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Mainspring Audiobook
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(3.00) - 1,202 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Jay Lake's first trade novel is an astounding work of creation. Lake has envisioned a clockwork solar system, where the planets move in a vast system of gears around the lamp of the Sun. It is a universe where the hand of the Creator is visible to anyone who simply looks up into the sky, and sees the track of the heavens, the wheels of the Moon, and the great Equatorial gears of the Earth itself. Mainspring is the story of a young clockmaker's apprentice, who is visited by the Archangel Gabriel. He is told that he must take the Key Perilous and rewind the Mainspring of the Earth. It is running down, and disaster to the planet will ensue if it's not rewound. From innocence and ignorance to power and self-knowledge, the young man will make the long and perilous journey to the South Polar Axis, to fulfill the commandment of his God.
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"An interesting take on a lot of concepts. Part religious metaphor, part steampunk, part sci-fi/fantasy, an interesting read to say the least. Essentially, the world is a clock, and someone needs to wind it. I have to say, it's rare that I don't quite understand what the author is trying to say, but it didn't pull from my enjoyment of it, which was well-paced and provided more than a few bits to chew on after I put it down. At least for me, that's a success, and I look forward to seeing what else I can read by Lake."
— Jeff (4 out of 5 stars)
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“A fascinating take on the God-as-clockmaker theory, this is a compellingly readable coming-of-age story. Hethor Jacques is a likable protagonist…Superb worldbuilding and an original take on an old idea.”
— RT Book Reviews (4 stars) -
“A dark, wild mix of machine and magic--an impressive debut novel from short story maestro Jay Lake.
— Greg Bear on Mainspring -
In Mainspring, Lake has created a grandiose, thoroughly engaging blasphemy. This book blends the best of nostalgic adventure fiction with a genuinely fresh voice and ideas. An instant steampunk classic.
— Cory Doctorow, author of Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town -
From the sweeping mechanisms of his clockwork world, down to the subtle movements of his characters, all drawn with a clockmaker's eye, Lake gives us a story both grand and intimate, smart and savvy... and a whole lot of fun to boot.
— Hal Duncan, author of Vellum
Mainspring Listener Reviews
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" also steampunk, but sort of mystical and dreamy steampunk. a little from the Doyle pile and a little from the Burroughs. "
— Jack, 2/12/2014 -
" This book clearly demonstrates that steampunk is a genre for whackdoodles. I mean, it's not that I have a problem with the idea that England and China are locked in a battle to control the globe, which is literally a piece of machinery within the universe's giant clockwork. But the appearance of Brass Christ and the master clockmaker might have been a little much. "
— Elizabeth, 2/11/2014 -
" The end was pretty bizarre and I'm not sure I liked it, but the story was quite good overall and a nice re-imagining of Victorian England to boot. "
— Amanda, 2/7/2014 -
" Jay Lake wrote one of my favourite short stories in the Steampunk anthology, so I was really expecting better from this book -- but unfortunately, it really didn't do it for me. Hethor is your standard intrepid boy hero with hardly any characterisation, there's no smooth character development, his love interest is preternaturally supportive and understanding and flawless, the ending left me unfulfilled, the writing felt stilted and overly-formal at times, and I had a really hard time just grasping some of Lake's description and exactly how his world fits together. And in a world based entirely on clockwork and precision gears, that's pretty awfully important. "
— Julie, 1/20/2014 -
" This is a great science fantasy novel, about the Earth as the deists imagined it, clockwork and springs and so on. "
— Charles, 12/29/2013 -
" Got to the middle of the book and it felt so pointless and boring that I could not continue, as much as I love steampunk I just don't care enough to sit through a dull story. "
— Meg, 11/29/2013 -
" *schnarch* "
— Winterwhisper, 11/17/2013 -
" Clockpunk! "
— Geoff, 10/23/2013 -
" Great read, great concept and loved all 3 in the set. "
— Lesa, 8/27/2013 -
" This adult book had everything I like about teen books but longer and with some added touches. Very surreal in parts. I waited too long to review though and the details are cloudy. "
— ananka, 5/11/2013 -
" I found this book to be daft, lazy, awkward, and occasionally offensive. "
— Philip, 4/24/2013 -
" Great world building and fun story. Slipped up a bit in the last third where the story got a little off track, but definitely worth reading. "
— Martin, 11/23/2011 -
" A little slow going so far. Reminds me of Scar Night which I'm thinking is vastly superior, but may continue. "
— Nate, 4/14/2011 -
" Mainspring is absolutely everything you could want in a fantasy: original worldbuilding, heartfelt characters, exciting action, and more all beautifully realized in spare, straightforward language. Outstanding. "
— Philip, 2/12/2011 -
" Good idea poorly executed. I quit half-way through because I was concerned I may yawn myself to death. "
— Jenna, 12/26/2010 -
" It had all the right elements of an awesome steampunk/clockpunk novel but many of the characters made choices I didn't understand and thus I felt less sympathetic towards their actions and the book. It may just be a style thing so I think if you enjoy the genre you should give it a shot. "
— Teresa, 12/9/2010 -
" interesting concept, complicated and complex characters "
— Tasula, 11/23/2010 -
" At times entertaining, mostly frustrating. I feel fairly confident saying I do not like steampunk. "
— Avra, 9/24/2010
About Jay Lake
Jay Lake lives in Portland, Oregon, where he works on numerous writing and editing projects. His short fiction appears regularly in literary and genre markets worldwide. Lake is a winner of the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer and a multiple nominee for the Hugo and World Fantasy Awards.
About William Dufris
William Dufris attended the University of Southern Maine in Portland-Gorham before pursuing a career in voice work in London and then the United States. He has won more than twenty AudioFile Earphones Awards, was voted one of the Best Voices at the End of the Century by AudioFile magazine, and won the prestigious Audie Award in 2012 for best nonfiction narration. He lives with his family in Maine.