A review by jgwc54e5
The Clockwork Man by E. V. Odle

3.0

A strange early science fiction novel from 1923, the first to feature a cyborg, or mechanically enhanced man. The clockwork man of the title makes his first appearance at a cricket match. His mechanism is malfunctioning and he has hurtled back in time. Obviously this is a fascinating theme for a novel from this time. Where it didn’t work for me is that most of the book reads like a farce. The clockwork man has a comical appearance, his behaviour is bizarre and it reads like a piece of slapstick. It’s not till the end of the story that any idea of what the future that has created the clockwork man is like. I’d have enjoyed more detail about this society. Still a very interesting piece of early sci-fi.