Dreadnought - Cherie Priest

Author(s): Cherie Priest
Publisher: Tor Books
Date : 2010
Format : epub

The Clockwork Century series is some of the finest alt-history/steampunk writing you can find -- tough heroines, gritty adventures, and lots of airships and giant drills. "Dreadnought" has all of those in plenty, and Cherie Priest does a brilliant job imagining an alternate Civil War armed with steampunk weapons and vehicles.

Vinita "Mercy" Lynch is working hard in a Southern hospital (during a Civil War that has been going on for A VERY LONG TIME), helping care for horribly wounded soldiers. Then she receives two shocking pieces of news -- her husband has died in the war, and her biological father (whom everyone has presumed dead) has actually been living in Washington for all these years. Feeling that she has nothing to anchor her there, Mercy decides to go see "daddy dearest."

It's hard enough for a single woman to travel alone, but Mercy soon discovers that traveling during wartime is even worse. The airship she is traveling on is shot down, leaving the passengers stranded in the middle of nowhere -- and her only chance of getting to Washington may involve a Union train of devastating power, the Dreadnought. And unfortunately, that isn't the last obstacle between her and Washington.

For the record, "Dreadnought" isn't really a sequel to either of the previous two Clockwork World books. There ARE some brief references to "Boneshaker" -- they are in the same world, after all -- but it's very much its own, independent story. And this one is all about the war-torn, danger-filled America of Priest's world.

A lot of "Dreadnought's" appeal comes from Mercy. This is a tough, tough lady -- she's strong, independent and outspoken, but she's also very compassionate. One of the most powerful scenes is near the beginning where we see her caring for a young soldier who's been mortally wounded, and this emotional gut-punch really makes you like her from the very beginning.

And Priest sketches out the Clockwork Century world in gritty, strong prose, painted with blood, dirt and oil. Sometimes I wish she were a little more explicit about the differences between our world and this one, but she packs in a lot of adventure and colorful characters into the fast-moving plot. And she weaves in some great steampunk stuff -- airships, walker tanks, and KILLER TRAIN OF DEATH.

Cherie Priest's third Clockwork World novel is a gritty, fast-moving adventure story with a thoroughly likable heroine -- and it leaves you hungry for much, much more. Absolutely stunning.

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