Forger of the Sun: Punk, Act I

As those of you who pop by this little part of the web may have noticed, I read a fair number of steampunk books. You may have also noticed that I also read a fair few books of that other “punk” variety, cyberpunk. I haven’t read a series with the eponymous title, Punk, however, and perhaps more importantly, I have never read a dieselpunk book before. That changes now with the first book—or act—in Adrian P’s Punk series, Forger of the Sun.

As varied as both steampunk and cyberpunk are, it would be foolhardy to judge an entire genre by a single book. But if I were to base my opinion on Forger of the Sun, I would definitely come away with a positive opinion. This is a book that shares its trappings with steampunk (but worse for the environment, something the book comments on), albeit with a harder edge than most books of that genre. Although retrofuturistic, rather than aiming for cyberpunk’s (usually) standard futurism, thematically, this novel shares some DNA with those books. With a healthy dose of mech on mech combat thrown in for good measure, P has crafted a book that’s familiar to readers of those other punk genres, while adding a unique sense of fun.

The mech-based combat plays a large part in Forger of the Sun, to the point where if the idea of giant robots beating the rust out of each other doesn’t appeal to you, you should probably find something else to read. If it does appeal, you’ll be treated to a number of fantastic action sequences interspersed throughout the novel. Action is tricky to translate for the written page, making the reader feel like part of the action while pacing it so it doesn’t bog the book down. P accomplishes this in the novel, with each of the many mech battle scenes feeling distinct from one another.

While the mech action scenes take up a relatively large portion of the book, it’s but one example of the author’s ability to immerse the reader in the book’s prose. At approximately 441 pages on your favourite eReader (at the time of writing, I don’t have a page count for the paperback), Forger of the Sun is not a short book, and a prominent reason for this is its immersive writing. The prose makes the reader feel as though they’re in the book’s world, seeing the sights and hearing the sounds. Throughout the book, P chooses interesting language and turns of phrase, making the book a delight to read from a purely technical perspective. Balancing creative prose with readability can be a tricky exercise, but the book pulls it off with aplomb.

If it weren’t for the amount of dialogue in Forger of the Sun, it would be far longer than its current page count. In some ways, the dialogue frustrated me, with its lengthy back and forths between the characters. It’s all well written, and every character in the book has a distinct, yet realistic voice. It works just as well as one would hope it does. But due to its realism, it means it doesn’t capture the same beauty of its prose. It’s a frustration on a personal level, and other readers’ mileage will certainly vary.

Dialogue can only mean so much if the characters aren’t strong enough to make it resonate. Forger of the Sun’s blurb  “emotionally charged character-driven drama,” and the statement is far more than hyperbole. This is largely thanks to the fantastic set of characters populating the book’s world, all of them clearly defined and easy to relate to. As is often the way, the stars of the book are undoubtedly its protagonists, Dex and Isola. They are fantastically written, and it’s easy to invest in them as characters, and not just their plight.

Their plight is clearly defined through the book’s plot. While not particularly deep or twisty, revolving around a mech battle tournament and the corrupt captains of industry supporting certain teams. The plot is wonderfully paced, steadily building through the boom until it builds to its finale. Coupled with its strong characters, the plot just works as it ensures the rader will happily follow along.

Billed as act one in the Punk series instead of part one, it should come as no surprise that the book doesn’t stand entirely alone. There’s far more story coming in future books. It does feel like there’s a full story in the  book, however it still ends on a note advising readers that the story will be continued.

Forger of the Sun succeeds on all levels. Its characters and dialogue pop, it makes you feel as though you’re in the book, and right in the middle of the action. And it’s beautifully written, to boot.

Favourite Passage

Isola’s fingertips met the cold glass door, gently pushing it open to reveal the world within. As the room’s ambiance blended with the subdued glow of dim lighting, Reyzer took center stage in her gaze. He stood immersed in the seemingly straightforward task of arranging two chairs, almost intimately, on one side. The table itself resembled a battlefield, its unkempt folders standing defiantly, straining at the seams as if eager to unleash the chaotic symphony of secrets they held within.

Forger of the Sun: Punk, Act I, Chapter 9