Old Bolts by Edward Nile [SPFBO]

The Blurb:

The Arkenian Civil War is over.

Diesel-fueled Warsuits and the Kaizer Engines that power them have been outlawed. Machines which once won freedom for a new nation now lie in pieces, demolished and left to rust.

One man can’t let go

For over a year, Viktor and his team of mechanics have survived, cold and hungry in the frigid mountains of Northern Arkenia. In exile, cut off from the world, they hold vigil over a last remaining vestige of the nation’s history. A Kaizer Warsuit they name Old Bolts.

But when a little boy wanders close to their strange dwelling, Viktor learns that the mountains have become home to a new mining settlement.

Where the residents are not allowed to leave.

Now Viktor must decide. Decide whether to help the miners of Talbrigdon and risk exposing not only his men, but Old Bolts. Or whether to hold firm to his duty and protect this symbol of liberty from destruction. As things become more dire for both his people and the miners, a deeper secret haunts Viktor.

One that could tear Old Bolts and her crew apart.

Adam’s Review

Note: This is a potential semifinalist.

Have you ever read a dieselpunk mech story with elements of the survival, western and war genres? Because I certainly hadn’t before I read Old Bolts.

Viktor is the leader of the crew of the last Warsuit, the eponymous Old Bolts, a giant hulking relic they affectionately call Olby. For over a year they’ve lived hidden in exile in the frozen woods of the north, preserving the great machine from being dismantled after their loss in a civil war. It’s clear that these men are the end of their rope – living with only the Warsuit for shelter, rations close to running out, frostbitten and perhaps just a little bit mad. The early parts of this novel hold the most prominent survival elements, and it built a convincing atmosphere.

Everything changes when a boy stumbles upon their camp, and they realise that a town has sprung up where one wasn’t before – an isolated mining village where no one is allowed to leave. At this point things start to twist more to a western style plot, with Viktor beginning to feel like he must help the trapped people of the village, despite the fact that it could very likely lead to the discovery of Olby, demolishing the very reason for their self imposed exile. It’s not a decision taken lightly, and secrets and injuries of the past threaten to tear the group apart.

The book lost me a little when it tried to explain the geopolitical situation – it was quite complicated, and for the most part had very little impact on the plot. This book is a side story in a larger series, and this is the one place it shows. While the depth of the world does give extra flavour, too much is explained without enough context for me to get a handle on it.

The book balances a lot of slower, more introspective moments with bursts of action, and for the most part it does this well. I do think that sometimes the characters’ reactions and micro-actions felt a little bit off, but overall it wasn’t too detrimental to my enjoyment.

The final act is an intense action sequence that had me on the edge of my seat. I found there was a good mix of grounded elements and more over the top bombast that really pulled in me. The villains are two dimensional, but I can forgive that, given that Viktor’s inner journey is the main focus of the narrative.

There’s something uniquely satisfying about finding a book that tries to do something a bit different and succeeds at it. Old Bolts is at different parts heartfelt, atmospheric, tense and explosive, and if that sounds like something you’d enjoy, I’d heartily recommend it.

To check out our other SPFBO 7 reviews and keep up to date on which books are still in the running, check out our SPFBO 7 Hub page here.