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Quest of the Five Clans #4
The Clockwork Tartan
Time is a mocker worse than strong wine. It leads you through a door to find yourself facing enemies long slain, friends long lost. Reveals a face in the mirror that you aren't ready to be; plays for you a music of silence you aren't ready to hear. Rayne Gray is lost in time, wandering the magic doors of the Clockmakers. Sword at side, and obituary in his pocket.
322 pages, Paperback
Published August 8, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 15, 2019
The Block Universe Theory posits our universe as a giant four-dimensional block of spacetime containing all things that ever happen. There is no now, because one’s sense of the present reflects their location in the block at that instant. The past and future are merely different locations within the block. In this theory, even if a person were able to go back in time, they couldn’t change the future because they would have always been part of the past.
Crazy, huh?
But not as crazy as Rayne Gray’s inlaws.
In this latest installment of the Quest of the Five Clans we learn a bit more about the Clockwork Clan. Clockmakers by trade and time travelers by nature, they push and pull Rayne along the Corridor of Time, where he pops in and out of distant futures and near pasts, confronts and consoles those he fears and those he loves, and learns that although time may wait for no one, his true love waits for him alone.
As always, the prose is even more magical than the supernatural clans it describes. Poetry, humor, wisdom, and romance. One star for each and the fifth for magic. Because that’s what all good books are, after all.
Magic.
Crazy, huh?
But not as crazy as Rayne Gray’s inlaws.
In this latest installment of the Quest of the Five Clans we learn a bit more about the Clockwork Clan. Clockmakers by trade and time travelers by nature, they push and pull Rayne along the Corridor of Time, where he pops in and out of distant futures and near pasts, confronts and consoles those he fears and those he loves, and learns that although time may wait for no one, his true love waits for him alone.
As always, the prose is even more magical than the supernatural clans it describes. Poetry, humor, wisdom, and romance. One star for each and the fifth for magic. Because that’s what all good books are, after all.
Magic.
October 10, 2022
The fourth in this fantasy quintet of books by a favourite self published author. No surprise to find it full of the mouth watering prose I enjoy in his writing.
The series is closer to a ‘swords and sorcery’ fantasy storyline than I’ve seen in the other offerings by this author but so different as well from what’s typical in that genre that I’m always kept on my toes. I just can’t guess the direction the story will go.
We continue with Rayne Gray’s first person tale, he being as brave and confident a fantasy hero as you’ll find. A skilled warrior and part time social reformer with interests in poetry and philosophy, the sort of character that’d normally annoy the hell out of me for his perfection. But it allows him to confidentially stroll into the dangers he faces, explain clearly whats happening and what he’ll do about it. Somehow that makes it easier to understand the complex and weird world that’s outlined to us without us having to worry too much about how the main character will react to it. The main danger he faces is that he’s made the acquaintance of supernatural ‘clans’ of beings who live slightly outside of normal human society, each clan having specific, often dangerous, attributes. In volume 1 he even married into a clan with vampiric tendencies, though it is a clear love match which also allows a romantic thread to develop.
Each volume in the series has so far involved Rayne’s encounter with another clan. In this volume he meets one which can manipulate time. I get twitchy when I come across time hopping stories as this can involve so many possible contradictions but I thought the author handled it well, as boldly and confidentially as Rayne tackles his life. Younger selves sometimes meet older selves, but what the hell, it’s fun. There’s a strange, poignant but romantic (I think) moment where Rayne meets his wife as an older woman than the young beauty he’s recently married, is still attracted to her, sleeps with her but is then surprised in his tryst by his jealous younger wife! Complicated and strange but I liked it.
A very enjoyable story and even after four out of the five books I’ve not lost any interest. Always original and unexpected. My only reservation is that I sometimes think the stories are intended for those with a better literary education than I can offer. It’s set in a late 18th century alternative Britain and makes frequent references to literature of around or soon before that era, Blake, Milton, Shakespeare, etc., that probably are too sophisticated for me to appreciate properly.
5* for the enjoyment I got from reading such a different story. Possibly the one I’ve enjoyed the most from the series so far, but that’s maybe also with the benefit of the previous world building.
I think I’ll go straight into the final book in the series, as much for the expected excellent prose as to see how the series will end.
The series is closer to a ‘swords and sorcery’ fantasy storyline than I’ve seen in the other offerings by this author but so different as well from what’s typical in that genre that I’m always kept on my toes. I just can’t guess the direction the story will go.
We continue with Rayne Gray’s first person tale, he being as brave and confident a fantasy hero as you’ll find. A skilled warrior and part time social reformer with interests in poetry and philosophy, the sort of character that’d normally annoy the hell out of me for his perfection. But it allows him to confidentially stroll into the dangers he faces, explain clearly whats happening and what he’ll do about it. Somehow that makes it easier to understand the complex and weird world that’s outlined to us without us having to worry too much about how the main character will react to it. The main danger he faces is that he’s made the acquaintance of supernatural ‘clans’ of beings who live slightly outside of normal human society, each clan having specific, often dangerous, attributes. In volume 1 he even married into a clan with vampiric tendencies, though it is a clear love match which also allows a romantic thread to develop.
Each volume in the series has so far involved Rayne’s encounter with another clan. In this volume he meets one which can manipulate time. I get twitchy when I come across time hopping stories as this can involve so many possible contradictions but I thought the author handled it well, as boldly and confidentially as Rayne tackles his life. Younger selves sometimes meet older selves, but what the hell, it’s fun. There’s a strange, poignant but romantic (I think) moment where Rayne meets his wife as an older woman than the young beauty he’s recently married, is still attracted to her, sleeps with her but is then surprised in his tryst by his jealous younger wife! Complicated and strange but I liked it.
A very enjoyable story and even after four out of the five books I’ve not lost any interest. Always original and unexpected. My only reservation is that I sometimes think the stories are intended for those with a better literary education than I can offer. It’s set in a late 18th century alternative Britain and makes frequent references to literature of around or soon before that era, Blake, Milton, Shakespeare, etc., that probably are too sophisticated for me to appreciate properly.
5* for the enjoyment I got from reading such a different story. Possibly the one I’ve enjoyed the most from the series so far, but that’s maybe also with the benefit of the previous world building.
I think I’ll go straight into the final book in the series, as much for the expected excellent prose as to see how the series will end.
August 12, 2019
With the aid of the clockwork tartan clan, Rayne Gray wanders the corridors of time, wreaking havoc on the lives of innocents (and not so innocents). And they on his. All the action takes place in a single day. But then, time is relative. Especially when you have access to doorways into (and occasionally out of) its corridors. At all times, Gray retains the eloquence of his wit, diction, and blade. If not his sanity. There remains one more book to complete this series. I can't wait.
January 11, 2020
Easily my favorite yet. I loved what we learned about the world and how it is connected to ours. Great job Raymond! Can't wait for the next one!
September 18, 2019
As the story begins, Rayne Gray is venturing out to face his own demise, tomorrow’s obituary already in hand.
I’d been expecting steampunk – The Clockwork Tartan it turns out is all about time travel. Befittingly, the pace picks up quickly. At first merely a-tickin (as Rayne traces out the foretold details of his last hours), time is soon swinging like a pendulum as his thoughts alternate between past memories and more immediate concerns for survival – not long after that it’s flailing like the tentacles on one of those abominations that is prone to crash the narrative whenever things slow down enough for an appendage to be got in edgewise (which is to say, not all that often) as Rayne heads off down the corridors of time in search of his own survival and answers to the conundrums of his marriage and his in-laws.
As ever, the delight is in the detail. Gray hasn’t lost his poetic turn of phrase and nor is a breakneck pace about to put a brake on his entertaining musings. Just as much fun as all the other books in the series.
I’d been expecting steampunk – The Clockwork Tartan it turns out is all about time travel. Befittingly, the pace picks up quickly. At first merely a-tickin (as Rayne traces out the foretold details of his last hours), time is soon swinging like a pendulum as his thoughts alternate between past memories and more immediate concerns for survival – not long after that it’s flailing like the tentacles on one of those abominations that is prone to crash the narrative whenever things slow down enough for an appendage to be got in edgewise (which is to say, not all that often) as Rayne heads off down the corridors of time in search of his own survival and answers to the conundrums of his marriage and his in-laws.
As ever, the delight is in the detail. Gray hasn’t lost his poetic turn of phrase and nor is a breakneck pace about to put a brake on his entertaining musings. Just as much fun as all the other books in the series.
March 13, 2021
I took a long pause in reading this book. Fitting with the theme, but not intentional. I was worried, because I knew that as soon as I started reading once again, I would not be able to stop and too soon this marvelous series would be over. But hark! I hear you say, there is yet one more volume! Yes, alas, I know it so, and I head there now with bittersweet anticipation...
July 27, 2025
"Rubicon's bridge in flames, I tread further." (pg. 4)
Four books in to author Raymond St. Elmo's Five Clans series, I'm still not entirely sure what it is I'm reading. A sort of bizarre, erudite, shape-shifting adventure that is simultaneously verbose and lean, bewildering and engrossing, madcap and yet seemingly as sane as only those truly mad can be.
The Clockwork Tartan, the fourth book, is perhaps the one I've understood the least as it was happening – it adds time travel to an already labyrinthine mix – but which somehow kept me turning the page right to the end. The writing style requires stamina but it also rewards: chapter 15, for example, in which our time-travelling protagonist Rayne Gray stumbles through a doorway into a room containing his three future children at play, is deeply endearing.
Having crossed the Rubicon only slightly singed, I've long recognised that I must plunge headfirst and deep into St. Elmo's odd pool in order to really appreciate the series. And while, as a reader, I am not constitutionally built for such an off-the-wall escapade of magical realism, I find myself looking forward to reading each book. A lot happens in The Clockwork Tartan, and it sets the story up well for the fifth and final instalment.
Four books in to author Raymond St. Elmo's Five Clans series, I'm still not entirely sure what it is I'm reading. A sort of bizarre, erudite, shape-shifting adventure that is simultaneously verbose and lean, bewildering and engrossing, madcap and yet seemingly as sane as only those truly mad can be.
The Clockwork Tartan, the fourth book, is perhaps the one I've understood the least as it was happening – it adds time travel to an already labyrinthine mix – but which somehow kept me turning the page right to the end. The writing style requires stamina but it also rewards: chapter 15, for example, in which our time-travelling protagonist Rayne Gray stumbles through a doorway into a room containing his three future children at play, is deeply endearing.
Having crossed the Rubicon only slightly singed, I've long recognised that I must plunge headfirst and deep into St. Elmo's odd pool in order to really appreciate the series. And while, as a reader, I am not constitutionally built for such an off-the-wall escapade of magical realism, I find myself looking forward to reading each book. A lot happens in The Clockwork Tartan, and it sets the story up well for the fifth and final instalment.
January 27, 2021
What a tribe of philosophical lunatics
Do you know what Jack Burton always says at a time like this...Time is a piece of wax falling on a termite who is choking on a splinter from a tree branch with a melting watch.... eeh thats a movie, a song and a painting... How bout we take one part chronograph, one part sun dial and two parts cuckoo and put em in a blender. Garnish with sword speared olive, onion and cherry forget the little umbrella as its no fear of Rayne. All the alarm bells sound yet I'm still the clapping monkey.
What madman sows these symbols in hand. Well it is his organ to grind and I shall dance to each clang and chime. Ballads of men, madness and mind likened to teapots of decanted sanguine wine. Lunacies of rhyme through bands of time.
Portents of paradoxes aplenty. This one is great, even though I usually disdain all stories that concern travels of time. I've already told this to Mr. St. Elmo at the Pole Dancers for Polio charity gala in 2042! Good news, I hear there be dragons next.
If you haven't read anything from this wild and crazy guy ... you should. If you have already read the previous 3 books then get on with it already. Times a Wastin..Idgit
I also considered these as titles for my review:
Happy Hallucinating Hippos
Mesmerizing Marauding Marmots
Shifty Squirrel Slippers
However I decided to use a quote from the book. Here are some more quotes.
"Words not meant for me, nor you either"
" "Madness," I growled to the dog. If it replied I'd go mad. No, I'd be revealed mad. "
"No instinct comes to rescue when an angel swoops down and steals your pants."
Do you know what Jack Burton always says at a time like this...Time is a piece of wax falling on a termite who is choking on a splinter from a tree branch with a melting watch.... eeh thats a movie, a song and a painting... How bout we take one part chronograph, one part sun dial and two parts cuckoo and put em in a blender. Garnish with sword speared olive, onion and cherry forget the little umbrella as its no fear of Rayne. All the alarm bells sound yet I'm still the clapping monkey.
What madman sows these symbols in hand. Well it is his organ to grind and I shall dance to each clang and chime. Ballads of men, madness and mind likened to teapots of decanted sanguine wine. Lunacies of rhyme through bands of time.
Portents of paradoxes aplenty. This one is great, even though I usually disdain all stories that concern travels of time. I've already told this to Mr. St. Elmo at the Pole Dancers for Polio charity gala in 2042! Good news, I hear there be dragons next.
If you haven't read anything from this wild and crazy guy ... you should. If you have already read the previous 3 books then get on with it already. Times a Wastin..Idgit
I also considered these as titles for my review:
Happy Hallucinating Hippos
Mesmerizing Marauding Marmots
Shifty Squirrel Slippers
However I decided to use a quote from the book. Here are some more quotes.
"Words not meant for me, nor you either"
" "Madness," I growled to the dog. If it replied I'd go mad. No, I'd be revealed mad. "
"No instinct comes to rescue when an angel swoops down and steals your pants."
August 14, 2019
I stand in the doorway, my obituary in pocket. A torn scrap of tomorrow’s newsprint declaring this dull place, this sunny day, for my death. But what hour? Doesn’t say. Perhaps the press won’t think it matters. Annoying. It matters to me. Who knows the hour of their death? Not I, only the date and address. Might not come till evening.
Rayne leads an interesting life, as any self-respecting Spadassin should. He's no stranger to violence, fencing, fighting or poisoning. But nothing prepared him for being a husband and to deal with more of the clans nonsense. This time he faces the Clockmakers, his in-laws dabbling in automata and time travel. After a relatively “normal” beginning, things get more complicated.
Rayne enters Halls of Time where different doorways lead to different pasts and futures. Some, he visits alone. Some with his unexpected companions.
It's the fourth book in the series. If you've read previous ones I won't have to convince you to try this one. If the adventure is still ahead of you, know this. The Quest of the Five Clans series blends classic adventure fantasy with magical realism elements, philosophy and profound love for the language. You'll observe characters fencing not only with sabers but also with quotes from famous poems. Moments of pure delight and deep reflection, all caught in elegant phrases. Strange visions and things that happen between dream and reality.
The Clockwork Tartan is, probably, my favorite entry in the series. I can't help but wonder what insanities await Rayne in the final tome of the series.
February 27, 2020
"That seemed sensible. It also seemed mad."
"That seemed sensible. It also seemed mad."
The above quote sums up The Clockwork Tartan rather neatly. But since I'm not actually bold enough to leave a review that consists only of a quote from the book, I will elaborate.
Our story picks up where The Harlequin Tartan left off, with a mysterious puzzle box just opened and an interesting mix of items within. Among them, an appointment with death for our beloved spadassin, set to take place in a tavern from his past and on his birthday. After determining it will be easiest to attend this appointment of his own choice, Rayne makes his way to the tavern that he worked in as a boy and that the paper claims he is to die in. From there we go on a wonderful adventure through time, sometimes to scenes we've seen before, sometimes to new places, past and future. Rayne continues to accept, deflect, and often participate in his in-laws' madness in a charmingly entertaining way throughout. We get many familiar faces taking part, get some history of the Espada clan from Chatterton - a tragic and insane tale, and learn more about Londonish as well. In short, this book builds brilliantly on the foundations set up in the previous novels, but tells a new and fascinating tale about love, madness, and family. Also, I would like a book of bedtime stories authored by Rayne Grey now.
5/5, The Clockwork Tartan is possibly my favorite entry in the series yet, with tone and scope and characters managing to grow and evolve, once again becoming newly unique and imaginative.
"That seemed sensible. It also seemed mad."
The above quote sums up The Clockwork Tartan rather neatly. But since I'm not actually bold enough to leave a review that consists only of a quote from the book, I will elaborate.
Our story picks up where The Harlequin Tartan left off, with a mysterious puzzle box just opened and an interesting mix of items within. Among them, an appointment with death for our beloved spadassin, set to take place in a tavern from his past and on his birthday. After determining it will be easiest to attend this appointment of his own choice, Rayne makes his way to the tavern that he worked in as a boy and that the paper claims he is to die in. From there we go on a wonderful adventure through time, sometimes to scenes we've seen before, sometimes to new places, past and future. Rayne continues to accept, deflect, and often participate in his in-laws' madness in a charmingly entertaining way throughout. We get many familiar faces taking part, get some history of the Espada clan from Chatterton - a tragic and insane tale, and learn more about Londonish as well. In short, this book builds brilliantly on the foundations set up in the previous novels, but tells a new and fascinating tale about love, madness, and family. Also, I would like a book of bedtime stories authored by Rayne Grey now.
5/5, The Clockwork Tartan is possibly my favorite entry in the series yet, with tone and scope and characters managing to grow and evolve, once again becoming newly unique and imaginative.
April 30, 2020
While reading this book I was picturing how I would review it when it was finished.
I wanted to write a review referring to the way time interacts with us all in different ways, and how while we talk about living in the moment we spend more time living outside of the now.
I wanted to include some humorous comments about Kindle edition indents and 5 star rating systems.
I wanted to imply in a roundabout way that I'd read some of the great poets. I haven't. But I'd like to think in another life I would have.
But I'm not going to do that. If you're reading reviews for book 4 in a series, you've probably at least read one or two of the books in the series and you're wondering if the series gets stronger or not.
In my opinion, this series started strong. The Seraph rocks, and St. Elmo can write. This book looks at lots of things, thematically and plot-ically. But for my mind, learning about Chatterton and the Espada makes this the pick of the crop so far.
5 very solid stars.
I wanted to write a review referring to the way time interacts with us all in different ways, and how while we talk about living in the moment we spend more time living outside of the now.
I wanted to include some humorous comments about Kindle edition indents and 5 star rating systems.
I wanted to imply in a roundabout way that I'd read some of the great poets. I haven't. But I'd like to think in another life I would have.
But I'm not going to do that. If you're reading reviews for book 4 in a series, you've probably at least read one or two of the books in the series and you're wondering if the series gets stronger or not.
In my opinion, this series started strong. The Seraph rocks, and St. Elmo can write. This book looks at lots of things, thematically and plot-ically. But for my mind, learning about Chatterton and the Espada makes this the pick of the crop so far.
5 very solid stars.
March 29, 2020
I really enjoy reading Raymond St. Elmo's books. I love the rhythm and art of his prose. Being a fan of William Blake certainly helps in this series! Great work, and now on to the Scaled Tartan.
January 24, 2020
Hi,
St. Elmo Superfan here. I can't gush enough about this author's whimsical prose and wit. It's almost embarrassing... and if I was the only reader to feel this way, I might have the decency to twist my toes on the ground and appear sheepish. But if you look through the catalog of reviews for St. Elmo's books, you'll see it's a common occurrence. This author is a must-read. More specifically for the purpose of this review, this series is a must-read!
The fourth book in the Quest of the Five Clans series opens to find Rayne Gray settling into the routine of madness in his marriage and insanity with his in-laws. This book introduces the Clockwork clan, which boasts the ability to traverse through time as easily as strolling through the halls of a museum. Time travel is a challenging theme to write, and if not done properly, can be difficult to read. But this story was wonderfully laid out and delivered! Without giving too much away in spoilers, I will say that this book has it all: Adventure, history, comedy, action, romance, and philosophy. And a subtle surprise was the sweet story of a man learning to love his wife.
St. Elmo has a way of making you feel more clever for reading his books. Like you're sharing in his inside jokes. It's an amazing feat for an author to connect with the reader in that manner. And I've finished the book just in time for book 5 to be released! Perfect!
St. Elmo Superfan here. I can't gush enough about this author's whimsical prose and wit. It's almost embarrassing... and if I was the only reader to feel this way, I might have the decency to twist my toes on the ground and appear sheepish. But if you look through the catalog of reviews for St. Elmo's books, you'll see it's a common occurrence. This author is a must-read. More specifically for the purpose of this review, this series is a must-read!
The fourth book in the Quest of the Five Clans series opens to find Rayne Gray settling into the routine of madness in his marriage and insanity with his in-laws. This book introduces the Clockwork clan, which boasts the ability to traverse through time as easily as strolling through the halls of a museum. Time travel is a challenging theme to write, and if not done properly, can be difficult to read. But this story was wonderfully laid out and delivered! Without giving too much away in spoilers, I will say that this book has it all: Adventure, history, comedy, action, romance, and philosophy. And a subtle surprise was the sweet story of a man learning to love his wife.
St. Elmo has a way of making you feel more clever for reading his books. Like you're sharing in his inside jokes. It's an amazing feat for an author to connect with the reader in that manner. And I've finished the book just in time for book 5 to be released! Perfect!
November 12, 2020
Preamble
Dear Lord in Heaven, Raymond St. Elmo has his hooks into me with this The Quest of the Five Clans business. I just finished The Harlequin Tartan twenty-four hours ago and now find myself on the other end of The Clockwork Tartan. It helped that today was a national holiday up here in Canadia (Remembrance Day – thank you to all of those who have served and continue to serve in the armed forces around the world) and my daughter’s mother picked her up around noon, so I was left to my own devices for a while, but come on! It’s so good! My only complaint is that there is merely one book left in the series, but I have heard through the grapevine that St. Elmo writes other books, focusing on other characters. Including one that made semi-finalist in SPFBO this year: The Origin of Birds in the Footprints of Writing – it’s got what looks to be cuneiform script and a crow on the cover so one imagines being bedazzled by the contents.
But The Scaled Tartan comes next.
A note about my reviews: I consider myself an appreciator, not a critic. I know first-hand what goes into the creation of art – the blood, the sweat, the tears, the risk. I also know that art appreciation is subjective and lernt good what mama tell’t me – if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. I’m not a school marm grading a spelling test – I’m a reader who enjoys reading. If a book is entertaining, well-written, and I get absorbed into it, five out of five. I have gone as low as three stars – anything less than that and I will not review a book (chances are I DNFed anyway). Regardless, I wouldn’t even put a star rating system on my reviews but for the reality of storefronts like Amazon.
Take from that what you will.
Review – 5/5
“Here, I will share the secret. You shall stand no wiser for the hearing. Deep truths must com as revelation, not poetic fancy.”
Damn, son, you’ve just undone just about every philosophical, mystical, and religious text ever put down on paper. But in spite of St. Elmo’s admonition against the impossibility of transferring deep wisdom through pretty writing, he spends the entirety of his text doing just that.
Ineffable? Eff dat!
But this is not some staid and boring dictate intended metaphorically yet drunk literally by the masses through time immemorial. Instead, the whole thing positively reeks of masterful writing and character development. Rayne Gray, protagonist, needs to come to grips with his own failings as a man and as a husband, and he has a few. So the universe throws the Clockwork Tartan at him, a bunch of clockwork men literally called the Time Devils (Zeit-Teufels: knew my otherwise useless undergraduate degree in German would come in handy at some point). Put simply: they can traverse time as simply as walking through a door.
If you thought The Harlequin Tartan was a mindfuck, just wait until these robots stick their metal dicks into it.
In the arc of Mr. Gray, this book is what I would call his true dark night of the soul. He has no slight experience over the course of his travels, which include going back to the past and reviewing mistakes made, and traveling far into the future like some sort of automaton-buggered Ebenezer Scrooge. Except that instead of mending his obviously anti-social ways in a neat and tidy manner, finding his enlightenment on Christmas morning, Rayne has to go through the whole murderous folly wringer, as is his wont.
There’s a drop of the whole sacrifice, death and rebirth and attendant transformation of the hero mythological thingie in there, too.
William Blake comes up, of course. And Blake is appropriate, too, given the self-realization subtext of the whole thing. Instead of a Buddhist mystic chopping wood and carrying water and dropping mad koans on your ass or a lithe yogi levitating in a saffron robe on a mountain top and preaching about chakras, we have the industrial smog belching poetry of the Romantic poet of the West seething at the edges of the story, very obviously or impliedly.
Hmm. I feel like I’m giving away the bloody farm here. Look. It’s a damnable beauty of a tale. St. Elmo is going to say something self-deprecating or otherwise defusing to the praise I’m heaping onto him in the comments below, but for love of William Blake, he deserves it. Blake died relatively unknown, allegedly.
It would be a shame for a man carrying on his legacy to do the same.
Dear Lord in Heaven, Raymond St. Elmo has his hooks into me with this The Quest of the Five Clans business. I just finished The Harlequin Tartan twenty-four hours ago and now find myself on the other end of The Clockwork Tartan. It helped that today was a national holiday up here in Canadia (Remembrance Day – thank you to all of those who have served and continue to serve in the armed forces around the world) and my daughter’s mother picked her up around noon, so I was left to my own devices for a while, but come on! It’s so good! My only complaint is that there is merely one book left in the series, but I have heard through the grapevine that St. Elmo writes other books, focusing on other characters. Including one that made semi-finalist in SPFBO this year: The Origin of Birds in the Footprints of Writing – it’s got what looks to be cuneiform script and a crow on the cover so one imagines being bedazzled by the contents.
But The Scaled Tartan comes next.
A note about my reviews: I consider myself an appreciator, not a critic. I know first-hand what goes into the creation of art – the blood, the sweat, the tears, the risk. I also know that art appreciation is subjective and lernt good what mama tell’t me – if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. I’m not a school marm grading a spelling test – I’m a reader who enjoys reading. If a book is entertaining, well-written, and I get absorbed into it, five out of five. I have gone as low as three stars – anything less than that and I will not review a book (chances are I DNFed anyway). Regardless, I wouldn’t even put a star rating system on my reviews but for the reality of storefronts like Amazon.
Take from that what you will.
Review – 5/5
“Here, I will share the secret. You shall stand no wiser for the hearing. Deep truths must com as revelation, not poetic fancy.”
Damn, son, you’ve just undone just about every philosophical, mystical, and religious text ever put down on paper. But in spite of St. Elmo’s admonition against the impossibility of transferring deep wisdom through pretty writing, he spends the entirety of his text doing just that.
Ineffable? Eff dat!
But this is not some staid and boring dictate intended metaphorically yet drunk literally by the masses through time immemorial. Instead, the whole thing positively reeks of masterful writing and character development. Rayne Gray, protagonist, needs to come to grips with his own failings as a man and as a husband, and he has a few. So the universe throws the Clockwork Tartan at him, a bunch of clockwork men literally called the Time Devils (Zeit-Teufels: knew my otherwise useless undergraduate degree in German would come in handy at some point). Put simply: they can traverse time as simply as walking through a door.
If you thought The Harlequin Tartan was a mindfuck, just wait until these robots stick their metal dicks into it.
In the arc of Mr. Gray, this book is what I would call his true dark night of the soul. He has no slight experience over the course of his travels, which include going back to the past and reviewing mistakes made, and traveling far into the future like some sort of automaton-buggered Ebenezer Scrooge. Except that instead of mending his obviously anti-social ways in a neat and tidy manner, finding his enlightenment on Christmas morning, Rayne has to go through the whole murderous folly wringer, as is his wont.
There’s a drop of the whole sacrifice, death and rebirth and attendant transformation of the hero mythological thingie in there, too.
William Blake comes up, of course. And Blake is appropriate, too, given the self-realization subtext of the whole thing. Instead of a Buddhist mystic chopping wood and carrying water and dropping mad koans on your ass or a lithe yogi levitating in a saffron robe on a mountain top and preaching about chakras, we have the industrial smog belching poetry of the Romantic poet of the West seething at the edges of the story, very obviously or impliedly.
Hmm. I feel like I’m giving away the bloody farm here. Look. It’s a damnable beauty of a tale. St. Elmo is going to say something self-deprecating or otherwise defusing to the praise I’m heaping onto him in the comments below, but for love of William Blake, he deserves it. Blake died relatively unknown, allegedly.
It would be a shame for a man carrying on his legacy to do the same.
August 31, 2019
I always look forward to the next in the 'Clans' series, and on this occasion, I read most of it by the side of a pool under a clear Mediterranean sky. I recommend the experience. Adventure, philosophy, poetry and sun. Equal measures. Bliss.
Mr St. E writes wisdom well. Had I more time, I'd lay out pairs of quotations on various themes, setting the opinions of Rayne Gray against the great thinkers and philosophers of ages past. Then bid you guess whose words were whose. It would be a challenge, I think.
In this installment, that wisdom tends to the subjects of relationships, marriage and love. These have always been important parts of the ongoing narrative but here they seemed to me to stand in sharper focus. Pairs of lovers weave themselves across time, affording opportunity for musings on commitment, mutual faith and how affection weathers the passing of the years.
There's a charming purity to it; a sense of optimism - and that's perhaps what I liked best about this latest outing. It's not often that wisdom and optimism sit so comfortably together, but here they do. There's a credible sense that despite all the hell and destruction that people seem determined to inflict upon one another - in Gray's world and our own - love and friendship remain something akin to elemental powers; beacons in the darkest of times. It isn't an overtly stated message, nor is it presented in any naive or saccharine way; it's couched in a fast, fun and absorbing story, but it's certainly believable.
Mr St. E writes wisdom well. Had I more time, I'd lay out pairs of quotations on various themes, setting the opinions of Rayne Gray against the great thinkers and philosophers of ages past. Then bid you guess whose words were whose. It would be a challenge, I think.
In this installment, that wisdom tends to the subjects of relationships, marriage and love. These have always been important parts of the ongoing narrative but here they seemed to me to stand in sharper focus. Pairs of lovers weave themselves across time, affording opportunity for musings on commitment, mutual faith and how affection weathers the passing of the years.
There's a charming purity to it; a sense of optimism - and that's perhaps what I liked best about this latest outing. It's not often that wisdom and optimism sit so comfortably together, but here they do. There's a credible sense that despite all the hell and destruction that people seem determined to inflict upon one another - in Gray's world and our own - love and friendship remain something akin to elemental powers; beacons in the darkest of times. It isn't an overtly stated message, nor is it presented in any naive or saccharine way; it's couched in a fast, fun and absorbing story, but it's certainly believable.
November 20, 2020
The twists go on generating into infinity like mandelbrot patterns.
If you want to know what I'm babbling on about buy the book and read it yourself. My guess is that if you jump in at book four you'll find yourself lost and bewildered. Best start at one like I did.
If you want to know what I'm babbling on about buy the book and read it yourself. My guess is that if you jump in at book four you'll find yourself lost and bewildered. Best start at one like I did.
August 6, 2020
Wonderful story
Not for light reading, as it makes one think, and not just over the plot twist. The words dance and bring it all to life.
Not for light reading, as it makes one think, and not just over the plot twist. The words dance and bring it all to life.
June 11, 2022
Complex and comical
The clockwork tartan (the Glocken) are time-travelers. Time travel is a confusing, complex, likely really difficult concept to write about and this author managed to nail it. There's a web of interconnecting characters and moments that is woven together so seamlessly that this book is an absolute pleasure to read. Rayne is as realistic a character as ever, with a good sense of humour to poke fun at his flaws and at everything else he encounters.
The clockwork tartan (the Glocken) are time-travelers. Time travel is a confusing, complex, likely really difficult concept to write about and this author managed to nail it. There's a web of interconnecting characters and moments that is woven together so seamlessly that this book is an absolute pleasure to read. Rayne is as realistic a character as ever, with a good sense of humour to poke fun at his flaws and at everything else he encounters.
June 18, 2024
TL;DR An excellent book. Poetic, lyrical, and fun. 5/5 stars, I cannot recommend this book enough.
Raymond St. Elmo does it again. I felt that the series was going to be mildly less entertaining after reading The Harlequin Tartan, which I gave 4 stars, but St. Elmo flexed his literary muscles in this one. Our favorite spadassin Rayne Gray deals with the titular Clockwork Tartan, and get thrown into a weird, vivid timeline story. He jumps into pasts, futures, presents, and everything in between. Raymond St. Elmo keeps his tone, poetic, lyrical, and magical while writing even the tensest action sequences. The romance felt like the true focal point of the story, and I thought it was well-done (a compliment coming from me, a "romance is a side plot" type of reader). I have a lot of good to say about this one. The plot? Excellent. The writing? Superb. The characters? Top quality. If I had to pick something I didn't like, the end setting was not my favorite, but 1) that is such a minute nitpick that it is no even worth mentioning, and 2) getting Gray's POV there was a pleasure to read. It's funny, it's fast, the magical realism is beautiful - what's not to love here?
If you couldn't tell, I thoroughly enjoyed this one, and resultingly I have bittersweet feelings about reading the final book. On one hand, I am deeply invested in the series and wish to see what happens next. On the other hand, I am deeply invested in the series and do not want it to end. Regardless, I will march into The Scaled Tartan with the excitement, wariness, and vigor that this series demands. Please pick this one up.
Raymond St. Elmo does it again. I felt that the series was going to be mildly less entertaining after reading The Harlequin Tartan, which I gave 4 stars, but St. Elmo flexed his literary muscles in this one. Our favorite spadassin Rayne Gray deals with the titular Clockwork Tartan, and get thrown into a weird, vivid timeline story. He jumps into pasts, futures, presents, and everything in between. Raymond St. Elmo keeps his tone, poetic, lyrical, and magical while writing even the tensest action sequences. The romance felt like the true focal point of the story, and I thought it was well-done (a compliment coming from me, a "romance is a side plot" type of reader). I have a lot of good to say about this one. The plot? Excellent. The writing? Superb. The characters? Top quality. If I had to pick something I didn't like, the end setting was not my favorite, but 1) that is such a minute nitpick that it is no even worth mentioning, and 2) getting Gray's POV there was a pleasure to read. It's funny, it's fast, the magical realism is beautiful - what's not to love here?
If you couldn't tell, I thoroughly enjoyed this one, and resultingly I have bittersweet feelings about reading the final book. On one hand, I am deeply invested in the series and wish to see what happens next. On the other hand, I am deeply invested in the series and do not want it to end. Regardless, I will march into The Scaled Tartan with the excitement, wariness, and vigor that this series demands. Please pick this one up.
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