Creation Machine

Bannister debuts with the ambitious if somewhat muddled first Spin novel, set in a solar system created by machines. Fleare Haas, 22, is the estranged daughter of ruthless megacapitalist Viklun Haas. She continues her years-long rebellion against her notorious family name by joining the fringe anti-capitalist militia group known as Society Otherwise. There she befriends a ragtag band of scoundrels, including Muz, her onetime lover turned personal guardian. During an enemy attack, he loses his physical body but retains his personality and consciousness in the form of a shape-shifting cloud. After staging a prison break, Fleare and Muz discover someone who could lead them to the Creation Machine, a piece of ancient technology used in the creation of the Spin and all the planets and suns therein, setting the stage for tremendous loss and devastating conflict. Bannister’s storytelling displays some growing pains as the characters attempt to develop beyond one-dimensional archetypes of principled and scrappy protagonist and mustache-twirling, life-devaluing antagonist, and the plot loses steam near the end. Nevertheless, the worldbuilding is unusual and inspired, lending readers some hope that future entries in the series will be something to look forward to. Agent: John Jarrold, John Jarrold Literary. (Mar.)