Vogelein: Clockwork Faerie [Paperback]

Jeff Berndt (Author), Jane Irwin (Author, Artist)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 13, 2003

When Jakob, Vogelein's Guardian of fifty years, dies quietly in his sleep one night, her life is thrown into utter turmoil. Left without someone to wind her, the tiny clockwork faerie has less than five hours to live - unless she can find someone to trust. Unable to reach the keyhole in her back, she continues to wind down until she stops - and then her memories of the past three hundred years will quickly slip away, leaving her a simple automaton unable to speak or move on her own. In her search for a new Guardian, Vogelein must grapple with her own past, her current daily survival and a true Faerie who has taken an instant disliking to her, all so that she will not lose her memories - and her self.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Gr. 5-up. Clockwork Faerie collects the first five issues of Vogelein into a wonderfully creative graphic novel about Vogelein, a beautiful mechanical fairy created in the seventeenth century. Although she is immortal, she must be wound every 36 hours. After her old friend and caretaker dies, she must find someone new to take care of her. Her search introduces her to a sheltered college student, a wise street cleaner, and the bitter fairy Midhir, who has been transformed by the industrial world of Man. Through these relationships and her cherished memories, Vogelein discovers her own humanity in a modern world that often ignores the possibility of magic. This modern fable is a rare treasure that weaves fanciful imagination into themes of individuality, diversity, and independence. The art is beautifully shaded black and white, and it carries the narrative impeccably, bringing across both the emotions of the characters and the depth of their world. Great for middle readers who like graphic novels or for younger children to share with an adult. Tina Coleman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Fiery Studios (October 13, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0974311006
• ISBN-13: 978-0974311005
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,808,045 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars There is still a place for gentle magic in the world, August 25, 2004

By 

Earl P. Cook "Just a geek" (Waterford, MI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Vogelein: Clockwork Faerie (Paperback)

When reading Vogelein I was reminded of the sense of simple joy and wonder that came over me when I first read Jeff Smith's Bone series.

Like Smith, Irwin manages to mix a sweetness that recalls the power and simplicity of one's earliest exposure to fairy tales with a deeper, darker and more mature story that will grip the adult audience on an entirely different level while still being completely suitable for children. It is the kind of story that one can grow up with, taking new bits and pieces from each reading and from the time and place occupied in life.

Irwin also mines some of the same territory as Neil Gaiman, reworking selective bits of a wide variety of old myths into her own modern cosmology. Her hard work and genuine desire to create a unique world that lives and breathes is evident in the small touches. The subjects she has worked into her story range from mythology to horology (the study of time pieces).

This first effort from Irwin shows great promise. Through its distinctive artwork and tightly woven story telling, she has crafted a wonderful introduction to her creation. With her dedication to quality and wide appeal to readers of all ages let us hope that the next issues become available soon.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In the gutter, looking for stars..., November 20, 2005

By 

Mistypaw (South Florida, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vogelein: Clockwork Faerie (Paperback)

Today at a comic sale I picked up Jane Irwin's Vogelein for a song. Fae in an urban setting is a weakness for me, so I gambled I might like it. At the time, I didn't notice the blurb on the back cover by Charles De Lint, which would have clinched it for me anyway. "Vogelein is a sweet and fresh take on contemporary fairy tales."

It is a beautiful story, with bittersweet dark overtones as the main character learns to live with the changes and difficulties she faces as a Clockwork Faerie who needs to be wound every day. Her life has been long, and wrought with tragedies. She has met and been dependant on people, good and bad. And she meets a fae, bitter with what the world has done to him. I for one, can not wait for more!

If you want to try it for yourself, you can read the first chapter on the author's website:
[...]
((Apparently I'm not allowed to put the website, but if you do a search, you'll find it))

This story belongs on any bookshelf next to Gaiman's Neverwhere, Sandman, De Lint's Newford, or a Changeling: The Dreaming collection. This is one for the dreamers.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Creative modern fantasy, February 27, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Vogelein: Clockwork Faerie (Paperback)

The great reviews of Vogelein I've seen in library journals and around the web are all true.

Vogelein is wonderful in every way -- expressive art, grippingly well-paced storytelling ... it's a treat to read, and I can't wait for the next volume to come out.