Customer Reviews

The Wild Machines:: The Book Of Ash, #3

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

 

 

This novel, the third in the Book of Ash, is really a terrific read. Mary Gentle's narrative is at once visceral and vivid. This series is refreshingly straight foward and yet filled with enough twists and climatic action that I found it an irresistable page turner.

For those who have read the prior two novels, the answers to many burning cliff hangers lie within: What is the fate of the remaining Lion Azure? What are the sinister goals of the Ferae Natura Machinae? Why do they seek the destruction of Burgandy? How did Ash come to be among the Griffin-in-Gold?

The mix of the emails of the future historians and archaeologists just adds enough of hint to not only what is to come, but how and why...

I've already pre-ordered "Lost Burgandy" and can hardly wait...

This is the third Book of Ash (the first two are A Secret History and Carthage Ascendent). But this is not a series, the entire work was conceived as one novel and published as four books in the US. In The Wild Machines, Ash, mercenary company leader and incidentally slave-born genetic experiment (as she discovers in Book 2), is on her way back to the rest of her company and away from Carthage. Very bad things are happening. The sun is no longer shining in the parts of Europe that the Visigoth army has conquered, and it's getting cold, just like in Carthage. The voice in Ash's head isn't what she thought it was (a tactical computer) but a creation of the "Wild Machines," silicon lifeforms that are directing Carthage's political and military actions through an artifact. It is the Wild Machines who have encouraged the conquering of Europe, and they tell Ash that they have drawn down the power of the sun.

Heady stuff, yet she still has to reunite her company, as only half of them came to rescue her in Book 2. She returns to Burgundy, which becomes central to the Wild Machines plans for world domination. Ash wants to know more about her twin, the general of the Visigoth army called "the Faris." And the Faris wants to know more about Ash. And everyone is panicking as the weather changes, the crops fail, and the sun don't shine.

Meanwhile, Pierce Ratcliff, translator of Ash's manuscripts, is handling more bizarre happenings while trying to convince his editor not to yank his book project. The email messages between them continue to let us know that something very wrong has happened to our understanding of reality, taking this work once more from fiction to fantasy to science ficiton, and round about through alternative history a few times...

I was worried something like this might happen. Book 2 in the series (CARTHAGE ASCENDANT) seemed quite slow throughout its middle portions and I was worried that, with Dijon under siege, we would get bogged down in strategy meetings, political maneuvering, and, basically, waiting for something to happen. It turns out, I was unfortunately correct. My main problem here is that nothing really happens in the book until the last 50 pages or so. The amount of plot advancement that took place in this book could probably have been covered in 100 pages. The main characters simply sit in the city, trying to figure out how to get out of their predicament. They never actually DO anything. Endless meetings, discussions, and staring out at the enemy and their uncountable legions and siege engines. I was going stir crazy just reading about it.

The one thing that rescued this book from being terribly boring was Gentle's writing. Vivid characters, brilliant dialogue and interaction, and description that makes everything seem real absorb the reader into the story. As in the first two books, Gentle's writing makes up for shortcomings in other areas. Unfortunately, there was just too great a lack of action to make up for here.

Additionally, the reader gets answers to some of the questions created in the first two books in the series. How did Ash survive the culling as an infant in Carthage? What makes Burgundy so vital to the Wild Machines' plans? What's been happening in Dijon while Ash and half the troop were in Carthage? Plus, the ongoing mystery that's been unfolding in the wrapper story of the historian gets more compelling as well.

Overall, I'd have to say I was disappointed with this book, but it did have some redeeming qualities. Plus, it was an important part in the overall story, despite the fact that it dragged on longer than it really should have.

As with book two of this ongoing saga, if allowed I would probably award this installment an additional half star. A shift back to Burgundy after Carthage, and, unlike the first two books, clearly separate in its plot development, Ash returns to confront the Visigoth forces besieging Dijon. While the military realism that has distinguished the earlier two books continues here, to a large degree it comes to dominate the bulk of the narrative, with much of the story bogging down in details about the siege and military councils. And, once again, we are regaled with descriptions of pauldrons, greaves, gauntlets and cuisses as Ash puts on and takes off her armor. While this contributed a great degree of realism to the earlier books, after innumerable acts of accoutrement the ritual and by now overly detailed arming of Ash has become worn and wearisome. The repeated descriptions of bevors and sallets, as well as mangonels and placement of forces, cannot alone sustain the story, and with very little else taking place, begins to erode the earlier value of its contribution.

As an previous reviewer has noted, the answer to certain mysteries is revealed, and the characterization of Ash and her company remain strong. However, much of these revelations come at the end of the book, along with a stirring variation upon the Great Hunt that does much to redeem the often plodding and repetitive detail burdening the earlier chapters, and acts as a springboard into the action that opens the fourth and final work of this quartet, "Lost Burgundy." While the detail dominating the first three fourths of this book, regardless of how well written, had begun to slow my interest, the narrative's vivid conclusion left me wanting more, and I have already begun the last book. Hopefully it will sustain the pace and interest established in this book's conclusion

Having gotten out of Carthage at the end of the last novel the demoiselle Ash finds that she along with her company are split into two factions. She leads one portion along with Robert Anselm having another inside Dijon. Ash is stuck in a predicament of not being able to support her troops with things such as food and water and things get desperate. She plans to break into Dijon, one way or another. Behind safe walls she feels is much better than being out in open land with legions of Visigoth men along with their Faris at the helm.

Dreams of Godfrey along with The Wild Machine haunt and torment her. Ash is lost. She seeks out The Faris hoping to touch base and try to pinpoint any simalarities, and there are. Ash realizes that The Faris as well as the Stone Golem are the key to winning this war. The Duke Charles, she finds out, plays a grand role in the overall theme of things.

I found that this book was a step up from Carhage Ascendant. While Carthage Ascendant unraveled alot for the story , I felt that there was alot of downtime in it. This book harnesses what the first book had. That essesence. Yeah I know, one can only do so much when a character is in chains as a prisoner like the previous book.

I thought it was great that both Ash and Faris actually speak to eachother. Though neither of them trust eachother they can come to terms and speak of their troubles. Since both are going thru the same predicament they confide in eachother. You get to see a bit more of The Faris in this one, all is not well for her either. I find the Faris a very interesting character. She is brought up to be a grand general and when one tells her things not according to her grand vision, she freaks out. I liked that, its very real. Great book.

Ash's story was originally published as one mammoth book in the UK. In USA (and the rest of Europe) divided into four tomes. A wise option IMHO.
"The Wild Machines" is the third volume of this format.
As the tale was conceived as whole book, you definitely must read them in order. So my recommendation is start from "A Secret History" and then follows the thread.

This is an alt-his tale full of attractive ideas, images, violence and well defined characters.

Ms. Gentle has researched both in medieval history and warfare; that allows her to present the reader with a very well documented backdrop.

The entire late middle age world is reconstructed accurately; its reality is overwhelming. The mercenary way of life, camping, battles, cities and courts are vividly described. The new alt-his issues & sci-fi elements e.g. Visigothic Carthage, the Stone Golem & the Penitence are as compelling.

The story is presented as a contemporary new translation of medieval manuscripts, with the addendum of new revolutionary documents recently discovered by a historian.
In this volume new unknown documents are unearthed by the editor and passed to the historian-translator.

Ash is a very young & capable mercenary leader that has been captured by the Visigoths and liberated by part of her faithful company leaded by the Lord Oxford.
They return to a dilapidated southern Europe and reach Dijon blockaded by the Visigoths and their Faris (female General).

Ash is able to bypass the siege and finds Dijon almost exhausted. From here on a new cavalcade of adventures ensues.

Characters are well fleshed, each with its own vital problems to solve and interact. Interesting issues about ethic, gender, love, politics & warfare are presented to the reader in a shocking parade.

In this volume the fantastic and sci-fi elements continue growing up.

This book is strictly for adult readers due to its violent scenes and language; it will be fully enjoyed by alt-his lovers, fantasy fans & sci-fi buffs.

Reviewed by Max Yofre.

but I just submitted a review of the Ash books, 1, 2, and 3, and guess what? No trace of book #4, even though I read the reviews on it last night. I feel like Pierce Ratcliff right now, watching reality change before me. I tried the title, the author, the ISBN number, as far as Amazon is concerned today, The Book of Ash #4: Lost Burgundy no longer exists!
Talk about life following art!