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Transformation #2
War Factory
War Factory is the second novel in the Transformation series, a no-holds-barred adventure set in Neal Asher's popular Polity universe.
One seeks judgement, another faces damnation and one man will have his revenge . . .
Thorvald Spear is losing his mind as he drowns in dark memories that aren't his own. Penny Royal, rogue artificial intelligence, has linked Spear with the stored personalities of those it's murdered. And whether the AI seeks redemption or has some more sinister motive, Spear needs to destroy it. He feels the anger of the dead and shares their pain.
As Spear tracks the AI across a hostile starscape, he has company. Sverl, an alien prador, has been warped by Penny Royal and hungers to confront it. But will the AI's pursuers destroy each other or hunt it together? Sverl's prador enemies aren't far behind either. They plan to use his transition to prove human meddling, triggering a devastating new war.
Clues suggest Penny Royal's heading for the defective war factory that made it. So allies and enemies converge, heading for the biggest firestorm that sector of space has ever seen. But will Spear secure vengeance for his unquiet dead?
Continue the action-packed adventure with Infinity Engine.
'Asher ventures into some terrifying minds and incredible space battles in this tangled but heart-pounding sequel' –Publishers Weekly.
One seeks judgement, another faces damnation and one man will have his revenge . . .
Thorvald Spear is losing his mind as he drowns in dark memories that aren't his own. Penny Royal, rogue artificial intelligence, has linked Spear with the stored personalities of those it's murdered. And whether the AI seeks redemption or has some more sinister motive, Spear needs to destroy it. He feels the anger of the dead and shares their pain.
As Spear tracks the AI across a hostile starscape, he has company. Sverl, an alien prador, has been warped by Penny Royal and hungers to confront it. But will the AI's pursuers destroy each other or hunt it together? Sverl's prador enemies aren't far behind either. They plan to use his transition to prove human meddling, triggering a devastating new war.
Clues suggest Penny Royal's heading for the defective war factory that made it. So allies and enemies converge, heading for the biggest firestorm that sector of space has ever seen. But will Spear secure vengeance for his unquiet dead?
Continue the action-packed adventure with Infinity Engine.
'Asher ventures into some terrifying minds and incredible space battles in this tangled but heart-pounding sequel' –Publishers Weekly.
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First published May 3, 2016
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About the author
Neal Asher
139 books3,065 followersI’ve been an engineer, barman, skip lorry driver, coalman, boat window manufacturer, contract grass cutter and builder. Now I write science fiction books, and am slowly getting over the feeling that someone is going to find me out, and can call myself a writer without wincing and ducking my head. As professions go, I prefer this one: I don’t have to clock-in, change my clothes after work, nor scrub sensitive parts of my body with detergent. I think I’ll hang around.
Source: http://www.blogger.com/profile/139339...
Source: http://www.blogger.com/profile/139339...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 198 reviews
April 24, 2025
While this is officially the second book in the Transformation series, it is really is the third, the first being the Technician; to really 'get into' this text, you should start with the Technician. It is not a stand alone novel. I love Neal Asher and the War Factory is a splendid addition to the Polity universe. In this book, Penny Royal's unfathomable plot (redemption, paradigm shift?) continues to unfold, with the same characters from Dark Intelligence (sans a few, plus a few more); the final book in the 'trilogy', Infinity Engine, will hopefully give us a conclusion. I felt this one was a bit slower than Dark Intelligence and the Technician, but perhaps more suspenseful as the mystery surrounding Penny Royal just gets deeper. If you have not read any Asher, do not start here! Once you start reading the Policy novels, you will get here eventually.
November 7, 2018
I think I have finally become a card-carrying fan of Asher. Before, it was all about the awesome tech and the cool reveals that usually surrounded the cool tech, but then I was getting into the wide range of messed up characters being transformed from normal baddies to nearly godlike baddies... while the rest of the Polity goes nuts with godlike AIs of every flavor and disposition ruling us poor fools however they liked. Often to some very strange results.
Fast forward to the current novel. It continues on with the story of Pennyroyal not from his POV but from all his Faustian victims. After the results and cool as shit reveals from Dark Transformation, we still don’t get the ubergodlike AI’s POV but he has suddenly become my absolute favorite AI character of all time. Talk about a backstory!
This novel is both a fantastic backstory and a great adventure bringing the most fascinating creatures and monsters from the previous and throwing them together in a truly awesome way....
At the whims of a dark god with truly crazy motives and crazier abilities.
Think of a Lovecraftian nightmare with hyperspace, superintelligence, and even time travel capabilities. Have him apparently bring about the most elaborate scheme to enact revenge upon himself by creating paradigm shifting creatures capable of busting planets, and then make him look like a king slumming it in a local bar.
Too freaking awesome.
Fast forward to the current novel. It continues on with the story of Pennyroyal not from his POV but from all his Faustian victims. After the results and cool as shit reveals from Dark Transformation, we still don’t get the ubergodlike AI’s POV but he has suddenly become my absolute favorite AI character of all time. Talk about a backstory!
This novel is both a fantastic backstory and a great adventure bringing the most fascinating creatures and monsters from the previous and throwing them together in a truly awesome way....
At the whims of a dark god with truly crazy motives and crazier abilities.
Think of a Lovecraftian nightmare with hyperspace, superintelligence, and even time travel capabilities. Have him apparently bring about the most elaborate scheme to enact revenge upon himself by creating paradigm shifting creatures capable of busting planets, and then make him look like a king slumming it in a local bar.
Too freaking awesome.
May 28, 2023
Immensely entertaining book.
May 30, 2024
”Snickety snick”.
War Factory hits the ground running, and just keeps going, dragging the reader along for the ride. Since this is the middle book of a trilogy I should not be singing its praises in isolation. No, I must try and convince you to read Dark Intelligence, which is the first book. Or, even better, The Technician, which serves as a prelude of sorts, and then Dark Intelligence. You will inevitably find your way to War Factory after that. Or, I could go the whole hog, and just tell you to start the Polity series from the beginning and keep going.
”I’m guessing the new king of the prador will not tolerate an enclave of breeding renegade prador, especially prador capable of doing what we just saw. The king will send units of his Guard to deal with the problem. Where do you reckon that Dreadnaught is going now?”
“The Graveyard.”
“Ah. If the King’s Guard enter neutral space – the Graveyard – the Polity will respond, and that will almost certainly lead to some… friction. So what now?”
As always, there is loads going on here; a high tech smorgasboard of ideas, grotesqueries and fantastic storytelling. Asher’s writing is vivid and colourful. The Polity series is one of very few (long running) series that I have continued reading fairly consistently (counting all genres). Each book has the heft of a standalone and does not feel watered down by the law of diminishing returns.
”Why am I alive?”
“A question all beings must post to themselves.”
The motivations of both Penny Royal and Thorvald Spear remain complicated (as it should be). There are quite a number of POV characters, of which some are human, some are Prador, some are AI, and some are a little of each.
Asher also has the ability to make the reader switch allegiances (no easy task), by subverting his own characters, and changing antagonist to protagonist (and vice versa). Themes of redemption (and that of revenge vs justice) run strongly through his Polity novels.
The thing about wonder and awe, he had found, was that sometimes it sat just a thin skin away from terror.
As with the other Polity entries there are some horror elements, running the gamut from body horror to cosmic dread. It’s also a bonus that the Prador feature quite a bit, given their history with the Polity, and the fact that they didn’t feature much in the Agent Cormac arc.
Some sensitivity to my surroundings returned then and I realized she was staring at me at me with something close to terror.
If you like high tech Space Opera with a high emphasis on action and wonder, and you are not reading these books, you are missing out on a trick. You don’t have to take just my word for it.
On Locus Mag Paul Di Filippo had the following to say about Neal Asher, and particularly Dark Intelligence:
Novelty and neologisms dominate nearly every page. Handled badly, such a strategy becomes confusing and frustrating. Asher does it well, though. And yet the reader needs to keep pace. There is just enough authorial guidance, but no condescending hand-holding. This type of SF is really the litmus test for separating serious readers from, say, media fans who might groove to Guardians of the Galaxy but blanch at A.E. van Vogt or John C. Wright, flavors of both of whom season Asher’s book.
-------------------
”You are in no position to enforce your will.”
“Wrong.”
War Factory hits the ground running, and just keeps going, dragging the reader along for the ride. Since this is the middle book of a trilogy I should not be singing its praises in isolation. No, I must try and convince you to read Dark Intelligence, which is the first book. Or, even better, The Technician, which serves as a prelude of sorts, and then Dark Intelligence. You will inevitably find your way to War Factory after that. Or, I could go the whole hog, and just tell you to start the Polity series from the beginning and keep going.
”I’m guessing the new king of the prador will not tolerate an enclave of breeding renegade prador, especially prador capable of doing what we just saw. The king will send units of his Guard to deal with the problem. Where do you reckon that Dreadnaught is going now?”
“The Graveyard.”
“Ah. If the King’s Guard enter neutral space – the Graveyard – the Polity will respond, and that will almost certainly lead to some… friction. So what now?”
As always, there is loads going on here; a high tech smorgasboard of ideas, grotesqueries and fantastic storytelling. Asher’s writing is vivid and colourful. The Polity series is one of very few (long running) series that I have continued reading fairly consistently (counting all genres). Each book has the heft of a standalone and does not feel watered down by the law of diminishing returns.
”Why am I alive?”
“A question all beings must post to themselves.”
The motivations of both Penny Royal and Thorvald Spear remain complicated (as it should be). There are quite a number of POV characters, of which some are human, some are Prador, some are AI, and some are a little of each.
Asher also has the ability to make the reader switch allegiances (no easy task), by subverting his own characters, and changing antagonist to protagonist (and vice versa). Themes of redemption (and that of revenge vs justice) run strongly through his Polity novels.
The thing about wonder and awe, he had found, was that sometimes it sat just a thin skin away from terror.
As with the other Polity entries there are some horror elements, running the gamut from body horror to cosmic dread. It’s also a bonus that the Prador feature quite a bit, given their history with the Polity, and the fact that they didn’t feature much in the Agent Cormac arc.
Some sensitivity to my surroundings returned then and I realized she was staring at me at me with something close to terror.
If you like high tech Space Opera with a high emphasis on action and wonder, and you are not reading these books, you are missing out on a trick. You don’t have to take just my word for it.
On Locus Mag Paul Di Filippo had the following to say about Neal Asher, and particularly Dark Intelligence:
Novelty and neologisms dominate nearly every page. Handled badly, such a strategy becomes confusing and frustrating. Asher does it well, though. And yet the reader needs to keep pace. There is just enough authorial guidance, but no condescending hand-holding. This type of SF is really the litmus test for separating serious readers from, say, media fans who might groove to Guardians of the Galaxy but blanch at A.E. van Vogt or John C. Wright, flavors of both of whom season Asher’s book.
-------------------
”You are in no position to enforce your will.”
“Wrong.”
May 22, 2016
The sequel to Dark Intelligence is no less riveting and complex than the first in the Transformation series. Asher is still playing with the deconstruction and evolution of being, what it means to exist, to act and overcome for Humans, Prador (the crab-like alien race) as well as A.I. entities. Through Penny Royal, a dark (possibly insane) A.I. the destinies of characters introduced in the first book continue to be manipulated. Is it for peace, is it out of guilt, is it out of benevolence? The motive for Penny Royal's actions aren't clear, not even to perhaps its closest victim, the human, Thorvald Spear.
What I really like about this book (and mind you Asher is my favorite author) has always been his world building and nuanced characters. Never before has he delved so far into the Prador biology; their mating habits, dietary needs and social behavior. Considering that they are the frequently used brutal protagonists in his books, this was an insightful treat only made better by the appearances of a few unique prador, one such who even dabbles in...art!
Also, unlike his other works, the humans definitely take a back seat to the god-like manipulations of A.I., not even including Penny Royal. The Brockle makes his appearance as a player in the great game of destiny. As an A.I. that is just as terrifying as Penny Royal, if not more, this Prison Warden/Interrogation A.I. becomes obsessed with bringing the rogue Penny Royal to justice, even at the threat of incurring the wrath of the main Polity protector, Earth Central.
Artificial Intelligences aren't the only ones to steal the show though, as really, the Prador are the most fascinating characters in the work. Sverl, the mutated tripartite being (part human, part Prador, part A.I.), Cvorn, the cyber-augmented Prador vowing to hunt Sverl as a pawn to take over the Prador empire, Sfolk, the gutsy upstart renegade, Bsorol and Bsectil, Sverl's emphatically evolving first children and the ever elusive, mysterious King of the Prador. Each one of their narratives shine on the page!
The usual, spectacular Asher staples are present throughout the work, with masers, CTDs, rail guns, planet busters, gaitling guns, hardfields and U-space tech. There are intense space ship battles, heart-pounding action and shocking deaths and destruction, but also as usual the story attacks the brain as much as the action hits the pulse.
As I finish this book and eagerly await the 3rd, I will admit that I have no idea where the story is headed, but I eagerly look forward to finding out as the ending of this book was not exactly easy to get over.
What I really like about this book (and mind you Asher is my favorite author) has always been his world building and nuanced characters. Never before has he delved so far into the Prador biology; their mating habits, dietary needs and social behavior. Considering that they are the frequently used brutal protagonists in his books, this was an insightful treat only made better by the appearances of a few unique prador, one such who even dabbles in...art!
Also, unlike his other works, the humans definitely take a back seat to the god-like manipulations of A.I., not even including Penny Royal. The Brockle makes his appearance as a player in the great game of destiny. As an A.I. that is just as terrifying as Penny Royal, if not more, this Prison Warden/Interrogation A.I. becomes obsessed with bringing the rogue Penny Royal to justice, even at the threat of incurring the wrath of the main Polity protector, Earth Central.
Artificial Intelligences aren't the only ones to steal the show though, as really, the Prador are the most fascinating characters in the work. Sverl, the mutated tripartite being (part human, part Prador, part A.I.), Cvorn, the cyber-augmented Prador vowing to hunt Sverl as a pawn to take over the Prador empire, Sfolk, the gutsy upstart renegade, Bsorol and Bsectil, Sverl's emphatically evolving first children and the ever elusive, mysterious King of the Prador. Each one of their narratives shine on the page!
The usual, spectacular Asher staples are present throughout the work, with masers, CTDs, rail guns, planet busters, gaitling guns, hardfields and U-space tech. There are intense space ship battles, heart-pounding action and shocking deaths and destruction, but also as usual the story attacks the brain as much as the action hits the pulse.
As I finish this book and eagerly await the 3rd, I will admit that I have no idea where the story is headed, but I eagerly look forward to finding out as the ending of this book was not exactly easy to get over.
November 15, 2019
5 Stars
Are simply not enough to describe how much I loved this book from Neal Asher. I am a true fan boy of his and War Factory seemed to be written just for me. Who would ever think that an action packed space opera featuring next to no humans would be so identifiable and real. I devoured this one and will read every book that Asher writes.
Are simply not enough to describe how much I loved this book from Neal Asher. I am a true fan boy of his and War Factory seemed to be written just for me. Who would ever think that an action packed space opera featuring next to no humans would be so identifiable and real. I devoured this one and will read every book that Asher writes.
October 31, 2016
This book has flaws but I am starting from six stars for scope, complexity and continuation of a very long series. So five.
If this is your first Asher, put it down NOW. Go and read at least six of his others, and definitely #1 of this series.
As I read this I kept picturing Asher working in an biggish room with whiteboards from floor to ceiling. On one wall he lists all the facts he has laid out about each character. On another, he maps where everyone is at the current plot moment. On the third, he shows who everyone is and whether each is currently alive or dead (both of those being rather fluid concepts). On the fourth, he logs all the details to date of each location in the plot. And every morning he has to walk around the room uploading it all again before he can write another ten pages.
Neal has had a tough time of it lately, and I am very pleased to see in this book (and other places) that he seems to have worked through it, as much as anyone can.
So ... where is the accounting of the number of planets that had to be destroyed to make all the ships in this series? One is 80x50 miles, and many aren't a lot smaller. Where is the list of all the weapons used in the series? Just for this book, where's the list of all the things Riss can do? Has anyone counted how many times the word "hardfield" appears?
Readers, you will discover that this book contains (1) two insane AIs; (2) one or more Pradors who are probably insane by their society's standards, and arguably aren't pradors anymore; (3) a snake drone of nearly-limitless capability that is really, really mad at someone; (4) time travel, carefully limited and done in a way that actually improves the plot considerably; and much more. But then if you've been reading the series, you've been through hooders and Atheters and 20 more of the weirdest creatures ever imagined in SF, so no surprise.
I miss the extra-snarky war drone from a few books ago, but there's so nuch going on here that it's not a big deal. Actually, if you write down the plot as you go, there aren't a lot of big action scenes. Just a lot of development of characters and situations.
As is almost always the case these days, there isn't a gigantic payoff ending. Possibly because it's not clear what it could have been, but more likely because there HAS to be a Volume 3 now, with two insane genius AIs facing off. It's going to be a doozy.
And finally - when does Asher get his Lifetime Achievement Award?
If this is your first Asher, put it down NOW. Go and read at least six of his others, and definitely #1 of this series.
As I read this I kept picturing Asher working in an biggish room with whiteboards from floor to ceiling. On one wall he lists all the facts he has laid out about each character. On another, he maps where everyone is at the current plot moment. On the third, he shows who everyone is and whether each is currently alive or dead (both of those being rather fluid concepts). On the fourth, he logs all the details to date of each location in the plot. And every morning he has to walk around the room uploading it all again before he can write another ten pages.
Neal has had a tough time of it lately, and I am very pleased to see in this book (and other places) that he seems to have worked through it, as much as anyone can.
So ... where is the accounting of the number of planets that had to be destroyed to make all the ships in this series? One is 80x50 miles, and many aren't a lot smaller. Where is the list of all the weapons used in the series? Just for this book, where's the list of all the things Riss can do? Has anyone counted how many times the word "hardfield" appears?
Readers, you will discover that this book contains (1) two insane AIs; (2) one or more Pradors who are probably insane by their society's standards, and arguably aren't pradors anymore; (3) a snake drone of nearly-limitless capability that is really, really mad at someone; (4) time travel, carefully limited and done in a way that actually improves the plot considerably; and much more. But then if you've been reading the series, you've been through hooders and Atheters and 20 more of the weirdest creatures ever imagined in SF, so no surprise.
I miss the extra-snarky war drone from a few books ago, but there's so nuch going on here that it's not a big deal. Actually, if you write down the plot as you go, there aren't a lot of big action scenes. Just a lot of development of characters and situations.
As is almost always the case these days, there isn't a gigantic payoff ending. Possibly because it's not clear what it could have been, but more likely because there HAS to be a Volume 3 now, with two insane genius AIs facing off. It's going to be a doozy.
And finally - when does Asher get his Lifetime Achievement Award?
May 22, 2016
Space-opera at its best with a fantastic world-building, good characters and a complex, surprising and addictive plot, with moments of tension and action if somewhat elongated for my taste in some cases. I really want to know how the saga will end.
Full review in english: http://dreamsofelvex.blogspot.com/201...
Reseña en castellano: http://dreamsofelvex.blogspot.com/201...
Full review in english: http://dreamsofelvex.blogspot.com/201...
Reseña en castellano: http://dreamsofelvex.blogspot.com/201...
May 21, 2016
War Factory Review – Mr. Asher has once again taken us on a rip roaring ride through the universe of the Polity, chalk full of half human crabs and overly emotional AIs War Factory may be his best work yet!
As is typical in Mr. Asher’s work a broad range of characters from past works, particularly Dark Intelligence, take part in the chaos that unfolds. As the title infers the central plot focuses around AI with seemingly God like abilities finding the original factory it was created in. The machinations of the AI in question lead to complicated sub-plots unfolding including the potential for an interstellar war involving old foes, the Prador. As in previous work War Factory also explores past themes introduced in some of Mr. Asher’s other works. Such as who the king of the Prador empire is and why the Kings Guard are so secretive in their enforcement of the kings wishes.
I highly recommend War Factory to any fans of Space Opera. If you enjoyed the likes of Stephen Baxter, Alastair Reynolds or Greg Bear War Factory is for you. War Factory was written as a sequel to Dark Intelligence, if you have a chance read Dark Intelligence first for background.
As is typical in Mr. Asher’s work a broad range of characters from past works, particularly Dark Intelligence, take part in the chaos that unfolds. As the title infers the central plot focuses around AI with seemingly God like abilities finding the original factory it was created in. The machinations of the AI in question lead to complicated sub-plots unfolding including the potential for an interstellar war involving old foes, the Prador. As in previous work War Factory also explores past themes introduced in some of Mr. Asher’s other works. Such as who the king of the Prador empire is and why the Kings Guard are so secretive in their enforcement of the kings wishes.
I highly recommend War Factory to any fans of Space Opera. If you enjoyed the likes of Stephen Baxter, Alastair Reynolds or Greg Bear War Factory is for you. War Factory was written as a sequel to Dark Intelligence, if you have a chance read Dark Intelligence first for background.
July 31, 2019
Silky smooth sci-fi with bite. More please!
started_finish_later
May 18, 2016cannot believe I arrive at a point where the Polity novels of Neal Asher became so meh for me, but here it is...
November 10, 2022
Big Sci Fi, Aliens, SFX, Cast of Thousands (rapidly whittled down), Space Ships, AI, Body Mods, Bio Mods, Brain Augmentation, Murder Bots, Drone Wars, Explosions, Implosions, Body Horror, Tentacles, Warps, Wefts, Weaves, U-Space, My Space (kidding), Outer Space, Cat People, Crab People, Space Suits, Space Boots, Quantum Roots, Virus, Virus, Virus, Implants, Memplants, Railguns, Particles, Science indistiguishable from Magic yet still (semi) convincing as Science, Vast Field of Play, Intrigue, Mysterious Motives, Much Shooting Shit Up, Some (lilbit) Character development.
Put it all together....another reliable Asher Sci Fi book.
If you are after moving personal interactions between crews and characters in a 'we are family' kind of way, probaly better go with The Expanse series.
Put it all together....another reliable Asher Sci Fi book.
If you are after moving personal interactions between crews and characters in a 'we are family' kind of way, probaly better go with The Expanse series.
May 1, 2016
This is the kind of book where you have *no* idea what's going on but you're riding along giggling the whole time as it's just that good.
An excellent follow on in the series and one that closes out some threads while making a whole new quilt along the way. Additionally, I'm not even certain those closed threads will remain that way as death is a mere inconvenience in this universe.
Now the long dark wait till the next one.
An excellent follow on in the series and one that closes out some threads while making a whole new quilt along the way. Additionally, I'm not even certain those closed threads will remain that way as death is a mere inconvenience in this universe.
Now the long dark wait till the next one.
June 2, 2016
Not terrific. Internal inconsistency, and way too much exposition. Could've been halved in length but I guess he's famous enough now, for publishers to fear editing a cash-cow. I'd be harsher, but he's suffered loss, I know how that feels and there should be more mercy in the world.
I will always read him. Jain-speed Asher.
I will always read him. Jain-speed Asher.
October 24, 2016
Great science fiction!!!!
Second book in the series. Artificial intelligence has never been handle so well. The complexity of a,man made being that has surpassed it's maker is spell binding.
The truma of self-awareness is delivered flawlessly!!
Second book in the series. Artificial intelligence has never been handle so well. The complexity of a,man made being that has surpassed it's maker is spell binding.
The truma of self-awareness is delivered flawlessly!!
January 17, 2024
Dans cette suite directe du premier tome de la trilogie, on continue à plonger dans le chaos total qu’est la bataille dans le Cimetière - et c’est TROP COOL. Plus j’avance dans ma découverte de l’oeuvre d’Asher plus j’aime son univers Polity, aussi violent qu’intéressant, bourré d’actions et d’idées super intéressantes sur l’IA, le transhumanisme, la guerre et tout le tintouin. Du très, très bon.
March 3, 2017
Asher is at top form. Intricate plot, fascinating characters and all the epic action you've come to expect. More, I want more!
December 3, 2017
This is the second book about the dark intelligence named Penny Royal. It plays out similar to how Dark Intelligence did by following many different characters that have had historical contact with the rogue AI. At the culmination of the first book in the trilogy two of the characters whos lives were changed by Penny Royal reached a... well, a transformation likely why the series has that name.
The ultimate confrontation between these characters, and a new character the AI that created Penny Royal and it's flaws happens on board a massive construction factory called War Factory 101, a place where war ships and war machines were created during the Prador war. Penny Royal was created there and installed into a Polity destroyer.
However, the culmination of book two was much less satisfying. I suppose you could argue that two of the characters also experienced a transformation but it feels incomplete, like a transformation was started but left in a cliff hanger type of ending.
Oddly enough Penny Royal has almost no presence in this book and it is never the POV character. It's actions are described and hinted at by the others, an independent ship captain, a Polity war drone also created in War Factory 101, a former mercenary, and a resurrected human soldier killed a century before in the Prador war. Other appear like several Polity AI and Prador and non-Polity humans.
Another issue I have is that Penny Royal is displaying abilities well beyond what we have seen from any other AI in the Polity universe. It is unclear if this is because the Polity AI are hiding their abilities or if Penny Royal is really that powerful. This is an issue that is becoming more and more apparent through the seriese and it seems that it will continue into the next book.
I still liked the book, don't get me wrong, I just didn't think it was as good as the first one and I have high hopes that my complaints about what I think of as incomplete transformations will be resolved in the final book, Infinity Engine.
That means that the culmination of book two was much less satisfying because the
The ultimate confrontation between these characters, and a new character the AI that created Penny Royal and it's flaws happens on board a massive construction factory called War Factory 101, a place where war ships and war machines were created during the Prador war. Penny Royal was created there and installed into a Polity destroyer.
However, the culmination of book two was much less satisfying. I suppose you could argue that two of the characters also experienced a transformation but it feels incomplete, like a transformation was started but left in a cliff hanger type of ending.
Oddly enough Penny Royal has almost no presence in this book and it is never the POV character. It's actions are described and hinted at by the others, an independent ship captain, a Polity war drone also created in War Factory 101, a former mercenary, and a resurrected human soldier killed a century before in the Prador war. Other appear like several Polity AI and Prador and non-Polity humans.
Another issue I have is that Penny Royal is displaying abilities well beyond what we have seen from any other AI in the Polity universe. It is unclear if this is because the Polity AI are hiding their abilities or if Penny Royal is really that powerful. This is an issue that is becoming more and more apparent through the seriese and it seems that it will continue into the next book.
I still liked the book, don't get me wrong, I just didn't think it was as good as the first one and I have high hopes that my complaints about what I think of as incomplete transformations will be resolved in the final book, Infinity Engine.
That means that the culmination of book two was much less satisfying because the
November 24, 2019
Compared to previous book this has more chapters about prador aliens. There's some more said about their doings and motivations to the point, that this one might even count as a biological-science-fiction novel.
The dark AI, Penny Royal, appears to be just less obscure, provides more explanations that serve this sequel well. Continued structure of sub-chapters assigned to particular character still works and i liked it. Great story telling with coherent pacing, deep characters, and fantastic technology. A sour universe worth my immersion of every its part.
The dark AI, Penny Royal, appears to be just less obscure, provides more explanations that serve this sequel well. Continued structure of sub-chapters assigned to particular character still works and i liked it. Great story telling with coherent pacing, deep characters, and fantastic technology. A sour universe worth my immersion of every its part.
July 23, 2017
July 2017 book group selection.
I just love Asher's books - big grandiose space opera, great aliens that kinda beg the question - exactly who is the alien here - Artificial Intelligence's that are just as alien as any thing else floating around the universe, and awesome character development (or redevelopment?)
In Dark Intelligence, the reader watched the transformation of Isobel Santomi from human to hooder. In War Factory, the reader watches as Sverl turns from Prador into a triumvirate of Prador, AI, and human. Penny Royal had a hand in both instances, and the humans, AI's and aliens he touches are changed in ways only the AI understands while leaving his - victims - with more questions than answers.
War Factory is, basically, a transition book - characters from book one are moved along per Penny Royal's plans, and set up for the next book. And, as I've found in transition books, this became a tich long in the tooth. For myself, I could have used a bit less of the moving characters into place like chess pieces. I admit, I got very fidgety about the last 100 pages.
Oh heaven's, I really have no idea how to summarize this...Asher's books are like that. Penny Royal is driving everything as he manipulates the players to congregate on the Factory Station Room 101. But as I noted above, this is Sverl's story - Sverl and the War Drone Riss, Sverl and Cvorn, Trent Sobel and the Shell People. On the periphery, is Blite and his crew, and Thorvold Spear.
There is a tremendous amount of stuff going on in a relatively shore span of time. Even when taken in the context of book two of a three book series, this IS Space Opera at it's finest. Recommended if you've read Dark Intelligence, and maybe Prador Moon, Shadow of the Scorpion and The Technician.
I just love Asher's books - big grandiose space opera, great aliens that kinda beg the question - exactly who is the alien here - Artificial Intelligence's that are just as alien as any thing else floating around the universe, and awesome character development (or redevelopment?)
In Dark Intelligence, the reader watched the transformation of Isobel Santomi from human to hooder. In War Factory, the reader watches as Sverl turns from Prador into a triumvirate of Prador, AI, and human. Penny Royal had a hand in both instances, and the humans, AI's and aliens he touches are changed in ways only the AI understands while leaving his - victims - with more questions than answers.
War Factory is, basically, a transition book - characters from book one are moved along per Penny Royal's plans, and set up for the next book. And, as I've found in transition books, this became a tich long in the tooth. For myself, I could have used a bit less of the moving characters into place like chess pieces. I admit, I got very fidgety about the last 100 pages.
Oh heaven's, I really have no idea how to summarize this...Asher's books are like that. Penny Royal is driving everything as he manipulates the players to congregate on the Factory Station Room 101. But as I noted above, this is Sverl's story - Sverl and the War Drone Riss, Sverl and Cvorn, Trent Sobel and the Shell People. On the periphery, is Blite and his crew, and Thorvold Spear.
There is a tremendous amount of stuff going on in a relatively shore span of time. Even when taken in the context of book two of a three book series, this IS Space Opera at it's finest. Recommended if you've read Dark Intelligence, and maybe Prador Moon, Shadow of the Scorpion and The Technician.
June 6, 2016
I started reading Neal Asher quite recently. Dark Intelligence was actually my first one. Since then I've read more about the Polity universe so this time I was able to pick up the references better.
This is so far Neal's best book I've read. It's structurally a better book, the narrative races along, the epic space battles are even more epic and all the subplots are equally engaging. It does a great job at keeping you informed about what's going on and occasionally catches up the plot which can be hard with so many different strands.
Story wise, the motives of all the protagonists are much clearer, except for everyone's favourite dark AI. Penny Royal is the ultimate Deus ex Machina, seemingly omnipotent and it's its goals which drives the story. Is it seeking redemption or does it have something else in mind? I have a feeling there might be a twist coming up...
I haven't finished the book yet, and I'm almost reluctant too as it's so much fun. I recommend it to anyone who likes a well-written story.
This is so far Neal's best book I've read. It's structurally a better book, the narrative races along, the epic space battles are even more epic and all the subplots are equally engaging. It does a great job at keeping you informed about what's going on and occasionally catches up the plot which can be hard with so many different strands.
Story wise, the motives of all the protagonists are much clearer, except for everyone's favourite dark AI. Penny Royal is the ultimate Deus ex Machina, seemingly omnipotent and it's its goals which drives the story. Is it seeking redemption or does it have something else in mind? I have a feeling there might be a twist coming up...
I haven't finished the book yet, and I'm almost reluctant too as it's so much fun. I recommend it to anyone who likes a well-written story.
December 7, 2016
Aaak. I am super conflicted about this.
I love the way Neal Asher is weaving his universe together. I love human / AI / monster-crab hybrids (I mean who doesn't?).
But the writing style is so ADD, so many characters PoV in such short choppy chapters. As soon as I really get into one thread it cuts to the next one.
I found it super hard to focus and took ages to finish it.
I love the way Neal Asher is weaving his universe together. I love human / AI / monster-crab hybrids (I mean who doesn't?).
But the writing style is so ADD, so many characters PoV in such short choppy chapters. As soon as I really get into one thread it cuts to the next one.
I found it super hard to focus and took ages to finish it.
June 2, 2016
I always love Neal Asher's dark characters! My main issue is that there were a few too many to follow. I think trimming it down to three would have made the narrative more clear. Still enjoyed it though!
April 16, 2016
4.5/5.0
March 27, 2017
As always - I really enjoy Neal Asher's Polity novels. This one is more of the same - tightly plotted, its 500+ pages flowed past effortlessly. More please!
January 2, 2026
Another Excellent Foray Into the Future
Asher's Polity continues to be full of surprises and surreal moments, with War Factory unveiling more about the prador than you ever wanted to know, delving into truly bizarre AI motivations, and ending with a disturbing lead into the next book.
Asher's Polity continues to be full of surprises and surreal moments, with War Factory unveiling more about the prador than you ever wanted to know, delving into truly bizarre AI motivations, and ending with a disturbing lead into the next book.
August 28, 2022
9/10 stars
Ugh, I'm going way too fast through these. Penny Royal, what an absolutely fantastic creation!
RTC
Ugh, I'm going way too fast through these. Penny Royal, what an absolutely fantastic creation!
RTC
August 4, 2016
War Factory is the second novel in Neal Asher’s Transformations series, preceded by Dark Intelligence. Based in his ever-popular Polity universe, War Factory takes the events from the first novel and expands on them further, and all done in typical Asher fashion. Not the place to jump in to Asher’s work, but if you liked Dark Intelligence, you’ll love War Factory…
From the publisher:
One seeks judgement, another faces damnation and one man will have his revenge . . .
Thorvald Spear is losing his mind as he drowns in dark memories that aren’t his own. Penny Royal, rogue artificial intelligence, has linked Spear with the stored personalities of those it’s murdered. And whether the AI seeks redemption or has some more sinister motive, Spear needs to destroy it. He feels the anger of the dead and shares their pain.
As Spear tracks the AI across a hostile starscape, he has company. Sverl, an alien prador, has been warped by Penny Royal and hungers to confront it. But will the AI’s pursuers destroy each other or hunt it together? Sverl’s prador enemies aren’t far behind either. They plan to use his transition to prove human meddling, triggering a devastating new war.
Clues suggest Penny Royal’s heading for the defective war factory that made it. So allies and enemies converge, heading for the biggest firestorm that sector of space has ever seen. But will Spear secure vengeance for his unquiet dead?
As we rejoin the action following the events of Dark Intelligence, one of the first noticeable differences is the exclusion of Isobel Satomi. A main character in the first novel who went through a rather shocking and thorough change into a hooder, it was surprising to see her put to one side. However, this doesn’t mean the momentum eases off, for we do continue to follow Spear and Sverl, plus Cvorn, one of Sverl’s children, that moves that plot along very nicely indeed. And let’s not forget the mastermind behind all the events: Penny Royal.
It would be very easy to get caught up in the details of War Factory, to talk about the changes going on to the varied cast. While a large aspect of the novel, and a part that drives the narrative forward at every twist and turn, it really is best left to be discovered by the reader. There are some truly amazing revelations and set pieces as the story moves along – from a rather unique look at time travel through to a meeting with the Prador king – the time spent reading War Factory is well worth the effort.
However, there is only one issue with War Factory – you have to have read Dark Intelligence. This isn’t a stand-alone novel or one that forms a loose series, War Factory is a firm second novel in a trilogy that requires knowledge from the first book to be both enjoyed and understood. In fact, Asher wrote the trilogy as a whole before even turning anything in to his publisher, so seeing such intricately plotted and connected details is expected.
In short, War Factory contains everything that is good about Asher’s writing. It’s thoughtful, yet action-packed, and adds layer upon layer to an already deep setting that is the Polity. With AI, Prador, and human elements to the story this truly takes the series title of Transformations and gives it a spin that is massively enjoyable. Add to this some truly unique and weird aliens that you’re unlikely to see from any other authors and you’ve got a winner. Nobody does science fiction like Neal Asher, and War Factory is yet more proof of that.
From the publisher:
One seeks judgement, another faces damnation and one man will have his revenge . . .
Thorvald Spear is losing his mind as he drowns in dark memories that aren’t his own. Penny Royal, rogue artificial intelligence, has linked Spear with the stored personalities of those it’s murdered. And whether the AI seeks redemption or has some more sinister motive, Spear needs to destroy it. He feels the anger of the dead and shares their pain.
As Spear tracks the AI across a hostile starscape, he has company. Sverl, an alien prador, has been warped by Penny Royal and hungers to confront it. But will the AI’s pursuers destroy each other or hunt it together? Sverl’s prador enemies aren’t far behind either. They plan to use his transition to prove human meddling, triggering a devastating new war.
Clues suggest Penny Royal’s heading for the defective war factory that made it. So allies and enemies converge, heading for the biggest firestorm that sector of space has ever seen. But will Spear secure vengeance for his unquiet dead?
As we rejoin the action following the events of Dark Intelligence, one of the first noticeable differences is the exclusion of Isobel Satomi. A main character in the first novel who went through a rather shocking and thorough change into a hooder, it was surprising to see her put to one side. However, this doesn’t mean the momentum eases off, for we do continue to follow Spear and Sverl, plus Cvorn, one of Sverl’s children, that moves that plot along very nicely indeed. And let’s not forget the mastermind behind all the events: Penny Royal.
It would be very easy to get caught up in the details of War Factory, to talk about the changes going on to the varied cast. While a large aspect of the novel, and a part that drives the narrative forward at every twist and turn, it really is best left to be discovered by the reader. There are some truly amazing revelations and set pieces as the story moves along – from a rather unique look at time travel through to a meeting with the Prador king – the time spent reading War Factory is well worth the effort.
However, there is only one issue with War Factory – you have to have read Dark Intelligence. This isn’t a stand-alone novel or one that forms a loose series, War Factory is a firm second novel in a trilogy that requires knowledge from the first book to be both enjoyed and understood. In fact, Asher wrote the trilogy as a whole before even turning anything in to his publisher, so seeing such intricately plotted and connected details is expected.
In short, War Factory contains everything that is good about Asher’s writing. It’s thoughtful, yet action-packed, and adds layer upon layer to an already deep setting that is the Polity. With AI, Prador, and human elements to the story this truly takes the series title of Transformations and gives it a spin that is massively enjoyable. Add to this some truly unique and weird aliens that you’re unlikely to see from any other authors and you’ve got a winner. Nobody does science fiction like Neal Asher, and War Factory is yet more proof of that.
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