Angelmaker
Nick Harkaway
I'm not quite sure where to even begin with this book- it's
a mishmash of international espionage, sarcastic satire, apocalyptic fiction,
steampunk, and high-tech science fiction. Despite all of this, it somehow still
works, and I truly regretted finishing the book and leaving the improbably
captivating world that Harkaway has created. Our protagonist is a typical
unassuming hero who has inherited the anachronistic profession of watchmaker
and who sees the world through an unmistakably English lens. The language of
the book places it distinctly in Great Britain and, to a large
extent, defines its charm and drives its humor. As the plot integrates a series
of highly implausible events that are at times vaguely possible, fantastic but
plausible in such a narrative, and utterly ridiculous, one is reminded of the
works of Monty Python and Douglas Adams, who relentlessly maintain a degree of
seriousness as the world crumbles into silliness. This quintessentially British
point of view somehow ties the book together, despite its nearly continuous
leaps directly off of the cliffs of insanity. As a consequence, however, there
are many aspects of the book that teeter oh-so-perilously on the edge of
complete ridiculousness, and one gets the feeling that the book won't
completely make sense without the aid of several re-readings and the discussion
of a highly educated book club.
Though it can sometimes be a quagmire, Angelmaker holds together remarkably well. Though some elements
might be considered out of place, such as a very science fictional development
with nearly infinite (and very serious) implications regarding the philosophy
of existence and individuality, the plot moves forward relentlessly in both of
its relevant timelines. The characters are interesting and the central
mysteries utterly unpredictable- though I think this says more about the
novel's inherent wackiness than Harkaway's inherent authorial abilities. Upon
finishing the book, it is hard to comprehend in retrospect just how everything
fits together- but take my word for it, it does, though some aspects of the
book may not make much sense and seem a bit over the top (even in a novel that
celebrates this kind of circus). There is something compelling about this book,
something that makes me believe that it is, despite all indications to the
contrary, not a complete mess. That Harkaway is even able to contemplate
creating a coherent ending out of this jumble is a feat unto itself, and even
if he is ultimately less than successful in constructing a particularly
coherent story, there are enough interesting ideas crammed into the book that
it's always interesting. The chaos somehow works; I have no idea how and who
knows how I'll feel upon reading it again (which I am nearly certain to do). Angelmaker may be nearly completely
inscrutable at times and completely insane, but I'll be damned if it isn't one
hell of an interesting ride.
Grade: A
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