Social outcast and eccentric tinkerer Naoto’s life is upended when an advanced female automation is literally dropped on top of him. But that’s not the only complication awaiting the youngster, as in a literal world of gears Naoto’s hobby might make him useful in dealing with unexpected disasters.
I’ve heard a lot of mixed reactions to Clockwork Planet, and as such was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. There are some awkward aspects and trappings of standard master/android servant tropes, but the plot specifics and Ryuzu’s attitude and bluntness helps elevate this above them.
The core four characters introduced so far are nicely diverse bunch with their own areas of expertise and weakness that make them all intriguing. Their complimentary yet contrasting natures are a great foundation for the story. I particularly like the undercurrent theme of free will around Ryuzu and her interactions with Marie regarding Naoto. Add in great, detailed art and interesting background plots and schemes and there’s a lot of potential to expand on the momentum these two volumes have built.
One side point to mention. The back cover text kind of conveys the gist of the premise but misrepresents several aspects. I won’t go into detail to avoid spoilers, but from what’s presented in the first volume the text is quite inaccurate.
Impressive start overall for Clockwork Planet and I definitely want to read more.
Derailments of Thought 