Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Tordotcom (2019), Edition: Reprint, 144 pages
Description
Cairo, 1912. The case started simply enough for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments, and Supernatural Entities: handle a possessed tram car. Soon, however, Agent Hamed Nasr and his new partner, Agent Onsi Youssef, are exposed to another side of Cairo stirring with suffragettes, secret societies, and sentient automatons. It's a race against time to protect the city from an encroaching danger that crosses the line between the magical and mundane.
User reviews
LibraryThing member ladyoflorien
Set in an alternate historical version of Cairo, Senior Agent Hamed has to figure out what is haunting a tram car. I loved the world building in the book and the variety of characters.
LibraryThing member LisCarey
Senior Agent Hamed al-Nasr, and his new partner, brand-new Agent Onsi, of the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments, and Supernatural Entities, are called in to investigate the haunting of a Cairo tram car.
This is, of course, not out Cairo. This is Cairo in the first part of the 20th century, and on a
So back to the haunted tram car. They quickly determine that it's not a ghost causing the problem. That's no surprise. The Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments, and Supernatural Entities has never found any ghosts, no matter how much people believe they exist. It's something else, most likely some variety of djinn.
But what kind? A visit to the library turns up evidence that the words the creature used might be Turkic. A chance encounter at Hamed's favorite restaurant sends them to an old doll maker, who tells them, no, Armenian, and it sounds like it's an al. From one woman after another, they get hints, pointers, help, even as the women's suffrage issue is building towards a vote in parliament.
The creature they're dealing with is a nasty one, not at all like the many djinn who work with or are even ordinary, working members of Cairo's very diverse society. And both th agents' knowledge and skills, and those of the women they encounter, are going to be essential to solving this potentially deadly problem.
I really loved this, and I dearly hope Clark writes more in this world. Highly recommended.
I received this story as part of the Hugo Voters packet, and am reviewing it voluntarily.
This is, of course, not out Cairo. This is Cairo in the first part of the 20th century, and on a
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different timeline than ours. In 1879, a man bored through the wall separating our world from the world of the djinn, in the process weakening the wall between the worlds everywhere. Egypt was the first beneficiary, for good and ill, and European powers were driven out. Egypt became a constitutional monarchy. And like the UK, they have an active women's suffrage movement.So back to the haunted tram car. They quickly determine that it's not a ghost causing the problem. That's no surprise. The Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments, and Supernatural Entities has never found any ghosts, no matter how much people believe they exist. It's something else, most likely some variety of djinn.
But what kind? A visit to the library turns up evidence that the words the creature used might be Turkic. A chance encounter at Hamed's favorite restaurant sends them to an old doll maker, who tells them, no, Armenian, and it sounds like it's an al. From one woman after another, they get hints, pointers, help, even as the women's suffrage issue is building towards a vote in parliament.
The creature they're dealing with is a nasty one, not at all like the many djinn who work with or are even ordinary, working members of Cairo's very diverse society. And both th agents' knowledge and skills, and those of the women they encounter, are going to be essential to solving this potentially deadly problem.
I really loved this, and I dearly hope Clark writes more in this world. Highly recommended.
I received this story as part of the Hugo Voters packet, and am reviewing it voluntarily.
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LibraryThing member over.the.edge
The Haunting Of Tram Car 015
by P. Djeli Clark
2019
Tor
4.0
This short fiction takes us to Cairo 1912, where worldly and otherworldly work together, ruled by the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments, and Supernatural Entities. When Agent Hamid and Agent Onsi are called to help with a haunted tram car, they
Meanwhile, the women of Egypt have formed the Egyptian Feminist School that begun to educate woman and campaign to give woman the right to vote.
I loved how this short story builds and builds, and its inclusion of womens issues. The supernatural element are done really well.
by P. Djeli Clark
2019
Tor
4.0
This short fiction takes us to Cairo 1912, where worldly and otherworldly work together, ruled by the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments, and Supernatural Entities. When Agent Hamid and Agent Onsi are called to help with a haunted tram car, they
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find themselves on a search for a djinn to do the job.Meanwhile, the women of Egypt have formed the Egyptian Feminist School that begun to educate woman and campaign to give woman the right to vote.
I loved how this short story builds and builds, and its inclusion of womens issues. The supernatural element are done really well.
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LibraryThing member Kellswitch
In an alternate early 1920’s Cairo humans live and work alongside otherworldly beings and the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities handles the issues that can arise between the magical and the mundane.
I loved so much about this story. I loved the setting and the world the
This is the first story I have read by this author and I am very excited to have found him, I can’t wait to read the first novella set in this world. My only compliant is that it is a novella instead of a full-length novel, or a collection of short stores. I really want to read more stories set here and with these characters.
I loved so much about this story. I loved the setting and the world the
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author created, he made it feel real and lived in and I would gladly spend more time there. I loved the story about the haunted train car, just another day in the office for our agents. And I really enjoyed getting to know Senior Agent Hamed and Agent Onsi, I really, really hope the author uses them again in future books. This is the first story I have read by this author and I am very excited to have found him, I can’t wait to read the first novella set in this world. My only compliant is that it is a novella instead of a full-length novel, or a collection of short stores. I really want to read more stories set here and with these characters.
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LibraryThing member sophroniaborgia
In this alternate Cairo of the 1920s where djinn and other magical creatures mingle freely with humans, a special ministry of the government handles any problems that arise between them. But a haunted tram car proves an unexpected challenge to the investigators.
Really, the only problem I had with
Really, the only problem I had with
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this book is that it's too short. P. Djeli Clark builds a fascinating world and then keeps adding more and more creative elements as the story goes on -- but they all work, and they make me want to find out more. Both the human and magical characters are interestingly diverse and intriguing, and the author even manages to include a political storyline that doesn't feel anachronistic. I look forward to reading more of Clark's work, and I hope he expands on this novella. Show Less
LibraryThing member quondame
This mage-punk roar through the wire ways of 1912 Cairo as newly partnered agents of the Ministry of Alchemy try to de-spell the presence attacking passengers on the titular tram car. They find that it isn't the low-level djinn they were expecting, and keep encountering the cresting of the women's
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suffrage movement as they attempt to identify and control it. Lively and interesting, seeped in the spices of the orient. Show Less
LibraryThing member Familiar_Diversions
This novella takes place in Cairo in 1912. Agent Hamed Nasr and his new partner, Agent Onsi Youssef, work for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments, and Supernatural Entities. Their newest case appears, initially, to involve a haunted tram car. However, they soon realize that there's something else
This was decent, and featured a few aspects that made me want to read more by this author. It's steampunk that, for once, isn't set in London. In fact, London didn't even come across as being particularly important - magic first entered this world via the work of a Sudanese man, who used a combination of alchemy and machinery to open a doorway to the world of the djinn. And although the book starred two male agents, women's suffrage was constantly in the background, and women played an important part in dealing with the being in the tram car. The few appearances of "boilerplate eunuchs" (robots) also fascinated me - some appeared to possess this world's version of artificial intelligence.
I'd happily read more stories starring Hamed, the experienced and somewhat grumpy agent, and Onsi, his shinier and more cheerful new partner, although I'd really love to read a full novel set in this world. From what I can tell, there's currently just one other story, "A Dead Djinn in Cairo," which stars Fatma el'Sha'arawi, the one female agent in the Ministry.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
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going on. Unfortunately, knowing what they're dealing with isn't the same as actually solving the problem, considering the shoestring budget the Ministry has given them. The agents find themselves having to get a bit creative, with the assistance of some local women.This was decent, and featured a few aspects that made me want to read more by this author. It's steampunk that, for once, isn't set in London. In fact, London didn't even come across as being particularly important - magic first entered this world via the work of a Sudanese man, who used a combination of alchemy and machinery to open a doorway to the world of the djinn. And although the book starred two male agents, women's suffrage was constantly in the background, and women played an important part in dealing with the being in the tram car. The few appearances of "boilerplate eunuchs" (robots) also fascinated me - some appeared to possess this world's version of artificial intelligence.
I'd happily read more stories starring Hamed, the experienced and somewhat grumpy agent, and Onsi, his shinier and more cheerful new partner, although I'd really love to read a full novel set in this world. From what I can tell, there's currently just one other story, "A Dead Djinn in Cairo," which stars Fatma el'Sha'arawi, the one female agent in the Ministry.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
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LibraryThing member souloftherose
In an alternate, steampunk-ish 1912 Cairo a pair of detectives investigate reports of a haunting in one of the city's tram cars. I enjoyed the unusual setting and world-building but this felt a little on the short side. I'd happily read more about these detectives if this became a full-length novel
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series. Show Less
LibraryThing member ladycato
I read this as part of the Nebula Award finalist packet.
Clark's gem of a novella is set in an alternate history Cairo, where magic and djinn are infused with daily life in a city that has become one of the greatest in the world. Against this vivid, fascinating backdrop, the Ministry of Alchemy,
This novella feels so vivid and fresh with its unique setting and alt-history spin, the cultural details are absolutely immersive. I would love to read full books about the Ministry and its work.
Clark's gem of a novella is set in an alternate history Cairo, where magic and djinn are infused with daily life in a city that has become one of the greatest in the world. Against this vivid, fascinating backdrop, the Ministry of Alchemy,
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Enchantments and Supernatural Entities investigates cases of magic gone awry. When Senior Agent Hamed al-Nasr and his new partner Agent Onsi are called to investigate a haunted tram car, they think it'll be a simple exorcism of a djinn. It turns out to be something far more dangerous.This novella feels so vivid and fresh with its unique setting and alt-history spin, the cultural details are absolutely immersive. I would love to read full books about the Ministry and its work.
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LibraryThing member Strider66
Pros: interesting worldbuilding, fast paced, great evil entity
Cons: somewhat cliche detective pair
Agents Hamed and Onsi from the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments, and Supernatural Entities, are sent to investigate a haunting at the Ministry of Transportation. But budget concerns make dealing with
The book is set in an alternate 1910s Egypt during suffragette protests. I liked how the fight for women’s ability to vote was tied into the rest of the story. Though it’s a novella, there’s a wealth of detail making Cairo come alive. I loved the diversity of the city, its people, food, and clothing. I loved the included - historically accurate - references to ancient and medieval documents regarding the paranormal.
The evil entity they’re dealing with wasn’t one I’ve heard of so I found it interesting - and creepy.
I found Hamed a boring protagonist. He’s not quite the stereotypical detective with a new recruit, but he’s close. I found the female characters significantly more engaging and would have liked seeing more of them and their points of view.
It’s an engaging and entertaining story that had me looking for other stories and books by Clark, including the story alluded to regarding Fatma’s assignment at the end of this one.
Cons: somewhat cliche detective pair
Agents Hamed and Onsi from the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments, and Supernatural Entities, are sent to investigate a haunting at the Ministry of Transportation. But budget concerns make dealing with
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the entity harder than expected. The book is set in an alternate 1910s Egypt during suffragette protests. I liked how the fight for women’s ability to vote was tied into the rest of the story. Though it’s a novella, there’s a wealth of detail making Cairo come alive. I loved the diversity of the city, its people, food, and clothing. I loved the included - historically accurate - references to ancient and medieval documents regarding the paranormal.
The evil entity they’re dealing with wasn’t one I’ve heard of so I found it interesting - and creepy.
I found Hamed a boring protagonist. He’s not quite the stereotypical detective with a new recruit, but he’s close. I found the female characters significantly more engaging and would have liked seeing more of them and their points of view.
It’s an engaging and entertaining story that had me looking for other stories and books by Clark, including the story alluded to regarding Fatma’s assignment at the end of this one.
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LibraryThing member Shrike58
I don't often use this term word describing a story but "charming" is the term that best describes this story set in a reality where magic returned to the world first in the Muslim world, and prompted an efflorescence of physical and social advancement, thus staving off the onslaught of European
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colonial conquest. That's before you get to the story in question of a duo of Egyptian government officials charged with rooting out malign outbreaks of supernatural manifestations and who get exposed to a problem they've never seen before; highly recommended. Show Less
LibraryThing member Tsana
The Haunting of Tram Car 015 by P Djèlí Clark is a Hugo finalist novella this year. That is the main reason I read it. I didn't especially love the author's earlier novella, The Black God's Drums, and probably would have otherwise overlooked this one.
In this story, a couple of public servants are
I really enjoyed this novella. It was entertaining and fairly amusing the whole way through. Even though I read it in lots of small chunks, I didn't have any difficulty getting back into the story when I picked it up again. I don't think I've read any other stories set in the same world, but now that I know they exist I will keep an eye out. (I have already added "A Dead Djinn in Cairo" to my Pocket reading list, which is actually the only other story I found. If you know of others, please let me know in the comments.)
I highly recommend this novella to fans of gas lamp fantasy and alternate (fantastical) history. Especially if non-European/US settings are a draw. This novella was a great read and, for me, caps off a difficult-to-judge Hugo category.
4.5 / 5 stars
You can read more of my reviews on my blog.
In this story, a couple of public servants are
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tasked with fixing the problem of a haunted tram car in an alternate-world Cairo. Hijinks ensue. In this world, djinn exist and have helped cement Cairo and Egypt's significance on the world stage, including from a technological standpoint. (The steampunky cover is a pretty good representation of the setting, in my opinion.) Our put-upon agents have to contend with identifying the possibly dangerous being possessing the tram and then have to safely remove it. And all this is set against the backdrop of a Cairo-centred campaign to give women the vote.I really enjoyed this novella. It was entertaining and fairly amusing the whole way through. Even though I read it in lots of small chunks, I didn't have any difficulty getting back into the story when I picked it up again. I don't think I've read any other stories set in the same world, but now that I know they exist I will keep an eye out. (I have already added "A Dead Djinn in Cairo" to my Pocket reading list, which is actually the only other story I found. If you know of others, please let me know in the comments.)
I highly recommend this novella to fans of gas lamp fantasy and alternate (fantastical) history. Especially if non-European/US settings are a draw. This novella was a great read and, for me, caps off a difficult-to-judge Hugo category.
4.5 / 5 stars
You can read more of my reviews on my blog.
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LibraryThing member lavaturtle
This is a super interesting setting, and I liked the rich description & interesting details.
LibraryThing member renbedell
A steampunk fantasy novella about an alternate history of our world where djinn are as regular as humans and magic is abundant. A tram car has been taken over by a magical creature of some sort and it is up to 2 magically-trained public servants to remove the haunting. The story is mainly a mystery
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with a fantasy element. It has its moments of humor and suspense. Overall the story seemed a little flat and the plot line was not very interesting. Aspects of the story moved to quickly that it felt like it never fully developed or carried enough weight. I enjoyed this book, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if it was a bit longer. Show Less
LibraryThing member Stevil2001
"No woman would ever think up something so ridiculous."
This is set in an alternate 1910s Cairo, where the flooding of djinn and other magical creatures from a portal has made Egypt into a dominant world power. The book follows two detectives from the Egyptian Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments, and
This is set in an alternate 1910s Cairo, where the flooding of djinn and other magical creatures from a portal has made Egypt into a dominant world power. The book follows two detectives from the Egyptian Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments, and
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Supernatural Entities as they investigate a haunted tram car. It's a bit plodding at first-- too much clunky exposition-- and like many Tor.com novellas it feels more like the pilot for a tv show than a novella. I also found the leads thinly characterized. (One's a serious detective who's good at his job, the other is an eager rookie, and that's about it.) But as it goes it picks up steam and becomes a fun supernatural take on the police procedural. Show Less
LibraryThing member richardderus
I RECEIVED A COPY OF THIS DRC FROM TOR.COM PUBLISHING. THANKS.
When I asked for more after reading [A Dead Djinn in Cairo], I sorta-kinda vaguely hoped that there would, one day, maybe be more. Then this book came out. It doesn't feature Fatma as the main Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and
Ahem.
And now there's a lovely new title, [A Master of Djinn], coming on 11 May 2021! In fact, we'll get Fatma and Siti back at the center of the doings, so all will be extra-special right with my reading world.
This story, of a spirit entity (NOT like a Djinn, as Zagros the Ministry's librarian Djinn bristles at Hamed) called an "al" (plural "alk") that's arrived from Armenia to ply its evil, baby-stealing ways; it involves graft (a Transportation ministry bureaucrat doing what he didn't oughta), confusion (Hamed seeking help from a sheika and a sexy transgender Djinn to perform a Zal exorcism-y thing), and a lot of humility instead of humiliation. Hamed and Onsi do a deeply shocking thing to slip past the al's nervous vigilance, something their patriarchal upbringings wouldn't find agreeable, but to them it's far superior a choice than failing to protect Cairo's mothers.
There are scenes of action with the men pursuing the al, there are scenes of fun, deep brain-work where the author gets to infodump you about this delicious anti-colonial alternate history without feeling like it's him forcing you to eat your spinach, and there's a beautifully queer undertone to the proceedings that agrees with me. If you know it won't agree with you, skip on.
Now, it's clear that I love this world. Anyone who has read my deep and caustic growls about majgickq in my alt-hist will even now be sharpening their quill to jab out a "GOTCHA!!" message. This series has majgicqk in it, yes; the magjicqk is integral to the action, yes; and no, I am not fleeing at top speed. So before the ringing cries of "hypocrite!" begin their rise from ill-mannered and poorly bred peoples' keyboards, listen up: I'm not interested in medieval-Europe-with-monsters, WWII-with-werewolves/aliens, or their like. Tired of those stories. Cultures not European? You interest me strangely, Tale-spinner, come and say on.
I wouldn't say you should read this book first, but definitely before the new one comes out. And definitely read it. I know it's a quick hit, and it's hard to invest in something this concentrated when you wonder if you can come home again. Now you know you can, indulge! (But be alert for the one, and only one, w-bomb.)
When I asked for more after reading [A Dead Djinn in Cairo], I sorta-kinda vaguely hoped that there would, one day, maybe be more. Then this book came out. It doesn't feature Fatma as the main Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and
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Supernatural Entities agent on the case, but Hamed and Onsi grew on me fast. And, of course, the inclusion of Siti was welcome as it assured me this was well and truly part of a Cairo I absolutely believe is real and wish to emigrate to now, please.Ahem.
And now there's a lovely new title, [A Master of Djinn], coming on 11 May 2021! In fact, we'll get Fatma and Siti back at the center of the doings, so all will be extra-special right with my reading world.
This story, of a spirit entity (NOT like a Djinn, as Zagros the Ministry's librarian Djinn bristles at Hamed) called an "al" (plural "alk") that's arrived from Armenia to ply its evil, baby-stealing ways; it involves graft (a Transportation ministry bureaucrat doing what he didn't oughta), confusion (Hamed seeking help from a sheika and a sexy transgender Djinn to perform a Zal exorcism-y thing), and a lot of humility instead of humiliation. Hamed and Onsi do a deeply shocking thing to slip past the al's nervous vigilance, something their patriarchal upbringings wouldn't find agreeable, but to them it's far superior a choice than failing to protect Cairo's mothers.
There are scenes of action with the men pursuing the al, there are scenes of fun, deep brain-work where the author gets to infodump you about this delicious anti-colonial alternate history without feeling like it's him forcing you to eat your spinach, and there's a beautifully queer undertone to the proceedings that agrees with me. If you know it won't agree with you, skip on.
Now, it's clear that I love this world. Anyone who has read my deep and caustic growls about majgickq in my alt-hist will even now be sharpening their quill to jab out a "GOTCHA!!" message. This series has majgicqk in it, yes; the magjicqk is integral to the action, yes; and no, I am not fleeing at top speed. So before the ringing cries of "hypocrite!" begin their rise from ill-mannered and poorly bred peoples' keyboards, listen up: I'm not interested in medieval-Europe-with-monsters, WWII-with-werewolves/aliens, or their like. Tired of those stories. Cultures not European? You interest me strangely, Tale-spinner, come and say on.
I wouldn't say you should read this book first, but definitely before the new one comes out. And definitely read it. I know it's a quick hit, and it's hard to invest in something this concentrated when you wonder if you can come home again. Now you know you can, indulge! (But be alert for the one, and only one, w-bomb.)
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LibraryThing member jfe16
The citizens of Cairo, in an alternate universe, live and work with otherworldly beings. The Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities handles cases in which the magical intrude into everyday life.
It’s 1912 and the women of Egypt are seeking the right to vote; Parliament is to
Told from Hamed’s point of view, the dealing-with-the-monster story unfolds against a backdrop of a well-developed alternative world with a diverse population. Here the worldbuilding creates a believable setting for the magical elements that are an integral part of the telling of the tale. Steampunk elements are incorporated; the women’s movement theme is an interesting side plot.
Recommended.
It’s 1912 and the women of Egypt are seeking the right to vote; Parliament is to
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make a decision within days. Meanwhile, Senior Agent Hamed Nasr and Agent Onsi find themselves in the middle of a perplexing case of the djinn haunting a tram car. But their efforts to expel the djinn create unexpected complications . . . .Told from Hamed’s point of view, the dealing-with-the-monster story unfolds against a backdrop of a well-developed alternative world with a diverse population. Here the worldbuilding creates a believable setting for the magical elements that are an integral part of the telling of the tale. Steampunk elements are incorporated; the women’s movement theme is an interesting side plot.
Recommended.
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LibraryThing member Herenya
Set in the same city as A Dead Djinn in Cairo, this novella follows two agents from the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities as they investigate a possessed tram car. The world-building is vivid and cleverly, thoughtfully, imaginative. But, perhaps because of the mood I’m
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in and because this story isn’t interested in exploring the personal lives of its detectives, I have no feelings about this. Show Less
LibraryThing member fred_mouse
This is a fascinating story, rich in alternate history, supernatural beings, and steampunk. The world-building is glorious, from the technology to the politics. Unfortunately, all of this is at war with the plot, and somewhat with the characters. Ostensibly a case story, for a government department
And I didn't ever warm to the protagonists, which is never something that endears a book to me.
On the other hand, Egypt without the British, steam powered overhead trams, djinns, the suffragette movement, and a wide range of truly believable characters from a wide range of backgrounds (sadly, I warmed to several of the background characters, and was disappointed in how little they actually had to do with the story). And I was impressed with the two investigators dedication to duty and willingness to commit to keeping civilians out of the metaphorical firing line.
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responsible for the supernatural, it gets side-tracked as the author tries to pack too much in (it could have done with slightly less frenetic pace; I had to keep putting it aside, as I watched the oncoming train, and just needed a break). And I didn't ever warm to the protagonists, which is never something that endears a book to me.
On the other hand, Egypt without the British, steam powered overhead trams, djinns, the suffragette movement, and a wide range of truly believable characters from a wide range of backgrounds (sadly, I warmed to several of the background characters, and was disappointed in how little they actually had to do with the story). And I was impressed with the two investigators dedication to duty and willingness to commit to keeping civilians out of the metaphorical firing line.
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LibraryThing member KateHonig
This was a great addition to the world created in the short story "A Dead Djinn in Cairo". This author is amazing, and I love everything about this book. The alternative magical Cairo is so vivid, the social justice work is integrated in a fascinating way and the Agents from the Ministry of Alchemy
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(Agent Hamad al-Nasr & Agent Onsi) are a wonderful investigative duo. Show Less
LibraryThing member wunder
A tasty morsel that makes me want more. There is a ton of world-building that needs conveyed, but it is all done gracefully without even slowing down the fun. And that is just one of the things done so well in this novella.
LibraryThing member SpaceandSorcery
My third foray into P. Djèlí Clark’s alternate Egypt, and the return to the workings of Cairo’s Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities, proved to be even better than my experience with A Dead Djinn in Cairo, particularly once I overcame the slight disappointment provoked
In Haunting the supernatural detectives for the Ministry are two: sedate and formal veteran Hamed al-Nasri and the enthusiastic rookie Agent Onsi - quite different characters that, despite those differences, manage to create an effective team while dealing with the present emergency, the haunting of one of the many aerial tram cars traversing the skies of Egypt’s capital. The Ministry was summoned by Superintendent Bashir, who appears quite distraught by the presence of what looks to be a djinn that took possession of said tram car, terrifying the passengers and forcing Bashir to take it out of the regular runs. Once the investigation goes underway, however, the two investigators understand that the infestation has nothing to do with djinns and is instead something different and far more malevolent, so they are forced to seek more specialized help, finding it in a very unexpected quarter…
The previous story featuring Fatma merely laid the foundations of this alternate world, one where the border between the mundane and the supernatural had been pierced, allowing otherworldly creatures to enter our reality and coexist with humans; this novella deepens and enriches our knowledge of this changed reality, a background where elements of magic and steampunk details turn our journey into a very intriguing one, and in this specific case add the theme of social change to the mix, offering a chance both for reflection and for some amusing interludes.
Characters are better defined in Haunting, something I felt was slightly missing from my first experience with this series, and I have to admit that I took an instant liking to the Hamed/Onsi duo, which helped me to offset the initial surprise at the shift in perspective from Fatma’s. Hamed at first comes across as a very matter-of-fact person whose experience in magical matters placed something of a disenchanted attitude on him, so that he observes Onsi’s ebullient joy at being in the field with a touch of amused annoyance. Onsi, on the other hand, is not only very eager - as newbies are inclined to be - he’s also very much book-oriented, but has little experience of fieldwork. This disparity might have influenced their effectiveness in dealing with this difficult case, but instead the two of them are able to find some common ground - each giving in to the other a little - and turn out to be a great team, not only where their mission is concerned, but also where their work styles are involved.
Even though the main protagonists here are men, there is an intriguing focus on women, both as individuals - the mysteriously knowledgeable waitress Abla and the sheikha Nadiyaa, performer of magical arts - and as a group, i.e. the members of the movement for suffrage, the Egyptian Feminist Sisterhood. Cairo, and probably the whole of Egypt, is on the verge of huge social changes through the implementation of the right of vote for women and this is reflected in the substantial female presence on the scene and in the narrative thread that sees a particular magic rite - performed only by women - as the key to solving the tram’s infestation. This need for change, not only in politics, but also in the attitude toward women, is subtly addressed while discussing the malevolent spirit inhabiting Car 015, which appears either as a child or a hideous crone:
That spirit was just a formless being minding its own business. Then, it encountered men. And they decided to make it this beautiful woman or this monstrous crone, because that’s the only way many men can even view women.
For all his outward adherence to protocol, Hamed is a very versatile individual and he’s soon able to acknowledge that exceptional circumstances require exceptional solutions, and he wastes no time in implementing them, also accepting with grace and humor the very unusual… ahem… camouflage he and Onsi must don to fool the spirit. I ended up liking him very much, and understood that the formal exterior hides an intriguing, multifaceted personality I would not mind seeing explored in depth - maybe teamed up with Fatma, with whom he has an interesting conversation once the dust of the chase has settled.
The Haunting of Tram Car 015 offered a more comprehensive look into this parallel reality, and I enjoyed the world-building even more than with the previous story: there is such a richness of detail here that the background comes alive with all its colors and smells and the views of teeming streets that make the city come alive in quite a cinematic way. Returning here through the full-length novel that awaits me down the line will certainly be an equally delightful experience.
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by the absence of investigator Fatma el-Sha’arawi, the main character of the first novella - although she does make a cameo appearance here, toward the end.In Haunting the supernatural detectives for the Ministry are two: sedate and formal veteran Hamed al-Nasri and the enthusiastic rookie Agent Onsi - quite different characters that, despite those differences, manage to create an effective team while dealing with the present emergency, the haunting of one of the many aerial tram cars traversing the skies of Egypt’s capital. The Ministry was summoned by Superintendent Bashir, who appears quite distraught by the presence of what looks to be a djinn that took possession of said tram car, terrifying the passengers and forcing Bashir to take it out of the regular runs. Once the investigation goes underway, however, the two investigators understand that the infestation has nothing to do with djinns and is instead something different and far more malevolent, so they are forced to seek more specialized help, finding it in a very unexpected quarter…
The previous story featuring Fatma merely laid the foundations of this alternate world, one where the border between the mundane and the supernatural had been pierced, allowing otherworldly creatures to enter our reality and coexist with humans; this novella deepens and enriches our knowledge of this changed reality, a background where elements of magic and steampunk details turn our journey into a very intriguing one, and in this specific case add the theme of social change to the mix, offering a chance both for reflection and for some amusing interludes.
Characters are better defined in Haunting, something I felt was slightly missing from my first experience with this series, and I have to admit that I took an instant liking to the Hamed/Onsi duo, which helped me to offset the initial surprise at the shift in perspective from Fatma’s. Hamed at first comes across as a very matter-of-fact person whose experience in magical matters placed something of a disenchanted attitude on him, so that he observes Onsi’s ebullient joy at being in the field with a touch of amused annoyance. Onsi, on the other hand, is not only very eager - as newbies are inclined to be - he’s also very much book-oriented, but has little experience of fieldwork. This disparity might have influenced their effectiveness in dealing with this difficult case, but instead the two of them are able to find some common ground - each giving in to the other a little - and turn out to be a great team, not only where their mission is concerned, but also where their work styles are involved.
Even though the main protagonists here are men, there is an intriguing focus on women, both as individuals - the mysteriously knowledgeable waitress Abla and the sheikha Nadiyaa, performer of magical arts - and as a group, i.e. the members of the movement for suffrage, the Egyptian Feminist Sisterhood. Cairo, and probably the whole of Egypt, is on the verge of huge social changes through the implementation of the right of vote for women and this is reflected in the substantial female presence on the scene and in the narrative thread that sees a particular magic rite - performed only by women - as the key to solving the tram’s infestation. This need for change, not only in politics, but also in the attitude toward women, is subtly addressed while discussing the malevolent spirit inhabiting Car 015, which appears either as a child or a hideous crone:
That spirit was just a formless being minding its own business. Then, it encountered men. And they decided to make it this beautiful woman or this monstrous crone, because that’s the only way many men can even view women.
For all his outward adherence to protocol, Hamed is a very versatile individual and he’s soon able to acknowledge that exceptional circumstances require exceptional solutions, and he wastes no time in implementing them, also accepting with grace and humor the very unusual… ahem… camouflage he and Onsi must don to fool the spirit. I ended up liking him very much, and understood that the formal exterior hides an intriguing, multifaceted personality I would not mind seeing explored in depth - maybe teamed up with Fatma, with whom he has an interesting conversation once the dust of the chase has settled.
The Haunting of Tram Car 015 offered a more comprehensive look into this parallel reality, and I enjoyed the world-building even more than with the previous story: there is such a richness of detail here that the background comes alive with all its colors and smells and the views of teeming streets that make the city come alive in quite a cinematic way. Returning here through the full-length novel that awaits me down the line will certainly be an equally delightful experience.
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LibraryThing member sturlington
This short fantasy is set in an alternate version of 1912 Cairo, in which djinni have entered the world and magic and the supernatural are so much a part of ordinary life that there is a Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments, and Supernatural Entities. Two agents of this ministry are investigating a
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tram car haunted by an Albanian spirit and must come up with a scheme to "exorcise" it. This is a light romp with an agreeably steampunk old-world Egyptian setting. Show Less
LibraryThing member whitewavedarling
Clark's depiction of a fantastical Cairo at the beginning of the twentieth century offers such a gorgeous blend of magic, historical place, and chaos, it's hard not to fall in love with it. From the moment I started the book, the city and the characters felt so real, and so perfectly realized, that
This is a short, fast read, but I'm excited to have discovered a new writer to follow, and I'll certainly be picking up the other works he's already published. Absolutely, I'd recommend this one.
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I couldn't put it down. Too easily, I could have believed that this djinn-full world was just another piece of history--that's how beautifully Clark brings it to life, and speaks to how well he melds historical detail and character with fantasy. This is a short, fast read, but I'm excited to have discovered a new writer to follow, and I'll certainly be picking up the other works he's already published. Absolutely, I'd recommend this one.
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LibraryThing member greeniezona
I picked this up not realizing it was in the same setting as A Dead Djinn in Cairo, which I have not read yet, though I've had an eye out for it at the library and every bookstore forever. It didn't seem necessary to read them in order, but now I am even more interested in reading that one.
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The Black God's Drums, this is an intriguing mix of steampunk science fiction alternate-history with religious/mythological fantasy. This one has more of a private detective story feel -- the story's protagonists are agents with the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments, and Supernatural Entities. They are tasked with removing a ghost/djinn/maybe-something-else that's been haunting one of the city's trams. As they unravel the mystery, an amazing amount of worldbuilding is involved, from how djinns and magic were unleashed in the world to the suffrage movement that forms the main backdrop to the story, to dozens of other details that make this world feel so rich. Show Less
Awards
Hugo Award (Nominee — Novella — 2020)
Nebula Award (Nominee — Novella — 2019)
Mythopoeic Awards (Finalist — Adult Literature — 2020)
Locus Award (Finalist — Novella — 2020)
Ignyte Award (Shortlist — Novella — 2020)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2019-02
Physical description
8 inches
ISBN
1250294800 / 9781250294807
Local notes
In an alternate Cairo, humans live and work alongside otherworldly beings; the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities handles the issues that can arise between the magical and the mundane. Senior Agent Hamed Nasr shows his new partner Agent Onsi Youssef the ropes of investigation when they are called to subdue a dangerous, possessed tram car. What starts off as a simple matter of exorcism, however, becomes more complicated as the origins of the demon inside are revealed.