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1KRV5
Imagine a world where genetic experimentation is a reality, common enough that the government had to step in to regulate it. Mikkel's creations are as illegal as they are magnificent, none so miraculous as his most beloved creation 1KRV5, more affectionately known as Icarus. Beautifully designed, but fundamentally flawed, Icarus serves as Mikkel's companion, both in his laboratory and in his bed. This is the story of Icarus and his creator, two beings irrevocably drawn to what they are sure they can never have - the freedom of the open sky and the love of a mechanical creature.
Publisher's Summary:
The world of genetic experimentation is highly regulated. Mikkel's beautiful creations are as illegal as they are magnificent, and none so miraculous as Icarus, his perfect lover and companion. But love and good intent may not be enough to protect their little enclave. A new child may just tip the scales and place Icarus and his Master at risk.
©2015 Inkstained Succubus Productions (P)2016 Inkstained Succubus Productions
Publisher's Summary:
The world of genetic experimentation is highly regulated. Mikkel's beautiful creations are as illegal as they are magnificent, and none so miraculous as Icarus, his perfect lover and companion. But love and good intent may not be enough to protect their little enclave. A new child may just tip the scales and place Icarus and his Master at risk.
©2015 Inkstained Succubus Productions (P)2016 Inkstained Succubus Productions
Audible Audio
First published April 15, 2015
6 people want to read
About the author
S. Zanne
6 books4 followersYou can call me Zanne. My most recent novella, 1KRV5, is currently available as an audiobook. You can find some of my anthology contributions in Bloodlines (an Aurealis Award winning anthology!) and Of Heaven and Hell.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 29, 2015
I had to read this novella twice in a row before I could review it because I couldn’t think how to say anything that would make this bittersweet tale sound as emotional and haunting as it is.
Mikkel is a sort of lord of the manor, though modern law decrees there is no king. He is a gentle soul who has a body that doesn’t work well and may not last. He is also a genetic inventor, creating hybrids of machine and organic material, sometimes useful, sometimes not. His ultimate creation, however, is Icarus, his beautiful boy. Icarus may have flaws but in his way he is learning what these odd feelings are, “he thought he might be able to name it as emotion”, those he has for his Maker, Mikkel.
Mikkel gave his creation wings. Those wings cause Icarus to want to fly but the skeletal structure make him too heavy. Mikkel is working on a fix, but…
I loved how Mikkel and his Icarus try to make things easier for each other, each pretending to keep the other hopeful. Mikkel and his weakened body, Icarus and his stunted emotions and inability to fly, these are not perfect characters. There is a point when Mikkel is discussing things with Rebekah and I thought, “He’s Frankenstein”, because it was so cold and awful to me. Icarus too, Mikkel’s “best and most beautiful creation”, has a cold side yet I expected it of him, being partially metal and so frequently confused about emotions. He protects Mikkel and that’s it. Their dealings with J4M1E shows this a little bit more. He’s pragmatic, as well, wanting to put those creations that are failing out to pasture.
But when they each separately open the trunk in Mikkel’s lab, I couldn’t help but see the beauty in the flawed beings that are Mikkel the Maker and his much loved creation, Icarus.
But the ending, oh my. There’s no way to describe pieces of it without giving important aspects away and I don’t want to do that. It is such a bittersweet story and yet this ending is really the only way it could have ended. “You are perfect, Icarus – my perfect, beautiful boy. Show they what you were made for.”
Mikkel is a sort of lord of the manor, though modern law decrees there is no king. He is a gentle soul who has a body that doesn’t work well and may not last. He is also a genetic inventor, creating hybrids of machine and organic material, sometimes useful, sometimes not. His ultimate creation, however, is Icarus, his beautiful boy. Icarus may have flaws but in his way he is learning what these odd feelings are, “he thought he might be able to name it as emotion”, those he has for his Maker, Mikkel.
Mikkel gave his creation wings. Those wings cause Icarus to want to fly but the skeletal structure make him too heavy. Mikkel is working on a fix, but…
I loved how Mikkel and his Icarus try to make things easier for each other, each pretending to keep the other hopeful. Mikkel and his weakened body, Icarus and his stunted emotions and inability to fly, these are not perfect characters. There is a point when Mikkel is discussing things with Rebekah and I thought, “He’s Frankenstein”, because it was so cold and awful to me. Icarus too, Mikkel’s “best and most beautiful creation”, has a cold side yet I expected it of him, being partially metal and so frequently confused about emotions. He protects Mikkel and that’s it. Their dealings with J4M1E shows this a little bit more. He’s pragmatic, as well, wanting to put those creations that are failing out to pasture.
But when they each separately open the trunk in Mikkel’s lab, I couldn’t help but see the beauty in the flawed beings that are Mikkel the Maker and his much loved creation, Icarus.
But the ending, oh my. There’s no way to describe pieces of it without giving important aspects away and I don’t want to do that. It is such a bittersweet story and yet this ending is really the only way it could have ended. “You are perfect, Icarus – my perfect, beautiful boy. Show they what you were made for.”
December 3, 2016
*Audiobook*
What do you get when you combine the Icarus and Pygmalion myths, steampunk, stem-cell science and the general complexities of emotion? - A unique, well-written short story that makes you think about the meaning of life and humanity, presented through the lens of an unconventional relationship.
Be warned: this story is not full of warm and fuzzies nor angst as it is normally presented. The relationship between the main characters is complex and made more so by their mutual inability to articulate their feelings and the precarious nature of the life they lead, but this thought provoking and bittersweet story is worth the read or in my case the listen.
What do you get when you combine the Icarus and Pygmalion myths, steampunk, stem-cell science and the general complexities of emotion? - A unique, well-written short story that makes you think about the meaning of life and humanity, presented through the lens of an unconventional relationship.
Be warned: this story is not full of warm and fuzzies nor angst as it is normally presented. The relationship between the main characters is complex and made more so by their mutual inability to articulate their feelings and the precarious nature of the life they lead, but this thought provoking and bittersweet story is worth the read or in my case the listen.
June 20, 2015
I am not sure where to start with this book, I enjoyed the premise but the story for me was very sad. I felt a huge loss for the main characters and wanted to wrap them up in as bubble to enjoy their love. Mikkel is a broken sickly man that has found love in the arms of his most precious creation Icarus. Their love is unconventional and is tested in this book from the beginning; not only by the outside world but their own doubts.
To read the rest of the review and our Q&A with author S.Zanne head over to our website.
http://www.exquisitereviews.com/index...
To read the rest of the review and our Q&A with author S.Zanne head over to our website.
http://www.exquisitereviews.com/index...
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews