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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.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format: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.
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.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Mercy Lynch is a nurse working during the American Civil War in an alternate version of America, she receives a telegram telling her that her father is dying and would she travel to Seattle to see him. In this America steam is the mother of invention so when Mercy finds herself needing to travel across America through the path of her enemies she has to travel on the fastest train available - the Dreadnought. This will take her not only on a (technically) enemy train but also into conflict with the soldiers she's been patching up in her hospital work. Priest creates a large cast of supporting characters for Mercy and its not always easy to keep track, but in her travelling companions such as Miss Clay and Texas Ranger Horatio Kormon, Mercy learns fast who to trust when the bullets start flying. When the bullets do start flying it turns out to be the least of the problems for the Dreadnought's passengers as the truth behind the dead bodies being transported on the train is revealed and pieces fall together like a jigsaw for Mercy as she realises the true horror of what is attacking them.
Although you can read it alone, Dreadnought is a sequel. It predecessor Boneshaker tells the story of a Seattle poisoned by yellow gas that turns people into zombies who will attack for human flesh. As Mercy is heading into Seattle you can guess where the stories link up, for me the end of Dreadnought is made better because it finally links the two books and you get an idea of what has happened to Boneshaker's characters. Hopefully the next book in the series will also do this.
In my opinion Dreadnought is better than Boneshaker, it benefits from having only one narrator, the journey theme of the novel means that although there are some passages where even the characters are bored by the tedium of travel the reader always knows that the story is moving on. When the action picks up towards the end I couldn't put the book down and had to race to finish it. Priest is fast creating a detailed vision of alternate America with its steampunk powered civil war, hopefully the books will continue as Dreadnought ends suddenly and I want to know what happens next to these characters. Surely thats a sign of a good book.
Although you can read it alone, Dreadnought is a sequel. It predecessor Boneshaker tells the story of a Seattle poisoned by yellow gas that turns people into zombies who will attack for human flesh. As Mercy is heading into Seattle you can guess where the stories link up, for me the end of Dreadnought is made better because it finally links the two books and you get an idea of what has happened to Boneshaker's characters. Hopefully the next book in the series will also do this.
In my opinion Dreadnought is better than Boneshaker, it benefits from having only one narrator, the journey theme of the novel means that although there are some passages where even the characters are bored by the tedium of travel the reader always knows that the story is moving on. When the action picks up towards the end I couldn't put the book down and had to race to finish it. Priest is fast creating a detailed vision of alternate America with its steampunk powered civil war, hopefully the books will continue as Dreadnought ends suddenly and I want to know what happens next to these characters. Surely thats a sign of a good book.
Format: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.
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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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Dishwasher never looked so interesting before.
I looked at the back of the book and all the review for it were of how good bone shaker was.........that's a little worrying. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Mr Carl
A great sequel
Although I'm sure it can, I wouldn't read this book without first reading Boneshaker (Sci Fi Essential Books). Read more
Published 14 months ago by simon211175
The Same, Again
You know, I didn't love Boneshaker.
Boneshaker, remember? Book one of The Clockwork Century series by Cherie Priest... Read more
Boneshaker, remember? Book one of The Clockwork Century series by Cherie Priest... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Niall Alexander
The amazing dreadnought
I just finished reading the last line of the book Dreadnought and it was amazing.
It's the first steampunk novel I have had the pleasure to read, but it certainly won't be the... Read more
It's the first steampunk novel I have had the pleasure to read, but it certainly won't be the... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Milla
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