Book review: Angelmaker by Nick Harkaway

Book: Angelmaker
Author: Nick Harkaway
Year Published: 2012
Genre: Science fiction
Rating: 10/10

Review: Angelmaker by Nick Harkaway is a science fiction novel set in two time periods: The present day and World War II. It has that in common with Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson. Also, as in Cryptonomicon there are issues of spying and good vs. evil. However, Angelmaker is a very different book.

The main protagonist is Joshua Joseph Spork. He is the son of a master thief and grandson of a horologist - that is, a maker and repairer of clocks. After a flirtation with his father's profession, he has settled into his grandfather's and has also settled for a fairly boring life in present day London. But that all changes when he is asked to repair a rather unusual book and an associated device. Joe Spork is then thrust, against his wishes, into a life filled with former girl super-spies, geniuses, a mass murderer, a genuinely evil potentate who is trying to become God, the long hard arm of the anti-terrorist security forces. It also turns out that the book and device he has been given may end the universe.

In the course of these adventures, Joe Spork transcends himself, becoming a hero. He also falls in love.

Most of the novel is set in London, but there are also scenes in a fictional kingdom somewhere in Asia. Most of the novel takes place in the present day, but the back story of the characters is filled in with material from the World War II era (although the war itself does not really enter into the novel).

Angelmaker by Nick Harkaway is wonderfully written; there are many artful phrases but these never interfere with the plot which zips right along. The characters are wonderfully drawn and each has his or her own distinctive voice.

One note of warning: There are some relatively graphic scenes of violence and torture. These are long and are a necessary part of the book. If such scenes are likely to disturb you, this may not be the book for you.

The author
Nick Harkaway was born in 1972 in Cornwall in the United Kingdom. Before becoming an author, he worked in the film industry. He has also studied several martial arts. He is on Twitter as @Harkaway. Angelmaker is Harkaway's second novel; his first was The Gone Away World which was also excellent.