Clockwork Angels: The Novel [Hardcover]

Kevin J. Anderson (Author), Neil Peart (Author)

Book Description

Release date: September 3, 2012

A remarkable collaboration that is unprecedented in its scope and realization, this exquisitely wrought novel represents an artistic project between the bestselling science fiction author Kevin J. Anderson and the multiplatinum rock band Rush. The newest album by Rush, Clockwork Angels, sets forth a story in Neil Peart’s lyrics that has been expanded by him and Anderson into this epic novel. In a young man’s quest to follow his dreams, he is caught between the grandiose forces of order and chaos. He travels across a lavish and colorful world of steampunk and alchemy with lost cities, pirates, anarchists, exotic carnivals, and a rigid Watchmaker who imposes precision on every aspect of daily life. The mind-bending story is complemented with rich paintings by the five-time Juno Award winner for Best Album Design, Hugh Syme.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Now here’s a high-concept idea: a novel based on the new album by Rush, the popular rock band. Writer Anderson and Peart, Rush’s drummer and lyricist, have been friends for more than two decades. Anderson takes the themes of Rush’s songs and turns them into a very entertaining, elegantly written story of a boy on the cusp of manhood, living in a seemingly perfect society (thanks to “our loving Watchmaker,” who controls, well, everything). The boy discovers that some dark truths lurk just beneath his world’s perfect surface. Firmly planted in the steampunk subgenre, the book tells an epic-scale story, following young Owen Hardy as he leaves the village of his birth, travels to the legendary Crown City, and gets caught up in an adventure that shows him a world he never knew existed. Syme, who’s designed album covers for many bands, including Rush, contributes several beautiful illustrations that capture the dark undercurrent of Anderson’s story. This is a fine piece of dystopian fiction, and it will appeal to readers young and old. --David Pitt

Review

"A stunning steampunk adventure." —Sci Fi magazine (September 2012)

"A very entertaining, elegantly written story." —www.BooklistOnline.com

"Nostalgic, weird and wonderful." —The Globe and Mail (November 2012)

"A thoroughly entertaining read. . . . The physical book is beautiful, inviting, and the perfect vessel for the story it contains." —www.PopMatters.com

"A mesmerizing spectacle of science fiction literature." —www.cbgxtra.com

"Dazzling locales, memorable characters and high adventure that will make you think long after you're done. What more can you ask from a book?" —www.SciFiPulse.net

"A grand adventure tale woven with threads of various themes enough to keep it fresh, exciting and engaging." —www.BookReporter.com

"Part pure adventure and part classical myth, the Anderson-Peart story is a fairy tale in the best sense of the word, Tolkienian and Chestertonian." —www.CatholicWorldReport.com

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: ECW Press; First Edition edition (September 3, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1770411216
• ISBN-13: 978-1770411210
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 1.1 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (184 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #15,588 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kevin J. Anderson has written 50 national bestsellers and has over 23 million books in print worldwide in thirty languages. He has been nominated for the Nebula Award, the Bram Stoker Award, and the SFX Readers' Choice Award; in 2012 at San Diego Comic Con he received the Faust Grand Master Award for Lifetime Achievement. He has written numerous bestselling and critically acclaimed novels in the Dune universe with Brian Herbert, as well as Star Wars and X-Files novels. In his original work, he is best known for his Saga of Seven Suns series, the Terra Incognita trilogy, the Dan Shamble Zombie PI series, and Clockwork Angels: The Novel with Neil Peart. Find out more about Kevin J. Anderson at www.wordfire.com.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#67 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction

#67 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An Instant Classic! September 7, 2012

By Mark L. Lefebvre

Format:Hardcover

Owen Hardy, an apple farmer and the novel's hero, sets out on his journey to explore the opposite viewpoints of ultimate control and order (represented by The Watchmaker) and extreme chaos (represented by The Anarchist). The story is told at the end of his life's adventure, and we see his move from innocence (and unabashed optimism) to experience.

As a stand-alone fantasy/steam-punk novel this book stands alone as an excellent example of Anderson's fine storytelling skills. But it also represents, for the Rush fan, multiple complex layers with which to enjoy the novel. The most obvious is the tie-in with the Rush album of the same name. Anderson and Rush lyricist/drummer Neil Peart, collaborated on the story. Through the music and Peart's lyrics, a story is told throughout the album. Anderson's novel explores that story in prose format, adding a wonderful and complex mosaic between the music and the written text of the story. For me, listening to the album again from beginning to end in a single sitting after reading the novel was an almost magic experience. Each of the two blend wonderfully together producing a unique multidimensional listening/reading experience. The music and prose co-exist and add more than the sum of their parts to the whole of the "Clockwork Angels" experience.

I should pause to refer to the print book itself. Illustrated by Hugh Syme, the hardcover book is a magnificent work of art. The book's artwork, layout and design is top-notch, with no detail left unfulfilled. Huge kudos should be extended to Canadian publisher ECW Press not only for putting this together, but for keeping the price at a virtual steal. One would easily expect to pay $45 for such an incredibly developed book -- but the hardcover book retails for a mere $24.95 US / $26.95 CDN)

Clockwork Angels also contains references to motifs and lyrics explored through the decades of Rush music. They do not take away anything from readers who are not familiar with the band's work, but to those who are, they add an exciting "Easter egg" element of fun and excitement, as fans will recognize the subtle tips of the hat to particular songs and albums. The theme of order vs chaos is, of course, a classic theme in art and literature and one that Peart has explored many times in his lyrics. Anderson embraces that theme and adds a beautiful celebration of the spirit of it and an acknowledgement to Peart's musings through song.

Anderson is obviously a fan of the band and wonderfully celebrates that throughout the book. Rush fans will become giddy with the many references made to so many songs and albums; but those not familiar with the band (and those who are not fans), can enjoy this most excellent novel entirely on its own merit.

Either way, Clockwork Angels delivers a solid and fantastical journey adventure, highlighting Anderson's skill as a master storyteller. Anyone who enjoyed this novel should take the time to explore Anderson's other novels - the good news: there are well over 100 of them still easily available. Why not start with Resurrection, Inc. - his first published novel (and, incidentally, for Rush fans, one that was heavily influenced by the Rush album Grace Under Pressure)

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A fun adventure to expand upon the concept album. September 3, 2012

By Carter Biel

Format:Hardcover

This really is one single project presented in two different mediums. That being said the individual works stand on their own. Just as each song on the album stands on its own but combines to form a more complex concept, the novel stands on its own but when combined with the music the sum is greater than its parts. A person not knowing anything about the album what so ever could easily pick up this novel and enjoy the story without missing any critical elements or details. Just the same a person could easily enjoy the album of music without having ever read the novel. However, in my opinion the real magic happens when combining these elements together to grasp the entire depth, breadth and context of the story.

Clockwork Angels: The Novel is set in a "Steampunk" inspired dystopian world devised in the joint imaginations of Anderson and Peart. Steam power energized by cold-fire animates gear driven machinery in a future world as seen through the eyes of a past Victorian styled world filled with quirky Carnies, iridescent Clockwork Angels, rigid Watchmakers, devilish Anarchists and free-spirited Pirates. Our hero, Owen Hardy lives a pleasant yet structured life in a small town tending the family apple orchard. He has bigger dreams and an optimistic but obedient outlook. He fantasizes about what adventures might lay outside his serene but lackluster village. He yearns to visit Crown City where The Watchmaker holds reign over the world of Albion with a down to the second control of all aspects of daily life. Owen impetuously hops aboard a passing "Steamliner" chugging towards the city. This is where the adventures begin.

There are a number of different angles to this story. First and foremost I enjoyed the plain fun and excitement of following the main character through the various adventures. The wide variety of interesting and colorful characters is enough to satisfy any curious imagination. Anderson has a keen way of character description that is encompassing yet concise. The story flows through a wide variety of scenes that keep the plot fresh and quickly evolving. Apple orchards, Carnivals, Chronos Square, The Watchmaker's Orrery, Poseidon City, Redrocks Desert, The Commodore's Steamliner and the makeshift island of The Wreckers, among others, are vividly portrayed with colorful clarity and mysterious intrigue. Clockwork Angels: The Novel is an exciting, fast paced and a cleverly devised story that throws the reader into the middle of a far off imaginary world that combines old world charm with a modern science fiction wonder.

The second layer of the story that captured my attention centers on the love story between the main character, Owen Hardy and the high wire acrobat, Francesca. Owen fell head over heels in love with Francesca at the first sight of her delicate yet confident acrobatic performance at the carnival. At the end of her show she floated down on her wings and singled Owen out by giving her rose to him. Owen placed Francesca on such a high pedestal that it was plain to see the crash that was lying ahead. Owen formed an unrealistic picture of an unobtainable future with Francesca that she did not share nor want to take part in. This foolish illusion led to a falling out that he suffered throughout the forced absence that was imposed upon them both. The conclusion to this relationship is a bit surprising yet both interesting and satisfying....

Read the rest at: www.theloftyoaks[dot]com

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Exension of Rush Album September 3, 2012

By Phil Simon

Format:Kindle Edition

Length: 1:09 Mins

Normally I don't read sci-fi but I'm very glad in this case that I did.

Thank you for writing this, Kevin.