Mainspring by Jay Lake
Tor Books
ISBN: 0765356368
Mainspring is more than a diversion away from swords & sorcery, it's a major departure from traditional fantasy into what lately has been called "steampunk." But steampunk doesn't do Mainspring justice. With Lake's juxtaposition of Victorian times and culture with fairyland landscapes and mythical characters, Mainspring is both a page-turner and a primer in fantasy lore.
Steampunk Turned Clockpunk
Mainspring's sequel Escapement is equally riveting, and with his new novel Green (based on Lake's short story by the same name, I hope) recently released, Lake is on the verge of becoming a household name in the fantasy world.
Mainspring's premise is that the Earth runs like a clock, with gears and clockwork beneath the South Pole. The hero, Hethor, is sent on a quest by the angel Gabriel, to find the "key perilous," with which he can rewind the "mainspring." As unlikely as this fantasy/alternate-history/boy-becomes-man story sounds, it's riveting. Hethor stumbles his way toward the equatorial "Wall" to find the key, and finds himself in a fantasy smorgasbord – the world-building at Lake's equator is simply remarkable.
It's here that Lake gives his readers the fullest and clearest writing. He creates a hodge-podge of mythological and allusionary creatures and empires, a new one over every cliff, built into the monolith called the equatorial wall, or "A Muralha," a place of legend and myth in Hethor's world. Some of these places and creatures are anathema to Hethor and his party, while others provide safe haven and rescue. The equatorial wall is the fantasy built into Lake's very mechanical world.
Religiosity in the Fantasy World
There's a long history of authors building religion into their fictional cultures, but when the alternate history is so similar and the religion reflects a stiff, unyielding church much like the Roman Catholic church in its hierarchy and dogmatic approach to everything, it's hard not to read between the lines to see an inherent criticism of the Christian church throughout history. Then again, Lake might simply be commenting on humanity's tendency toward skepticism in general. Or he might just be building a rich, complex fantasy world.
Characters and Critics of Lake's Fantasy
Many of Lake's Critics say his characterization is weak, that Hethor doesn't act, but is acted upon as events flow by. And Hethor is certainly not an epic hero with superhuman strength or unmatched fighting skills. He's an apprentice clockmaker, for heaven's sake. ;)
Hethor begins to fill his hero-boots as the story comes to a close, which fits his age and experience perfectly. He's not an anti-hero, just a normal young man experiences totally abnormal adventures, a very sympathetic character.
Lake is an author worth following.
Other Reviews by Ben Lingenfelter
Ben Lingenfelter - As an intinerant writer, I've found freedom to write and learn about a variety of topics. That fits me perfectly. I've been an English ...
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