The God Engines
The God Engines is a 2009 science fiction/fantasy novella by John Scalzi.[1]
 Cover of first edition (hardcover) | |
| Author | John Scalzi |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Science fiction novella |
| Publisher | Subterranean Press |
Publication date | 2009 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 136 |
| ISBN | 978-1-59606-299-3 |
Synopsis
The story takes place in a universe where space travel is accomplished by chaining intelligent, human-like creatures called gods to a spacecraft and torturing them to drive the ship. The people are ruled by an organization called the Bishopry Militant, who worship a powerful being. Captain Ean Tephe is completely faithful to the Bishopry, but his faith comes under test when he is assigned a secret mission in which his ship's god seems to have a keen interest.
Reception
The God Engines was a finalist for the 2009 Nebula Award for Best Novella[2] and the 2010 Hugo Award for Best Novella.[3] Publishers Weekly called it "ferociously inventive, painfully vivid, dispassionately bleak and dreadfully memorable", and compared it to a collaboration between J. G. Ballard and H.P. Lovecraft.[4]
References
- Scalzi, John (2009-12-01). The God Engines. Subterranean Press. ISBN 978-1-59606-299-3.
- 2009 Nebula Award nominees, at Science Fiction Writers of America; retrieved March 26, 2018
- 2010 Hugo Awards, at TheHugoAwards.org; retrieved March 26, 2018
- The God Engines, reviewed at Publishers Weekly; published September 14, 2009; retrieved March 26, 2018