Customer Reviews

Sir MacHinery

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The story is one that combines the Magical with that of the coming future of Robotics. The Robot in this case is mistaken as a Knight and persuaded to adventure in the Magical Realm. I first read the book in elementary school and have enjoyed it for years. It is a book you can read again and again.

This book was my first fantasy read to me by my dad in the early nineties. Without this I would not have been turned on to fantasy. Recently I reread this book and although it is not as sophisticated as I remember it was totally original and in an odd way wonderful in the sense of good triumphing over evil. The plot is simple and stereotypical, but classic. The idea of a robot, a wizard, and the modern man teaming together to fight demons just gives you a marvelous feeling of content, no matter how cheesey the dialogue. I would love to see this as a book once again in print or a movie, and if the rights are still around when I'm grown I would like to take on an adaptation myself. If you get the rare chance, definitely read this book.

I have searched for this book for years after loaning to a fellow teacher and never getting it back! I used to teach in a one-room school and my students there enjoyed the story much that they would act out scenes on the playground at recess. It is rare to have students' imaginations activated by a story but this one sure did it for my students. It's been at least tens years since the book was lost and I still mourn for it. Why on earth doesn't this publisher bring it back out into publication. I also feel it is truly a modern day classic that many kids and adults would treasure if only they had access to it. I have found one copy of it in my search over the years, but it was a copy at the Boise,ID public library, I hate to admit I entertained thoughts of checking it out and never returning it, but I couldn't bring myself to do it.

I discovered "MacHinery" waaay back in grade school and found the characters to be fascinating, especially the Seargeant-Major. I always remembered it and years later as an adult went back to my now closed grade school to see if I could make an offer to buy it. Sr. JoAnn, my 6th grade teacher, refused to take any money for it and simply gave it to me, knowing how much I loved it. Thank you Sister!

Why this hasn't been discovered and made into a movie is beyond me. With the popularity of "Harry Potter", this would be a natural. And why isn't it being published anymore? The dialogue is crisp and believable and the scene where Merlin raises the ghost of William Wallace and the other Scots warriors is funny and priceless! When MacHinery rescues Merlin from the lake and it's guardian, the dragon, is funny also. It's a scene I've "seen" and laughed at many times as I reread the book.

If you get the chance to get a copy of "Sir MacHinery", read it. Again and again and again!

My 6th grade teacher read this to us in class and it has stuck with me ever since. 10 years later when I came across a copy at a library sale, I picked it up.

I recently read it to my son (aged five at the time) and he sat rapt the whole the time. He wants me to read it to him again.

This book has a lot of action, fighting, clever escapes, magic, hand grendes and all kinds of fun stuff.

This book is out of print, unfortunately, and I suspect it's going to stay that way (unless someone edits it). It is violent, even graphically so at points. (Demons and a dragon die horrible deaths.) It's not politically correct, and probably won't be for some time to come. And, actually, it was rather unusual 20+ years ago when it was written.

I'd still recommend it, though.

I first read Sir mchinery as a child, and it captured my imagination, and still has a firm grip. I have an old weekly reader book club copy that I have chereshed and guarded for most of my life, sadly it is fairly poor condition, the cover is gone, and it is held together by gray tape. I wish some publisher would pick this great old book up and reprint it, for all of us old kids, as well as the new kids coming along.

Physicist Simon Smith rents a small castle in Scotland where he can complete the building of his robot in peace. Some brownies mistake the small metal man for a knight in armor and enlist it aid in fighting an ancient evil. --- The space allowed here is too little for me to properly describe or praise this book. --- I first read Sir MacHinery as a young teen and found it a marvelous blend of the things that attracted me to both the Hobbit and Star Trek. I read it again to my wife during our honeymoon in Scotland (doing all of the voices) and she enjoyed it as much as I did. --- It is one of very few books that I enjoy as an adult as much as I did as a youngster and I can't recommend it highly enough.

Of course, we blew every circuit breaker in the house but it seemed like a sensible plan at the time. After all, my hero pulled it off with just a robot and a burnished shield... While I'd like to give all the credit to Tolkien and Lewis this book opened the way to my enjoyment of those authors; I'd be a much different person today without Sir MacHinery.

I recieved this book from my Uncle when he gave me several books. "Sir Machinery" had circulated through my mother's family and they all loved it. Even though I am 17, it is a very good book.

Perhaps it could be read in english class, as a short story which would actually interest english students.

After having read the first 3 Harry Potter books (which I hope to share with my 11-month old daughter someday), I began thinking about other great science fiction/fantasy books I had read as a child. One of the first books that came to mind was Sir Machinery. My father and I read this book more than once when I was in grade school. Imagine my disappointment when I discovered that this book is no longer in print. For those parents and children who enjoyed the highly creative stories and use of science and legend by Rowling - check out Sir Machinery. The book is very well written and a lot of fun. Hopefully, as more people look to capture the thrill of the Harry Potter experience - the publisher will consider re-releasing Sir Machinery. I would rank right up there with the Chronicles of Narnia, Tolkien's books and, of course, Harry Potter.