clash_bowley

(Quote) OK, then we are actually in full agreement. ;)

in A Master of Djinn 1: Overall impressions Comment by clash_bowley February 2023

That may be because Iblis is not a rebel angel, but an Ifrit who rebelled against Allah.

in A Master of Djinn 4: Prejudice Comment by clash_bowley February 2023

(Quote) True, but she was certainly no downtrodden underclass woman! :D

in A Master of Djinn 1: Overall impressions Comment by clash_bowley February 2023

(Quote) The only *punk that is about the downtrodden rising up is Cyberpunk. The others have nothing to do with that. usually in Steampunk, for example, the heroes are usually members of the upper classes, if not downright noble. It's all about styl…

in A Master of Djinn 1: Overall impressions Comment by clash_bowley February 2023

(Quote) Oh, I don't think it hurt anything. You are right there! The book isn't about how magic works. Desn't mean it was well-structured, though! :p

in A Master of Djinn 5:Magic Comment by clash_bowley February 2023

Djinn are like humans, and can follow any faith. Many are Muslim, but many are Christian and Jewish as well. The vast majority of Djinn are held to belong to one of those. These three faiths were called Religions of the Book, and Islam holds that al…

in A Master of Djinn 4: Prejudice Comment by clash_bowley February 2023

I think so...

in A Master of Djinn 5:Magic Comment by clash_bowley February 2023

I hope to God that's so, Richard!

in A Master of Djinn 1: Overall impressions Comment by clash_bowley February 2023

(Quote) That is traditional with Djinn. Some avoid humanity, some mingle with humanity, and some mingle even closer.

in A Master of Djinn 3: The Characters Comment by clash_bowley February 2023

I looked up the author. P. Djeli Clark is the pen name of Dexter Gabriel, Assistant Professor in the History Dept. of the University of Connecticut. I had assumed that the author was female, but I am not surprised that he is a historian.

in A Master of Djinn 1: Overall impressions Comment by clash_bowley February 2023

(Quote) It's a *punk story - Magipunk X Steampunk X Clockworkpunk all fitted together. Boiler Plate Eunuchs are because they are slaves, like eunuchs, and boilerplate because they are mechanical. There are airships and mechanical AI created by Djinn…

in A Master of Djinn 1: Overall impressions Comment by clash_bowley February 2023

Yes! I thought much the same*! Clothing was vital to Fatma, and it was how the world revealed itself to her! Deft touch! Nice catch Neil! * Meaning I noticed and liked how the characters' clothing was always well described - I didn't take it as far…

in A Master of Djinn 3: The Characters Comment by clash_bowley February 2023

This would be an interesting source to use as a possible future for the Outremer setting. I would not use the magic. I love running police procedurals and am quite good at it, so that would not be off the table as a possibility.

in A Master of Djinn 6: Gaming Comment by clash_bowley January 2023

The magic was absolutely unsystematized and arbitrary. She decided to make it mysterious and unknowable, which is cool, but there should be some framework behind it all to my mind. In my case it was the one aspect of this book that felt arbitrary to…

in A Master of Djinn 5:Magic Comment by clash_bowley January 2023

Agree entirely with Apocryphal here! This was very well handled, and I wish there was more of it handled this way in fiction.

in A Master of Djinn 4: Prejudice Comment by clash_bowley January 2023

I found the large cast effective. I liked all the characters, and enjoyed their interactions.

in A Master of Djinn 3: The Characters Comment by clash_bowley January 2023

It was in the run up to the War to End All Wars, so early 20th century, Apocryphal! I loved the setting! There was a lot of realistic detail and it felt right to me! I could dive down deep in that setting! Definitely could see Cairo as a world capi…

in A Master of Djinn 2: Setting Comment by clash_bowley January 2023

Enjoyed it very much! I got swept up in the story and had to pace myself, or I would have finished too early. Loved the various djinn, and found the main characters very entertaining. The plot was intriguing, though I suspected the ultimate culprit …

in A Master of Djinn 1: Overall impressions Comment by clash_bowley January 2023

(Quote) Bah! I finished... some other book we did... didn't I? B)