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Move Over, Buffy! Tinker Not Only KicksSupernatural Butt
Shes a Techie Genius, Too!
Inventor, girl genius Tinker lives in a near-future Pittsburgh which now exists mostly in the land of the elves. She runs her salvage business, pays her taxes, and tries to keep the local ambient level of magic down with gadgets of her own design. When a pack of wargs chase an Elven noble into her scrap yard, life as she knows it takes a serious detour. Tinker finds herself taking on the Elven court, the show more NSA, the Elven Interdimensional Agency, technology smugglers and a college-minded Xenobiologist as she tries to stay focused on whats really important her first date. Armed with an intelligence the size of a planet, steel toed boots, and a junk yard dog attitude, Tinker is ready to kick butt to get her first kiss.
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Tinker, the 18 year old genius tech wiz in a Pittsburgh that spends all but a day of each month in the alternate world of Elfholme, has her life upended when she rescues an elf just as the city returns to earth. She knew she had family connections to the murdered scientist who developed the star gate technology that caused Pittsburgh's shifts, but that was long before she was born - in human time. And within days present, past, and an undreamed of future are hurling Tinker though adventures and mishaps. Fast, fun, and interesting, this book is very hard to put down.
I first read this book when it came out in 2003 and I loved it. Now, after I read the third book in the Tinker series – [b:Elfhome|13151638|Elfhome (Elfhome, #3)|Wen Spencer|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1325747790s/13151638.jpg|18329689] – I decided to reread this one, the book that started Tinker’s adventures. And I loved it again, much more than the book #3.
Tinker is a charming girl, unaware of her allure but full of spunk and wit. A genius in all things mechanical, she is first and foremost a compassionate human being, prone to helping everyone who comes into her sphere. When her lover, the glorious elf Windwolf, uses magic to transform her into an elf, because he can’t think of her dying on him after a mere 70 or 80 show more years, he loves her too much for that, she remains a “human with fancy ears” by her own admission and acts like one.
Her every thought is triggered by humanity. No mater how sharp her ears have became, she never turns into a scheming, arrogant elven bitch, as so many elves in this tale seem to be. Is it their immortality that inspires their haughtiness and their snobbish disdain for humans, I wonder?
The interlacing of human technology and elven magic in the novel is ingenious, and Tinker’s interactions with both humans and elves of her home city of Pittsbrgh are simultaneously off-beat and funny, believable and incredible. Add to that the all-powerful EIA (Elven Interdimensional Agency), evil Oni lords, a hoverbike chase (yes, Tinker invented hoverbikes), a betrayal or two, a DNA adventure, several mythical creatures unexpectedly turned real, and Windwolf’s rival for Tinker’s affection, a human cop Nathan, and the resulting cat’s cradle of contradictory desires and goals becomes a pretty good fantasy novel.
I’d even call it an undiscovered gem, although the ending is a bit unfinished in my opinion. I’d prefer another chapter to tie up the loose ends, but of course, it’s the author’s prerogative not to do so.
Overall, a delightfully original fantasy with a dollop of Sci-fi. Highly recommended. show less
Tinker is a charming girl, unaware of her allure but full of spunk and wit. A genius in all things mechanical, she is first and foremost a compassionate human being, prone to helping everyone who comes into her sphere. When her lover, the glorious elf Windwolf, uses magic to transform her into an elf, because he can’t think of her dying on him after a mere 70 or 80 show more years, he loves her too much for that, she remains a “human with fancy ears” by her own admission and acts like one.
Her every thought is triggered by humanity. No mater how sharp her ears have became, she never turns into a scheming, arrogant elven bitch, as so many elves in this tale seem to be. Is it their immortality that inspires their haughtiness and their snobbish disdain for humans, I wonder?
The interlacing of human technology and elven magic in the novel is ingenious, and Tinker’s interactions with both humans and elves of her home city of Pittsbrgh are simultaneously off-beat and funny, believable and incredible. Add to that the all-powerful EIA (Elven Interdimensional Agency), evil Oni lords, a hoverbike chase (yes, Tinker invented hoverbikes), a betrayal or two, a DNA adventure, several mythical creatures unexpectedly turned real, and Windwolf’s rival for Tinker’s affection, a human cop Nathan, and the resulting cat’s cradle of contradictory desires and goals becomes a pretty good fantasy novel.
I’d even call it an undiscovered gem, although the ending is a bit unfinished in my opinion. I’d prefer another chapter to tie up the loose ends, but of course, it’s the author’s prerogative not to do so.
Overall, a delightfully original fantasy with a dollop of Sci-fi. Highly recommended. show less
I have to say, when I saw this book listed, I forget where, I thought it might not be all that much, but it was at hand, so I picked it up. Oh. My. God. I could not have been more wrong, or more happy to be so.
"Tinker", and the follow-up, "Wolf Who Rules" are extraordinary. The concept of science as the foundation of magic is one I have always wished someone would write about - and Spencer does it in a believable, extremely well developed, and well written manner. I picked up the book for an 'easy' read, and within a few pages was totally hooked.
Admittedly, I am a sucker for BOTH fantasy and science books. The "multiverse" and "bubble universe" studies, as well as the whole concept of quantum physics, fascinates me. No, I am not a show more scientist, never got to learn, but I can still read about it, right? Many authors use alternate universes to base their stories. Spencer takes it further, placing her stories in a possible future, where layers of universes flow-through to a possible future Earth we all recognize. And set in Pittsburgh, no less? Ok, you write about the city you know, and even though I laughed when I read where it was set (who would think Pittsburgh for a land of fairie?) Spencer really makes you feel like you are there, walking the streets of Pittsburgh, that you know the people she writes about. And she makes you really care about them.
Tinker is fascinating. In a way genetically engineered to become the creature of her grandfather's dreams, she is a genius at mathematics and mechanics in a Pittsburgh moved to a land of magic. Good hearted, down-to-earth, intelligent, and smart as a whip, she is a perfectly realized character, with enough confidence in herself to be strong, and yet not a total screaming bitch as some authors like their heroines to be. She knows that she is not always right, is often unsure of herself, but still takes care of business, taking care of the people who depend on her for their safety and their own. She takes physical change, pain, and uncertainty and becomes the stronger for it. She never gives up who she is - amazing given the situations she finds herself thrown into with no preparation, no training, and socialization to the laws and goals of the group she suddenly finds herself a part of. Kudos, Ms. Spencer, for a beautifully developed group of characters, firmly based in both fantasy, and reality!
Tinker's grasp of technology, as well as her grasp of magic theory and the integration between the two makes this a fascinating new meld of my two favorite fields. I can hardly wait for "Elfhome" due out in July! I picked these up at the library, but am purchasing both of these books for my library to pull out again and again - and have already pre-ordered "Elfhome". Thank you, Ms. Spencer, for writing wonderful characters!!!!! show less
"Tinker", and the follow-up, "Wolf Who Rules" are extraordinary. The concept of science as the foundation of magic is one I have always wished someone would write about - and Spencer does it in a believable, extremely well developed, and well written manner. I picked up the book for an 'easy' read, and within a few pages was totally hooked.
Admittedly, I am a sucker for BOTH fantasy and science books. The "multiverse" and "bubble universe" studies, as well as the whole concept of quantum physics, fascinates me. No, I am not a show more scientist, never got to learn, but I can still read about it, right? Many authors use alternate universes to base their stories. Spencer takes it further, placing her stories in a possible future, where layers of universes flow-through to a possible future Earth we all recognize. And set in Pittsburgh, no less? Ok, you write about the city you know, and even though I laughed when I read where it was set (who would think Pittsburgh for a land of fairie?) Spencer really makes you feel like you are there, walking the streets of Pittsburgh, that you know the people she writes about. And she makes you really care about them.
Tinker is fascinating. In a way genetically engineered to become the creature of her grandfather's dreams, she is a genius at mathematics and mechanics in a Pittsburgh moved to a land of magic. Good hearted, down-to-earth, intelligent, and smart as a whip, she is a perfectly realized character, with enough confidence in herself to be strong, and yet not a total screaming bitch as some authors like their heroines to be. She knows that she is not always right, is often unsure of herself, but still takes care of business, taking care of the people who depend on her for their safety and their own. She takes physical change, pain, and uncertainty and becomes the stronger for it. She never gives up who she is - amazing given the situations she finds herself thrown into with no preparation, no training, and socialization to the laws and goals of the group she suddenly finds herself a part of. Kudos, Ms. Spencer, for a beautifully developed group of characters, firmly based in both fantasy, and reality!
Tinker's grasp of technology, as well as her grasp of magic theory and the integration between the two makes this a fascinating new meld of my two favorite fields. I can hardly wait for "Elfhome" due out in July! I picked these up at the library, but am purchasing both of these books for my library to pull out again and again - and have already pre-ordered "Elfhome". Thank you, Ms. Spencer, for writing wonderful characters!!!!! show less
I have to say, when I saw this book listed, I forget where, I thought it might not be all that much, but it was at hand, so I picked it up. Oh. My. God. I could not have been more wrong, or more happy to be so.
"Tinker", and the follow-up, "Wolf Who Rules" are extraordinary. The concept of science as the foundation of magic is one I have always wished someone would write about - and Spencer does it in a believable, extremely well developed, and well written manner. I picked up the book for an 'easy' read, and within a few pages was totally hooked.
Admittedly, I am a sucker for BOTH fantasy and science books. The "multiverse" and "bubble universe" studies, as well as the whole concept of quantum physics, fascinates me. No, I am not a show more scientist, never got to learn, but I can still read about it, right? Many authors use alternate universes to base their stories. Spencer takes it further, placing her stories in a possible future, where layers of universes flow-through to a possible future Earth we all recognize. And set in Pittsburgh, no less? Ok, you write about the city you know, and even though I laughed when I read where it was set (who would think Pittsburgh for a land of fairie?) Spencer really makes you feel like you are there, walking the streets of Pittsburgh, that you know the people she writes about. And she makes you really care about them.
Tinker is fascinating. In a way genetically engineered to become the creature of her grandfather's dreams, she is a genius at mathematics and mechanics in a Pittsburgh moved to a land of magic. Good hearted, down-to-earth, intelligent, and smart as a whip, she is a perfectly realized character, with enough confidence in herself to be strong, and yet not a total screaming bitch as some authors like their heroines to be. She knows that she is not always right, is often unsure of herself, but still takes care of business, taking care of the people who depend on her for their safety and their own. She takes physical change, pain, and uncertainty and becomes the stronger for it. She never gives up who she is - amazing given the situations she finds herself thrown into with no preparation, no training, and socialization to the laws and goals of the group she suddenly finds herself a part of. Kudos, Ms. Spencer, for a beautifully developed group of characters, firmly based in both fantasy, and reality!
Tinker's grasp of technology, as well as her grasp of magic theory and the integration between the two makes this a fascinating new meld of my two favorite fields. I can hardly wait for "Elfhome" due out in July! I picked these up at the library, but am purchasing both of these books for my library to pull out again and again - and have already pre-ordered "Elfhome". Thank you, Ms. Spencer, for writing wonderful characters!!!!! show less
"Tinker", and the follow-up, "Wolf Who Rules" are extraordinary. The concept of science as the foundation of magic is one I have always wished someone would write about - and Spencer does it in a believable, extremely well developed, and well written manner. I picked up the book for an 'easy' read, and within a few pages was totally hooked.
Admittedly, I am a sucker for BOTH fantasy and science books. The "multiverse" and "bubble universe" studies, as well as the whole concept of quantum physics, fascinates me. No, I am not a show more scientist, never got to learn, but I can still read about it, right? Many authors use alternate universes to base their stories. Spencer takes it further, placing her stories in a possible future, where layers of universes flow-through to a possible future Earth we all recognize. And set in Pittsburgh, no less? Ok, you write about the city you know, and even though I laughed when I read where it was set (who would think Pittsburgh for a land of fairie?) Spencer really makes you feel like you are there, walking the streets of Pittsburgh, that you know the people she writes about. And she makes you really care about them.
Tinker is fascinating. In a way genetically engineered to become the creature of her grandfather's dreams, she is a genius at mathematics and mechanics in a Pittsburgh moved to a land of magic. Good hearted, down-to-earth, intelligent, and smart as a whip, she is a perfectly realized character, with enough confidence in herself to be strong, and yet not a total screaming bitch as some authors like their heroines to be. She knows that she is not always right, is often unsure of herself, but still takes care of business, taking care of the people who depend on her for their safety and their own. She takes physical change, pain, and uncertainty and becomes the stronger for it. She never gives up who she is - amazing given the situations she finds herself thrown into with no preparation, no training, and socialization to the laws and goals of the group she suddenly finds herself a part of. Kudos, Ms. Spencer, for a beautifully developed group of characters, firmly based in both fantasy, and reality!
Tinker's grasp of technology, as well as her grasp of magic theory and the integration between the two makes this a fascinating new meld of my two favorite fields. I can hardly wait for "Elfhome" due out in July! I picked these up at the library, but am purchasing both of these books for my library to pull out again and again - and have already pre-ordered "Elfhome". Thank you, Ms. Spencer, for writing wonderful characters!!!!! show less
This is excellent. It starts with a lot of action, and never slows down. The protagonist, Tinker, is a brilliant theoretical physicist and shade tree mechanic in an alternate reality Pittsburgh. She is also a teenaged girl, which is a very nice twist. There is a complicated backstory, which is brought in as needed and is clearly explained. There is a lot that Tinker doesn't understand, so we find out about elvish culture and alternative reality planes as she does.
There are a lot of good characters here, and excellent world-building with respect to the Elven culture. Tinker is particularly well-written. She is a very talented genius, but she has major blind spots, particularly in regard to other people. She doesn't understand them, and show more doesn't really try. She doesn't ask questions about things that don't make sense to her, and simply doesn't notice a lot of things. She means well, and once she realizes the consequences of her various actions, she tries to set things right.
I went ahead and requested the next two volumes from library loan, because I don't want to be force to stop after volume 2 like I have been after volume 1. Highly recommended. show less
There are a lot of good characters here, and excellent world-building with respect to the Elven culture. Tinker is particularly well-written. She is a very talented genius, but she has major blind spots, particularly in regard to other people. She doesn't understand them, and show more doesn't really try. She doesn't ask questions about things that don't make sense to her, and simply doesn't notice a lot of things. She means well, and once she realizes the consequences of her various actions, she tries to set things right.
I went ahead and requested the next two volumes from library loan, because I don't want to be force to stop after volume 2 like I have been after volume 1. Highly recommended. show less
This is the second time I’ve tried a Spencer book with a premise I find really attractive and an execution I hate. Tinker is a teenaged supergenius living in Pittsburgh, which has accidentally been transported into the elven realms and only reconnects with the human world every couple of months. Windwolf, an elven noble, takes an interest in her, which means that others do too. I stopped halfway, after Windwolf had sex with her (consensually) and transformed her physically (nonconsensually), which led immediately thereafter to the “nice guy” who’d been courting her to sexually assault her. She had almost no internal/psychological reaction to the transformation before I stopped reading. I can actually find all of this behavior show more and lack of immediate reaction plausible for humans, especially teenaged ones, but I didn’t trust Spencer to tell this story. The promo copy mentions Buffy several times, but that’s not a flattering comparison: Buffy integrated emotion into the fantasy plot in a way that enriched both. show less
I became a Wen Spencer fan after Barbara-the-pusher (my affectionate nickname for my specialist bookseller who treats enabling as a God-given duty) gave me Alien Taste to read. From there it was a case of 'the rest is history' and I've read everything she's written, I watch her livejournal and hang out for hints and tipbits of her upcoming books. I read Tinker from the library when it came out in hardcover, then bought my own paperback copy when that was released. I have several books that sit on my bookshelves unread because I'd read them by borrowing them from a library or a friend, but still needed my own copy. Tinker was one of these. When the sequel, Wolf Who Rules, was soon to be released, I spent a fair bit of time tossing up show more whether or not to buy it in hardcover. In the end, I succumbed to the temptation and ordered it. However, with my poor memory, there was a lot of Tinker I didn't remember, along with a few things I hadn't fully grapsed the first time around and I wanted it all to be fresh and clear before starting Wolf Who Rules.
I finished my reread today - and loved it the second time around, which is always a good thing.
Tinker is set in a near future Pittsburgh, where twenty years earlier a hyperdimensional gate was opened to facilite travel to the stars, with the unfortunate side-effect that a neatly circular section of Pittsburg got transported into an alternate reality called Elfhome where magic is stronger than on Earth. In the past, natural gates existed and it was through those that limited travel had occured between Earth and Elfhome, leading to humanity's legends of elves. Once a month, the gate is shut down for 24 hours, returning Pittsburgh to Earth and allowing the influx of goods, ideas and travellers.
Tinker is eighteen, a genius and has lived her entire life in the Elfhome part of Pittsburgh. She runs a scrapyard and spends much of her spare time putting her huge intellect to work inventing pretty much anything she chooses. As the book begins, the Elven noble, Windwolf, is chased into Tinker's scrapyard and injured just as Shutdown begins. This leave her stranded with him in Pittsburg on Earth without the benefit of magic to help him heal. With some help, she manages to keep him alive and finds her life forever twisted up with his and that of the all the elves.
Add to this some serious culture clash and misunderstandings and the reappearance of an ancient enemy of the elves who see Tinker and her genius as a way to open their own gate to Elfhome for an invasion and you have a clever, swift and intelligent novel that moves at breakneck pace and leaves the reader fully satisfied.
On my first reading, I had a little trouble with some of the scientific principles of just what had happened to Pittsburgh and how the gate effects worked. Rereading cleared this up very nicely for me as instead of being thrown in at the deep end in the first chapter, I was able to take the worldbuilding as clarification that helped me 'get' Spencer's world much more clearly. The same was true of the gate physics, that became significant in the last quarter of the book. It is well-written, without large amounts of technobabble or handwaving, so don't be afraid of the word 'physics'. It was much clearer this time and I can now head into Wolf Who Rules happy knowing that I pretty much understand what has gone before.
I gave this book 9/10 last time and I'm giving it 10/10 this time. Spencer has real talent - not to mention that all three of her series so far are very different from each other and her current work promises to be different again - and I suspect I will continue to buy her books in hardcover now that I've broken the first time. I won't be able to wait long enough for the paperbacks. show less
I finished my reread today - and loved it the second time around, which is always a good thing.
Tinker is set in a near future Pittsburgh, where twenty years earlier a hyperdimensional gate was opened to facilite travel to the stars, with the unfortunate side-effect that a neatly circular section of Pittsburg got transported into an alternate reality called Elfhome where magic is stronger than on Earth. In the past, natural gates existed and it was through those that limited travel had occured between Earth and Elfhome, leading to humanity's legends of elves. Once a month, the gate is shut down for 24 hours, returning Pittsburgh to Earth and allowing the influx of goods, ideas and travellers.
Tinker is eighteen, a genius and has lived her entire life in the Elfhome part of Pittsburgh. She runs a scrapyard and spends much of her spare time putting her huge intellect to work inventing pretty much anything she chooses. As the book begins, the Elven noble, Windwolf, is chased into Tinker's scrapyard and injured just as Shutdown begins. This leave her stranded with him in Pittsburg on Earth without the benefit of magic to help him heal. With some help, she manages to keep him alive and finds her life forever twisted up with his and that of the all the elves.
Add to this some serious culture clash and misunderstandings and the reappearance of an ancient enemy of the elves who see Tinker and her genius as a way to open their own gate to Elfhome for an invasion and you have a clever, swift and intelligent novel that moves at breakneck pace and leaves the reader fully satisfied.
On my first reading, I had a little trouble with some of the scientific principles of just what had happened to Pittsburgh and how the gate effects worked. Rereading cleared this up very nicely for me as instead of being thrown in at the deep end in the first chapter, I was able to take the worldbuilding as clarification that helped me 'get' Spencer's world much more clearly. The same was true of the gate physics, that became significant in the last quarter of the book. It is well-written, without large amounts of technobabble or handwaving, so don't be afraid of the word 'physics'. It was much clearer this time and I can now head into Wolf Who Rules happy knowing that I pretty much understand what has gone before.
I gave this book 9/10 last time and I'm giving it 10/10 this time. Spencer has real talent - not to mention that all three of her series so far are very different from each other and her current work promises to be different again - and I suspect I will continue to buy her books in hardcover now that I've broken the first time. I won't be able to wait long enough for the paperbacks. show less
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Tinker may be several hundred steps ahead of the reader scientifically, but on a personal level she's often the last to figure things out, which makes her both endearing and exasperating. The nebulous ending is a bit of a letdown, but leaving room for a sequel means the reader may see more of Elfhome and its inhabitants.
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- Canonical title
- Tinker
- Original publication date
- 2003-11-03
- People/Characters
- Tinker (née Alexander Graham Bell); Wolf who Rules (aka Windwolf); Lain Shanske; Oilcan (née Orville Wright); Nathan Czernowski; Tooloo (show all 12); Pony (Stormhorse); Sparrow Lifted by Wind; Tomtom (oni Lord Tomawaritomo); Riki (a tengu); Chiyo (a kitsune); Derek Maynard (EIA director)
- Important places
- Elfhome; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Quotations
- Between him (Nathan) and Oilcan, it was no wonder she didn’t date - not that there was anyone she wanted to date. Pittsburgh had a stunning lack of young male humans who weren’t buttheads.
No smile. Maybe God didn’t have a sense of humor. She often suspected that. (re: Maynard)
The hallway beyond opened to woods idealized; surely no random lot of trees could be so beautiful without careful, invisible work.
…Pony finally took pity on her and reorganized the layers. He held it out then, by the shoulders, for her to see. It was a deep, rich, mottled bronze that looked lovely against her dusky skin, a silk as soft as ... (show all)rose petals. While the skirt flared out full, the bodice seemed to be skin-tight, with long sleeves that ended in a fingerless glove arrangement. It wasn’t something she’d pick out for herself - to start, there was no way to roll up the sleeves to keep them out of grease…. Over the bronze silk was another layer of fine, nearly invisible fabric with a green leaf design, so that when the bronze silk moved, it seemed like sunlight shimmering through forest leaves.
(weighing losing Pittsburgh) But Oilcan, Lain, her data pad, the hoverbikes, people that understood physics, clever little gadgets, pizza, pierogies…
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