August 1, 2013

Book 12: Angelmaker

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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