Clockwork Angels

The Novel

By: Neil Peart - contributor, Kevin J. Anderson

Narrated by: Neil Peart

Length: 8 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award Finalist, Package Design, 2014

I can’t stop thinking big....

International best-selling author Kevin J. Anderson teams up with Rush lyricist and drummer Neil Peart to expand the story set out in Clockwork Angels, the 20th studio album by the legendary rock band.

All the journeys of this great adventure -

It didn’t always feel that way

For more than two centuries, the land of Albion has been ruled by the supposedly benevolent Watchmaker, who imposes precision on every aspect of life. Young Owen Hardy from the village of Barrel Arbor dreams of seeing the big city and the breathtaking Clockwork Angels that dispense wisdom to the people, maybe even catching a glimpse of the Watchmaker himself.

I was brought up to believe....

He watches the steamliners drift by, powered by alchemical energy, as they head toward Crown City - never dreaming that he is already caught between the grandiose forces of order and chaos, between the Watchmaker and his nemesis, the Anarchist. Owen’s journeys begin at a fabulous carnival with clockwork wonders beyond his imagination, and take him aboard airships, far into the Redrock Desert to seek lost cities, through storms at sea to encounters with pirates...and give him a chance at love.

Clockwork Angels: The Novel is a remarkable, innovative story unlike any other.

The basis for this novel, Clockwork Angels: The Album by Rush, is available now at rush.com.

©2012 Kevin J. Anderson (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Fun, light book!

I found this book to be refreshing in its simplicity. We’re following one character through adventures. I particularly loved the comments from the authors at the end.

Absolutely amazing and inspiring

Such an amazing story from one of the best writers/drummers out there. hoping for a movie someday

Amazing!

This book was way more than I expected! Thank you Neil for an amazing journey!

The Overtones were Overkill

This was a charming-enough bildungsroman, and the countless Rush references were always fun easter eggs to stumble upon. But the cliche overtones of anarchism and atheism were a bit stale, a bit too conventional.

Absolutely Wonderful.

I have never listened to a book so brilliant and captivating. It's worth a listen.

a beautiful story from start to finish

to have Neil Peart narrating this breaks my heart, but he was definitely a skilled narrator. loved every bit of this book. I've been a fan of Kevin J Anderson since he wrote some Star Wars books and I've been a fan of Rush since Hold Your Fire. I had no idea this book was a thing, but I cannot recommend it enough!

Voltaire would be proud

Neil Peart did live a life giving a legacy of love and respect, as he masterfully tended his garden.
Our Hero (Owen Hardy) has grand adventures with daunting challenges to learn hard lessons. Readers may benefit from his findings... Then get out and continue their own adventures.
Highest recommendation.

Strongly recommend

I found the story enthralling and difficult to put down. The only negative was that it ended.
Kevin Anderson has written two more "clockwork" stories, and as much as I dislike series. I am considering purchasing both of them.

Amazing Story and Narration

Would you listen to Clockwork Angels again? Why?

The story is so complex with so many references to songs and other great works of art that I would love to read again to catch all of them.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Clockwork Angels?

The main characters decision to hide an achievement to keep other people's dreams alive.

Which character – as performed by Neil Peart – was your favorite?

The clockmaker, although all the characters had unique voices that fit how you think that character should sound. The distinctness of the individual voices made the story very easy to follow.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, unfortunately it was broken up into three sittings for me and when I was not reading the book it was all I could think about.

Any additional comments?

I felt the same way after reading this book as the first time I read Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll.

great story. not the best narration.

I have never been a great fan of Rush and their music but I decided to give this a try because Kevin J Anderson is one of my favorite sci-fi fantasy authors. I think the collaboration between Anderson and Peart worked quite well. The story was good; it moved along at a good pace and it was interesting but it was narrated as if the book were being read to a young child. This story might be okay as a children's story but I think it touches on issues that are beyond a young child's ability to comprehend. I am glad that I bought and listen to this book and now I'm planning to revisit Rush music with a more careful here to the message that music delivers.