|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
Frequently Bought Together
Product Details
|
Product Description
Product Description
Nurse Mercy Lynch is elbows deep in bloody laundry at a war hospital in Richmond, Virginia, when Clara Barton comes bearing bad news: Mercy’s husband has died in a POW camp. On top of that, a telegram from the west coast declares that her estranged father is gravely injured, and he wishes to see her. Mercy sets out toward the Mississippi River. Once there, she’ll catch a train over the Rockies and—if the telegram can be believed—be greeted in Washington Territory by the sheriff, who will take her to see her father in Seattle.
Reaching the Mississippi is a harrowing adventure by dirigible and rail through war-torn border states. When Mercy finally arrives in St. Louis, the only Tacoma-bound train is pulled by a terrifying Union-operated steam engine called the Dreadnought. Reluctantly, Mercy buys a ticket and climbs aboard.
What ought to be a quiet trip turns deadly when the train is beset by bushwhackers, then vigorously attacked by a band of Rebel soldiers. The train is moving away from battle lines into the vast, unincorporated west, so Mercy can’t imagine why they’re so interested. Perhaps the mysterious cargo secreted in the second and last train cars has something to do with it?
Mercy is just a frustrated nurse who wants to see her father before he dies. But she’ll have to survive both Union intrigue and Confederate opposition if she wants to make it off the Dreadnought alive.
Reaching the Mississippi is a harrowing adventure by dirigible and rail through war-torn border states. When Mercy finally arrives in St. Louis, the only Tacoma-bound train is pulled by a terrifying Union-operated steam engine called the Dreadnought. Reluctantly, Mercy buys a ticket and climbs aboard.
What ought to be a quiet trip turns deadly when the train is beset by bushwhackers, then vigorously attacked by a band of Rebel soldiers. The train is moving away from battle lines into the vast, unincorporated west, so Mercy can’t imagine why they’re so interested. Perhaps the mysterious cargo secreted in the second and last train cars has something to do with it?
Mercy is just a frustrated nurse who wants to see her father before he dies. But she’ll have to survive both Union intrigue and Confederate opposition if she wants to make it off the Dreadnought alive.
About the Author
Cherie Priest is the author of Boneshaker, which was nominated for a Nebula and Hugo Award, won the Locus Award for best science-fiction novel, and was named Steampunk Book of the Year by steampunk.com. She is also the author of the near-contemporary fantasy Fathom, and she debuted to great acclaim with Four and Twenty Blackbirds, Wings to the Kingdom, and Not Flesh Nor Feathers, a trilogy of Southern Gothic ghost stories featuring heroine Eden Moore. Born in Tampa, Florida, Priest earned her master’s in rhetoric at the University of Tennessee. She lives in Seattle, Washington, with her husband, Aric, and a fat black cat named Spain.
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Strong Female + Action = Dashed Good Fun!,
By
This review is from: Dreadnought (Paperback)
Having come to know Cherie Priest first (through a convention) and the books she writes as a result of thinking "this is a wonderful person", it's quite possible that I was pre-destined to like this book as much as I enjoyed the previous book of hers read, "Boneshaker". That said, "Dreadnought" is not the same book, but is just the same level of fascinating read. While last year's book was set in a small geographic area and stressed character and rules of the world over action (while still including the latter very much), "Dreadnought" covers nearly half of the USA geographically (as the heroine rushes to the side of her dying father) as a plenitude of dangers attempt to block her travels.This might sound a bit patronizing, but isn't intended to: Priest writes the best action scenes I've ever seen from a female author, bar none. In order to qualify that statement, I'll further say that this is among some of the very best action-based narrative I've ever read, including Desmond Bagley and Ian Flemming. It's often thought that woman either can't or don't write action scenes, but this is bumf; it's just more 'manly' to have people zipping around and shooting at each other, that's all. Strong female characters with Father Issues seem to be recurring themes of Ms Priest's, and this novel is the same, with the protagonist being both a young war-widow and her father becoming estranged from the family when she was quite young; her previous novel having similar aspects to it. This is where the parallels end, however, and we have an entirely different sort of woman to root for in "Dreadnought": one who must learn to act, to trust her instinct, and to take chances far in excess than she might have even imagined before. Previously a nurse acting as part of a team, in many ways now she must lead and directly influence the decisions of others. An exceedingly wonderful book, filled with rich detail, setting, and characterization. An action-based plot to keep one interested, and train-based technology that I happen to have a fascination for. Bits of humour here and there, some zombies, plus some Civil War politics that I'd never quite got a handle on before now. This is a book that's good for just about anyone, but especially for a young woman who might be looking for a role model of ingenuity, resourcefulness, and down-right solid moral code. WARNING: some language, but no more that you'll hear standing around a 7-11 for about twenty minutes, or watching the occasional TV show after 9:00 pm.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Machines of war,
By E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews (HALL OF FAME) (TOP 10 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Dreadnought (Paperback)
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.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting idea, well executed,
This review is from: Dreadnought (Paperback)
Dreadnought is an interesting idea, well executed, in so far as the story and the crafting of the plot is concerned.Some of the historical details are a little under-researched, but this being alternative reality steampunk, you may always use the old canard of ah-ah, but in this world, it happened slightly differently. But this is a minor nitpick. If you're not a historian, just settle down and get reading and let yourself be swept along with the adventure of it all. This was my first Priest novel. It will not be my last now.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Want to see more reviews on this item?
|
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
