Review: The Clockwork Dynasty

The Clockwork Dynasty The Clockwork Dynasty by Daniel H. Wilson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

Daniel H. Wilson's marvelous book is all that a blended sci-fi/fantasy genre tale should and can be. Those looking for simple steampunk novel are going to find a whole lot more. A sweeping, epic story of artificial intelligence like none I have read before, Wilson gives us two protagonists, Peter and June, whose alternating storylines cross decades and much, much longer, finally meeting in a commonality of purpose in the present day. Peter, a sentient form of artificial intelligence, is one of a created race called avtomats. June, granddaughter of a clockwork lover, has a fascination with automata and mechanical creations, borne of a story and legacy left her by her grandfather. While June's story evolves over decades, Peter's has evolved over a much longer time period. I don't want to steal thunder from the book, but a story that begins in Russia during the reign of Peter the Great (in 1700's) does not even begin to scratch Peter's history.

One of the central themes of the avotmats is the "word" that motivates their choices and actions. Peter's word, pravda (правда), or truth has many alternate meanings, including justice. Peter's evolution, in understanding his motivating "word," over the arc of this novel was one of the best facets of the book for me. Peter stands for the universal questions. What is truth? What is a truth-seeker? What happens when we forget the truth really is? What if your truth and my truth are different? Who is right? What if no one is?

The avtomats of this book (Peter, Elena (logic), Hypatia (virtue), Talus, Leizu, Bauto and others) are not cold, programmed (beyond their guiding word) sentient machines. They are self-determinant, aspiring, evolving entities who have feelings of affection and loyalty, but also hatred, derision and greed. The mystery of their origins remains shrouded. Their incredible modern physical form is almost equally so.

Wilson, who has written largely about robots and robotics (he has a PhD in Robotics from Carnegie Mellon, but has also studied philosophy, and it certainly shows here) has written a marvelous book that I would hope could have sequels. Those with a love of automata books from Brian Selznick's The Invention of Hugo Cabret to Gaby Woods's Edison's Eve and Living Dolls will find a novel that takes us far beyond wind up toys or regular old robots.

It's a great journey.


View all my reviews

Comments

Popular Posts