Cairo, 1912: Though Fatma el-Sha’arawi is the youngest woman working for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities, she’s certainly not a rookie, especially after preventing the destruction of the universe last summer.
So when someone murders a secret brotherhood dedicated to one of the most famous men in history, al-Jahiz, Agent Fatma is called onto the case. Al-Jahiz transformed the world forty years ago when he opened up the veil between the magical and mundane realms, before vanishing into the unknown. This murderer claims to be al-Jahiz, returned to condemn the modern age for its social oppressions. His dangerous magical abilities instigate unrest in the streets of Cairo that threaten to spill over onto the global stage.
This steampunk fantasy has it all: Fantasy creatures, magic, a magic Ministry whose building has a djinn-built clockwork brain, alternate history, Egyptian hermeticism, and a gorgeously diverse cast of characters. Clark’s fantasy and alternate history storytelling is phenomenal! Earlier this year I read his novella “Ring Shout,” which was dark and intense. It has been optioned for a streaming TV series.
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