The Clockwork Dynasty in SpecFic Buddy Reads

Nov 16, 2017 Trish rated it liked it · review of another edition

Bwahahahahaha - all this massive build-up through the ages and THIS is how it ends? Now THAT's what I call anti-climactic.

But first things first: this book is about avtomats, machines that can look very similar to humans but above all can talk and are conscious just like us!
Apparently, they've existed for thousands of years and IF any human ever got wind of their existance (which wasn't often), they snuffed his or her light out. Nevertheless, they aren't exactly subtle because those that haven' ...more

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Nov 17, 2017 Bradley rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy, sci-fi, steampunk, 2017-shelf

Sometimes I find a book that I *want* to love more than I do when I actually read it. It's a shame this has to be one of those since I've really enjoyed the other three novels I've read by D. H. Wilson. I mean, what's not to love? Ancient clockwork robots hanging out and consuming each other for the anima to keep them going a bit longer, all of whom are hidden from sight from the rest of us fleshbags. Sounds a bit like Highlander, others have said. Robot Highlander. And sure, it shares that as a Sometimes I find a book that I *want* to love more than I do when I actually read it. It's a shame this has to be one of those since I've really enjoyed the other three novels I've read by D. H. Wilson. I mean, what's not to love? Ancient clockwork robots hanging out and consuming each other for the anima to keep them going a bit longer, all of whom are hidden from sight from the rest of us fleshbags. Sounds a bit like Highlander, others have said. Robot Highlander. And sure, it shares that as a core, but there's a lot more going on here.

For one, there's the core worldbuilding with the words that bring these golems to life. These guys follow the idea of the word and it defines their whole long lives. There are hints that they might be 5 thousand years old. There are even more interesting hints that they may be much, much older. Ancient. As in pottery robots. The line dropped early on mentioning that there's nothing preventing history from moving in cycles, indeed the truth is there, that higher technology very well could have been discovered and lost many times over the millennia, and this novel is a cool exploration of just that idea.

Another great idea is the focus on the Tao for these machines. Each of the robots has its opposite (read non-western), often complimentary idea/word. It works like soulmates, like the Taoist symbol, like The Way. Attraction and strife, loss and waywardness follow when the other number dies or is consumed. Of course, this idea is rather subtle despite the obvious symbolism of the artifacts, but it fits with the characterizations and the themes of the novel. Cool stuff!

I even appreciated all the wide sweep of history from 300 years to present, all Highlander-like.

I suppose the only real issue I had with the novel was the characters. I didn't really get invested in any of them. The surrounding ideas and situations, even some of the emotional bits of the characters were rather good, but that isn't as consistent as I might have liked. A lot happens, but the characters felt stiff. Even the 12-year-old doll who suffers a life as an immortal child has been done tons already and I was just looking at it with somewhat jaundiced eyes. Hell, the previous book I just read had the same kind of character, and of course, I remember at least four other similar immortal girls from different series, including Rice. It's been done. Yes, she's angry. She changes over time and has a complicated relationship, sure, but her reasons for spurring Peter aren't really... good. You know? Maybe it's just me.

And then there's the overall story. Simple, but relies on fancy staggered reveals and hops from the present to the past over and over. It can be done well and Wilson does it pretty well, but I suppose it really requires a deep investment in the characters to function perfectly. It kinda fell flat for me, in other words.

I've liked his other novels much more, but I can appreciate the ideas in this one. I just wish I liked it more, overall.
...more

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Nov 12, 2017 Lindsay rated it really liked it

June is a specialist in ancient mechanical devices who stumbles across a race of mechanical beings who won't hesitate to kill to protect the secret of their existence. Protected by one and hunted by another, June's eyes are opened to way these centuries-old creatures have lived among humans and manipulated our civilizations. Meanwhile we get the backstory of her protector, Peter Alexyevich from when he and his sister Elena were first brought back from oblivion by the mechanician of Czar Peter th ...more

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Nov 14, 2017 Veronique rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read2017

The cover art was the first thing that attracted me to this novel, but it was the premise introduced in the blurb that had me intrigued. A ‘race’ of avtomats, sentient beings made from ‘clockwork’ mechanics, are trying to survive in our world and discover the mystery behind their creation, while keeping their nature and existence a secret. This is of course not always possible and a woman finds her life linked to theirs.

The narration takes the form of two strands, one set in Peter’s past, the ot ...more

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Nov 29, 2017 Lata rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: sf-f-h, x2017-read, bipoc-author, steampunk

I was looking forward to reading this, and while the plot was quick-moving, I didn't really feel interested in the characters. I never got a good feel for June's character beyond her curiosity, while I found myself mostly irritated by super mono-focused and obstinate Peter/Pyotr. I was intrigued by Elena, but I found her flat. I found the idea of avtomats interesting, though I didn't buy the ancient beings or incredible engineering and tech developments living so under the radar thing. Pleasant ...more

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