Nancy S. (avidbookcollector) -
Helpful Score: 11
Guilty pleasures -- we all have them. Once in a blue moon I crave Kraft macaroni and cheese out of a box, or a huge heaping pile of homemade mashed potatoes with chicken gravy made from fried chicken. Or a Marie Callender's pot pie, even though they're like 600 calories and almost as many grams of fat. Well, I have them in books, too, and my favorite guilty pleasures are steampunk and pulp. I just finished Boneshaker and it is the equivalent of hot comfort food between two covers.
I knew when I saw this book I had to have it. So buy it I did, and as soon as I picked it up and started reading, I fell in love. It's so quirky that it instantly appealed. And when I was finished with it, I wanted more. So I'm particularly grateful that there are rumors of more books set in this alternate-history world, and hopefully they'll be this good.
The author has managed to create a world that the reader can actually believe in, the mark of a good steampunk, sci-fi, or alternate history writer. For example, to be really honest, I don't normally like books (or movies) featuring flesh-eating zombies, but here in this world it works, because they are an after effect of the blight. They are a constant danger, and the book wouldn't be the same without them. Gas masks are essential for life in this world, and she never eases up on this point. Priest set her novel during the time of the Civil War, complete with airships and hot-air balloons, and she has included some real people and real places so the reader feels a bit more grounded while reading the novel. The atmosphere is dark and gloomy, and people spend a lot of time underground, and I never lost track that this was Seattle (one of my favorite cities), albeit some time ago. And then there's the lemon sap, the drug of choice which a lot of people are making money on. Even the book's print is unique, giving you a feel that you're reading something from that era. And at its core, this book is really about a mom searching for her son, a storyline that is wholly believable.
The characters are also awesome; the villain of this book is one Dr. Minnericht, who tinkers with technology and holds the residents of downtown Seattle in his clutches. One of my favorite characters is Lucy, who has a robotic arm and runs an underground saloon called Maynard's. Then there's Swakhammer, who wears full body armor as protection against the Rotters (zombies). Even the characters you don't meet in person are great: Maynard Wilkes, for example, is a lawman who is revered both inside and outside of the gates, and there's Leviticus Blue, husband of Briar and father to Zeke (Briar and Zeke both tell the story from their alternating points of view) , who started the whole mess in the first place.
Cherie Priest has written an outstanding book here, and I can't wait for the new additions to the series to start rolling off the presses. Highly recommended for people who enjoy alternate history, or science fiction or steampunk. Or, if you're like me, and you just like quirky things very much away from the norm, you'll love this one.
I knew when I saw this book I had to have it. So buy it I did, and as soon as I picked it up and started reading, I fell in love. It's so quirky that it instantly appealed. And when I was finished with it, I wanted more. So I'm particularly grateful that there are rumors of more books set in this alternate-history world, and hopefully they'll be this good.
The author has managed to create a world that the reader can actually believe in, the mark of a good steampunk, sci-fi, or alternate history writer. For example, to be really honest, I don't normally like books (or movies) featuring flesh-eating zombies, but here in this world it works, because they are an after effect of the blight. They are a constant danger, and the book wouldn't be the same without them. Gas masks are essential for life in this world, and she never eases up on this point. Priest set her novel during the time of the Civil War, complete with airships and hot-air balloons, and she has included some real people and real places so the reader feels a bit more grounded while reading the novel. The atmosphere is dark and gloomy, and people spend a lot of time underground, and I never lost track that this was Seattle (one of my favorite cities), albeit some time ago. And then there's the lemon sap, the drug of choice which a lot of people are making money on. Even the book's print is unique, giving you a feel that you're reading something from that era. And at its core, this book is really about a mom searching for her son, a storyline that is wholly believable.
The characters are also awesome; the villain of this book is one Dr. Minnericht, who tinkers with technology and holds the residents of downtown Seattle in his clutches. One of my favorite characters is Lucy, who has a robotic arm and runs an underground saloon called Maynard's. Then there's Swakhammer, who wears full body armor as protection against the Rotters (zombies). Even the characters you don't meet in person are great: Maynard Wilkes, for example, is a lawman who is revered both inside and outside of the gates, and there's Leviticus Blue, husband of Briar and father to Zeke (Briar and Zeke both tell the story from their alternating points of view) , who started the whole mess in the first place.
Cherie Priest has written an outstanding book here, and I can't wait for the new additions to the series to start rolling off the presses. Highly recommended for people who enjoy alternate history, or science fiction or steampunk. Or, if you're like me, and you just like quirky things very much away from the norm, you'll love this one.
Helpful Score: 7
I wanted to love this book. I had read high praise for Boneshaker, and snagged it as soon as it was available. Good points: visual description of alternate reality Seattle, lots of action, mother and son together in the story. Weak points: characters didn't really grab me. And I guess I'm not much for zombies (what can they do for a story if you don't really care about the characters who may turn into them or be harmed by them? Growl. Munch. Whatever...) One particularly vicious non-zombie killing faded off gratuitously into no further reference. Our protagonists end up purposeless on the last pages, facing big life choices that may get developed later, in another book. (I don't think the brown ink text is anything wonderful for the reading experience, although it is nice looking. Certainly not a reason to pick up the book.) Overall, I have to rate as "liked it slightly."
Helpful Score: 4
I have been wanting to read something from Cherie Priest for some time. When I saw Boneshaker out on the shelves and read the premise of it I had to get it. It was a good buy. I really enjoyed the book, the plot, the world, the characters, all of it. This is the first of three planned books to take place in the Clockwork Universe. The books are supposed to be unrelated stories set in the same universe.
Lecviticus Blue won a contest to drill for gold in the Klondike with his invention the Incredible Bone-Shaking Drill Engine. Only problem was that on the first trial something went extremely wrong. The Drill ripped apart Seattle and released the Blight; a poisonous gas that turned many of the residents of Seattle into walking zombies that love to feast on raw flesh. A wall was built to contain the Blight. Briar Wilkes is Blue's widow and lives outside the Wall; she is eking out a living raising her son and daily deals with the hate of her fellow humans for the actions of her husband. Her son Zeke is determined to prove that his father was not a bad man so he sneaks back into the Blight filled city to find evidence. While he is there things go wrong and now Briar must enter the city of her childhood and face all of the horrors there if she is ever going to rescue her son.
This was a great book. I mean it had zombies, so that's pretty cool right there. It also had airships, lots of shotguns, non-stop action, beautiful descriptions, and a wonderful cast of characters. It shows how both a mother's love and humanity's penchant for survival can go against all odds.
You have to love Briar as a character, she has her flaws, but she is one resourceful mother and will stop at nothing to get back her son. Zeke is an awesome character too. Priest captured the family dynamics really well. All of the side characters were fascinating and interesting too.
The action is non-stop with danger lurking around literally every corner. The descriptions of the various steampunk machinery are wonderful and well-done. This is steampunk adventure at its best. I think just about everyone will find this book a fascinating read. It could also be read to young adults, maybe not younger kids though; it gets pretty scary and there are quite a bit of rather violent fighting scenes.
The aesthetics of the book also bear mentioning. This was the first book I have ever read that is on an deep off-white paper with the words printed in a deep rust color; it does a good job of setting the mood of the story. I was worried that the lower contrast would make it hard to read; but it didn't, just lent the book a very, well, steampunk feeling!
This is definitely a keeper and I look forward to reading the next two Clockwork Universe novels that are planned. I will also be checking out Priest's previous works like her Eden Moore series.
Lecviticus Blue won a contest to drill for gold in the Klondike with his invention the Incredible Bone-Shaking Drill Engine. Only problem was that on the first trial something went extremely wrong. The Drill ripped apart Seattle and released the Blight; a poisonous gas that turned many of the residents of Seattle into walking zombies that love to feast on raw flesh. A wall was built to contain the Blight. Briar Wilkes is Blue's widow and lives outside the Wall; she is eking out a living raising her son and daily deals with the hate of her fellow humans for the actions of her husband. Her son Zeke is determined to prove that his father was not a bad man so he sneaks back into the Blight filled city to find evidence. While he is there things go wrong and now Briar must enter the city of her childhood and face all of the horrors there if she is ever going to rescue her son.
This was a great book. I mean it had zombies, so that's pretty cool right there. It also had airships, lots of shotguns, non-stop action, beautiful descriptions, and a wonderful cast of characters. It shows how both a mother's love and humanity's penchant for survival can go against all odds.
You have to love Briar as a character, she has her flaws, but she is one resourceful mother and will stop at nothing to get back her son. Zeke is an awesome character too. Priest captured the family dynamics really well. All of the side characters were fascinating and interesting too.
The action is non-stop with danger lurking around literally every corner. The descriptions of the various steampunk machinery are wonderful and well-done. This is steampunk adventure at its best. I think just about everyone will find this book a fascinating read. It could also be read to young adults, maybe not younger kids though; it gets pretty scary and there are quite a bit of rather violent fighting scenes.
The aesthetics of the book also bear mentioning. This was the first book I have ever read that is on an deep off-white paper with the words printed in a deep rust color; it does a good job of setting the mood of the story. I was worried that the lower contrast would make it hard to read; but it didn't, just lent the book a very, well, steampunk feeling!
This is definitely a keeper and I look forward to reading the next two Clockwork Universe novels that are planned. I will also be checking out Priest's previous works like her Eden Moore series.
Helpful Score: 2
OK first time I ventured into the "steampunk" genre. I didn't know what that term meant before and still don't have quite enough grasp of it but it seems to involve lots of steam-powered machinery. But this book goes beyond just the engineering and mechanics behind steam power.
Yes this is also a "zombie" book, and it reminded me much of "28 Days Later" where the zombies were kind of the background danger but the focus was more on humanity and the survivors. BTW The zombie attacks were quite well described- every scene outdoors had a great tension to it.
This book is also an alternate history about Seattle and the Civil War. Lots of fun to read because I recently visited Seattle and the Smith Tower, which plays a role in this book.
And lastly (I'm rambling! sorry), this is an adventure with a mother going into the zombie-infested walled up city of Seattle to find her teenage son. This woman is very tough and strong- yay afor strong female characters!
Yes this is also a "zombie" book, and it reminded me much of "28 Days Later" where the zombies were kind of the background danger but the focus was more on humanity and the survivors. BTW The zombie attacks were quite well described- every scene outdoors had a great tension to it.
This book is also an alternate history about Seattle and the Civil War. Lots of fun to read because I recently visited Seattle and the Smith Tower, which plays a role in this book.
And lastly (I'm rambling! sorry), this is an adventure with a mother going into the zombie-infested walled up city of Seattle to find her teenage son. This woman is very tough and strong- yay afor strong female characters!
Helpful Score: 2
Imagine little house on the prairie, only with all of the life sucked out of it. In place of the joy were some gears glued on. Not many gears, but some. If you think that it's going to be a cool book about zombies you may be disappointed. The zombies are anything but interesting. If you think this is going to be a weird west or steam punk book, well, I can confirm the book part.
I may be overly generous with the number of stars I gave this book considering that everyone I know who has picked up the book has put it down before page 80.
I may be overly generous with the number of stars I gave this book considering that everyone I know who has picked up the book has put it down before page 80.
Helpful Score: 1
Boneshaker is the story of Briar Wilkes searching for her son Zeke in walled-in Seattle swarming with zombies and the deadly fumes that transform the living into the walking dead. Oh, and did I mention that this is a steampunk alternate-history setting? This story has the most intriguing and fascinating setup of any novel I've read in the past few years, and the world that Priest has created is well worth exploring.
The story itself is basically a time-pressure rescue story, with a strong sub-plot of searching for family history. The narrative flips back and forth between Briar and Zeke, as they each explore the deadly downtown Seattle. It works, and it's fun.
Ultimately, though, I wound up caring a lot more about the world than about the protagonists of the story... Which is unfortunate. The middle of the novel dragged a bit, but did manage to pick up by the end.
Boneshaker has also been nominated for a 2010 Hugo award (while I was reading it, which made me feel like I was a trend-setter for once...).
4 of 5 stars.
The story itself is basically a time-pressure rescue story, with a strong sub-plot of searching for family history. The narrative flips back and forth between Briar and Zeke, as they each explore the deadly downtown Seattle. It works, and it's fun.
Ultimately, though, I wound up caring a lot more about the world than about the protagonists of the story... Which is unfortunate. The middle of the novel dragged a bit, but did manage to pick up by the end.
Boneshaker has also been nominated for a 2010 Hugo award (while I was reading it, which made me feel like I was a trend-setter for once...).
4 of 5 stars.
Helpful Score: 1
This book has a wonderful heroine, Briar Wilkes Blue, who has a son Zeke (short for Ezekiel). Poor and hardworking, she struggles to make a life working at the water plant. Her husband, Levi, was the proverbial mad scientist. He designed a machine for the Russians who wanted to dig for gold through ice, snow and frozen earth. When he tests the machine (boneshaker) it drives into the earth releasing toxic gas that makes downtown Seattle unliveable without a mask to strain the air. That area is walled in to contain the gas which is dense and heavy and settles close to the ground. The people who survive the event blame Briar for her husband's folly and make life for her and Zeke difficult. When Zeke decides to go into the walled off area to find the truth about his father, Briar follows him. Both make new friends who have found a way to live underground, cope with the gas, and meet the bad guy of the area who claims to be Levi Blue! Is he or isn't he? Will he keep Briar and Zeke prisoners in his luxurious underground home? The tales moves quickly to a surprising climax that left me admiring the author's imagination and creativity.
I didn't enjoy this book as much as I thought/hoped I would because I'm just not into the zombie genre. The characters were well-written and fleshed out (heh-heh) but did not grab my empathy. Or my interest much. This was one long underground quest in the dark with poisonous gas and animated corpses. Hey - would make for a great computer game! I've put Four and Twenty Blackbirds on my wish list 'cause Priest writes well and I'm willing to sample more. I just wasn't into the Boneshaker story. Only three stars from me.
Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
Boneshaker is a novel by Cherie Priest which combines steampunk, zombies and an alternate version of the history of Seattle. Based early in the American Civil War, this book starts as rumors of gold brought thousands of hopeful prospectors to the Pacific Northwest.
Russian investors commission an American inventor Leviticus Blue to create a tunneling machine that will mine through the ice of Russian owned Alaska. The Incredible Bone Shaking Drill Engine or Boneshaker for short, is rushed and destroys several blocks of downtown Seattle releasing a subterranean vein of blight gas during its maiden voyage. The blight gas, or blight for short, kills anyone who breaths it and turns their corpses into the walking dead called rotters.
During the exodus Maynard Wilkes, a Seattle law enforcement agent, committed an act of great mercy and bravery by releasing the prisoners in his care before they could be blighted, losing his life in the process, and becoming a hero to those left behind the hastily walled-off city of Seattle, and a pariah to the settlers in the Outskirts beyond the wall.
Sixteen years pass and Leviticus's wife, Briar the daughter of Wilkes, lives in the impoverished outskirts of the former metropolis. Life is hard with a teenage son to feed. Ezekiel, but Zeke for short, wants to prove his father, like his grandfather, was innocent of wrong doing but just a man trying to do his best. He enters the lifeless city through a drainage whole that collapses in an earthquake after he enters.
Briar intends on following her son when she discovers his mission. Forced to hitch a ride over the wall by a captain of an airship, the unnaturally tall Captain Cly she rapidly learns that the rotters are still moving all these years later.
Inside the walls Briar quickly finds her self in over her head. Jeremiah Swakhammer and his Doozy Dazer rescue Briar from the roof of a building surrounded by rotters. He takes her to a bar named in honor of her deceased father to meet people including the armless barkeeper, Lucy O'gunning. Once again however rotters attack the bar forcing the occupants to retreat. It is later revealed that a man by the name of Minnericht caused the rotter attack. Lucy takes Briar to see Minnericht who claims to be the late Leviticus Blue, though Briar doubts this. Unbeknownst to her, Minnericht has Zeke hostage, but war breaks out between Minnericht's men and Swakhammer, Lucy, the Indian princess, and those on their side. This war attracts the rotters...
Well worth the read if you are a fan of steampunk, zombies, or alternate history.
Boneshaker is a novel by Cherie Priest which combines steampunk, zombies and an alternate version of the history of Seattle. Based early in the American Civil War, this book starts as rumors of gold brought thousands of hopeful prospectors to the Pacific Northwest.
Russian investors commission an American inventor Leviticus Blue to create a tunneling machine that will mine through the ice of Russian owned Alaska. The Incredible Bone Shaking Drill Engine or Boneshaker for short, is rushed and destroys several blocks of downtown Seattle releasing a subterranean vein of blight gas during its maiden voyage. The blight gas, or blight for short, kills anyone who breaths it and turns their corpses into the walking dead called rotters.
During the exodus Maynard Wilkes, a Seattle law enforcement agent, committed an act of great mercy and bravery by releasing the prisoners in his care before they could be blighted, losing his life in the process, and becoming a hero to those left behind the hastily walled-off city of Seattle, and a pariah to the settlers in the Outskirts beyond the wall.
Sixteen years pass and Leviticus's wife, Briar the daughter of Wilkes, lives in the impoverished outskirts of the former metropolis. Life is hard with a teenage son to feed. Ezekiel, but Zeke for short, wants to prove his father, like his grandfather, was innocent of wrong doing but just a man trying to do his best. He enters the lifeless city through a drainage whole that collapses in an earthquake after he enters.
Briar intends on following her son when she discovers his mission. Forced to hitch a ride over the wall by a captain of an airship, the unnaturally tall Captain Cly she rapidly learns that the rotters are still moving all these years later.
Inside the walls Briar quickly finds her self in over her head. Jeremiah Swakhammer and his Doozy Dazer rescue Briar from the roof of a building surrounded by rotters. He takes her to a bar named in honor of her deceased father to meet people including the armless barkeeper, Lucy O'gunning. Once again however rotters attack the bar forcing the occupants to retreat. It is later revealed that a man by the name of Minnericht caused the rotter attack. Lucy takes Briar to see Minnericht who claims to be the late Leviticus Blue, though Briar doubts this. Unbeknownst to her, Minnericht has Zeke hostage, but war breaks out between Minnericht's men and Swakhammer, Lucy, the Indian princess, and those on their side. This war attracts the rotters...
Well worth the read if you are a fan of steampunk, zombies, or alternate history.
In an alternate universe brilliant scientist Leviticus Blue created a machine that would help miners more easily locate and drill for gold. On its first test run things go awry and the machine wreaks havoc on bustling downtown Seattle, killing people and destroying buildings and several banks. But that was only the beginning of the terror . . .
Sixteen years later Briar, the widow of Leviticus, is living with the long lingering after effects of the tragedy. Toxic gasses released from the earth continue to seep out and poison the air and water, turning people into the walking dead. An enormous wall is built to keep the zombie making blight at bay as much as possible. Briar, now a single mother, is shunned and working herself to the bone in the dreary new world her husband created. Having to live with the legacy he left behind is difficult enough to bear but her father also helped several prison inmates escape when the blight entered the prison. Her teenage son, Zeke, insists his grandfather was a hero and enters the walled off hellhole to discover more about him and learn about his father. Now Briar must enter the ruined, toxic city to search for him.
Boneshaker contains some fantastic world building. The world is grey, dreary and meticulously designed. The steampunk aspects all have a place and a genuine reason for being in this world, theyre not just gadgets thrown in willy nilly to enhance the setting. Briar is a protagonist you can get behind. She is thick skinned, exhausted and just trying to survive. Her life seems unbearably depressing and because of circumstances shes distanced herself from everyone, including her own son and only starts to poke around into his life when he starts asking too many questions. The author gave Briar a believable motive for entering the city that really worked. Unfortunately the book suffers from almost too much busyness, the characters are in continual peril and are on the run, there are baddies, poisonous gas, and zombies hot on their tails. I realize this will be an ongoing series but the constant introduction of new characters in this one didnt allow me to get to know any of them as well as I would have liked. Also, being the mother of a fourteen year old boy, I found it weird that Zeke was supposed to be fifteen. His thoughts and actions seemed more those of a child a few years younger. Fifteen year olds, for the most part, are surly, self-centered pains in the ass. This kid was too trusting and not very street savvy for his age, especially considering where and how he grew up. If he were twelve I would have bought into the whole thing completely.
Still, it was entertaining and as a huge zombie fan I enjoyed the premise of the blight zombies even though I never felt the nail biting fear that comes with a great zombie novel. My attention waned on and off as parts of the book seemed to drag. I guess Im just not a full out action kind of girl and there was way too much running about and hiding for me. I would prefer more time spent with the colorful characters interacting with each other than all of the flee for your life! stuff.
Sixteen years later Briar, the widow of Leviticus, is living with the long lingering after effects of the tragedy. Toxic gasses released from the earth continue to seep out and poison the air and water, turning people into the walking dead. An enormous wall is built to keep the zombie making blight at bay as much as possible. Briar, now a single mother, is shunned and working herself to the bone in the dreary new world her husband created. Having to live with the legacy he left behind is difficult enough to bear but her father also helped several prison inmates escape when the blight entered the prison. Her teenage son, Zeke, insists his grandfather was a hero and enters the walled off hellhole to discover more about him and learn about his father. Now Briar must enter the ruined, toxic city to search for him.
Boneshaker contains some fantastic world building. The world is grey, dreary and meticulously designed. The steampunk aspects all have a place and a genuine reason for being in this world, theyre not just gadgets thrown in willy nilly to enhance the setting. Briar is a protagonist you can get behind. She is thick skinned, exhausted and just trying to survive. Her life seems unbearably depressing and because of circumstances shes distanced herself from everyone, including her own son and only starts to poke around into his life when he starts asking too many questions. The author gave Briar a believable motive for entering the city that really worked. Unfortunately the book suffers from almost too much busyness, the characters are in continual peril and are on the run, there are baddies, poisonous gas, and zombies hot on their tails. I realize this will be an ongoing series but the constant introduction of new characters in this one didnt allow me to get to know any of them as well as I would have liked. Also, being the mother of a fourteen year old boy, I found it weird that Zeke was supposed to be fifteen. His thoughts and actions seemed more those of a child a few years younger. Fifteen year olds, for the most part, are surly, self-centered pains in the ass. This kid was too trusting and not very street savvy for his age, especially considering where and how he grew up. If he were twelve I would have bought into the whole thing completely.
Still, it was entertaining and as a huge zombie fan I enjoyed the premise of the blight zombies even though I never felt the nail biting fear that comes with a great zombie novel. My attention waned on and off as parts of the book seemed to drag. I guess Im just not a full out action kind of girl and there was way too much running about and hiding for me. I would prefer more time spent with the colorful characters interacting with each other than all of the flee for your life! stuff.
i thought the story line could have been developed better...i enjoyed the premise of the tale but was left feeling unsatisfied. i loved the book cover image!
