An astonishing novella that fuses dark fantasy with science fiction tropes, THE GOD ENGINES packs a lot into a short number of pages. Scalzi has succeeded in creating a fully realized -- and utterly insane -- world of enslaved gods, powerful theocracies, and blind faith. I had no idea where this story was going, and the places it went were astounding. The ending in particular was breathtaking. Dark, terrifying, and visceral, THE GOD ENGINES may be the closest Scalzi has come to writing horror. Fantasy and science fiction readers will eat this up, but horror readers should give it a shot, too. It's a mini masterpiece of cosmic dread. Interesting. It's not a novella I'd generally recommend, as it's not so much a story as a challenge of faith, religion, politics, and expectations. Relatedly, it's dark, both in what happens and in what is or could be implied. I would disagree with those who say it should be longer. This is a thought bomb best processed without more clarity or delineation. I listened to this on CD, which I'd call a mistake (because if I were reading it, the first thing I would have done on finishing it would have been to start over to see how the ending changed my view of the events depicted within), except that I would like the reader, Christopher Lane, to narrate my life in the voice and accent of First Mate Thorne (sp?).
What do You think about The God Engines (2009)?
That was delightfully disturbing.Self-contained novella.
—kevia
It was nice. Short, some good ideas. Thin, though.
—brennan
This is a uniquely unhinging type of book.
—lmcarlos
