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Drakeforth Trilogy #1
Engines of Empathy
Until this morning, Charlotte Pudding was almost happy with her life. Apart from her homicidal toaster, dead parents, and general ennui. Well, maybe not that happy. Either way, now that she’s on the run from a shadowy corporation, seeking the secrets of her own family history and tolerating the inanities of a retired god, things are looking a bit more interesting.
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First published May 12, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
May 16, 2014
Engines of Empathy is one of those books that at first glance of the cover art, you’re not quite sure what you’re going to get yourself into. Upon reading the synopsis you may think you have an understanding of exactly what it is you’ll be reading, but then once you start, you’ll find out that you’re dead wrong.
From the first chapter I was hooked on this newly released sci-fi fantasy novel by Paul Mannering. It’s been quite a while since I’ve read anything other than horror and to be quite honest I was blown away by the read. Mannering laces the story with comedy and sarcasm that I found both entertaining and endearing. The main characters are Charlotte Pudding and Vole Drakeforth (“of the Williamsburg Drake-forths, not of the Terracouth Drakeforths. Those other Drakeforths are syphilitic, sister-loving blaggards of the first order"). The back and forth banter between not only the two of them, but everyone else they encounter in the book is not only believable, but downright hysterical. Mannering has created quite the chemistry between the two as we bear witness to the ups and downs of their adventures.
Picture a society in humanity has discovered a new source of clean energy. This energy is powered by “empathy technology”. You know that fax machine at work that you seem to find yourself constantly cussing at? Well in this book, that fax machine would hate you. Imagine a world where you’re forced to think positive thoughts at your computer or where your remotes sing to you when you can’t find them? (I’d actually enjoy that very much as this is a huge problem for me.) Cars go to auto-therapy clinics and your refrigerator kindly reminds you that you’re out of milk. All these things and more are all possible due to the efforts of The Godden Energy Corporation, the largest employer in the country.
When Charlotte meets Drakeforth at a bus stop one morning, her world as she knows it is turned upside down as it takes an adventurous turn and she realizes her entire life she’s been led to believe false truths. This book has got it all! A seemingly utopian society, a dynamic duo, an evil corporation, wild religious zealots, an outrageous adventure and much more. I could barely put the book down, which is how I was able to read it in less than a day and a half. It also helps that Mannering’s writing style is quirky and seamless, making the read a remarkably enjoyable one.
I was often reminded of The Lutece Twins from the video game Bioshock: Infinite as I read the quick witted back and forth conversations between Pudding and Drakeforth. Each character interaction was carefully crafted and each scene described in a manner that made me feel that I was present. I could definitely see this book going to film sometime soon, in fact, I would be quite surprised if it didn’t get a film adaptation.
If you’re the type of reader who finds that they need a break from their normal reading routine or just a sci-fi fantasy nut, then please take a chance on Engines of Empathy, you will not be disappointed, you will be pleasantly surprised.
From the first chapter I was hooked on this newly released sci-fi fantasy novel by Paul Mannering. It’s been quite a while since I’ve read anything other than horror and to be quite honest I was blown away by the read. Mannering laces the story with comedy and sarcasm that I found both entertaining and endearing. The main characters are Charlotte Pudding and Vole Drakeforth (“of the Williamsburg Drake-forths, not of the Terracouth Drakeforths. Those other Drakeforths are syphilitic, sister-loving blaggards of the first order"). The back and forth banter between not only the two of them, but everyone else they encounter in the book is not only believable, but downright hysterical. Mannering has created quite the chemistry between the two as we bear witness to the ups and downs of their adventures.
Picture a society in humanity has discovered a new source of clean energy. This energy is powered by “empathy technology”. You know that fax machine at work that you seem to find yourself constantly cussing at? Well in this book, that fax machine would hate you. Imagine a world where you’re forced to think positive thoughts at your computer or where your remotes sing to you when you can’t find them? (I’d actually enjoy that very much as this is a huge problem for me.) Cars go to auto-therapy clinics and your refrigerator kindly reminds you that you’re out of milk. All these things and more are all possible due to the efforts of The Godden Energy Corporation, the largest employer in the country.
When Charlotte meets Drakeforth at a bus stop one morning, her world as she knows it is turned upside down as it takes an adventurous turn and she realizes her entire life she’s been led to believe false truths. This book has got it all! A seemingly utopian society, a dynamic duo, an evil corporation, wild religious zealots, an outrageous adventure and much more. I could barely put the book down, which is how I was able to read it in less than a day and a half. It also helps that Mannering’s writing style is quirky and seamless, making the read a remarkably enjoyable one.
I was often reminded of The Lutece Twins from the video game Bioshock: Infinite as I read the quick witted back and forth conversations between Pudding and Drakeforth. Each character interaction was carefully crafted and each scene described in a manner that made me feel that I was present. I could definitely see this book going to film sometime soon, in fact, I would be quite surprised if it didn’t get a film adaptation.
If you’re the type of reader who finds that they need a break from their normal reading routine or just a sci-fi fantasy nut, then please take a chance on Engines of Empathy, you will not be disappointed, you will be pleasantly surprised.
July 15, 2015
The blurb compares this book to Pratchett and Douglas Adams, and there is some resemblance. I know why they picked those names - everyone knows them - but it's really more like two other writers: Jasper Fforde and Tom Holt.
It has the slightly-off-from-our-world feel, and the silly names, of Fforde, both of them turned up beyond 11. Perhaps too far; I kept tripping over the world's oddities (is the row of cinnamon in the herb garden a difference, or a mistake, since cinnamon is made from tree bark?), and the silly names are extremely silly: EGS Benedict, Anna Colouthon, and Spaniel Pudding all make an appearance. I'm no fan of punny or silly names, especially when taken so far. I put up with them in Pratchett and Adams because they do everything else so well.
It also has the setup of a Tom Holt story, or rather, of the Tom Holt story, since all Tom Holt's books are essentially the same. Loserish Britishish person's dull life is abruptly complicated by supernaturalish events. Helped by another loserish person of the opposite gender, main character overcomes the supernatural problem, and they hook up.
Having said all that, I enjoyed this much more than I've ever enjoyed a Tom Holt or Jasper Fforde book. It makes up for the silly names (just; they are extremely silly) by some beautiful passages. "Driving less like the wind and more like a sea fog..." "'I have a plan,' Drakeforth grinned. 'Did you ever think that life would be so much easier if you had a hamster called Clarence instead?' I asked hopefully."
Also, the plot is not what I expected. There's some depth to it; it manages to have some more serious and even dark moments without descending into Holtean cynicism, and the ending took me by surprise, in a good way.
With all the language play it's hard to be sure, but I did spot one definite error: "illicit" for "elicit". The ebook is also full of unexpected hyphens in the middle of words, as if it's been scanned from a print version. Otherwise, the editing is largely clean.
This is the first of a trilogy, and I'l be watching out for the others. I found out about it on the SpecFicNZ forum thread for Sir Julius Vogel Award nominations, and I'll be adding my nomination. Silly names notwithstanding.
It has the slightly-off-from-our-world feel, and the silly names, of Fforde, both of them turned up beyond 11. Perhaps too far; I kept tripping over the world's oddities (is the row of cinnamon in the herb garden a difference, or a mistake, since cinnamon is made from tree bark?), and the silly names are extremely silly: EGS Benedict, Anna Colouthon, and Spaniel Pudding all make an appearance. I'm no fan of punny or silly names, especially when taken so far. I put up with them in Pratchett and Adams because they do everything else so well.
It also has the setup of a Tom Holt story, or rather, of the Tom Holt story, since all Tom Holt's books are essentially the same. Loserish Britishish person's dull life is abruptly complicated by supernaturalish events. Helped by another loserish person of the opposite gender, main character overcomes the supernatural problem, and they hook up.
Having said all that, I enjoyed this much more than I've ever enjoyed a Tom Holt or Jasper Fforde book. It makes up for the silly names (just; they are extremely silly) by some beautiful passages. "Driving less like the wind and more like a sea fog..." "'I have a plan,' Drakeforth grinned. 'Did you ever think that life would be so much easier if you had a hamster called Clarence instead?' I asked hopefully."
Also, the plot is not what I expected. There's some depth to it; it manages to have some more serious and even dark moments without descending into Holtean cynicism, and the ending took me by surprise, in a good way.
With all the language play it's hard to be sure, but I did spot one definite error: "illicit" for "elicit". The ebook is also full of unexpected hyphens in the middle of words, as if it's been scanned from a print version. Otherwise, the editing is largely clean.
This is the first of a trilogy, and I'l be watching out for the others. I found out about it on the SpecFicNZ forum thread for Sir Julius Vogel Award nominations, and I'll be adding my nomination. Silly names notwithstanding.
May 29, 2014
This would have to be one of the freshest and most entertaining books that I have read this year. Quirky and fun - it had elements of Jasper Fforde's "Thursday Next" books and Douglas Adams' "Dirk Gently" with the added spice of originality.
I loved the world that Charlotte Pudding lives in, a world in which technology was run by emotion. A world in which if you were gloomy and negative your toaster would burn (or eat) the toast, a world in which cars required therapy. The concept of sentient, even slightly sentient, everyday objects appealed to me, and brings with it its own code of ethics.
It starts with a misbehaving toaster and an old writing desk. With the introduction of the well-dressed but seemingly insane Vole Drakeforth and an invasion from a pair of antique collectors who are more than they seem, Charlotte's life is turned upside-down. The answers may lay in the hands of the anti-empath-tech Arthurian sect, or perhaps in the very heart of the Godden Energy Corporation. Either way, everyone suddenly seems very interested in Charlotte and her writing desk, and you're in for a roller-coaster ride as she tries to unpick the pieces, solve the puzzle - and maybe just save the world.
Madcap entertainment at its best. Highly recommended for a quick read that will hook you from the get-go and keep you racing for the conclusion.
I was granted this title courtesy of Booksellers New Zealand. Thank you!
I loved the world that Charlotte Pudding lives in, a world in which technology was run by emotion. A world in which if you were gloomy and negative your toaster would burn (or eat) the toast, a world in which cars required therapy. The concept of sentient, even slightly sentient, everyday objects appealed to me, and brings with it its own code of ethics.
It starts with a misbehaving toaster and an old writing desk. With the introduction of the well-dressed but seemingly insane Vole Drakeforth and an invasion from a pair of antique collectors who are more than they seem, Charlotte's life is turned upside-down. The answers may lay in the hands of the anti-empath-tech Arthurian sect, or perhaps in the very heart of the Godden Energy Corporation. Either way, everyone suddenly seems very interested in Charlotte and her writing desk, and you're in for a roller-coaster ride as she tries to unpick the pieces, solve the puzzle - and maybe just save the world.
Madcap entertainment at its best. Highly recommended for a quick read that will hook you from the get-go and keep you racing for the conclusion.
I was granted this title courtesy of Booksellers New Zealand. Thank you!
Read
April 7, 2019Can I please marry Vole Drakeforth? Also, I would like a new toaster.
June 5, 2017
THIS WAS SO FUNNY NOTHING ELSE WILL EVER COMPARE
June 22, 2016
I read it in a single day. Review to follow.
Edited to add: okay, now that I'm back from holiday and have internet again... here's the review.
Engines of Empathy
Paul Mannering
Paper Road Press
The background: I couldn’t find the book in any easily-accessible New Zealand bookshop for online purchase, so I bought it off Amazon US and had it sent to a friend in Georgia. She read it and brought it over with her when she came to visit in June 2016. I read it in a single day and passed it on to my brother, where it will no doubt adorn his bookshelf until he gets around to reading it. And then, I hope, he’ll give it back. But no guarantees on that front.
The premise: Empathetic engines? Genius. Fascinating. Enthralling. A concept that was explored well. But it left me wanting more; I reckon it could stand to be explored a lot more. Charlotte’s car breaks down so she takes the bus to work, okay. But is the bus empathetic? Are all its components individually empathetic, or it is only the vehicle as a whole that is empathetic? If you took it apart piece-by-piece, at what point would the semi-sentience stop? Are all devices empathetic? Phone charger? USB drive? Delicate electronic internals of an aeroplane? Are some devices more empathetic than others? (What is this, Animal Farm??)
The setting: I expected steam!punk from the description, and got empathetic-engine!punk instead. It wasn’t bad, it just took a little getting used to. BigCityWithNoName works well enough for purposes of the book. But it felt a little nebulous. I didn’t notice anything explicitly UK nor American (or anywhere else specific) in terms of, ha, terms used. I couldn’t even pin down the time period to anything beyond ‘probably sometime in the last hundred or so years.’ Even the presumption of being set in an English-speaking country fails if you apply Translation Convention: the characters might only be speaking English because the readers expect to read the book in English. Also, where steampunk is often a glorious and explicitly diverse mishmash of cultures and time periods, Engines Of Empathy went the other direction, into an unidentifiable, vaguely European, strangely homogenous culture. It’s neither a good nor a bad thing. It just frustrated me a little as a reader that I couldn’t get a grip on where or when the book was/is set. To be fair, other cultures and more diversity may exist in-universe and simply be beyond the scope of this story.
The characters: I still have no idea what Charlotte, our protagonist, looks like, or what she typically wears. I know that Drakeforth wears a suit (as most men have in the last few hundred years), and that Charlotte stripped down to t-shirt and undies for sleeping in (which narrows the possible time period range considerably.) The cast was diverse and well-developed, from main characters down to antique dealer mercs and other supporting characters and bit-part players. Characters who could easily have only been there for comic relief and a bit of non-PC fun were handled with respect and even affection (lookin’ at you, Hoptoad.) I’m keen to read more books about them.
The plot: Complex enough to keep you wondering, without being so hopelessly complicated that you’re lost. Solid start, middle, and end. Possibly a bit too much geographical back-and-forth-ing for my tastes, but I can’t deny it helped keep the tension tight.
The writing: I have to be honest. It took me a good 50-60 pages to get into the story. Call it a stylistic choice, call it a side-effect of the slightly steampunky anachronistic setting, call it a side-effect of Charlotte’s Informed Ability of having issues communicating normally with people, or call it personal preference, but I found the writing oddly stilted. Again, I couldn’t pin down any specifically UK English usages of language, or any American English usages - or even any NZ English usages, which was surprising, considering both the author and the publisher are Kiwi. I will say, it got better the further into the book I got. Or else I just warmed to the style. Or both. And there were several excellent puns. Bonus points for that.
Once I passed the halfway mark I was right into it, and almost stopped analysing sentence structure and word usage entirely. I said almost. I can’t turn off my internal editor quite that easily, as a reader or as a writer.
Overall: A highly enjoyable book, and one that I would like to re-read once my brother has finished with it (ahem). A few quibbles, but not enough to detract from the experience that is a very good book. Four and a quarter stars. ★★★★
Edited to add: okay, now that I'm back from holiday and have internet again... here's the review.
Engines of Empathy
Paul Mannering
Paper Road Press
The background: I couldn’t find the book in any easily-accessible New Zealand bookshop for online purchase, so I bought it off Amazon US and had it sent to a friend in Georgia. She read it and brought it over with her when she came to visit in June 2016. I read it in a single day and passed it on to my brother, where it will no doubt adorn his bookshelf until he gets around to reading it. And then, I hope, he’ll give it back. But no guarantees on that front.
The premise: Empathetic engines? Genius. Fascinating. Enthralling. A concept that was explored well. But it left me wanting more; I reckon it could stand to be explored a lot more. Charlotte’s car breaks down so she takes the bus to work, okay. But is the bus empathetic? Are all its components individually empathetic, or it is only the vehicle as a whole that is empathetic? If you took it apart piece-by-piece, at what point would the semi-sentience stop? Are all devices empathetic? Phone charger? USB drive? Delicate electronic internals of an aeroplane? Are some devices more empathetic than others? (What is this, Animal Farm??)
The setting: I expected steam!punk from the description, and got empathetic-engine!punk instead. It wasn’t bad, it just took a little getting used to. BigCityWithNoName works well enough for purposes of the book. But it felt a little nebulous. I didn’t notice anything explicitly UK nor American (or anywhere else specific) in terms of, ha, terms used. I couldn’t even pin down the time period to anything beyond ‘probably sometime in the last hundred or so years.’ Even the presumption of being set in an English-speaking country fails if you apply Translation Convention: the characters might only be speaking English because the readers expect to read the book in English. Also, where steampunk is often a glorious and explicitly diverse mishmash of cultures and time periods, Engines Of Empathy went the other direction, into an unidentifiable, vaguely European, strangely homogenous culture. It’s neither a good nor a bad thing. It just frustrated me a little as a reader that I couldn’t get a grip on where or when the book was/is set. To be fair, other cultures and more diversity may exist in-universe and simply be beyond the scope of this story.
The characters: I still have no idea what Charlotte, our protagonist, looks like, or what she typically wears. I know that Drakeforth wears a suit (as most men have in the last few hundred years), and that Charlotte stripped down to t-shirt and undies for sleeping in (which narrows the possible time period range considerably.) The cast was diverse and well-developed, from main characters down to antique dealer mercs and other supporting characters and bit-part players. Characters who could easily have only been there for comic relief and a bit of non-PC fun were handled with respect and even affection (lookin’ at you, Hoptoad.) I’m keen to read more books about them.
The plot: Complex enough to keep you wondering, without being so hopelessly complicated that you’re lost. Solid start, middle, and end. Possibly a bit too much geographical back-and-forth-ing for my tastes, but I can’t deny it helped keep the tension tight.
The writing: I have to be honest. It took me a good 50-60 pages to get into the story. Call it a stylistic choice, call it a side-effect of the slightly steampunky anachronistic setting, call it a side-effect of Charlotte’s Informed Ability of having issues communicating normally with people, or call it personal preference, but I found the writing oddly stilted. Again, I couldn’t pin down any specifically UK English usages of language, or any American English usages - or even any NZ English usages, which was surprising, considering both the author and the publisher are Kiwi. I will say, it got better the further into the book I got. Or else I just warmed to the style. Or both. And there were several excellent puns. Bonus points for that.
Once I passed the halfway mark I was right into it, and almost stopped analysing sentence structure and word usage entirely. I said almost. I can’t turn off my internal editor quite that easily, as a reader or as a writer.
Overall: A highly enjoyable book, and one that I would like to re-read once my brother has finished with it (ahem). A few quibbles, but not enough to detract from the experience that is a very good book. Four and a quarter stars. ★★★★
October 6, 2016
It is possible that I found New Zealand’s Jasper Fforde? For a good chunk of the novel, it certainly felt like it. The intense pace, the clever world building, and the self-sufficient female protagonist all reminded me of the quirky imaginative nature of Fforde’s many worlds but there something uniquely kiwi about it all.
Right off the bat you’re hit with a very strange world. Every bit of technology is powered, not by electricity or steam or oil but empathy. Don’t feel bad if you’re confused. It’s a hard concept to wrap one’s head around. Even after finishing the story, I don’t fully understand how it all works. But that’s really beside the point. The heart of the story, like all good escapist literature, is more about the plot and the characters.
Like the world they live in, the people that populate this novel are quite a strange lot. There’s the insanely energetic and eccentric Vole Drakeforth who runs across the page like an earthbound, New Zealand iteration of the Doctor from Doctor Who. And there’s Brother Hoptoad, the enigmatic and absurd leader in the quantum religion, Arthurianism. There are others of course, but things all center around Charlotte Pudding: a customer service agent for the empathy energy mega-corporation Godden Energy. Sharing a strange connection with her appliances and drifting in general ennui, she quickly gets swept up in Drakeforth’s crazy conspiracies about her employer and takes the reader along for the ride.
And what a ride. You’re simply ricocheted from one moment to another at breakneck speed. At some points in the plot my eyebrows crinkled in confusion or disappointment. Some cheap shots are made. Silliness sometimes exists for no apparent reason. But that’s the thing with the pace of the plot. Things move so quickly that you don’t really have time to linger on them before you’re pulled on to the next part of this wacky adventure.
There were some moments where the plot stops and tooks a breath. Most often it was during the quiet philosophical conversations between Charlotte and Hoptoad. These conversations were points in which the pace took a step back from the intense rush and looked at something much deeper. The ironic silliness that saturates the novel is still there, but there is something more meaningful in their exchange. Those moments were honestly my favorite part of the novel.
But what really made it unique, at least in style, was the humor. New Zealanders are known for their tendency to understate but they’re much less known for their absurdity and sarcasm, of which this novel is chalk full of. (There’s even a sarcasm battle, in which two characters duel with harsh sarcastic insults.) It can be a bit difficult as an American to pick up on all the sarcasm, but even though I have to go back and reread, the humor is not lost. Oh you can bet I was laughing out loud at some points.
So yes, Mannering might share some characteristics with Fforde and even his predecessors ( Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett), but he was able to put enough kiwi flare to make this book worth the read, especially if you're in the mood for wacky escapism.
Right off the bat you’re hit with a very strange world. Every bit of technology is powered, not by electricity or steam or oil but empathy. Don’t feel bad if you’re confused. It’s a hard concept to wrap one’s head around. Even after finishing the story, I don’t fully understand how it all works. But that’s really beside the point. The heart of the story, like all good escapist literature, is more about the plot and the characters.
Like the world they live in, the people that populate this novel are quite a strange lot. There’s the insanely energetic and eccentric Vole Drakeforth who runs across the page like an earthbound, New Zealand iteration of the Doctor from Doctor Who. And there’s Brother Hoptoad, the enigmatic and absurd leader in the quantum religion, Arthurianism. There are others of course, but things all center around Charlotte Pudding: a customer service agent for the empathy energy mega-corporation Godden Energy. Sharing a strange connection with her appliances and drifting in general ennui, she quickly gets swept up in Drakeforth’s crazy conspiracies about her employer and takes the reader along for the ride.
And what a ride. You’re simply ricocheted from one moment to another at breakneck speed. At some points in the plot my eyebrows crinkled in confusion or disappointment. Some cheap shots are made. Silliness sometimes exists for no apparent reason. But that’s the thing with the pace of the plot. Things move so quickly that you don’t really have time to linger on them before you’re pulled on to the next part of this wacky adventure.
There were some moments where the plot stops and tooks a breath. Most often it was during the quiet philosophical conversations between Charlotte and Hoptoad. These conversations were points in which the pace took a step back from the intense rush and looked at something much deeper. The ironic silliness that saturates the novel is still there, but there is something more meaningful in their exchange. Those moments were honestly my favorite part of the novel.
But what really made it unique, at least in style, was the humor. New Zealanders are known for their tendency to understate but they’re much less known for their absurdity and sarcasm, of which this novel is chalk full of. (There’s even a sarcasm battle, in which two characters duel with harsh sarcastic insults.) It can be a bit difficult as an American to pick up on all the sarcasm, but even though I have to go back and reread, the humor is not lost. Oh you can bet I was laughing out loud at some points.
So yes, Mannering might share some characteristics with Fforde and even his predecessors ( Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett), but he was able to put enough kiwi flare to make this book worth the read, especially if you're in the mood for wacky escapism.
July 26, 2014
Quirky, funny, original and unputdownable. Don't skip a word or miss a paragraph as every single word is important and a lot of them are original. Every time you think you know what is going on be prepared to have your assumptions tossed aside as the story segues in a different direction.
This is the first book by Paul Mannering I have read so I came to it with no preconceived notion about what a Paul Mannering book should be like and finished it knowing I have another favourite writer to follow.
Charlotte Pudding and Vole Drakeforth live in a world powered by "empathy technology". Think nice thoughts at your toaster or it will burn your toast! Nobody really questions where this energy comes from, why would they - it's clean,free,renewable and long lasting. But this utopia has a serpent at its heart and his name is Godden. From the moment Charlotte meets Vole her life is turned upside down. Burglars enter her home in an attempt to steal an antique desk inherited from her parents and that turns out to be the least of her worries. The pair go from hiding in an Arthurian monastery to infiltrating the headquarters of the Godden Corporation discovering along the way that there is an uncomfortable link between the Arthurians and Godden. The main weapons at their disposal are Charlotte's highly tuned empathy traits and Vole's black belt in sarcasm.
In some ways this book reminded me of reading The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy for the first time. No idea where the ride is going to take you but it is so enjoyable in a totally insane way that you want to stay on-board for the whole journey.
This is the first book by Paul Mannering I have read so I came to it with no preconceived notion about what a Paul Mannering book should be like and finished it knowing I have another favourite writer to follow.
Charlotte Pudding and Vole Drakeforth live in a world powered by "empathy technology". Think nice thoughts at your toaster or it will burn your toast! Nobody really questions where this energy comes from, why would they - it's clean,free,renewable and long lasting. But this utopia has a serpent at its heart and his name is Godden. From the moment Charlotte meets Vole her life is turned upside down. Burglars enter her home in an attempt to steal an antique desk inherited from her parents and that turns out to be the least of her worries. The pair go from hiding in an Arthurian monastery to infiltrating the headquarters of the Godden Corporation discovering along the way that there is an uncomfortable link between the Arthurians and Godden. The main weapons at their disposal are Charlotte's highly tuned empathy traits and Vole's black belt in sarcasm.
In some ways this book reminded me of reading The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy for the first time. No idea where the ride is going to take you but it is so enjoyable in a totally insane way that you want to stay on-board for the whole journey.
May 29, 2014
There are no zombies in Engines of Empathy, so this latest book will be a surprise for hard-core Mannering fans. Instead, Engines of Empathy, Mannering’s own answer to Hal-9000’s famous question, “Will I dream?” is a delightful mix of Miss Marple-style mayhem, semi-sentient machines and manic car chases, all of which arise when the story’s heroine, the self-depreciating Charlotte Pudding, sets off—rather reluctantly, I might add—to discover why the Godden Energy Corporation might be taking such interest in her living oak desk. But other parties awfulise the situation: Charlotte’s new friend, Drakeforth, to an extent, the pair of Angst and Antique removers, quite a lot. Even the Arthurian monks who offer her sanctuary are not entirely all there… Hilarious, off-beat, and weirdly recognisable, this latest offering from Paper Road Press is patchouli for the soul. Lee Murray author of Misplaced.
January 1, 2023
The protagonist of this quirky science fiction thriller is Londonite Charlotte Pudding. Quickly introduced to a world where everything runs of the empathic energy of people, from cars, fridges, toasters and elevators- a situation arises when empathetic energy stored in giant batteries begins to fail.
Charlotte, a sensible but sometimes quick with a quip, is harassed to find her heirloom family desk may hold one of the greatest mysteries and scandals of empathetic energy. Forced in to an acquaintance and partnership with Vole Drakeforth – a man of dubious means and doubtful character- Charlotte is quickly embroiled in secrets, lies, coverups and scandals which have lasted generations and their exposure threaten the very future of empathic energy.
Final Thoughts
Engines of Empathy was a well-planned, easily inducted world-building for a science fiction that didn’t bog down in detail but introduced it along with the characters and their lives. It was one of the best science fiction world-building I’ve had the pleasure to read for some time. The quirky characters and ridiculous scenarios added to the sense of a Discworld novel. But there is also real depth to Engines of Empathy which made it stand out.
Conclusion
A great recommended read for lovers of comedic science-fiction, innovate world-building, mystery, suspense and rollicking good fun. A must read!
Charlotte, a sensible but sometimes quick with a quip, is harassed to find her heirloom family desk may hold one of the greatest mysteries and scandals of empathetic energy. Forced in to an acquaintance and partnership with Vole Drakeforth – a man of dubious means and doubtful character- Charlotte is quickly embroiled in secrets, lies, coverups and scandals which have lasted generations and their exposure threaten the very future of empathic energy.
Final Thoughts
Engines of Empathy was a well-planned, easily inducted world-building for a science fiction that didn’t bog down in detail but introduced it along with the characters and their lives. It was one of the best science fiction world-building I’ve had the pleasure to read for some time. The quirky characters and ridiculous scenarios added to the sense of a Discworld novel. But there is also real depth to Engines of Empathy which made it stand out.
Conclusion
A great recommended read for lovers of comedic science-fiction, innovate world-building, mystery, suspense and rollicking good fun. A must read!
August 6, 2016
Engines of Empathy is the funniest book I have read so far this year. It is set in a world where all the technology runs on empathetic energy and negative emotional can cause dysfunction in the relationship between a person and their toaster. The protagonist Charlotte Pudding is clever, sensible and resourceful, but nonetheless is thrown into a good deal of chaos. Her possession of antique wooden desk, inherited from her late parents, and the repeated intrusions of the charmingly irritating and unhelpful Vole Drakeforth get her intentionally embroiled in adventure and conspiracies involving her family. The banter between Charlotte and Drakeforth is delightful as they have to deal with the sinister Godden energy Corporation, clashes against foes with black-belts in sarcasm, the followers of a religion based on Quantum Mechanics, and a search for some surprisingly hard-to-find patchouli oil. I definitely recommend this book to fans of Douglas Adams or Terry Pratchett, or anyone else who likes a chuckle or two with their rollicking adventures.
September 25, 2019
I read this book a couple of years ago, and like a muppet, forgot to review it. I’m correcting that now – because here’s the thing, due to the quality of Mannering’s writing, the fun characters and neat world building I still remember Charlotte and Drakeforth’s story.
I carry their world around with me in much the same way I still hold Discworld, Hogwarts, and Narnia in my conscious. Great stories become a part of our identity, and 'Engines of Empathy' is a Kiwi fantasy classic full of sparkling wit.
Don’t you be a muppet too, go buy a copy today.
I carry their world around with me in much the same way I still hold Discworld, Hogwarts, and Narnia in my conscious. Great stories become a part of our identity, and 'Engines of Empathy' is a Kiwi fantasy classic full of sparkling wit.
Don’t you be a muppet too, go buy a copy today.
December 9, 2014
Intriguing: Terrific imagination and very easy reading style. This is a strange, foreign, alternate reality where you feel right at home and quickly pick up what’s going on. Cool, quirky characters and an interesting story that may have only just begun… A very enjoyable read.
September 7, 2014
Engines of Empathy is fun, easy, and well paced. It lured me in with easy entertainment then delivered its ideas.
October 26, 2014
This book has a definite Terry Pratchett kind of style to it. It was definitely an enjoyable read, which tossed a number of twists and turns into the mix.
December 27, 2014
Quirky, original, fun, with tones of Pratchett, my favourite book of 2014. If you like your scifi/fantasty with liberal doses of crazy and humour then this book is unmissable.
July 6, 2018
Any writer knows that finding ideas for stories is probably the easiest part of the job. We get countless ideas each day. The problem is some of the ideas are so “out there” that trying to weave a story around it seems almost impossible.
Take, for example, the idea that each of us has souls (which is not an unusual concept) but that the souls can be “harvested” and used as an inexpensive source of energy. Sounds interesting, right? But how could one make a story out of it?
Paul Mannering successfully did just this in ENGINES OF EMPATHY. This is accomplishment worthy of praise. Even more praiseworthy is that Mannering’s characters are offbeat, yet plausible, and they get in and out of bizarre situations in a way that brings smiles (if not chuckles) to the reader.
The protagonist, Charlotte Pudding, a computer psychologist (it makes sense in context of the book) is joined by a mysterious stranger named Vole Drakeforth. It is unclear at first if he is friend or foe. He attempts to help Charlotte save her beloved desk, which is made of “living oak” (which seems to have become extinct) and has absorbed some of her grandfather, who was one of the inventors of empathic engines (it makes sense as the book progresses) and is on a mission against the secretive company that controls all aspects of the empathic energy system.
The story starts when Charlotte has her empath-powered car in an autotherapy clinic for tests and plans to bring in the empath-powered toaster for replacement. Upon her return somebody had unsuccessfully tried to break into her office in a super-security vault which contains her desk.
And the story gets even more strange from there.
Rather than try to summarize the plot, I recommend you pick up a copy and see for yourself. It’s quite entertaining.
Take, for example, the idea that each of us has souls (which is not an unusual concept) but that the souls can be “harvested” and used as an inexpensive source of energy. Sounds interesting, right? But how could one make a story out of it?
Paul Mannering successfully did just this in ENGINES OF EMPATHY. This is accomplishment worthy of praise. Even more praiseworthy is that Mannering’s characters are offbeat, yet plausible, and they get in and out of bizarre situations in a way that brings smiles (if not chuckles) to the reader.
The protagonist, Charlotte Pudding, a computer psychologist (it makes sense in context of the book) is joined by a mysterious stranger named Vole Drakeforth. It is unclear at first if he is friend or foe. He attempts to help Charlotte save her beloved desk, which is made of “living oak” (which seems to have become extinct) and has absorbed some of her grandfather, who was one of the inventors of empathic engines (it makes sense as the book progresses) and is on a mission against the secretive company that controls all aspects of the empathic energy system.
The story starts when Charlotte has her empath-powered car in an autotherapy clinic for tests and plans to bring in the empath-powered toaster for replacement. Upon her return somebody had unsuccessfully tried to break into her office in a super-security vault which contains her desk.
And the story gets even more strange from there.
Rather than try to summarize the plot, I recommend you pick up a copy and see for yourself. It’s quite entertaining.
August 19, 2017
I really enjoyed this story. A rollicking futuristic comedy. What's not to love?
January 24, 2024
Honestly, I've had this book for ages and it was better than I expected. Very, obsurd, silly and humorous but also super dark.
February 10, 2025
One of the weirdest books I have read, just did not gel with me…
August 26, 2020
"Engines of Empathy" is charming, clever, funny, and a rollicking good read...
There is always class in Paul Mannering's novels, the Kiwi-born writer has a head full of knowledge, a charming and unique way of writing and Engines of Empathy is seriously witty and funny and definitely packs an emotional punch in this tightly-knitted story.
Engines of Empathy is one of those books that at first glance of the cover art, you’re not quite sure what you’re going to get yourself into. I mean, the cover looks like a cross between Dr. Who and Harry Potter, and the world is just wonderous as those two great worlds.
I loved the world that Charlotte Pudding lives in, a world in which technology was run by emotion. A world in which if you were gloomy and negative your toaster would burn (or eat) the toast, a world in which cars required therapy. It is a lovely, imaginable world where the insane is truly alive and at every turn, you just don't know what is around the corner.
Culturedemandsgeeks still has no idea what Charlotte, our protagonist, looks like, or what she typically wears. I know that Drakeforth wears a suit (as most men have in the last few hundred years).
The cast was diverse and well-developed, from main characters down to antique dealer mercs and other supporting characters and bit-part players. Characters who could easily have only been there for comic relief were handled with respect and even affection (lookin’ at you, Hoptoad.) With the intense pace, the clever world-building, and the self-sufficient female protagonist all reminded me of the quirky imaginative nature of Douglas Adam' and Terry Pratchett's many worlds but there something uniquely kiwi about it all.
Any writer knows that finding ideas for stories is probably the easiest part of the job. We get countless ideas each day. The problem is some of the ideas are so “out there” that trying to weave a story around it seems almost impossible, yet, Paul has found a unique way, and a talented blend of absurdness and fun to his storytelling.
4.5/5 STARS
There is always class in Paul Mannering's novels, the Kiwi-born writer has a head full of knowledge, a charming and unique way of writing and Engines of Empathy is seriously witty and funny and definitely packs an emotional punch in this tightly-knitted story.
Engines of Empathy is one of those books that at first glance of the cover art, you’re not quite sure what you’re going to get yourself into. I mean, the cover looks like a cross between Dr. Who and Harry Potter, and the world is just wonderous as those two great worlds.
I loved the world that Charlotte Pudding lives in, a world in which technology was run by emotion. A world in which if you were gloomy and negative your toaster would burn (or eat) the toast, a world in which cars required therapy. It is a lovely, imaginable world where the insane is truly alive and at every turn, you just don't know what is around the corner.
Culturedemandsgeeks still has no idea what Charlotte, our protagonist, looks like, or what she typically wears. I know that Drakeforth wears a suit (as most men have in the last few hundred years).
The cast was diverse and well-developed, from main characters down to antique dealer mercs and other supporting characters and bit-part players. Characters who could easily have only been there for comic relief were handled with respect and even affection (lookin’ at you, Hoptoad.) With the intense pace, the clever world-building, and the self-sufficient female protagonist all reminded me of the quirky imaginative nature of Douglas Adam' and Terry Pratchett's many worlds but there something uniquely kiwi about it all.
Any writer knows that finding ideas for stories is probably the easiest part of the job. We get countless ideas each day. The problem is some of the ideas are so “out there” that trying to weave a story around it seems almost impossible, yet, Paul has found a unique way, and a talented blend of absurdness and fun to his storytelling.
4.5/5 STARS
June 21, 2015
Really 3-1/2 stars.
Audiobook Version isn't listed in Goodreads.
Narrator: Fiona Thraille. She's a very good narrator, but not the right choice for this book. The story needs a narrator with a lighter touch who can carry off the humor better.
Engines of Empathy is quirky and humorous book. It's also a good piece of science fiction, set in a world where the energy source is empathic - the interaction of human emotions with technology and mechanical objects. I stepped into the strange world easily, without spending half the book trying to figure out what was going on.
The main character, Charlotte, is exceptionally empathic. She feels when her toaster is angry, for example. She is joined by the super-sarcastic and pushy Vole Drakeforth, who makes his way into her life. Either you'll think he's funny or you won't; if you don't like Drakeforth, you probably won't like the book. Charlotte and Drakeforth are the good guys, the Godden Energy Corp. are the guys.
This is a good guys v. bad guys story, so it was a bit predictable. But given that, there were a lot of unpredictable plot twists that kept me guessing.
I can't say much more without giving away spoilers.
This is the first of a Drakeforth trilogy. I'll probably read the next one and see what I think.
Audiobook Version isn't listed in Goodreads.
Narrator: Fiona Thraille. She's a very good narrator, but not the right choice for this book. The story needs a narrator with a lighter touch who can carry off the humor better.
Engines of Empathy is quirky and humorous book. It's also a good piece of science fiction, set in a world where the energy source is empathic - the interaction of human emotions with technology and mechanical objects. I stepped into the strange world easily, without spending half the book trying to figure out what was going on.
The main character, Charlotte, is exceptionally empathic. She feels when her toaster is angry, for example. She is joined by the super-sarcastic and pushy Vole Drakeforth, who makes his way into her life. Either you'll think he's funny or you won't; if you don't like Drakeforth, you probably won't like the book. Charlotte and Drakeforth are the good guys, the Godden Energy Corp. are the guys.
This is a good guys v. bad guys story, so it was a bit predictable. But given that, there were a lot of unpredictable plot twists that kept me guessing.
I can't say much more without giving away spoilers.
This is the first of a Drakeforth trilogy. I'll probably read the next one and see what I think.
December 21, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. It's not exactly what you'd call realistic, and the ending was a bit of a let-down both in the "oh that's how you're going to end it" as well as the "...wow, that felt rushed" categories, but this is one of those books that you don't really feel the need to nitpick too much because it was such a fun ride. The conversation is sharp, the worldbuilding is charming (machines powered by positive feelings, a daffy new religion, and some really fun characters), and the erudite and matter-of-fact craziness of it all never veered into the sort of "well, if you're going to let THAT happen, then what's the point?" that has kept me from enjoying some books of this genre.
The ending was the only disappointment. A bit of special snowflake saves the day. A bit of "oh, I've gotten them into this situation, now how do I get them out of it?". And a bit of pointless depressingness? It just felt rushed, the pacing off and the tension bled away too easily. The ending really lacked an emotional beat, and the climax didn't feel well thought-out or entirely logical, even given the mechanics of the world. But, all that aside, I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a lighthearted read.
The ending was the only disappointment. A bit of special snowflake saves the day. A bit of "oh, I've gotten them into this situation, now how do I get them out of it?". And a bit of pointless depressingness? It just felt rushed, the pacing off and the tension bled away too easily. The ending really lacked an emotional beat, and the climax didn't feel well thought-out or entirely logical, even given the mechanics of the world. But, all that aside, I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a lighthearted read.
November 7, 2019
Charlotte Pudding’s day begins with her cranky toaster eating her toast. Things deteriorate when she is accosted at the bus stop by Vole Drakeforth who is ranting about the immorality of empathy energy, the energy of the future that give all machines empathy. And her life is turned upside down when Drakeforth breaks into her house while she is still home and convinces her that her oak desk holds a secret message people will kill to keep secret. Dismissing plausibility isn’t an option when she is perused by thugs who want her desk disappeared and her silenced.
The book is, let’s face it, a smidge silly. However, once I accepted that, I was hooked by intrigue and felt compelled to keep reading. If you can handle silly humour, it is at times both witty and funny, but it also has sufficient action to carry the book forward. It’s an ease read and at time thought-provoking if you consider some of the plot to be an analogy to current events. At times there’s some oddities, such as rows of cinnamon (cinnamon or cassia is a bark), but I’m unclear whether this was deliberate. It may well have been. Naturally the book ends on a cliff-hanger. Of course, I’ll be purchasing the next one.
The book is for anyone who can handle silly humour.
The book is, let’s face it, a smidge silly. However, once I accepted that, I was hooked by intrigue and felt compelled to keep reading. If you can handle silly humour, it is at times both witty and funny, but it also has sufficient action to carry the book forward. It’s an ease read and at time thought-provoking if you consider some of the plot to be an analogy to current events. At times there’s some oddities, such as rows of cinnamon (cinnamon or cassia is a bark), but I’m unclear whether this was deliberate. It may well have been. Naturally the book ends on a cliff-hanger. Of course, I’ll be purchasing the next one.
The book is for anyone who can handle silly humour.
April 30, 2015
*This Book Was Given To Me By The Author In Exchange For An Honest Review*
This was the first book I have read by new to me author Paul Mannering but it will definitely NOT be the last. I saw a comment about the book being reminiscent of a Douglas Adams tale and as a fan I couldn't resist and I was not disappointed.
Funny, quirky, with a side of make you think a bit, this book was great! Such a breath of fresh air and a total diversion from many of the books out there complete with a twist just to keep you on your game.
This says book 1 so I am sincerely hoping that there will be a sequel although fans of complete stories would be satisfied with this ending.
An easy 5 stars from me! Possibly one of the favorite books I have got to review so far this year!
V""V
***Review has been done in conjunction with Nerd Girl Official.
For more information regarding our reviews please visit our Fansite: www.facebook.com/NerdGirl.ng ***
This was the first book I have read by new to me author Paul Mannering but it will definitely NOT be the last. I saw a comment about the book being reminiscent of a Douglas Adams tale and as a fan I couldn't resist and I was not disappointed.
Funny, quirky, with a side of make you think a bit, this book was great! Such a breath of fresh air and a total diversion from many of the books out there complete with a twist just to keep you on your game.
This says book 1 so I am sincerely hoping that there will be a sequel although fans of complete stories would be satisfied with this ending.
An easy 5 stars from me! Possibly one of the favorite books I have got to review so far this year!
V""V
***Review has been done in conjunction with Nerd Girl Official.
For more information regarding our reviews please visit our Fansite: www.facebook.com/NerdGirl.ng ***
August 20, 2014
Engines of Empathy is a departure from Mannering's gore-soaked Tankbread series (which is well worth a look for any fan of the zombie genre), and instead dives into a strange world of sentient furniture and quantum religions. This book, for me, was a laugh a minute, in the fashion of Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams, and is also full of moments of insight and heart-pounding excitement. If you're after a wild ride, which will make you laugh and think and look twice at the writing desk in the corner ofthe room when it creaks at you on a dark night, then give this book a go. Very pleased to hear that there are potentially two more in the series on the way.
March 19, 2023
This is an excellent and well written sci-fi thriller that is easy to read and hard to put down. In this world, most things are now powered by empathic engines ever since the discover of empathy essences powering engines more than 100 years ago. Our Protagonist Charlotte Pudding discovers noises that to her sound like muffled voices in an antique writing desk and what follows becomes a whirlwind of conspiracies, drama, weird people such as Drakeforth, and even a religious cult called Arthurisim.
Its a fun ride and at times quite humorous as Pudding pairs up with Drakeforth try and uncover possibly the biggest mystery in a hundred years.
Its a fun ride and at times quite humorous as Pudding pairs up with Drakeforth try and uncover possibly the biggest mystery in a hundred years.
March 7, 2016
Hilarious in a thought provoking way.
The characters are so unexpectedly quirky. Monty Python meets They Might be Giants. Charlotte Pudding loves her desk, and since it is made of living oak I think it loves her back. She meets a crazy man who turns out to be an old dead god, returned, but he never was a god and he hates religion. They share an adventure to find patchouli oil so she can hear the message her desk has from her great grandfather. If you like controlled crazy, which I do, you will love this book. It all makes perfect sense, and don't forget to buy milk.
The characters are so unexpectedly quirky. Monty Python meets They Might be Giants. Charlotte Pudding loves her desk, and since it is made of living oak I think it loves her back. She meets a crazy man who turns out to be an old dead god, returned, but he never was a god and he hates religion. They share an adventure to find patchouli oil so she can hear the message her desk has from her great grandfather. If you like controlled crazy, which I do, you will love this book. It all makes perfect sense, and don't forget to buy milk.
February 23, 2016
I had high hopes for this story. With advertised quantum physics, cool technology, adventure and different realities on the menu, I had hoped for a more substantial novel.
What I got was simply different.
Whoever wrote the synopsis took the everything and the kitchen sink approach to promotion. It was a nice little tongue and check story, but quantum physics? Science was not the story's strong suit.
It is not a bad read, it just isn't what it claims.
What I got was simply different.
Whoever wrote the synopsis took the everything and the kitchen sink approach to promotion. It was a nice little tongue and check story, but quantum physics? Science was not the story's strong suit.
It is not a bad read, it just isn't what it claims.
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