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Dreadnought: A Novel of the Clockwork Century Audiobook
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(3.00) - 3,550 listener ratings
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Publisher 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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"Stupendous. World building par excellence. I am a little blurry, because I just spent the last few hours on a monstrous, juggernaut (really!) train in an alternate 19th century America, and I have not yet brought my head back to the 21st century. Cherie Priest steals my heart and head every time I dip into one of her novels. Her character Mercy Lynch is as stalwart as Briar Wilkes from the novel Boneshaker. We see more of this world in this book--traveling from the South across the West and arriving finally back in the sealed chamber that is Seattle. Mercy is a plain, common sense woman who knows how to stand alone, and she must, as she has just discovered she is a widow. However, events do not allow her time to grieve the loss of her husband. She receives notice that her long lost father may be dying. Probably because she was so jarred by the news of her husband's death, she drops everything to attempt to get to her father before it is too late. And so begins our journey . . . ."
— Mary (5 out of 5 stars)
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“Priest creates a wonderfully unique landscape on which she plots a convincing and imaginative adventure. An entertaining read and a good introduction for those unfamiliar with steampunk.”
— RT Book Reviews (4 stars) -
“Maternal love faces formidable challenges in this stellar steampunk tale…. Intelligent, exceptionally well written and showcasing a phenomenal strong female protagonist who embodies the complexities inherent in motherhood, this yarn is a must read for the discerning steampunk fan.
— Publishers Weekly, starred review on Boneshaker -
A mash-up of action, history, and science that is everything good about steampunk. If you like the genre, you'll love this, and if you've been worried that it's getting stale or trendy then you will be thrilled with Priest's way of taking the formula and turning it inside out. The setting is solid but the characters are what makes Boneshaker sing. Give Cherie Priest fifteen minutes of your time-- trust me--you won't look back.
— Bookslut on Boneshaker -
Cherie Priest is high priestess of steampunk.
— Seattle Times on Boneshaker
Dreadnought Listener Reviews
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" Cherie Priest's Dreadnought is a fast-paced read. Adventure abounds and Mercy Lynch is always moving. It can be difficult to create a female protagonist who is strong and yet realistic, especially if a book is set in the Victorian era. Priest has found the sweet spot with Mercy Lynch, a war nurse working to save the lives (or ease the pain) of Confederate soldiers coming in from the front lines. This alternate history of the world, in which the Civil War has gone on for decades, includes frightening war trains, zombies, and, of course, dirigibles. "
— Shannon, 2/17/2014 -
" I'm only five or six chapters in, but enjoying it as much as Boneshaker -- she tells a story well! "
— Bryce, 2/6/2014 -
" I really loved the idea of this book, but the mix of characters and action did not grab me like I wanted it to. There were some points where I wasn't sure where the characters are there was so much movement, then other times where nothing was happening. The secondary characters felt very secondary. Overall, just formulaic western mystery, but with a steampunk twist. "
— R.A., 1/10/2014 -
" Highly enjoyable, great protagonist and good supporting characters. Action-packed, well-paced after a bit of a slow start, and I found the ending highly enjoyable. Cherie Priest is on a roll for me. "
— Mark, 1/6/2014 -
" Dreadnaught is far better than Boneshaker. I absolutely LOVE the fast pace that kept me feeling like I was actually on that train! "
— Sheree, 1/1/2014 -
" Easy read, but not as enthralling as Boneshaker "
— Tom, 12/31/2013 -
" Light, easy to read, likeable enough characters... not much to it though, and for a book with a giant steampunk robot on the cover it was really way too much about trains... "
— Colin, 12/27/2013 -
" A grand steam-punk adventure as Mercy Lynch makes her way across Civil War America in a variety of dirigibles and steam trains beset by troubles and mechanical devices. What is the secret of "The Dreadnought" that most fearsome of Union steam engines? "
— Simon, 12/17/2013 -
" Another fantastic work by Cherie Priest! Intense, fast-paced, with the mix of humanity, horror, and technology that I so enjoyed in Boneshaker. Looking forward to reading more in this series! "
— Meredith, 12/9/2013 -
" While the train stuff got slightly repetitive, I really enjoyed the ride of this book and how it weaves together with the world of Boneshaker. Can't wait to read what comes next. "
— Amy, 11/26/2013 -
" I actually enjoyed it even more than Boneshaker and I can't wait for the next book. "
— Elizabeth, 9/25/2012 -
" Second favorite of the series. Mercy is a highly engaging & sweet character that perseveres despite much adversity. Loved it. "
— Connor, 9/13/2012 -
" Very intriguing. I love alternate histories! "
— Brenna, 5/3/2012 -
" Not BAD. Not by any means... I just didn't find it entirely engrossing, much like the other books in this "series". A fun little tale but I hardly found myself eagerly devouring each chapter. "
— Sarah, 1/23/2012 -
" The series started off so good and just got progressively worse. I had to force myself to finish this one. It was just the same fight over and over and was totally predictable. I'd recommend reading boneshaker and then quitting. "
— Autumn, 12/25/2011 -
" Actually liked it more than Boneshaker. She seems to have improved on the "writing dialogue" front. I think the end sets up an interesting possibility for a third book. "
— Garrett, 8/4/2011 -
" Good book, ties in with the first one. "
— Sabur76, 6/10/2011 -
" This was disappointing having really enjoyed Boneshaker. Very weak plot strung out over 300 pages. "
— Xhanthi, 6/7/2011 -
" Oh man, it doesn't get any better than this! Steam punk, zombies, civil war and shades of "The Wild Wild West" (the movie). Cherie Priest has built a really cool universe. Can't wait for #3. "
— Karl, 6/4/2011 -
" Not bad, not bad. Looking forward to the next book. "
— Matt, 6/3/2011 -
" Great followup to Boneshaker - I already have Ganymede on preorder - can't wait!! "
— Kelly, 5/22/2011 -
" Civil War era zombies and steampunk. What more could you possibly need to create a fast paced adventure aboard the Dreadnought? "
— Lila, 5/12/2011 -
" I really enjoyed this, Mercy was a strong and likeable character and the story was fast paced and full of action. I was nervous after not enjoying Clementine, but this was a cracking read. "
— Em, 5/4/2011 -
" Most expansive of the series. Nice coda for boneshaker fans as well "
— Owen, 4/21/2011
About Cherie Priest
Cherie Priest’s Boneshaker was nominated for a Nebula and Hugo Award, won the Locus Award for best science-fiction novel, and was named Steampunk Book of the Year by steampunk.com. She is also the author of Dreadnought, Boneshaker’s sequel, and of the near-contemporary fantasy Fathom. She debuted to great acclaim with a trilogy of Southern gothic ghost stories featuring heroine Eden Moore wich included Four and Twenty Blackbirds, Wings to the Kingdom, and Not Flesh nor Feathers. Born in Tampa, Florida, she earned her Master’s in rhetoric at the University of Tennessee. She lives in Seattle, Washington, with her husband, Aric, and a fat black cat named Spain.
About Kate Reading
Michael Kramer is an AudioFile Earphones Award winner, a finalist for the prestigious Audie Award for Best Narration, and recipient of a Publishers Weekly Listen-Up Award. He is also an actor and director in the Washington, DC, area, where he is active in the area’s theater scene and has appeared in productions at the Shakespeare Theatre, the Kennedy Center, and Theater J.