Souls in the Great Machine

This book is an excellent beginning to the author's Greatwinter series, although it is a complete work in and of itself. The writing style is a bit unusual at times, but the plot is superb, the characters are memorable, and the ideas are absolutely fascinating. I have read this novel (and its sequels, The Miocene Arrow and Eyes of the Calculor) several times, and each time I appreciate again how good they are. The novels are post-apocalyptic in a sense, though the apocalypse is on-going (enforced by telepathic cetozoids and orbital battlestations -- don't worry, it will make more sense when you read it.) Australian civilization, however, has become quite advanced given the constraints, to the point of rediscovering the theory/practice of computers (though with a human-based operating system rather than an electronic one.) The plot proceeds quite logically from there. I particularly like McMullen's characters: John Glasken, a likeable rascal who loves women and life; Zarvora Cybeline, a brilliant mathematician and lonely head of the powerful library system; Lemorel Milderellen, a precocious librarian who is driven mad by the loss of her love; and so many others. After a couple reads, these characters will seem like old friends. In short, these novels are well worth your time. Though the backdrop and the author's style may take a little getting used to, it is more than worth the effort. Also, unlike many books by today's "series authors," this one can stand alone if you don't like it for some reason. However, the quality of the work is such that I suspect you will want to read the rest . . .

It's about time someone in the Sci-Fi community wrote an original and interesting book. This book was a fantastic read, very thought provoking with a great cast of characters. The book is ambitious, and in the hands of a lesser author it might not have worked. But McMullen, unlike many of his Australian counterparts, pulls of this work magnificently. I can't wait to read the second book. Looking at some of the negative reviews here, I imagine that this book is a Love It Or Hate It type novel, so don't feel bad if you didn't get it. The novel is very reminiscent of books such as Destination Road, where the writing style and plot conveyances are not proscribed in a traditional fashion. If I had to compare McMullen's writing style, I would say it most like Gabriel Garcia-Marquez and book has a real, "One Hundred Years of Solitude" feel about it. If you like a good book and are willing to try something a bit different, this book is for you.

While many critics say Sci Fi authors in general spend too little time on character development, it is clear that in "Souls in the Great Machine," Sean McMullen has spent a great deal of time on fleshing out his characters. I found myself very attached to the motley crew of warriors, librarians, politicians, commoners, harlots and artisans. The story itself is wonderfully crafted, and beautifully executed in a post-apocalyptic Australia, with a blend of modern technology, ancient tradition, honorable duels, giant computer networks powered by human beings, and even a species of man-bird left over from the age of technology, 2000 years before the story begins.Few authors have been able to accomplish what McMullen has done with the Greatwinter Series - innovate the genre, and produce a fine work of fiction that seems familiar and fantastic at the same time.Everyone should own this book - and read it!

A masterpiece. Set 2000 years hence, after a glocal ice age, the story takes place in Australia, where a new low-tech civilization has taken the place of the technology-driven world of today. Electrical technology has not redeveloped, and steam engines are banned for fear of causing a second greenhouse catastrophe. Zarvora Cybeline, the head librarian at a regional city, builds a new "calculor" -- a computer -- wherein hundreds of convicts skilled in math perform functions on abaci. Knowledge, and computational power, are the seeds of a new empire. As a librarian, I particularly enjoyed the depiction of the heroine of the novel as a strong, powerful figure in this future society. In what other works of fiction are librarians in positions of power? I look forward to future works by this author.

This is a great book, creating a future society with wit, style, and just a touch of satire. The pomp and ritual of the Dragon Librarians - for whom marksmanship is a prerequesit of advancement - is edge-of-your-seat fun. Highly Recommended.