. And all the while, there is that wonderful strange world this story is set in, with rich thieves, poor thieves, rich magicians and poor magicians.
I wouldn’t have missed this and I’m very happy to have discovered another book by this author that is becoming a favourite of mine very fast.
Although I’m not a fan of Fantasy usually, with elves and magicians and whatnot, Tchaikovsky weaves fantasy elements with a little horror and a lot of insight into the (human) characters.
I can recommend this book to every reader who wants to read ‘something different’.
Thanks to Pan MacMillan and Netgalley for this review copy.
I wouldn’t have missed this and I’m very happy to have discovered another book by this author that is becoming a favourite of mine very fast.
Although I’m not a fan of Fantasy usually, with elves and magicians and whatnot, Tchaikovsky weaves fantasy elements with a little horror and a lot of insight into the (human) characters.
I can recommend this book to every reader who wants to read ‘something different’.
Thanks to Pan MacMillan and Netgalley for this review copy.
June 27, 2020
Ahoy there mateys! This author's work is fairly new to me but I am really enjoying it so far. It seems that the author writes in a variety of styles with a variety of subjects. The first sci-fi novella was walking to aldebaran which was definitely unusual but made me laugh. The second, a novel called dogs of war, took some time to track down but I ended up finding that one interesting too. Strange sci-fi about bioforms but good. So I was looking forward to reading this fantasy that involves puppets.
This world building was freaking awesome. The story follows Coppelia who is a thief and pickpocket with an unusual ability - to make intricate puppets. But not just any puppets. These six inch tall puppets are alive. Made out of wood, metal, and other materials, the tiny magical beings have recently moved to the city of Loretz. Coppelia and the homunculi strike a mutually beneficial deal for survival. Until the local crime boss gives them no choice but to help with a heist.
Seriously the homunculi were just awesome. I loved how the different materials influenced how they functioned. I loved that how they dealt with gender. I loved the back story of their origins. I loved their plans for the future. And I loved their friendship with Coppelia. I could have read about them for a lot longer.
Besides the amazing world, the plot was also unpredictable in the best way possible. The story felt light at times and very dark at others. Coppelia was fun to follow and I did actually get anxious for her chances. The book did not end up where I thought it would. Cool.
The only negatives were I got a lot of the criminals mixed up and also the plot details are fading already. That said, I would certainly reread this one and enjoy refreshing me memory. Arrr!
This world building was freaking awesome. The story follows Coppelia who is a thief and pickpocket with an unusual ability - to make intricate puppets. But not just any puppets. These six inch tall puppets are alive. Made out of wood, metal, and other materials, the tiny magical beings have recently moved to the city of Loretz. Coppelia and the homunculi strike a mutually beneficial deal for survival. Until the local crime boss gives them no choice but to help with a heist.
Seriously the homunculi were just awesome. I loved how the different materials influenced how they functioned. I loved that how they dealt with gender. I loved the back story of their origins. I loved their plans for the future. And I loved their friendship with Coppelia. I could have read about them for a lot longer.
Besides the amazing world, the plot was also unpredictable in the best way possible. The story felt light at times and very dark at others. Coppelia was fun to follow and I did actually get anxious for her chances. The book did not end up where I thought it would. Cool.
The only negatives were I got a lot of the criminals mixed up and also the plot details are fading already. That said, I would certainly reread this one and enjoy refreshing me memory. Arrr!
November 19, 2024
Que Tchaikovsky es uno de mis autores preferidos no es ningún secreto. Por lo que las expectativas que tenía con Criaturas Fabricadas eran altas, pero las ha cumplido.
En loretz se respira magia en cada rincón, pero son los señores de la Convocatorias los que lo tienen. El resto de ciudadanos sobrevive en las calles. Coppelia es una ladrona, pero es diferente al resto porque tiene unos pequeños amigos parecidos a marionetas que la ayudan. Pero, como siempre, el destino hará que Coppelia y sus ayudantes se topen con descubrimiento que tambaleará todo lo que conocen.
Tchaikovsky es un autor muy versátil, y en esta novela demuestra una vez más que se desenvuelve muy bien en las novelas cortas. Unos personajes muy bien planteados, una trama interesante (plagada de magia e injusticias a partes iguales) y un worldbuilding muy bien desarrollado en apenas unas páginas. ¿Lo malo? Que me hubiera gustado que la historia tuviera 300 páginas más.
Seres diminutos, robos, magia, secretos, poder... Hacen de Criaturas Fabricadas una novela corta pero intensa que seguro que os gustará si os gusta la fantasía.
En loretz se respira magia en cada rincón, pero son los señores de la Convocatorias los que lo tienen. El resto de ciudadanos sobrevive en las calles. Coppelia es una ladrona, pero es diferente al resto porque tiene unos pequeños amigos parecidos a marionetas que la ayudan. Pero, como siempre, el destino hará que Coppelia y sus ayudantes se topen con descubrimiento que tambaleará todo lo que conocen.
Tchaikovsky es un autor muy versátil, y en esta novela demuestra una vez más que se desenvuelve muy bien en las novelas cortas. Unos personajes muy bien planteados, una trama interesante (plagada de magia e injusticias a partes iguales) y un worldbuilding muy bien desarrollado en apenas unas páginas. ¿Lo malo? Que me hubiera gustado que la historia tuviera 300 páginas más.
Seres diminutos, robos, magia, secretos, poder... Hacen de Criaturas Fabricadas una novela corta pero intensa que seguro que os gustará si os gusta la fantasía.
December 7, 2019
You know Pinocchio, right? This is not his story. Here the Made Things or rather the homunculi come across as a separate world of clans and types with their own society and ecosystem. They connect with the world of humans via the help of the Moppet, aka our main character Coppelia.
This is a fantasy heist story. Not my favourite trope, it‘s usually too formulaic for my taste. Which this is, to some extent.
The story didn‘t do a thing for me. I actually considered to DNF this, but it probably doesn‘t do the story justice. I missed Tchaikovsky‘s humour. Maybe he is more suited to science fiction?
2.5 stars, rounded up (barely)
This is a fantasy heist story. Not my favourite trope, it‘s usually too formulaic for my taste. Which this is, to some extent.
The story didn‘t do a thing for me. I actually considered to DNF this, but it probably doesn‘t do the story justice. I missed Tchaikovsky‘s humour. Maybe he is more suited to science fiction?
2.5 stars, rounded up (barely)
May 13, 2020
I feel like this was right up my alley, but I couldn’t really follow it for some reason. And because of this I quickly bored.
November 25, 2025
First published on FanFiAddict: https://fanfiaddict.com/review-made-t...
Continuing my Novella November reading challenge, I dived into another of Tchaikovsky’s shorter works! This one is doing the rounds lately as well, due to The Broken Binding’s special edition of it 😀
Although not one of my favourite Tchaikovsky books, it is perhaps the most whimsical that I’ve read, with true heart, underdogs, and found family running through its core.
There are so many wonderful characterisations and descriptions in this world that I had to re-listen to lines over and over again. This is full of the child-like wonder and awe of knowing there is real magic out there in the world, and the small made things can actually have life. The small puppets and the vastly larger golem bring a sprinkling of wonder to this magic-drenched city, where thieves and half-mages exist in a tenuous balance. It reminded me in equal parts of Toy Story, A Wizard’s Guide To Defensive Baking, and The Borrowers.
It dives a bit deeper into that, with the homunculi having their own desires, needs, and fears, and how those living in the gutters of society would do anything to increase their survivability. There are the standard tropes of an upper and under city, and we’re always rooting for the lower classes to keep out of the clutches of authority.
I enjoyed how history is written by winners, and what we’re told to believe isn’t always accurate. This tale occasionally brushes some darker themes, but the story doesn’t focus on that, which keeps everything very surface level and light hearted.
It feels like the story is set in a world much grander and more lived in than we get to see in these handful of pages, and one I’d love to explore as a full novel or series. It’s wonderfully atmospheric, with a rag-tag group of characters trying to make the best of what they have in a world that is ultimately against them. This is a setting and story that I feel will resonate with many people!
The audiobook was also expertly narrated by the author himself, which always brings an extra element of authenticity to the read.
Continuing my Novella November reading challenge, I dived into another of Tchaikovsky’s shorter works! This one is doing the rounds lately as well, due to The Broken Binding’s special edition of it 😀
Although not one of my favourite Tchaikovsky books, it is perhaps the most whimsical that I’ve read, with true heart, underdogs, and found family running through its core.
There are so many wonderful characterisations and descriptions in this world that I had to re-listen to lines over and over again. This is full of the child-like wonder and awe of knowing there is real magic out there in the world, and the small made things can actually have life. The small puppets and the vastly larger golem bring a sprinkling of wonder to this magic-drenched city, where thieves and half-mages exist in a tenuous balance. It reminded me in equal parts of Toy Story, A Wizard’s Guide To Defensive Baking, and The Borrowers.
It dives a bit deeper into that, with the homunculi having their own desires, needs, and fears, and how those living in the gutters of society would do anything to increase their survivability. There are the standard tropes of an upper and under city, and we’re always rooting for the lower classes to keep out of the clutches of authority.
I enjoyed how history is written by winners, and what we’re told to believe isn’t always accurate. This tale occasionally brushes some darker themes, but the story doesn’t focus on that, which keeps everything very surface level and light hearted.
It feels like the story is set in a world much grander and more lived in than we get to see in these handful of pages, and one I’d love to explore as a full novel or series. It’s wonderfully atmospheric, with a rag-tag group of characters trying to make the best of what they have in a world that is ultimately against them. This is a setting and story that I feel will resonate with many people!
The audiobook was also expertly narrated by the author himself, which always brings an extra element of authenticity to the read.
May 3, 2025
Tchaikovsky nunca decepciona. Me ha encantado todo: los personajes, la ambientación, la historia... Superchula esta novelita corta.
December 26, 2019
actual rating: 2.5
This should have been right up my alley but unfortunately I just couldn't get into it. I might have just not been in the right mood, but I felt like none of the characters really stood out and it made the book fall a little bit flat to me. Definitely a good concept but I wish the character had been as original as the setting.
This should have been right up my alley but unfortunately I just couldn't get into it. I might have just not been in the right mood, but I felt like none of the characters really stood out and it made the book fall a little bit flat to me. Definitely a good concept but I wish the character had been as original as the setting.
October 28, 2021
Disappointing. Tchaikovsky is very up and down for me - great peaks and dismal valleys.
Like Tchaikovsky”s Walking to Aldebaran and I suspect most of his books - this is my third by him - we get an interesting premise: a young puppet maker meets and befriends living puppets with minds of their own (homunculi) in a city of magic. Tin soldier, rag doll, an artfully designed wooden thief, an oragami witch made of crippled old paper, each homunculus is unique. They seek to grow their ranks. To do so, they need to steal magic. Some are open to any means including murder. Even a puppet can poison and slit a throat. A lot to work with. Does the young puppeteer help the potential murderous homunculi or do they working together find other means. Tchaikovsky hints at a lost creator, interesting ideas on gender and homunculi reproduction, and other fun concepts.
Unfortunately....like Walking to Aldebarren, Tchaikovsky then abandons said cool idea to write a tepid, tropey fantasy involving mostly human characters, and pompous cartoon magicians pitted against the lowly human barrio poor who serve them. Boo.
Four stars for the puppet first half, 1.5 for the waste of time second, net three stars rounded up because I did like a few characters. On my buy borrow skip scale: A tepid borrow at best.
Another fun buddy read with Nataliya and Carol.
Like Tchaikovsky”s Walking to Aldebaran and I suspect most of his books - this is my third by him - we get an interesting premise: a young puppet maker meets and befriends living puppets with minds of their own (homunculi) in a city of magic. Tin soldier, rag doll, an artfully designed wooden thief, an oragami witch made of crippled old paper, each homunculus is unique. They seek to grow their ranks. To do so, they need to steal magic. Some are open to any means including murder. Even a puppet can poison and slit a throat. A lot to work with. Does the young puppeteer help the potential murderous homunculi or do they working together find other means. Tchaikovsky hints at a lost creator, interesting ideas on gender and homunculi reproduction, and other fun concepts.
Unfortunately....like Walking to Aldebarren, Tchaikovsky then abandons said cool idea to write a tepid, tropey fantasy involving mostly human characters, and pompous cartoon magicians pitted against the lowly human barrio poor who serve them. Boo.
Four stars for the puppet first half, 1.5 for the waste of time second, net three stars rounded up because I did like a few characters. On my buy borrow skip scale: A tepid borrow at best.
Another fun buddy read with Nataliya and Carol.
November 11, 2019
I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.The nitty-gritty: A delightfully rough and dangerous story with magical, animated creatures who captured my heart.
This is my first Adrian Tchaikovsky book, but it certainly won’t be my last. I was charmed by this short tale about a talented young girl and her magical friends, who work together to overthrow a monstrous golem. But let’s rewind and I’ll explain things better…
The story is set in the city of Loretz, a city known for its magic. Coppelia, or "Moppet" as she's sometimes called, is a skilled woodworker and thief. She managed to escape the orphanage after her parents disappeared years ago, and now Coppelia lives and works for a woman named Auntie Countless, using her woodworking skills to create beautiful puppets that earn her room and board.
But Coppelia has a big secret. She has made friends with two “homunculi,” tiny doll-like puppets who have come to life after being exposed to magic. Tef and Arc and the rest of their colony live in the rafters of Coppelia’s attic studio, and over time they have come to trust her. Coppelia is helping them grow their colony by making more of their kind out of whatever materials she can get her hands on—wood, metal, buttons, paper—and even more importantly, she’s kept their existence a secret from Auntie.
But when a rumor about a hidden workshop and an incredible, life-sized golem reach the ears of crime lord Gaston Ferrulio, he calls upon Auntie and Coppelia to stage a heist and steal the golem from the stronghold of the palace on the hill. They agree to the job, but things do not quite go as planned. Coppelia finds herself in a great deal of danger, with only two small friends who might save the day.
Made Things is told in a rather formal, epic fantasy-like voice that, while not my favorite style of writing, certainly fit perfectly with this story. The hardscrabble lives of the characters, the division between classes, the dark and gloomy Victorian era-like setting and the colorful characters themselves—all these things combine to create an ambiance that was completely absorbing. I also loved the inclusion of a social class pecking order, including thief-lords who control the criminal underground. Coppelia’s life is only marginally better since she escaped the orphanage, but she’s lucky to have a certain amount of freedom to do what she wants, even though some of her activities are decidedly dangerous.
Speaking of which, the homunculi, especially Tef and Arc, made this story for me. I loved the idea of carving small dolls or puppets out of wood and metal and imbuing them with magic. There is a complex backstory about their origins—and being a novella, I’m quite impressed that Mr. Tchaikovsky was able to make this backstory so rich and vivid—that involves a Tower and a “Maker” who used his magic to make the first of the “made folk.” The folk themselves have learned how to create more of their own kind and thus grow their numbers to make more colonies, for strength in numbers is the only way for them to survive. I loved how gentle they are, creatures who simply want to live their lives without anyone bothering them. They long to create “children,” and in fact one of the characters is anxiously awaiting the magical awakening of his “daughter,” who he has lovingly crafted himself. All the homunculi, particularly Tef and Arc, are vividly drawn, with distinct personalities and characteristics.
The relationship between Tef, Arc and Coppelia was wonderful! Coppelia is curious by nature and her curiosity leads her to become fast friends with Tef and Arc. She knows she must keep their identity a secret, for fear of exposing them to humans who might want to exploit them, and the fact that Tef and Arc trust her says a lot about their character. When Coppelia is captured later in the story, Tef and Arc decide to rescue her without a single thought for themselves.
But don’t let all this sweetness fool you: there’s plenty of bite to this story. Most all the other characters are shady in one way or another, and Coppelia really is in quite a bit of danger (even she knows it, and admits at one point that her end might be near). But as the tag line on the front of the book says, “Making friends has never been so important,” and friendship appears to be stronger than evil, as it should be.
The only negative for me was the overabundance of characters. I have to admit all their quirky names (Lucas Maulhands, Belly Keach, Sweaty Losef) started to blend together after a while, and with such a short and compact story, I’m not sure they were all necessary.
But in the end, I enjoyed this story immensely. I know that Adrian Tchaikovsky is best known for his science fiction, but I can assure you that he knows his way around a fantasy tale as well.
Big thanks to the publisher for supplying a review copy.This review originally appeared on Books, Bones & Buffy
“What’s the world coming to?” the big human said. “I remember when this was simple. And now there’s little doll people threatening me with a shave. Fuck me.”
This is my first Adrian Tchaikovsky book, but it certainly won’t be my last. I was charmed by this short tale about a talented young girl and her magical friends, who work together to overthrow a monstrous golem. But let’s rewind and I’ll explain things better…
The story is set in the city of Loretz, a city known for its magic. Coppelia, or "Moppet" as she's sometimes called, is a skilled woodworker and thief. She managed to escape the orphanage after her parents disappeared years ago, and now Coppelia lives and works for a woman named Auntie Countless, using her woodworking skills to create beautiful puppets that earn her room and board.
But Coppelia has a big secret. She has made friends with two “homunculi,” tiny doll-like puppets who have come to life after being exposed to magic. Tef and Arc and the rest of their colony live in the rafters of Coppelia’s attic studio, and over time they have come to trust her. Coppelia is helping them grow their colony by making more of their kind out of whatever materials she can get her hands on—wood, metal, buttons, paper—and even more importantly, she’s kept their existence a secret from Auntie.
But when a rumor about a hidden workshop and an incredible, life-sized golem reach the ears of crime lord Gaston Ferrulio, he calls upon Auntie and Coppelia to stage a heist and steal the golem from the stronghold of the palace on the hill. They agree to the job, but things do not quite go as planned. Coppelia finds herself in a great deal of danger, with only two small friends who might save the day.
Made Things is told in a rather formal, epic fantasy-like voice that, while not my favorite style of writing, certainly fit perfectly with this story. The hardscrabble lives of the characters, the division between classes, the dark and gloomy Victorian era-like setting and the colorful characters themselves—all these things combine to create an ambiance that was completely absorbing. I also loved the inclusion of a social class pecking order, including thief-lords who control the criminal underground. Coppelia’s life is only marginally better since she escaped the orphanage, but she’s lucky to have a certain amount of freedom to do what she wants, even though some of her activities are decidedly dangerous.
Speaking of which, the homunculi, especially Tef and Arc, made this story for me. I loved the idea of carving small dolls or puppets out of wood and metal and imbuing them with magic. There is a complex backstory about their origins—and being a novella, I’m quite impressed that Mr. Tchaikovsky was able to make this backstory so rich and vivid—that involves a Tower and a “Maker” who used his magic to make the first of the “made folk.” The folk themselves have learned how to create more of their own kind and thus grow their numbers to make more colonies, for strength in numbers is the only way for them to survive. I loved how gentle they are, creatures who simply want to live their lives without anyone bothering them. They long to create “children,” and in fact one of the characters is anxiously awaiting the magical awakening of his “daughter,” who he has lovingly crafted himself. All the homunculi, particularly Tef and Arc, are vividly drawn, with distinct personalities and characteristics.
The relationship between Tef, Arc and Coppelia was wonderful! Coppelia is curious by nature and her curiosity leads her to become fast friends with Tef and Arc. She knows she must keep their identity a secret, for fear of exposing them to humans who might want to exploit them, and the fact that Tef and Arc trust her says a lot about their character. When Coppelia is captured later in the story, Tef and Arc decide to rescue her without a single thought for themselves.
But don’t let all this sweetness fool you: there’s plenty of bite to this story. Most all the other characters are shady in one way or another, and Coppelia really is in quite a bit of danger (even she knows it, and admits at one point that her end might be near). But as the tag line on the front of the book says, “Making friends has never been so important,” and friendship appears to be stronger than evil, as it should be.
The only negative for me was the overabundance of characters. I have to admit all their quirky names (Lucas Maulhands, Belly Keach, Sweaty Losef) started to blend together after a while, and with such a short and compact story, I’m not sure they were all necessary.
But in the end, I enjoyed this story immensely. I know that Adrian Tchaikovsky is best known for his science fiction, but I can assure you that he knows his way around a fantasy tale as well.
Big thanks to the publisher for supplying a review copy.This review originally appeared on Books, Bones & Buffy
August 8, 2019
Full review at The Quill to Live: https://thequilltolive.com/2019/08/08...
I have a fear of dolls. Or maybe not a fear, so much as I find them intensely off putting. Their miniature faces are creepy, and any horror story that involves dolls coming to life and murdering people deeply upsets me. So, when the lovely people at Tor.com sent me Made Things, a novella by Adrian Tchaikovsky about a dollmaker who brings her creations to life, I had mixed feelings. On the one hand, Tchaikovsky is one of the most imaginative writers of the last decade and I generally like almost everything he writes. On the other hand, creepy murder dolls that might infest my nightmares. It is safe to say that I was negatively disposed to the concept from the start, thus the fact that I loved this novella should say something about Tchaikovsky’s skill as a writer.
The plot of the book is short and sweet: Coppelia is a street thief, a trickster, a low-level con artist living in a famous magical city. She is an urchin barely scraping by in a metropolis run by elite archmages. Normally this would spell doom for a person in her situation, but Coppelia has a little magic up her sleeves. She is a skilled puppet maker and has survived by stealing money from unsuspecting tourists through a puppet show. However, recently her creations have been coming to life. She discovers she has the power to infuse tiny homunculi with life, and she is not the only one. By teaming up with these made things they have opened doors for her into new opportunities. They don’t entirely trust her, and she doesn’t entirely understand them, but their partnership seems to work well. However, when they make a magical discovery that threatens to destroy the city they all call home, they must make some hard choices.
I know that plot description was fairly vague, but this is a novella and I didn’t want to spoil too much. The story is a lot of fun and involves a lot of politicking, character growth, a heist, and some really cool magic. The world-building has an impressive amount of detail for a novella. The city feels fleshed out and lived in, the magic feels complicated but adheres to clearly stated rules, and the threats/antagonists are easy to identify and rally against. A lot of this is helped by the cast being so likable. There are essentially three leads and a large support cast. For the leads, we have the aforementioned Coppelia and two homunculi: Tef and Arc. All three are wonderful and each have unique wants and agendas that are explored through the story but revolve around a core theme – survival in a harsh world. For Coppelia, that means scraping together a living in a world that cares nothing for her. For Tef and Arc, it means scraping together an existence in hiding when the world would pull them apart to see how they work.
The homunculi, in general, are fascinating. Tchaikovsky has done an impressively imaginative job of exploring all sorts of made people. There are one made of wax, paper, steel, wood, and any other substance you can think of. Some are small, some are large, some can fly, others are immobile. And for each, Tchaikovsky provides a window into how their existence, and personalities, are defined by what they were made from. A large steel doll might be courageous and brash, but have a phobia of water and rusting. A homunculus made of paper sees threats to her existence everywhere, as a simple tear could mean the end of her. Together they make an eclectic and fascinating people that are fun to explore.
The book is a rollercoaster ride with a fast pace and an explosive end. I read it in a single sitting and never thought once about putting it down. The ending does feel slightly abrupt, but that is often par for the course with novellas and is more a problem with the medium than anything else. Tchaikovsky’s Made Things is a fun, well built, adventure that helped me look at magical dolls in a new way. It has an interesting world, likable characters, and attention to detail when it comes to bringing these homunculi to life. Hopefully, this novella will be the starting point of a new novel as I want to dig a little deeper into everything. I would love to come back and overturn more rocks, dredge more canals, and explore more magical vaults to discover what else Tchaikovsky has hidden in Made Things. You probably can’t go wrong with this short story, and I recommend you check it out.
Rating: Made Things – 8.0/10
I have a fear of dolls. Or maybe not a fear, so much as I find them intensely off putting. Their miniature faces are creepy, and any horror story that involves dolls coming to life and murdering people deeply upsets me. So, when the lovely people at Tor.com sent me Made Things, a novella by Adrian Tchaikovsky about a dollmaker who brings her creations to life, I had mixed feelings. On the one hand, Tchaikovsky is one of the most imaginative writers of the last decade and I generally like almost everything he writes. On the other hand, creepy murder dolls that might infest my nightmares. It is safe to say that I was negatively disposed to the concept from the start, thus the fact that I loved this novella should say something about Tchaikovsky’s skill as a writer.
The plot of the book is short and sweet: Coppelia is a street thief, a trickster, a low-level con artist living in a famous magical city. She is an urchin barely scraping by in a metropolis run by elite archmages. Normally this would spell doom for a person in her situation, but Coppelia has a little magic up her sleeves. She is a skilled puppet maker and has survived by stealing money from unsuspecting tourists through a puppet show. However, recently her creations have been coming to life. She discovers she has the power to infuse tiny homunculi with life, and she is not the only one. By teaming up with these made things they have opened doors for her into new opportunities. They don’t entirely trust her, and she doesn’t entirely understand them, but their partnership seems to work well. However, when they make a magical discovery that threatens to destroy the city they all call home, they must make some hard choices.
I know that plot description was fairly vague, but this is a novella and I didn’t want to spoil too much. The story is a lot of fun and involves a lot of politicking, character growth, a heist, and some really cool magic. The world-building has an impressive amount of detail for a novella. The city feels fleshed out and lived in, the magic feels complicated but adheres to clearly stated rules, and the threats/antagonists are easy to identify and rally against. A lot of this is helped by the cast being so likable. There are essentially three leads and a large support cast. For the leads, we have the aforementioned Coppelia and two homunculi: Tef and Arc. All three are wonderful and each have unique wants and agendas that are explored through the story but revolve around a core theme – survival in a harsh world. For Coppelia, that means scraping together a living in a world that cares nothing for her. For Tef and Arc, it means scraping together an existence in hiding when the world would pull them apart to see how they work.
The homunculi, in general, are fascinating. Tchaikovsky has done an impressively imaginative job of exploring all sorts of made people. There are one made of wax, paper, steel, wood, and any other substance you can think of. Some are small, some are large, some can fly, others are immobile. And for each, Tchaikovsky provides a window into how their existence, and personalities, are defined by what they were made from. A large steel doll might be courageous and brash, but have a phobia of water and rusting. A homunculus made of paper sees threats to her existence everywhere, as a simple tear could mean the end of her. Together they make an eclectic and fascinating people that are fun to explore.
The book is a rollercoaster ride with a fast pace and an explosive end. I read it in a single sitting and never thought once about putting it down. The ending does feel slightly abrupt, but that is often par for the course with novellas and is more a problem with the medium than anything else. Tchaikovsky’s Made Things is a fun, well built, adventure that helped me look at magical dolls in a new way. It has an interesting world, likable characters, and attention to detail when it comes to bringing these homunculi to life. Hopefully, this novella will be the starting point of a new novel as I want to dig a little deeper into everything. I would love to come back and overturn more rocks, dredge more canals, and explore more magical vaults to discover what else Tchaikovsky has hidden in Made Things. You probably can’t go wrong with this short story, and I recommend you check it out.
Rating: Made Things – 8.0/10
November 25, 2019
A writer strives to give their characters the spark of life, as does the puppeteer. It can’t be done. The cold, hard, truth is, it would require magic, and there’s no such thing as magic. And yet, if there’s one thing in this entire universe that a perfectly reasonable person might be forgiven for thinking of as magical, wouldn’t it be life?
That magical spark is at the heart of Adrian Tchaikovsky’s short novel “Made Things,” where petty thief and master puppet-maker/puppeteer Coppelia (AKA “Moppet”) discovers that her best friends are not flesh and blood, but wood, steel, candlewax, and paper.
“Made Things” is an entertaining take on a very old and done-many-ways-many-times story. There’s lots to like about Tchaikovsky’s lyrical riff. One of the things that most impressed me was how he was able to bring the Made Things to life (metaphorically) as characters _of_ the story, at the same time that the Made Things were being brought to life (literally) magically _in_ the story.
Take a little time to digest that, if you need to.
“Made Things” is a child’s fairy tale that has grown up, grabbed a knife, and taken a few vengeful stabs at powerful people who think they deserve the power they have—and clearly don’t, given how they got that power, and what they do with it. It is a well-written, fun, quick, hand-made-character-driven action/adventure fantasy, with solid plot twists.
In other words, it’s got a lot going for it, and it works on a number of levels, some rising above (without abandoning) “mere” entertainment. I don't know how I stumbled across it, but glad I did.
That magical spark is at the heart of Adrian Tchaikovsky’s short novel “Made Things,” where petty thief and master puppet-maker/puppeteer Coppelia (AKA “Moppet”) discovers that her best friends are not flesh and blood, but wood, steel, candlewax, and paper.
“Made Things” is an entertaining take on a very old and done-many-ways-many-times story. There’s lots to like about Tchaikovsky’s lyrical riff. One of the things that most impressed me was how he was able to bring the Made Things to life (metaphorically) as characters _of_ the story, at the same time that the Made Things were being brought to life (literally) magically _in_ the story.
Take a little time to digest that, if you need to.
“Made Things” is a child’s fairy tale that has grown up, grabbed a knife, and taken a few vengeful stabs at powerful people who think they deserve the power they have—and clearly don’t, given how they got that power, and what they do with it. It is a well-written, fun, quick, hand-made-character-driven action/adventure fantasy, with solid plot twists.
In other words, it’s got a lot going for it, and it works on a number of levels, some rising above (without abandoning) “mere” entertainment. I don't know how I stumbled across it, but glad I did.
xx-dnf-skim-reference
October 26, 2020Even in paper I just couldn't get into it. I'm in a bad book slump due to family crises, but still, this reads like a resurrected early work, pronouns w/out antecedents & other awkwardnesses that seem to be artifacts of attempts to give a certain kind of fantasy tone. Oh well; I guess I don't need another orphan & magi & puppets story.
November 11, 2019
It’s fair to say that Adrian Tchaikovsky is one of my favourite contemporary authors. I’ve only read a handful of his works to date but every one of them has been excellent in its own way and the more I read the more eager I become for his next book. Made Things is no exception.
It’s an absolutely delightful novella that follows the trials and tribulations of puppeteer Coppelia as she finds herself getting pulled into the machinations of the local thieves guild and their ongoing struggles against the Magelords of Loretz. Tagging along for the ride are two of Coppelia’s little friends, Tef and Arc, mysterious homunculi who are themselves fighting to find a place in a world that’s much larger than they could ever imagine.
At its heart this is a story about little people, both figuratively and literally, and their struggle to overcome the pressure placed upon them by the bigger, stronger people above them. The homunculi have to learn how to exist in a world built for humans, placing their trust in Coppelia first and then the thieves the puppeteer finds herself running with. Coppelia in turn must overcome her fear of the thieves and face up to the Magelords who may be responsible for the disappearance of her parents years before. And then there’s the petty squabbles of the Magelords themselves, mostly confined to the background in this particular story but still ever-present in the effect those squabbles have on all the social strata laid out below them. While this may be a simple story on the surface, the detail and depth that shows through is simply gorgeous.
As well as a remarkable eye for detail, Tchaikovsky also has this seemingly effortless ability to bring his characters to life, and that’s true even if those characters aren’t human. Whether the characters are uplifted spiders (as in Children of Time) or enhanced anthropomorphic animals (as in Dogs of War), his characters always manage to get under the reader’s skin, and the characters here are no different. Whether we’re sharing Coppelia’s fear and apprehension as she follows the thieves into the tunnels under the Magelords’ domain, or getting swept away in Tef and Arc’s passion as they attempt to rally the rest of their people to help Coppelia, the characters feel like they’re a part of our lives almost as soon as they’re introduced. We want them to win through and make the best out of whatever situation they find themselves in, and that makes us want to keep on reading.
This is definitely a book I’d recommend to fans of high fantasy, especially if you like your fantasy to be very much character driven. It’s the third of Tchaikovsky’s books I’m giving five stars to, and every single one of them is well deserved.
It’s an absolutely delightful novella that follows the trials and tribulations of puppeteer Coppelia as she finds herself getting pulled into the machinations of the local thieves guild and their ongoing struggles against the Magelords of Loretz. Tagging along for the ride are two of Coppelia’s little friends, Tef and Arc, mysterious homunculi who are themselves fighting to find a place in a world that’s much larger than they could ever imagine.
At its heart this is a story about little people, both figuratively and literally, and their struggle to overcome the pressure placed upon them by the bigger, stronger people above them. The homunculi have to learn how to exist in a world built for humans, placing their trust in Coppelia first and then the thieves the puppeteer finds herself running with. Coppelia in turn must overcome her fear of the thieves and face up to the Magelords who may be responsible for the disappearance of her parents years before. And then there’s the petty squabbles of the Magelords themselves, mostly confined to the background in this particular story but still ever-present in the effect those squabbles have on all the social strata laid out below them. While this may be a simple story on the surface, the detail and depth that shows through is simply gorgeous.
As well as a remarkable eye for detail, Tchaikovsky also has this seemingly effortless ability to bring his characters to life, and that’s true even if those characters aren’t human. Whether the characters are uplifted spiders (as in Children of Time) or enhanced anthropomorphic animals (as in Dogs of War), his characters always manage to get under the reader’s skin, and the characters here are no different. Whether we’re sharing Coppelia’s fear and apprehension as she follows the thieves into the tunnels under the Magelords’ domain, or getting swept away in Tef and Arc’s passion as they attempt to rally the rest of their people to help Coppelia, the characters feel like they’re a part of our lives almost as soon as they’re introduced. We want them to win through and make the best out of whatever situation they find themselves in, and that makes us want to keep on reading.
This is definitely a book I’d recommend to fans of high fantasy, especially if you like your fantasy to be very much character driven. It’s the third of Tchaikovsky’s books I’m giving five stars to, and every single one of them is well deserved.
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