Clementine

A Novel of the Clockwork Century

By: Cherie Priest

Narrated by: Dina Pearlman, Victor Bevine

Length: 5 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's Summary

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 that 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 15 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.

©2010 Cherie Priest (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic Reviews

"Piracy meets politics head-on in this steampunk thriller.... Explosive battle scenes, riveting action, and a sharp-eyed examination of the mistrust between Croggon's all-black crew and very white, very Southern Maria play out in a desperate race against the clock." ( Publishers Weekly)

Fun!

No Pulitzer prizes here. This is a quick story with an interesting cast and some unique action sequences. For a good time, call Clementine.

Nice stand alone story

I have been enjoying Mrs. Priest Clockwork Century and this is a story that features one of the more enjoyable characters. The narration was very well done, even though it shifts between a male & female narrator. Well worth the cost.

Original and Fun!

What made the experience of listening to Clementine the most enjoyable?

I found the plot interesting and original. Narration was very good and I am looking forward to more stories from Cherie Priest.

What other book might you compare Clementine to and why?

Steampunk isn't a new genre, but it's truly blossoming these days. Similar new (at least to me) authors are bringing originality and energy that I really appreciate.

Have you listened to any of Dina Pearlman and Victor Bevine ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Narration was good -- I really appreciate having female and male voices on this one. I'll be on the lookout for both Pearlman and Bevine in future.

Any additional comments?

Worth your time and your credit!

fast and the furious in a dirigible!

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I would indeed recommend this book to anyone.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The get away was very good.

What does Dina Pearlman and Victor Bevine bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

They bring the lady like and the manly man persona right into the story that makes you feel it.

Did Clementine inspire you to do anything?

No.

Any additional comments?

It's a quick read with an interesting plot that unfolds in a timely fashion.

Original and Fun!

What made the experience of listening to Clementine the most enjoyable?

I found the plot interesting and original. Narration was very good and I am looking forward to more stories from Cherie Priest.

What other book might you compare Clementine to and why?

Steampunk isn't a new genre, but it's truly blossoming these days. Similar new (at least to me) authors are bringing originality and energy that I really appreciate.

Have you listened to any of Dina Pearlman and Victor Bevine ???s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Narration was good -- I really appreciate having female and male voices on this one. I'll be on the lookout for both Pearlman and Bevine in future.

Any additional comments?

Worth your time and your credit!

Fun with Great narration

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I enjoyed the story, through the ending wasn't surprising, but it was fun and I like haven't an alternate world built around steamship (blimps) travel

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

The story, fun, simple, straight forward

Would you listen to another book narrated by Dina Pearlman and Victor Bevine ?

Yes, these narrators made the story, I listen to the first book with some difficult, and since Dina (much less Victor) only narrate this tale, I won't be going back to the other books, instead I will be looking for other stories narrated by Dina (and Victor)

I love Cherie Priest

Honestly, everything I've ever read of hers I just devoured. I like her zombies, and alternate history, and action, and characters, and dirigibles. I haven't read her other series yet but I plan to.

Steampunk, Zombies and fascinating characters!

Clementine, like all of Cherie Priest's Clockwork Century, is engaging, told in a plot appropriate voice and just plain wonderful to listen too. I regret that this one is not also available to read as the myriad characters (even the dirigibles attain character status with Ms. Priest's fine storytelling ability), her zombie infested revisionist history and the subtle morality make this series infinitely re-digestible.

Another Great Clockwork Century Story

Any additional comments?

I was looking all over for a copy of this limited edition story in the Clockwork Century universe when I finally found it in Audible form. Connected to Boneshaker by Croggon Beauregard Hainey and his dirigible Clementine - both which make appearances in the first novel. Clementine also introduces us to Maria Isabella Boyd who is a quick-witted, independent southern woman who works for a detective agency.

Clementine is a fantastically written novella with the thrill of a western and all the propriety of the steampunk era.

Clementine is the second book in the series to be dual-narrated. I thought both narrators fit their part and made each of the characters come alive.

Amer. Civil War was Fought in a Steam Punk World

There were lots of things I enjoyed in Clemetine. It does remind me of my beloved Firefly. (As another reviewer mentioned.)

However, the elephant in the room that was incredibly distracting was this: we have a well known Confederate spy teaming up with black men who had been slaves. And yet she's without prejudice and doesn't see slavery as a central reason for the Civil War. (Yes this is a steampunk alternate history, but still.)

If you can step aside from that weirdness, the tale itself is about people on the margins being wary of those in authority and their motives, then choosing to work together to do the right thing, even if not the fully legal thing.

Entertaining steampunk romp

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I had tried another of the authors books and was somewhat underwhelmed by it ('Those Who Went Remain There Still' ***), but decided to give her another go. This one was much better, with a more interesting story and much more likable characters. I only found out after starting it that it is the second of her 'Clockwork Century' books, and that the first one ('Boneshaker' - now on my reading list) was nominated for the 2010 Hugo Award for Best Novel, amongst other accolades. The fact I have read Clementine out of order did not detract from my enjoyment as they seem to be distinct, unrelated stories.

Apparently, the author calls the series Alternate History books, but they are popularly received as from the Steampunk genre, which seems to be defined by its content of evolved (sometimes steam-based) Victorian technology. Either way, it contains fascinating concepts to play with and the author takes full advantage of it.

The story is told alternately from two perspectives (Maria Isabella Boyd & Captain Croggon Beauregard Hainey), narrated by two excellent performers who do a top job. At under six hours long, it is well worth the journey.

Another brilliant Clockwork Century book

The book itself was fantastic and a great addition to the Clockwork Century series. A must for all steampunk fans!!! The book is well acted although the odd name is mispronounced (being picky).

Good introduction to an intriguing AU.

Interesting world with plenty of scope for further tales. The story itself was too shallow and brief for my liking. I would happily have listened for a few more hours for a bit more depth, it seemed too big an event to be over and dealt with so quickly.

The voice acting was mostly good although Maria's VA's Scottish accent was very amusing.

Greatly improved.

The main issue i had with the last book is solved in this one with all the Male voices done by the male reader and the same for the Female ones.