kepheus's review against another edition
2.0
I read words. Lots and lots of words. Nothing happened. The end.
Okay, maybe I'm being pedantic, but there seemed to be no point to this. The west is half-made, but other pointing out the occasional oddity, this is a guided tour of one-dimensional characters, dull landscapes, and a thoroughly predictable plot. No, that's not entirely fair. I thought something would happen. In that aspect, I was surprised.
The ending has been left open for multiple sequels, but I can't say I'd read them.
Okay, maybe I'm being pedantic, but there seemed to be no point to this. The west is half-made, but other pointing out the occasional oddity, this is a guided tour of one-dimensional characters, dull landscapes, and a thoroughly predictable plot. No, that's not entirely fair. I thought something would happen. In that aspect, I was surprised.
The ending has been left open for multiple sequels, but I can't say I'd read them.
nnewbykew's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
abigcoffeedragon's review against another edition
1.0
This is one that should have been so enjoyable and it was not.
The Magic/Supernatural aspect of this was unoriginal and boring.
The characters had no real life to them - they just moved around the world like chess pieces in a bigger game.
The world building is disjointed at times, and the descriptions are lacking details.
Also, this writing style hearkens back to an older time period, which fits the style that I believe the author is trying to convey, and yet throwing in F*** and SH** and other non-niceties when people would not use those words as freely makes the time period discorded.
There is no point in this that I feel or care about a single character; nor do I believe that the recalled soldier is actually any good.
Lowry is just plain boring and useless to me. And the rank structure, though it exists, is fictional without explanation, so no clue what rank someone is, and being ex-military that throws more disjointedness into the mix.
The Magic/Supernatural aspect of this was unoriginal and boring.
The characters had no real life to them - they just moved around the world like chess pieces in a bigger game.
The world building is disjointed at times, and the descriptions are lacking details.
Also, this writing style hearkens back to an older time period, which fits the style that I believe the author is trying to convey, and yet throwing in F*** and SH** and other non-niceties when people would not use those words as freely makes the time period discorded.
There is no point in this that I feel or care about a single character; nor do I believe that the recalled soldier is actually any good.
Lowry is just plain boring and useless to me. And the rank structure, though it exists, is fictional without explanation, so no clue what rank someone is, and being ex-military that throws more disjointedness into the mix.
rstafford's review against another edition
4.0
This was really very fun, and I couldn't put it down. It was unclear to me whether or not this book was concluded, or the beginning of a series, however.I wanted an entire book about the Agents of the Gun.
catbooking's review against another edition
3.0
This is the only book to my memory, which is admittedly terrible, where I really needed to know what the protagonist was wearing. Specifically, I needed to know if Liv was wearing a skirt down to the floor, like a proper woman that she is, or if breeches were an acceptable attire. Ultimately, it would change nothing about how hard, or let's face it, ridiculously easy, it was for her to cross all of the known continent, but still.
Clothing details not withstanding, the rest of the book was a bit of an unfocused mess. There were places and settings, but they never had any influence on characters or their actions. Characters did things for reasons that sometimes were their own and sometimes foisted onto them by supernatural beings, but almost always without a logical reason. Primary character motivations were muddy and incoherent, and almost always had no influence on character actions or reactions. Things just happened and they were described and then the book ended.
Overall I got the feeling that the author had a handful of images in his mind that he wanted to communicate to the reader, but no story to go with those images. So we just went from one pretty scene to another without any of the characters ever evolving or changing, or showing that the setting or events had some effect on them.
Clothing details not withstanding, the rest of the book was a bit of an unfocused mess. There were places and settings, but they never had any influence on characters or their actions. Characters did things for reasons that sometimes were their own and sometimes foisted onto them by supernatural beings, but almost always without a logical reason. Primary character motivations were muddy and incoherent, and almost always had no influence on character actions or reactions. Things just happened and they were described and then the book ended.
Overall I got the feeling that the author had a handful of images in his mind that he wanted to communicate to the reader, but no story to go with those images. So we just went from one pretty scene to another without any of the characters ever evolving or changing, or showing that the setting or events had some effect on them.
taylorhohulin's review against another edition
4.0
What a fun read. The Half-Made World takes a ton of tropes from westerns, and puts just a little twist on them, so the whole thing feels familiar, yet entirely unique.
There's the standard wandering outlaw, only his gun is actually a temple for an ancient spirit that gives him superhuman powers and commands him to do horrible things.
There are the heartless railroad men, determined to cover the earth in crisscrossing tracks, only the Engines that power their operation may or may not be sentient, and even somehow supernatural.
And there's the West, but it isn't simply unexplored and chaotic. It's unmade. Reality is weaker, and the native population that lived there long before the Gun or the Line ever began their battle still wield incredible power.
Things slow down a bit just before the climax hits, but it's worth it for the payoff. And every page where we get to watch Creedmoor, our not-so-standard outlaw, wrestle between his desire to be good and his resignation to the dark influence over him, is just pure gold.
There's the standard wandering outlaw, only his gun is actually a temple for an ancient spirit that gives him superhuman powers and commands him to do horrible things.
There are the heartless railroad men, determined to cover the earth in crisscrossing tracks, only the Engines that power their operation may or may not be sentient, and even somehow supernatural.
And there's the West, but it isn't simply unexplored and chaotic. It's unmade. Reality is weaker, and the native population that lived there long before the Gun or the Line ever began their battle still wield incredible power.
Things slow down a bit just before the climax hits, but it's worth it for the payoff. And every page where we get to watch Creedmoor, our not-so-standard outlaw, wrestle between his desire to be good and his resignation to the dark influence over him, is just pure gold.
theladydoor's review against another edition
5.0
TL;DR version: Read this book. Go, read it, now.
Long version: This book was a dream to read. The world that Gilman fearlessly builds is so real, so vibrant, so endlessly interesting that you pull yourself out of the book surprised to find yourself elsewhere.
Gilman's characterization is sublime. His creations are flawed yet heroic. The story is told through parallel storylines from the points of view of three characters: a female psychiatrist with a shaky past embarking on a quixotic quest westward, a murderous mountain man fueled by a demon looking for redemption (or not, it depends on his mood), and a man of the machine, always ready to do his duty. Tying all three together is the search for a man long thought dead and the potential for a weapon which could destroy two of the major forces in the world. When the stories intertwine, as they inevitably do, the result is organic and faultless, the characters remain true, though you can see the beginnings of Change in them.
Be warned though. This is not a standalone novel. There is a forthcoming sequel, and you may find yourself as I am, gnashing at the bit for it to come out.
Long version: This book was a dream to read. The world that Gilman fearlessly builds is so real, so vibrant, so endlessly interesting that you pull yourself out of the book surprised to find yourself elsewhere.
Gilman's characterization is sublime. His creations are flawed yet heroic. The story is told through parallel storylines from the points of view of three characters: a female psychiatrist with a shaky past embarking on a quixotic quest westward, a murderous mountain man fueled by a demon looking for redemption (or not, it depends on his mood), and a man of the machine, always ready to do his duty. Tying all three together is the search for a man long thought dead and the potential for a weapon which could destroy two of the major forces in the world. When the stories intertwine, as they inevitably do, the result is organic and faultless, the characters remain true, though you can see the beginnings of Change in them.
Be warned though. This is not a standalone novel. There is a forthcoming sequel, and you may find yourself as I am, gnashing at the bit for it to come out.
onceuponasarah's review against another edition
1.0
Honestly, I didn't finish this book. I got about 200 pages in and couldn't take it any more. I didn't like it much. I couldn't get into the world of the book. It reminded me a bit of Boneshaker by Cherie Priest (Which I was able to finish, but did not continue the series).
rcgrimes's review against another edition
5.0
This is the first steam punk book I ever read. And it makes me mad. Mostly because it is the standard that all other books will have to follow and compete with. I was blown away by it all. I could only picture the American West in the 1870s being settled and explored and people just wanting to get away from the world, always knowing that it didn't take place there. It is excellently written and portrays a beauty and savagery of the expansion of the world. If there was only a place today that was "half-made" for us all to get away to. All I can say is read it and then make a friend read it.