The Haunting Of Tramcar 015
Written by Phenderson Djeli Clark
www.ink2quill.com

“The Haunting Of Tramcar 015” is a scifi, supernatural mystery, alternate reality novella written by Phenderson Djeli Clark. This story takes place in an alternate reality of 1912 Cairo in an Egypt that overthrew British rule in 1879 and is undergoing social changes. The story is a supernatural mystery set in an alternate reality with steampunk elements like airships and sentient robots in the form of people. This is such a fun read.

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“The Haunting Of Tramcar 015” is the story of an investigation into a supernatural, mystical phenomenon aboard tramcar 015 in the 1912 Cairo in an alternate reality. The case came to the attention of Superintendent Bashir of the Ministries of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities who passed it on to Agent Hamed Nasr and his rookie partner Onsi Youssef. Hamed is the seasoned investigator with focus while his partner Onsi is a knowledgeable in things obscure with a sweet tooth for sudjuk. The two are very different but work well together and achieve surprising results on a case few others could have probably solved. The story starts with a certain tramcar, number 015, being haunted by a mysterious, supernatural entity. The tramcar is left unused in Ramses Station for the agents to be investigated but the investigation takes them all over the supernatural almanac. They initially think it´s a djinn but find out things are far more complex than a djinn negotiation.

The alternate reality of 1912 Cairo is a place where not only different peoples with different religions and backgrounds live side by side but it is also the home to supernatural, otherwordly beings like ruby skinned, silver hjorned djinn Jizzu whose gender changes back and forth from male to female. He/ she is described as a Qareen djinn because apparently there are many different types of them. By otherwordly beings I also mean spirit, ehtereal creatures and other forms of life from the mystical realms. You also have sentient robots like Fahima who turns out to be more aware than Hamed thought. The Cairo of 1912 is a place of skyships and tramcars set in the cultural backdrop of Cairo. This is a truly strange and beautiful place bustling with the winds of social change from movements like the Egyptian Feminist Sisterhood. The city of Cairo is as diverse and as can be imagined.

Hamed Nasr and Onsi Youssef are both agents of the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities who work well together. Even though Onsi is a new recruit Hamed works hard to tolerate the behaviour common with newbies. For example,when Onsi quotes regulations forever Hamed interrupts him in a polite manner. The dynamic between the characters is very good and that is another thing that made this book a very good read. The characters have a good working chemistry.

This is a read I highly recommend for its imagination, exotic culture and the talented characters who do what they´re good at. Like I said, it´s a good read but a fast read. Just as a side note, I would have liked to know what a day in the life of Fahima was like. I bet her eyes have seen a lot. Otherwise, pick up “The Haunting Of Tramcar 015” and enjoy it.

John

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