In this breathtaking debut novel, one man embarks on a thrilling and treacherous quest for his people's lost god -- in an elaborate Dickensian city that is either blessed ...or haunted.

Read an Excerpt: here

Reviews & Praise

"Gilman debuts with a sprawling Victorian-style fantasy . . . Memorably imaginative, with intriguing characters and flashes of genuine originality: impressive and highly promising."
--Kirkus Reviews

"Mixing Guy Debord’s urban alienation with China Miéville’s rarified fantasy, Felix Gilman isn’t a writer to be taken lightly. And yet he somehow turns a teeming plot and a cauldron of half-cooked ideas into a compulsively readable debut. One of Thunderer’s persistent indelible images is that of a magic warship sailing over the fictional city of Ararat, which should be readers’ first clue that Gilman giddily deconstructs and fiddles with myth. Flying boys turned arrogant revolutionaries and gods mutated into monsters by pseudo-science are just two of the ingredients Gilman throws into the stew—most of which could have been the subject of entire novels themselves. Just when things start to become overwhelming, though, Gilman’s story takes flight through the side door, using rich prose as rocket fuel on a voyage toward dizzying, bittersweet wonder."
--The Onion, "Our Favorite Books of 2008"

"Some books telegraph their secrets from the first pages, while others husband them like water rationed for a long desert journey. Thunderer is one of my favorite books of the last year in any genre because it manages to do both. . . In the past few years, only a handful of works have appeared of such impressive construction and irresistible force as to merit designation as instant classics of the genre: for its booming entrance and bold execution, Thunderer deserves a wide audience and an enthusiastic round of applause."
-- --SFRevu

"A rich stew of allusions, from quasi-Dickensian workhouses (and one woman reminiscent of Madame DeFarge, here a devotee of the Spider god) to a Peter Pan made street-tough, in "interesting times" that evoke elements of Revolutionary France, the Sixties, and a world transformed by something like new technologies and armaments — though initiated by a god, rather than human ingenuity. . . . I don't think we're in danger of any cookie-cutter sequels from this talented new fantasist."
-- Faren Miller, Locus

"[W]hat an interesting concoction Mr. Gilman has conjured up! . . . [I]f you give the book a chance, you’ll discover more than just a living, breathing world full of marvelous and horrific wonders at every turn; a plot that is at once familiar, yet unpredictable and entertaining; and characters that dramatically evolve right up to the novel’s triumphant finish. What Thunderer offers is an experience that’s not quite like any other fantasy novel out there, and for those that take the plunge, I think you’ll agree with me that Felix Gilman’s first novel deserves to be included in the debate for Best Fantasy Debut of the Year. . .”
--Fantasy Book Critic

"There is a relatively short list of speculative novels that are extravagant celebrations, excavations, and explorations of particular cities, novels in which cities transcend mere setting and become full-blown characters in their own right. Delany’s Bellona, Miéville’s New Crobuzon, Harrison’s Viriconium, VanderMeer’s Ambergris, Peake’s Gormenghast, Leiber’s Lankhmar, and Moorcock’s inexhaustible iterations of London spring immediately to mind. To this exclusive list can now be added Ararat, the god-infested metropolis that dominates Felix Gilman’s towering first novel, Thunderer.
. . . This masterly first novel is as stunning and unexpected as a thunderclap out of a clear blue sky. . . [C]haracters are fleshed out with an economy and depth that is positively Dickensian. Looming over them all, containing them, permeating them, perhaps even manipulating them in mysterious ways, and yet shaped by them in ways equally mysterious, is Ararat, which may well prove to be an enduring contribution to the literature of the fantastic."
-- Paul Witcover, Realms of Fantasy.

"The book features scores of finely fleshed-out and fascinating players. . . Gilman carries the day with panache and boldness and ingenuity. His city of Ararat is textured so richly and feelingly that its palpability is never in doubt from the very first page. . . Ararat shares an ambiance with Ambergris and New Crobozun and other places “beyond the fields we know,” but it remains its own construction. . . what Gilman has achieved here is something exotic and Borgesian, a novel that never stumbles or disappoints."
--Paul Di Filippo, Sci Fi Weekly

"Gilman's literary antecedents are intriguingly diverse. Ararat itself fuses elements of Renaissance Venice and Victor Hugo's Paris. Arjun's search leads at times into gaslight-era SF à la Jules Verne, at others into distinctly Poe-like horror, while a secondary plot transforms street youth Jack into a hybrid of Peter Pan and Dickens's Artful Dodger. Impressively, the whole remains essentially coherent. . . strongly conveyed atmosphere and intriguing characters make this a distinctive debut."
--Publishers Weekly

"I would be very surprised indeed if this debut novel was not a strong contender for an award this year. It has all the qualities that should make it appeal to the majority of fantasy readers -- magic, a quest, a hint of coming of age, villains and heroes, exotic landscapes -- and most of the things that appeal to readers who prefer something out of the ordinary. The setting is unusual -- a possibly infinite city, a labyrinth so intricate that no one has ever been able to draw a useful map -- filled with clever imaginative details. The prose is well above average, the characters interesting, and the details of the plot extraordinary. . . . [T]his is almost certainly going to be one of the half dozen most important fantasies of the year, and Gilman is likely to be mentioned alongside China Mieville, Neil Gaiman, Mary Gentle, and writers of similar stature."
--Don D'Amassa, Critical Mass

"Thunderer is certainly a colorful debut from Felix Gilman. Even Gilman's opening pages show a deep imagination at work. . . Thunderer reaches a conclusion that urges the reader toward the next book of this series."
-- Kansas City Star

". . .a journey that clearly demands sequels. Considering that Gilman is far above average for a first novelist, this is not bad news."
--Booklist

"Gilman's a skilled writer for a first-time novelist. His prose is evocative but not overwrought. He manages a big cast of characters well, and one of the most present and important is the city of Ararat. . . If you like your cities and their stories to combine magic and technology with a grimy façade, then 'Thunderer' is your book. Happily, Gilman lavishes the same care on all his cast. . . . Thunderer takes more cues from Dickens than Tolkien. That's why you should be reading it; that's why it should be in your queue."
--Rick Kleffel, The Agony Column

"As much as I read, it is still a rare treat to discover a book with enough power to make me forget the mundane world around me, completely transporting my mind from the here and now: “Thunderer” is one of those books. The setting. . . absolutely comes to life in Gilman’s beautiful, nuanced prose. The author isn’t afraid to spend time and linger in his descriptions of the city, and still knows how to keep an entertaining story going with this tale of gods, thieves, soldiers and pilgrims.
I love “Thunderer,” and cannot stop recommending it to friends."
-- Matt Staggs, Enter The Octopus

"Gilman has invented a vividly imaginative world and is rightly compared to Dickens for the rich and varied characters he has created. . . it really shines. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy fiction."
-- Decatur Daily

"Felix Gilman is threatening to kill a kitten at the end of the week unless at least four people write to say good things about his book. Fortunately, his book, Thunderer, is very good indeed, and I'm happy to help save the kitten's life. . ."
-- Terry Weyna, Reading the Leaves

"This novel was different and very cool. . . But it is fresh and different -- and you should preorder and check it out now. Felix Gilman's a great writer."
--Jeff VanderMeer, author of City of Saints and Madmen and Shriek

"Amazing -- a satisfying and incredible sprawling, urban, Dickensian fantasy that sucks you into its gritty streets and never lets go until you've turned its last corner."
--Tobias Buckell, author of Ragamuffin

"Thunderer is an entrancing work of prose--a subtle mix of magic realism and epic fantasy, with the beauty of the former and the worldbuilding of the latter. Recommended for any who want to sit back for a spell and just dream."
--Brandon Sanderson, author of Mistborn

"In a kaleidoscopic city continually transformed by divine powers, tragedy, romance and conflict collide, creating a world of literary magic. With Felix Gilman as their guide, readers who open this book will plunge into the shifting streets of a dazzling debut novel. His lyrical, wildly imaginative voice maps the unmappable in this haunting tale."
--Drew Bowling, author of Tower of Shadows