Ganymede: A Novel of the Clockwork Century

Written by Cherie Priest

Narrated by Edoardo Ballerini

The third book in the Clockwork Century series, following Cherie Priest's steampunk adventure--and runaway hit--Boneshaker and its sequel, Dreadnought

The air pirate Andan Cly is going straight. Well, straighter. Although he's happy to run alcohol guns wherever the money's good, he doesn't think the world needs more sap, or its increasingly ugly side-effects. But becoming legit is easier said than done, and Cly's first legal gig—a supply run for the Seattle Underground—will be paid for by sap money.

New Orleans is not Cly's first pick for a shopping run. He loved the Big Easy once, back when he also loved a beautiful mixed-race prostitute named Josephine Early—but that was a decade ago, and he hasn't looked back since. Jo's still thinking about him, though, or so he learns when he gets a telegram about a peculiar piloting job. It's a chance to complete two lucrative jobs at once, one he can't refuse. He sends his old paramour a note and heads for New Orleans, with no idea of what he's in for—or what she wants him to fly.

But he won't be flying. Not exactly. Hidden at the bottom of Lake Pontchartrain lurks an astonishing war machine, an immense submersible called the Ganymede. This prototype could end the war, if only anyone had the faintest idea of how to operate it…. If only they could sneak it past the Southern forces at the mouth of the Mississippi River… If only it hadn't killed most of the men who'd ever set foot inside it.

But it's those "if onlys" that will decide whether Cly and his crew will end up in the history books, or at the bottom of the ocean.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio
• Release date: Sep 27, 2011
• ISBN: 9781427213365

Cherie Priest

Cherie Priest is the author of two dozen books and novellas, including the horror novel The Toll, acclaimed gothic Maplecroft, and the award-winning Clockwork Century series, beginning with Boneshaker. She has been nominated for the Hugo Award and the Nebula Award, and she won the Locus Award for best horror novel. Her books have been translated into nine languages in eleven countries. She lives in Seattle, Washington, with her husband and a menagerie of exceedingly photogenic pets.

Reviews for Ganymede

[7hir7een_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ganymede, like all of the Clockwork Century novels before it, was simply delightful. Set in Priest's alternate history, steampunk, zombie-containing Civil War era America, it is a story about air pirates, brothel employees, family, old friends, adventures, airships, seaships, voodoo, war and zombies. I'm sure I missed a few things somewhere in there, but you get the point that there's quite a lot going on. However, it doesn't feel forced or chaotic in any bad way. The result is a fun alternate history/steampunk/adventure romp through New Orleans. I enjoyed seeing all of the old characters again, and liked the new characters too. Ganymede does a great job of bringing together and tying up some of the loose ends from Boneshaker and Dreadnought. I'd recommend it to fans of the previous Clockwork Century novels, Cherie Priest, steampunk, alternate history, or anyone who just wants a fun read.

[aneris-3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book. If I could give more than 5 stars, I would.

[jasonpettus · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

(Reprinted from the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography [cclapcenter.com]. I am the original author of this essay, as well as the owner of CCLaP; it is not being reprinted illegally.)Regular readers will of course already be familiar with Cherie Priest's remarkable steampunk series known as "The Clockwork Century;" back in 2009 I reviewed the first volume Boneshaker (best described as Victorian zombies meet Doom-style videogame in the bowels of subterranean Seattle), while last year I took on Dreadnought, in which we follow a souped-up locomotive as it winds its way across the Great Plains, deals with a now two-decade-long Civil War, and confronts giant iron military robots. And now we have the third novel in the series, Ganymede, which has yet another impossibly engaging hook to hold together its rambling plot: it's the story of this alt-history's very first submarine, built and lost by the Confederates, rediscovered by a black female brothel owner in New Orleans who secretly works for the Union, salvaged and piloted by a burly zeppelin owner whose usual job is shipping smuggled goods, and with the whole situation complicated by the Texas Republican Army, defiant pirate guerrillas, and shadowy Chinese entrepreneurs.And indeed, as you can see, there's a good reason that a growing number of people are starting to call this perhaps the greatest steampunk series in the history of the genre*; and that's because with each volume, Priest squeezes in several novels' worth of flabbergasting ideas, making each story expansive as hell while still keeping a tight control over the three-act structure. (And please realize, by the way, that it's not just these three novels that make up this series, but also a handful of standalone stories and novellas, plus a comprehensive website.) One of my favorite genre novelists working today, and a fangirl who walks the walk just as well as her readers (her cosplay convention outfits are almost as famous as the books themselves), Ganymede comes with a strong recommendation, and is the exact kind of title for those who only read one steampunk book a year.Out of 10: 9.0, or 10 for steampunk fans*Well, okay, it's hard to beat the steampunk novel that started them all, William Gibson and Bruce Sterling's The Difference Engine; but still.

[avanders_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

**Based on audio books.
These books have really not been what I expected. I imagined steampunk adventure and these are more steampunk historical fiction drama with just a little bit of fantasy (magical realism? a little science-gone-wrong?) thrown in (and, to be fair, there are moments of "action/adventure" in all three books, with the first one probably being the quickest paced). But I've nevertheless enjoyed them, especially once I shifted my expectations. Priest does a fantastic job with the characterizations (most certainly helped along by the narrators who have read the first 3 books) and the scene, and I well-pictured everything that was happening, who was speaking, as well as emotions and all the subtleties that make a book something you can sink into. The next 2 in the "series" (they can each be standalone novels, but there are loose connections between them, including a handful of characters who recur in non-essential ways and, of course, the world) I have in paperback (not audio), and I am definitely looking forward to seeing if the excellent narrations are met by Priest's writing. Four stars.

[rivkat_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This entry in Priest’s steampunk alternate history follows the activities of a New Orleans madam secretly fighting the occupying Texans, the airship pilot—her former lover—who has business in Seattle dealing with characters from earlier books, and the submarine that she wants him to pilot away from the Texans and into the waiting arms of the Union. Also, the zombis/walking dead from the Seattle gas are spreading, and causing complications. I’d really like to read a book where there is an organized attempt to deal with that problem, though organization is not a highly developed feature of this America.

[nnschiller · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Another strong outing in the Clockwork Century series. I really liked the way the characters develop. Priest has done a great job through her series of allowing her characters to have their own arcs, without forcing them into forced romances or insinuating that a single woman isn't complete she has a man to validate her worth.

In Ganymede, she allows her characters to form romantic attachments, but they don't sacrifice their individuality to do so. I like how she was able to have competent and interesting women succeed without having to partner up. I also like how she allows them to find meaning and joy in a partner without having to change their basic nature.

In face, one of the things I liked best about Priest's work (without realizing it before now) was how she could write interesting characters who were put into settings that traditionally incubate romance without forming entanglements. Romance/love/sex/partnership are great, but they aren't everything. In Ganymede, Priest introduces some Romantic elements without turning her characters into saps or weaklings. Bravo.

[lauriebrown54 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book in the Clockwork Century series has air pirate Andan Cly thinking about quitting the business and settling down in Seattle to be near Briar Wilkes, now sheriff of the broken city. He intends to quit running the Blight gas to the people that make it into the horribly damaging drug Sap. To do this, he must have his airship refitted into a regular cargo ship, not possible in Seattle. By coincidence, he is offered two jobs at the same time- one from the new head of the city to make a supply run, and another, mysterious one, from an ex-lover, Josephine, in New Orleans. He can take care of all three of these things in one trip! Of course, he doesn’t know what Josephine’s job entails, but that’s not something to worry him too much. Once down in New Orleans he finds that the Texians are holding the city under martial law. It seems they are looking for a machine- a machine that could end the Civil War (which has been going on for over 20 years in this universe). This machine, the Ganymede of the title, is an ‘underwater airship’, and the people who attempt to run it keep dying in the attempt. This is where Cly comes in; Josephine thinks that an airship pilot will have better luck with it than a boat captain. Of course, because of the Texians, the Ganymede must be moved in complete secrecy, which doesn’t make it easy to work out any problems in running it. Unlike the other books in this series, Ganymede doesn’t move along with breakneck speed. There is much less action; almost none until near the end of the book, when there is a great battle scene on and in the water. There is a lot of suspense: will they get caught by the Texians? By zombies? Will the Ganymede kill them, too, or will they figure out how to pilot it safely? Why are there zombies down in New Orleans, anyway, when they originated in Seattle via exposure to the Blight gas? The pace is very different from the other Clockwork Century books, but different isn’t a bad thing.

[jammies_4 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

There is no way for me to do a sensible, scholarly review of this book or any of the books in the Clockwork Century series. All I can say is that I loved this, and that Ms. Priest had me before Marie Laveau but I squealed in delight when she appeared. I'm thrilled with the gentle, low-key touch of romance as well as the breathless action, and just delighted to pieces with the whole book.

[jeremypreacher · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Every Clockwork Century book has been better than the one before, in my view. Ganymede is no exception. It's got the requisite strong female lead, huge and mysterious steam-driven war machine, zombies, and very loosely interpreted American history. And it's got what keeps making the series more and more interesting to me - scope.

Ganymede continues the trend in addressing more and more of the larger political scene in this alternate America where the Civil War has dragged on for twenty years. And while the zombies are definitely a sub-plot to that, they make a very creepy backdrop and make it very clear that they're going to be an integral part of the finale. New Orleans is a great setting for pretty much everything, and hey, strong, independent woman of color as the main character! How often does that happen?

I tore through Ganymede in half a day, and am only sorry that I have to wait for the next one.

[ladycato · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Clockwork Century books are among my favorite steampunk series. This book was very slow to get going for me, and it took a long time for the two main characters to come together. The book did irk me with the annoying 19th century cliche of "the harlot with a heart of gold"; too many books in that time period either use women as a doting mother or as a prostitute. Mind you, Priest is an excellent writer, and Josephine's character slowly grew on me. I really liked the male viewpoint, Cly, with his gruff way of looking at the world and his sweet regard for Briar back in Seattle.The first and most famous book of this series, Boneshaker, darkly portrayed the city of Seattle as a wall-up city filled with noxious gas and killer zombies. As the series has gone on, it's explored the repercussions this had had across America--namely, that the zombie-causing gas can be filtered to a very potent drug, and that drug also turns people into zombies. It creates an interesting ripple effect and I'm curious about where Priest will take that development.The most compelling element of Ganymede is the titular submarine. This is a subject of particular interest to me. I've been a Civil War buff since I was a kid, and I happened to be living in South Carolina in 2000 when the Hunley rose from the ocean and made its belated return to shore. In the world of the Clockwork Century, the Civil War has dragged on for twenty years, and Ganymede is part of Hunley's lineage. Priest did her research--and certainly twiddled with history--but Ganymede has a sense of realism to it.In all, a good addition to the series, though the second book (Dreadnought) remains my favorite.

[sunnysd_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Madame - in the red light district sense - Josephine Early has a weapon that just might save her city from the clutches of Texians and Confederates alike. Trouble is, she needs a pilot to take advantage of it, and time's running out. Her last chance: a telegram to an old flame.Airship captain and sometime pirate Andan Cly is contemplating a change in career paths. Selling sap is losing it's appeal - but the lack of ready cash is putting a bit of a damper on his plans. When the telegram offering him a clandestine piloting opportunity arrives, he sees a chance to kill two birds with one stone.Meanwhile, in the French Quarter, Marie Laveau knows a deadly menace is growing fast, and her own days are numbered. The biggest threat to New Orleans isn't the Texians...Zombies may not be new to New Orleans, but Priest's take on the situation is both unique and eminently enjoyable. Alternative history with adventure, suspense, humor, and horrific appeal!

[pghdragonman · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ganymede is the fourth novel in the Clockwork Century series from Cherie Priest. While it is fully readable as a stand-alone novel, you will be much better served if you start with Boneshaker and Dreadnaught. These books serve to fill in the background of some of the main characters and you will have more of an appreciation for their individual stories.Ms Priest creates a very fanciful, yet very recognizable, version of New Orleans. I have no problem with the characters and once their personalities are made clear, they all stay true to their personas. What is more, we see actual character development. There a lot of authors that need to take note of this!This is a well paced, well developed and well told novel. Four stars, without any reservations.I have just learned that the next installment of this series is being released. I’ve got it preordered through my favorite source. I’ve also got to pick up the third because it somehow escaped me. I urge you all to read this series and get the next installment as soon as it becomes available.

[devilwrites · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The premise: ganked from Amazon: The air pirate Andan Cly is going straight. Well, straighter. Although he’s happy to run alcohol guns wherever the money’s good, he doesn’t think the world needs more sap, or its increasingly ugly side-effects. But becoming legit is easier said than done, and Cly’s first legal gig—a supply run for the Seattle Underground—will be paid for by sap money.New Orleans is not Cly’s first pick for a shopping run. He loved the Big Easy once, back when he also loved a beautiful mixed-race prostitute named Josephine Early—but that was a decade ago, and he hasn’t looked back since. Jo’s still thinking about him, though, or so he learns when he gets a telegram about a peculiar piloting job. It’s a chance to complete two lucrative jobs at once, one he can’t refuse. He sends his old paramour a note and heads for New Orleans, with no idea of what he’s in for—or what she wants him to fly.But he won’t be flying. Not exactly. Hidden at the bottom of Lake Pontchartrain lurks an astonishing war machine, an immense submersible called the Ganymede. This prototype could end the war, if only anyone had the faintest idea of how to operate it…. If only they could sneak it past the Southern forces at the mouth of the Mississippi River… If only it hadn’t killed most of the men who’d ever set foot inside it.But it’s those “if onlys” that will decide whether Cly and his crew will end up in the history books, or at the bottom of the ocean.My Rating: Good ReadWhile I still think Dreadnought is my favorite installment of The Clockwork Century series, Ganymede was a worthy installment all on its own, and by now, the world-building is so complex and complete that I feel like I'm coming home in a weird way. We may not get the same characters in every installment (indeed, we always get in the head of someone completely new in each book), but the world is so well-realized that I have no trouble seeing this steampunk, alternate history of the United States, and I'm all excited now for The Inexplicables (which really sounds like the title of a superhero movie, no?). At any rate, Priest continues her streak of populating the Clockwork Century universe with strong, capable women who are determined to make their own future, which is a joy to read. The world-building continues to engage, and it'll be fun to see what the next installment brings.Spoilers, yay or nay?: Yay. If you're wanting to avoid spoilers, do not read the full review, which is located in my blog and is linked to below. However, if you're caught up or don't care, feel free to stop by for the full effect! As always, comments and discussion are most welcome!REVIEW: Cherie Priest's GANYMEDEHappy Reading!

[andreablythe · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In this his fourth installment of Cherie Priest's Clockwork Century series air pirate Adan Cly is called by his old flame Josephine Early to come to Texian occupied New Orleans to assist her with a strange piloting job, one that involves a lot more challenges than it first seems. This book features airships, steam-powered vehicles, zombis, strong women, rebels hidden in the bayou, and other delightful oddities. Rather than write straight sequels, Priest tells new stories with new characters that integrate old ones. I love the way she continues to unveil more and more of her Clockwork Century world in this by introducing new characters in new locals, while interweaving old characters we know and love. Because of this, you don't have to read the books in order (each stands on its own), but it's fun to do so, as cameos of characters we loved we loved in previous books are present (and some questions are answered). This, combined with the awesomeness of Josephine and other new characters and the fun action-packed new storyline, fills me with glee. This is probably my favorite book series, one that continually keeps me entertained.

[titania86_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Josephine Early is the madame of a bordello, known in more polite circles as a lady's boarding house, in New Orleans. She also conducts even more covert dealings as an informer and advocate for the United States in the Civil War. Her newest project involves a gigantic underwater craft, stolen from the Confederacy, that could be the deciding factor in the war. If only anyone knew if it worked. Anyone who worked on it or knew anything about it is either dead or in jail. As a result, this project isn't the highest on the US's list since there's no guarantee Ganymede would be worth the effort. In desperation, Josephine asks an old flame, Andan Cly, to pilot it. A (mostly) reformed pirate, Cly decides to help out his old friend while simultaneously completing a legitimate deal in Seattle. As Cly makes his way to New Orleans, another threat presents itself to Josephine: zombis. Can Cly pilot the Ganymede without dying and can they transport the craft to the US before zombis or the Confederacy get to them?Ganymede is the fourth installment in Cherie Priest's Clockwork Century series. An alternative history of the Civil War is built with zombies, fantastical machines, and steampunk elements. I loved Boneshaker and I had to get my hands on Ganymede. It definitely doesn't disappoint. The individual characters are dynamic and interesting to read. Josephine is a bi-racial madame with a heart of gold. She's incredibly strong and fiercely protective of her loved ones, including her ladies and her brother. Able to handle herself in a fight, she even successfully fights off zombies. I liked that she was strong, but didn't lose her femininity or become completely emotionless because of it. Ruthie, one of Josephine's employees, is also a strong character who isn't afraid to use her feminine wiles to overcome obstacles. There is a surprising twist with her near the end of the story. Although the delivery was a little abrupt, the meaning is important and makes the story a little more interesting. Cherie Priest is especially skilled in creating a believable web of characters.Although I really enjoyed Ganymede, I would have loved to see more of the social implications played out between the characters. Many of them are from different backgrounds and wouldn't really get along so well right away. The mixed race brothel led by a bi-racial woman would have turned a few heads or incurred scrutiny or conflict from the Confederacy or southern people in support of slavery. All of the interactions were a little too smooth, including that between Josephine and Andan. You'd think there would have been more tension and conflict between Andan's feelings for Briar, his current love, and Josephine. Each character was dynamic on their own, but more conflict should have been generated between them. Madame Laveau, an aged and powerful voodoo practitioner based on a real person, was also a wasted opportunity that could have had larger implications.Ganymede is a fun adventure story with interesting characters. Although there are faults, the battle scenes were exciting and suspenseful. It's not my favorite book in the series, but it's still a fun steampunk novel.

[thelostentwife · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Clementine, by Cherie Priest, is one of my favorite of the Clockwork Century books. So with that said, bringing the same characters back that kicked butt in Clementine for Ganymede pushed this book up into a frontrunner spot before I even began to read it.It didn’t have to stay in that spot when I started reading it – but it held it by its own merit, because y’all, this book kicked butt. Serious butt. Seriously – submarines, zombies, tough girls fighting off zombies – I honestly think this is the best book of the Clockwork Century books yet. So much action, it had me fist-pumping mere pages into the story and the classy touch of romance only helped matters – it was just enough.I admire Cherie Priest so much. She has such a distinctive, unique way of writing. I love the layout of these books, the sepia ink, the fantastic covers, the awesome re-writing of history (making it much more cool). There is so much style in each of her stories, and I think Ganymede really shows that style off. I’ve been following each release of these books since reading Boneshaker, and anxiously hoarding them on my shelves – loaning them out only when I’m sure I’ll get them back in the same condition.Ms. Priest, you have one loyal fan here, and you’ve above and beyond earned that loyalty. I cannot wait for the next release!

[krau0098 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was the fourth book in the Clockwork Century series. I have loved all of the books in this series and was eager to read this one. This one was good, but probably my least favorite of the bunch I didn't find the story or the characters as engaging as the first three books.Josephine Early has a secret, and it's not the fact that her Boarding House of Women is actually a mixed race bordello, no it's the fact that she is helping to get a war machine called the Ganymede out of the south and to the north to help the other side of the war. Trouble is Josephine needs someone to pilot the thing and being that Ganymede is the first submarine ever and that a number of people have died trying to pilot it she's having some trouble. Then she remembers Cly. Josephine and Cly have history, and since Cly's trying to give up pirating and straighten out his life this might be the perfect gig for him to start with.I love Priest's writing style; she has enough detail in there to really help the reader picture what's going on. I also love how she blends history, zombies, and steampunk elements together to create this awesome world. We meet Cly in Boneshaker and it was fun to read more about him. I love how the zombie issue is kind of woven into the back story and how, even though this is a serparate story from the first three books, it still has many elements of those books tied in with it.I did have some problems with this book too. Josephine wasn't my favorite character, I just had trouble engaging with her. This was odd because I usually love Priest's quirky, strong female leads. Josephine just rubbed me the wrong way though; she was too abrasive and too cold to be very likable. I liked Cly better, but he wasn't in the story nearly as much as Josephine. With Cly and Josephine's history together I expected them to interact more and have more tension, but this didn't really happen.I also enjoyed the number of social issues that are addressed in this book: issues of race, war, sexual orientation, etc are discussed and interesting points are brought up. Nothing incredibly unique, but there is some food for thought there. I was a little surprised when one of the characters was revealed to be transexual...mostly because I didn't understand how it added to the story, the way this was revealed at the end was a bit odd. I am wondering if that will carry on to the next book or if it was just included for novelty.I also had some problems with the plot. There is a lot going on in this book but the overall premise and goal of the book was pretty simple; to get the Ganymede out of the marsh and into the river to deliver to the other side of the war. This is the main issue the whole book deals with and at times I found it to be a bit tedious. I understand that the Ganymede was supposed to provide a turning point for the war; I just didn't find it all that interesting. Maybe it's because I am not a history buff and don't like war stories all that much; but I thought this book had a lot less adventure and steampunk elements than previous books in this series and a lot more tactics and war games.Overall this was a very good book, but not the strongest in this series. I didn't think the characters were as admirable as in previous books, I also found the overall premise of getting a war machine from one place to another to be a bit tedious and boring at times. This is an excellent world though and I still find it intriguing. I enjoy Priest's writing style and the intricacy of her descriptions a lot. I look forward to reading Inexplicable when it releases in 2012.

[cissa_5 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I LOVE this series, and I loved this book!It's got a great plot, very well-drawn characters, and fabulous alternative-history/steampunk flair. I'd read it without the adventure or the steampunk, because i like the characters that much.The relationships are complex- only fair, since several of the main characters are 40-ish; things tend to get more complicated as we get older. And the created world is also getting more nuanced, which I really like.Definitely recommended.

[jlparent · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Action, zombies, alternate history and steampunk mix with mostly interesting and strong characters in the latest entry in the Clockwork Century series. For some reason, I enjoyed it less than Boneshaker and Dreadnought though I can't really pinpoint why. There's lots going on and I was never bored; I enjoyed almost all of the characters although some never really grow or are shunted to the background. Still, the world-building and alternate history facets are as exciting and well-developed as always and the main story was tense and action-oriented (even though the ending was a bit hurried and too abrupt). Overall, I really enjoyed the book, just a bit uneven in some respects.

[silentq_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Andan Cly is an airship pirate who's trying to go straight. He just needs to do a black market run for the semi-criminal kingpin of underground Seattle, and smuggle a Confederate war machine to the Union forces, past the Texians occupying New Orleans. There's some romantic tension between him and Josephine Early, his ex lover and a current brothel owner, who called him to New Orleans to apply his piloting skills to a submarine, but he's sweet on Briar and determined to go home to her. The book is dedicated to those who should have been in the history books, with strong characters of colour and alternate sexuality. Josephine is better characterised for me, Andan doesn't seem to grow or change much. The action is exciting though, the stakes are high, and knowledge about the rotters/zombis is starting to spread.