![]() It doesn't hurt that Sanderson is so self-aware. Admittedly, it mightn't have the best of beginnings, yet Sanderson finds his feet in time to make the remainder of his tale sensational. The aforementioned problems are still problems, but only with one small part of the entire narrative, because when the pace picks up, it rarely relents the characters, including our protagonist, only really come into their own when in one another's company whilst the story gathers such force as it goes that the reader can't help but be swept up, up and away with it. Early on, there's a certain sense that the author is making it all up as he goes along - not a negative in itself, but taken together with everything else, I wasn't what you'd call keen to read the rest.īut here's the thing: I'm glad I gave Steelheart a chance to redeem itself. which brings me back to my issues with the beginning of this book. So what is going on? Where did the Epics come from, and what do they want? These are just a few of the fascinating questions Sanderson asks but declines, for the larger part, to answer. Scientists claimed to be baffled by the genetics of Epics. There were enough direct stories of a family member manifesting abilities. Normal people had gained powers and become Epics they weren't aliens or anything like that. Most of the theories fell apart when confronted by facts. Or it was all fake and they were using technology to pretend they had powers. or they were the result of a government project. The Epics were the next stage in human evolution, or they were a punishment sent by this god or that, or they were really aliens. Lots of people did have theories, and most would be happy to tell you about them. There seemed to be no rhyme or reason to the Epics' strengths and weaknesses nor does the author attempt to address what caused Calamity. ![]() Add to that - and this disappointed me most of all, given Sanderson's knack for knocking up neat new milieus - a great many of the specifics of this particular post-apocalypse appeared arbitrary. The several action scenes it revolves around are absolutely adequate, but the plot punctuating them is predictable, the prose unpolished and the characterisation bland. In actual fact I found Steelheart's first act rather lacking. The weaknesses were more varied than the powers themselves were. Others were weakened by thinking certain thoughts, not eating certain foods, or eating the wrong foods. Tia mentioned symbols - there were some Epics who, if they saw a specific pattern, lost their powers for a few moments. The problem was, an Epic weakness could be just about anything. Though many have tried and failed in the past, only he has seen Steelheart bleed, and this could be the piece that unlocks the ultimate puzzle.īut if the Reckoners are going to stand a chance of putting our protagonist's plan into action, they'll have to work out what Steelheart's unique weakness is. ![]() According to David's new boss, Prof, it seems his study of Steelheart might indeed be the key to defeating the evil overlord. ![]() It isn't giving the game away to tell you that in time, the team takes him in. So when he figures out that they're in the city, he puts his life on the line to manufacture a meeting. which is why it's his heart's desire to join the Reckoners, a cell of rebels who have dedicated themselves to the death of the Epics. Alone, David's store of knowledge is unto nothing. Alone, he might be better informed than most about the whys and wherefores of Steelheart's army, however he's no match for even the weakest of these superbeings. (p.21)įorgive me for trotting out another expression in such quick succession, but knowledge is power, is it not? Would that it were so simple! After all, our protagonist, poor dear David, has a whole lot of knowledge - he's spent his entire adult life assembling it - but precious little power.Īlone, he's as helpless against the Epics as he was when one murdered his father in front of him - his father, who dared to dream of a hero. Of course, nobody knows why the Epics started appearing, or what their connection is to Calamity either. Nobody knows why or how it still shines through the darkness. Calamity began to shine one year before men started turning into Epics. The only thing you can see up there is Calamity, which looks kind of like a bright red star or comet. Humanity has been almost completely defeated, and the night's spiteful cycle is constant reminder of our fall from prominence. But the dawn of what? Why hope, of course.įor the moment, though, there's none. but it's always darkest before the dawn, isn't that what they say?Īs well they may. The darkness shrouding the city has been gathering since that fateful day, as if to help keep some deep secret. "It's always dark in Newcago," (p.21) declares David Charleston, a decade on from the death of his fearless father at the hands of Steelheart.
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