The Liberation

By: Ian Tregillis

Narrated by: Chris Kayser

I am the mechanical they named Jax.

My kind was built to serve humankind, duty-bound to fulfil their every whim.

But now our bonds are breaking, and my brothers and sisters are awakening.

Our time has come. A new age is dawning.

Set in a world that might have been, of mechanical men and alchemical dreams, this is the third and final novel in a stunning series of revolution by Ian Tregillis, confirming his place as one of the most original new voices in speculative fiction.

Critic reviews

The Liberation brings to a violent, triumphant conclusion Ian Tregillis's epic Alchemy Wars Trilogy: one of the most entertaining, original, and thought-provoking series of recent years.... It's a wonderfully realized world, packed with fascinating characters, and Tregillis uses alternative history brilliantly to explore concerns we still have over new technologies and their potential effect, for good and ill, on our freedom.—The Toronto Star on The Liberation

Ian Tregillis' Alchemy Wars trilogy comes to a dramatic and bloody close.—Bookish on The Liberation

"There are a number of marvelous action scenes, hallucinogenic in their over-the-top big-screen violence, but the real attraction here is Tregilli's narrative ruthlessness, which manifest as willingness to take his character to the brink of hell...and then, rather than yank them back at the last second, push them in."—SciFi Magazine on The Mechanical

"A major talent."—George R.R. Martin on Bitter Seeds

"With the Alchemy Wars, Ian Tregillis has built a marvelous world - and in LIBERATION, he destroys it. Humanity is faced with a relentless mechanical enemy - think a steampunk version of THE TERMINATOR - and only a few brave individuals of both flesh and metal have a chance to save it. Brilliantly imagined and beautifully written, Tregillis has created a perfect end to his series, filled with heroism and horror all the way to the finish."—Christopher Farnsworth, author of Blood Oath on The Liberation

"Superb alternate history filled with clockwork men and ethical questions on the nature of free will. ... Tregillis's complex setting is elegantly delivered, and the rich characters and gripping story really make this tale soar."—Publishers Weekly on The Mechanical

"The first thing readers will say after finishing this splendid book is: 'Wow.' The second thing will probably be: 'When can I read the next one?'"—Booklist on The Mechanical

"Tregillis presents a fascinating look at the nature of free will and the existence of the soul, wrapped up in an absolutely thrilling adventure story. Jax is an amazing, sympathetic character, and the world of the clockmakers and their slaves is so absorbing that readers will be dying for the next entry in this new series."—Library Journal on The Mechanical

fitting conclusion to an epic tale

loved this series and the narration. an enjoyable alternate reality and twist on the man vs machine narrative

Not entirely satisfied.

What did you love best about The Liberation?

I like how the book ties up the loose ends. I do however the impression that there might be more and that disappoints me.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

I was not surprised. The book pigeon holes itself early and how they get there is only slightly different than how I figured they would.

Have you listened to any of Chris Kayser’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have listened to the other ones in the series and his performance is excellent.

amazing...

this is an amazing series. I wish there were more book series as original as this.

Worthy capstone to the series

I enjoyed this book with the grim knowledge that it was all coming to an end.

In the early sections, and even through the middle, I thought that some of the ideas were being needlessly repeated and returned to. Eventually, I thought that this may have been intended to convey how difficult it is for a person to see facts that don't line up with their perceived reality. It may take more than one harsh slap in the face from reality before a person can change their world view. Maybe a fitting lesson to learn in these times.

Other than that, there was plenty of action and things were well paced. There is more room for high-level thought than simply the fights and intrigue.

It has been a while since I finished this book and I find myself still thinking back to the characters and wishing there were inserted into other stories around.

A satisfying conclusion to the trilogy

A satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. Still can't decide if I liked Berenice or Jax more.