The God Engines is a 2009 science fiction/fantasy novella by John Scalzi.[1]

The God Engines
Cover of first edition (hardcover)
AuthorJohn Scalzi
LanguageEnglish
GenreScience fiction novella
PublisherSubterranean Press
Publication date
2009
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages136
ISBN978-1-59606-299-3

Synopsis

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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

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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

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  1. ^ Scalzi, John (2009-12-01). The God Engines. Subterranean Press. ISBN 978-1-59606-299-3.
  2. ^ 2009 Nebula Award nominees, at Science Fiction Writers of America; retrieved March 26, 2018
  3. ^ 2010 Hugo Awards, at TheHugoAwards.org; retrieved March 26, 2018
  4. ^ The God Engines, reviewed at Publishers Weekly; published September 14, 2009; retrieved March 26, 2018
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