Clockwork Angels #1

by Kevin J. Anderson

WHY WE LOVE Rush's CLOCKWORK ANGELS is a testament to the band's creative versatility-it has been successful as a concept album, novel, and international tour. Now, Rush drummer and lyricist Neil Peart and New York Times bestselling author Kevin J. Anderson are bringing the story of CLOCKWORK ANGELS to comics, where newcomer artist Nick Robles will bring the journey of Owen Hardy to visual life! WHY YOU'LL LOVE Die-hard Rush fans have longed for Peart's narrative songwriting to be adapted into comic book form for decades, but fans of steampunk fantasy will enjoy journeying into the world of Albion thanks to Anderson's skilled storytelling. WHAT IT'S Owen Hardy, like all the people of Albion, has lived his whole life under the rule of The Watchmaker. His entire life has been planned down to the exact second. But what happens when a young boy decides that things should not always goes as planned?

Genres: Graphic Novels, Steampunk, Fantasy, Fiction, Comics, Science Fiction

26 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Yes, I have a lot of books, and if this is your first visit to my amazon author page, it can be a little overwhelming. If you are new to my work, let me recommend a few titles as good places to start. I love my Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I. series, humorous horror/mysteries, which begin with DEATH WARMED OVER. My steampunk fantasy adventures, CLOCKWORK ANGELS and CLOCKWORK LIVES, written with Neil Peart, legendary drummer from Rush, are two of my very favorite novels ever. And my magnum opus, the science fiction epic The Saga of Seven Suns, begins with HIDDEN EMPIRE. After you've tried those, I hope you'll check out some of my other series.

I have written spin-off novels for Star Wars, StarCraft, Titan A.E., and The X-Files, and I'm the co-author of the Dune prequels. My original works include the Saga of Seven Suns series and the Nebula Award-nominated Assemblers of Infinity. I have also written several comic books including the Dark Horse Star Wars collection Tales of the Jedi written in collaboration with Tom Veitch, Predator titles (also for Dark Horse), and X-Files titles for Topps.

I serve as a judge in the Writers of the Future contest.

My wife is author Rebecca Moesta. We currently reside near Monument, Colorado.

Reviews

[Eric Morneau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Très bien écrit et les dessins sont bien. L'histoire est bonne et ça se lit tout seul

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent science fiction comic based on the music album and subsequent novel by the band Rush. It tells the story of a young man named Owen Hardy and his "perfect" life inside a clockwork society run by someone known as the Watchmaker, a leader revered by the citizens. People are not left wanting and even the weather is controlled by a schedule, but our protagonist dreams of something bigger than his pristine pastoral lifestyle.

I've listened to Clockwork Angels by Rush multiple times and while I've never bothered to delve into its story, I do recognize some elements and themes translated to the dialogue. I also pick up a mixture of features from other common dystopian novels such as 1984, Brave New World, and V for Vendetta. I'm looking forward to continuing this miniseries.

[Mitticus · Rating 3 out of 5]

All I know is that sometimes the truth is contrary,
'cause sometimes the target is you
(--Wreckers- (c)Rush)

Novela gráfica (en 6 entregas en este caso), adaptación del libro homónimo escrito por Kevin J. Anderson y Neil Peart , y sí , está basado fuertemente en las canciones de la banda canadiense "Rush". Sin duda, los fans lo comprenderán mejor.

Es un coming-of-age, de un joven e ingenuo Owen Hardy desde su granja de manzanas donde sueña con ver la ciudad, Crown City, llena de maravillas mecánicas y alquímicas y conocer al gestor de su mundo el Watchmaker.

En sí, la versión gráfica tiene dibujos bastante hermosos , y si lo ven como aventura tiene bastantes cliches del género. Aunque se supone que es una alegoría de la elección entre el Orden y el Caos absoluto que representa el Anarquista . Owen pasa por aventuras y ve cosas fabulosas, los mentados ángeles, un circo ambulante, naves voladoras, piratas, desiertos y ciudades perdidas. Qué más quisiera ver cualquiera . Aunque esta es una apuesta por ver qué lado elegirá.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read all six issues but there’s no collected edition so I’ll just post on the first issue. I’m not familiar with this particular album but I’m a fan of Rush’s music and Neil Peart’s lyrics. This adventure was a lot better than I thought it would be, though with Peart behind it, I shouldn’t have been surprised. Great themes woven throughout. I enjoyed the nods to themes and lyrics from other Rush songs I was familiar with as well.

[Dannie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mean, it's an interesting premise and the art is pretty. But the pacing is a bit slow and I'm not sure I'll pick up the rest of the series.

[Joseph Gagnon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this comic, like so many others, because the cover image and title appealed to my tastes. Come to find out it is in part based on a RUSH album, which was translated into an epic tour, which was translated into a novel. I have the album playing now. I started it when I finished this first issue. I am not sure I "hear" the connections yet ... but we're only one issue in, and I've only heard one tune. Oh, I just heard the lyric "I can't stop thinking big." Yes, that was a very big part of this issue.

I am a sucker for this kind of fantasy story. The hero wants more--even though they have a life others might envy. They don't yet realize their perfect life isn't so perfect. In this case, Owen lives in a clockwork society where everything--including the weather--is on a schedule. It sounds awwwwwwwwful to me. Of course, a schedule can be a very good thing. Breaking that schedule can also be very good.

When Owen asks his intended wife for a romantic rendezvous and she stands him up, he takes a chance, and hops the train out of town. Now he is far away from home, and adventure is all around him. I wonder when the next issue comes out so we can find out more! I love the hint of steampunk/steamrock this story has as well. I might have to check out this novel...

Read more commentary here: http://www.rjspindle.com/content/cloc...

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This comic is beautifully illustrated. If you don't like to read a written language, I would surmise that this is the comic for you. The first issue in a six part series creates a surprisingly easy alternate reality. Oftentimes, stories will attempt to over-sell another universe to its readers, but this first issue handled it so gracefully that I am still a taken aback by it. I have to get my hands on issues #2 and #3 immediately.

[Benjamin · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting story about a young boy that at first seems content with the world, grows to hate it, and then learns to love it for what it really is.

It's a quick read, and the 6 issues shouldn't take longer to read it. If it were to be expanded, and the storytelling made better, and the ending not be as rushed as it is, it would deserve a higher rating.

[elsalmon L · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the Watchmaker's world all is stable (tick, tock), until young Owen Hardy comes along.