Clementine
It's no secret to longtime readers that I've been a rabid die-hard fanboy of Cherie Priest's work for many years.
In addition to being awesome personified, she's also a good personal friend. I'm always ecstatic when one of her projects are about to hit the shelves because I know readers will always be in for a treat with her latest literary gem.
Her upcoming novella, Clementine, is no different:
Maria Isabella Boyd's success as a Confederate spy has made her too famous for further espionage work, and now her employment options are slim. Exiled, widowed, and on the brink of poverty...she reluctantly goes to work for the Pinkerton National Detective Agency in Chicago.
Adding insult to injury, her first big assignment is commissioned by the Union Army. In short, a federally sponsored transport dirigible is being violently pursued across the Rockies and Uncle Sam isn't pleased. The Clementine is carrying a top secret load of military essentials--essentials which must be delivered to Louisville, Kentucky, without delay.
Intelligence suggests that the unrelenting pursuer is a runaway slave who's been wanted by authorities on both sides of the Mason-Dixon for fifteen years. In that time, Captain Croggon Beauregard Hainey has felonied his way back and forth across the continent, leaving a trail of broken banks, stolen war machines, and illegally distributed weaponry from sea to shining sea.
And now it s Maria's job to go get him.
He's dangerous quarry and she's a dangerous woman, but when forces conspire against them both, they take a chance and form an alliance. She joins his crew, and he uses her connections. She follows his orders. He takes her advice.
And somebody, somewhere, is going to rue the day he crossed either one of them.
Clementine serves as a sequel/spinoff to Priest's critically acclaimed, Hugo and Nebula Award nominated novel Boneshaker.
And for the few of you who haven't read Boneshaker yet.....
*pimp slaps you senseless!*
What the hell's wrong with you? Grab a copy, NOW!!!!
Or better yet you can download the audio version which is read by Kate Reading (no pun intended) and Wil Wheaton. Yes that's right the eternal hawtness that is Wil Wheaton himself. Speaking of fandom crossover, I'm still on the hunt to find out who's been spamming the blogosphere with the slash pairings of Ezekiel Blue and Wesley Crusher. I swear some people have no shame. Just because Wil Wheaton has the sexiest voice to curl up to late at night in one's bunk is no reason to chronicle the brokeback exploits of two comely studs.
I won't stand for this indecency and vow to put a stop to it.
*shakes solemn fist of determination*
What was I talking about again? Oh yeah.
For those of you who have read Boneshaker, you know that Hainey lost something very important to him. In Clementine, he's on a quest to get it back. What most of you may not be aware of is that while Boyd is based on the real life Confederate spy of the same namesake, Captain Croggon Beauregard Hainey was actually my ancestor. Why yes, my ancestor was a pirate and walking badass who flew around in a dirigible, got chased by Union and Confederate soldiers, robbed pillaged, hustled and plundered, and busted a cap in white folks with a gatling gun. My ancestor be gangsta like that. TRU FAX!!! TRU FAX!!!!
Oh yeah and the story also features Isabella Boyd who kicks ass and takes names in her own right and stuff.....but let's get back to my ancestor Hainey and his penchant for shooting white peepul with a gatling gun. Because that's a subject that never gets old.
One of the many things that won me over as Priest fanboy is the fact that she doesn't flinch or hesitate in casting POCs in central or leading roles as primary protagonists and brilliantly handles them with the same care and respectability as their caucasian peers. Priest's Eden Moore series is another example of that. A heroine of color, Moore isthe proverbial lioness. She's as strong, clever, indomitable and her gender, race or society's bigotry will not hinder her.
Recognizing everyone deserves to have their story told, Priest doesn’t shy away from casting minority characters in central and leading roles. I was amazed at the accuracy and the respectability in which Priest handled Moore. More than ever, examples like this are desperately needed in the publishing industry and the media in general.
I was privileged to a sneak peek of Clementine and I can't stress enough that Priest delivers. Hainey is endearing, clever, powerful, charming and definitely is a very well-fleshed out as a compelling three-dimensional lead and the chemistry with his crew is very authentic. He could've easily worked as a white character and many writers would've gone that route. The fact that he happens to be a black man in a leading role is just 10 kinds of awesome. As is always the case with her other female characters, Boyd is the quintessential alpha woman and watching her kick ass and take names is always a delight. The story is action-packed, fun, filled with some classic comedic scenes, and quite a romp. In short, this novella is about to take you for quite a ride.
I'd go into more detail about the story but I can't trust myself. In my excitement I know I will let a spoiler slip (it's a miracle I've been good this far). What I will tell you that Priest has indeed proven herself to be the Priestess of Steampunk and has proven once again that American-based steampunk can definitely hold its own with its British counterpart. Oh and for those of you following the Clockwork Century, this novella definitely serves as a payoff to not only Boneshaker but Tanglefoot as well.
Oh and check out the kickass book cover artwork by Jon Foster. I think someone just found himself an excellent new LJ icon. Y/Y?
Clementine is available for purchase here or wherever books of awesome are sold.