Anachronist: A Time Travel Adventure (The Infinity Engines Book 1)

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On one hand I can not ignore the opening criticism, it is a big factor in his writing, and it is becoming repetitive and clichéd, and nothing seems to happen because of reaction or pro-action, but because something, somewhere decided it was going to set events on motion.

I've been steadily raving about Asher's novels more and more because they just keep getting BETTER and BETTER. This Transformation trilogy has got to be my absolute favorite. The Weaver is, as always, sitting in the catbird seat. He proves it is possible to achieve happiness, attain goals, and get what one wants, to the consternation of the Polity AI's, with some collaboration with Penny Royal. This involves a quid pro quo beneficial to all concerned, especially the reader. I wonder though if he isn't a bit lonely. Perhaps some more Atheter memstores will turn up. I found it interesting that the author touches upon such themes and issues as morality, politics, redemption, transformation and intelligence in an excellent way, but doesn't dwell on them. I also like the author's ability to keep things on the move and his way of delivering intense action scenes, because he does everything on purpose and avoids easy resolutions. It's great that this novel has a well-made list of characters and a glossary, because it helps readers - especially newcomers to the Polity universe - to understand certain things better. I found these appendixes useful and informative, because I didn't know much about the Polity universe.

Reviewer's Note: This is part 3 of the Transformation series, preceded by Dark Intelligence and War Factory. This review will not be mindful of spoilers from those books. The spoiler-free review is that this novel could almost stand on its own as it's fairly contained within its own starfaring story for being the third chapter in a trilogy. Infinity Engine is the third and final novel in the Transformation trilogy by bestselling science fiction author Neal Asher, following Dark Intelligence and War Factory. After many adventures in many times and places Josh finds himself a major role in this very complex organization which is divided into groups who call themselves the Draconians, Antiquarians, Fatalists, Copernicans, Determinists, Reavers, and Scriptorians.

I was very torn on the rating. On the one hand, the story is inventive and new. The plot and main character history is inventive and somewhat complex. Then we have the slightly unrefined writing style and grammar errors. I had thought perhaps the author was young, but realize now he probably just needs a better editor if indeed one was used at all. This is the conclusion of his recent trilogy, and it certainly delivers in most areas. But there elements in this book that do not do it for me. It is no spoiler to say that most, if not all of this trilogy is all controlled by one, or two very powerful, intelligent entities, and that everything you read IS part of some huge, massive, intricate plan. Because of this it took me out of the story. When you know that every decision that someone takes, every action, plot detail, twist and turn is all part of some plan and not based on their own reasoning, logic, thinking etc, it lessens their importance, their value and they become pawns, not people, and even their emotional responses you cannot connect too because it is part of something else's plan. When this becomes clear, even a 'random' plot thread you start to view as something not happening because this character decided it is going to do it, but 'how is this part of the plan?' 'Who started this?' and so on. When she was just ten years old, Caitlin overheard her parents arguing about how she was going to die—the next day they disappeared. As with the previous two novels, Infinity Engine has largely the same characters you met at the start, but it still somehow expands the universe. Stuff that gets pointed to in the first novel receives more attention and becomes more important here, which connects the story in an effective way. The novel is still sort of magical in that Asher can more or less make anything happen and wave his hands with technology beyond our grasp, but it's a fun read.Actually, the whole weaving of all these threads from book one to the end was so thoroughly SATISFYING that I may just start raving about it to non-specialized high-tech space-opera fans and just start pulling in normal SF fans to point and say... "Just look at this trilogy, skip the rest, just read this and MARVEL at the juicy characters, epic events, and thoroughly F***ed-up poison chalice wish-granting going on here.

ZOMG! Neal Asher takes us to the very edge of space and time in the conclusion to his Transformation series. Let me tell you what, I think I need a cardiologist after reading this book! It was nonstop, pulled no punches, took no quarter, and held no prisoners! On Masada, Penny Royal had provided me with intimate evidence of its own guilt, so my role seemed to be that of executioner.Riss and Spear have at last completed their tasks as Penny Royal's chosen instruments. They are in a position to leave The War and Penny Royal in the past and move on into their futures. Through the spine entrusted to Spear, we/they learn the whole story of Room 101, Penny Royal, and events on and around Panarchia. The story speaks volumes about the exigencies of war, decisions made by leaders safely at the rear, the disposability of those at the sharp end, and how we/all societies have treated our veterans. The task chosen by Penny Royal for Spear was to execute him or forgive him for his role at Panarchia and all that followed. As for the rest, well that's our play, and it wouldn't want us to give it away. All this hard-SF pseudo-science, and there's room for a theme on ethics, forgiveness, and what might happen if we give AIs emotions.

This book caps the Transformation series, but also rewards readers of ALL the other books. It's even got Old Captains and an Atheter, and passing references to things we first read decades ago. During the ensuing three periods of waking, Trent thought about his past, wished he could change it but accepted he couldn't.

Trent Sorbel, erstwhile soulless tyro and basic sadistic criminal thug, has like the Tin Man, been in need of a heart. In the end he has grown one through his shepherding of the shell people and his love for three particular shell people. He has redeemed himself, Penny Royal just provided the setting. I highly recommend Neal Asher's Infinity Engine to readers who enjoy reading space opera novels with good characterisation. If you want to read quality science fiction and excellent space opera, don't look any further, because this novel has everything you could ever hope to find in a good space opera story. I have a feeling that this novel will be difficult to surpass on many levels, because it's a stunning achievement and may well be the author's best novel to date.

As the story opens, young Josh Jones is doing community service in London for another of his minor transgressions. Josh is an unwilling member of a gang and lives in one of London's many public housing "projects" with his ailing mother (MS). He notices an eccentric old man who everyone calls the "Colonel" because of his long dark khaki green trench coat. Josh notices that the Colonel has left his house and has left the door open, so Josh hopes to sneak in and steal something he can sell to pay off his huge debt to his gang leader. Mr. Asher weaves a complex and intricate tale. He leads us, captivated, to the inevitable and inexorable yet unforeseen conclusion. The gradual unraveling of the past mixed with the fraught action of the present is riveting It is followed by the final revelation of the whole truth which has on me as great an impact as the final revelation in Sophie's Choice. It is in its own way as devastating. The climax of the story takes place at Panarchia, where Penny Royal's tale begins. So here at the end and the beginning, is where stand the dramatis personae.