A Dead Djinn in Cairo

by P. Djèlí Clark

eBook, 32 pages

English language

Published May 17, 2016 by Tom Doherty Associates.

(34 reviews)

Egypt, 1912. In Cairo, the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities investigate disturbances between the mortal and the (possibly) divine.

What starts off as an odd suicide case for Special Investigator Fatma el-Sha’arawi leads her through the city’s underbelly as she encounters rampaging ghouls, saucy assassins, clockwork angels, and a plot that could unravel time itself.

7 editions

73pctGeek reviewed A Dead Djinn in Cairo by P. Djèlí Clark (Dead Djinn Universe, #0.1)

Could make a great novel

3 stars

Novella set in an alternate Cairo in the early 1900s. Special Investigator Fatma el-Sha’arawi investigates the case of a dead Djinn who seems to have died by suicide. Ghouls, assassins, and angels all show up during her investigation, some a help, some a deadly hindrance.

I didn’t care much for this, it’s too short to have anything other than a straightforward plot, and there’s no space for deep characterisation. The writing is good, and the world-building impeccable, but I think I’ll stick to Clark’s novels from now on. It’s a good novella, but I prefer longer fiction.

Flauschbuch reviewed A Dead Djinn in Cairo by P. Djèlí Clark (Dead Djinn Universe, #0.1)

Intriguing

4 stars

Nice little noir-style story set in an intriguing, complex urban fantasy world. The scope of the story and the richness of the setting would have merited a bit more length. I'm looking forward to the other stories set in this world (my book club will read "Master of Djinn" later this year).

Christo reviewed A Dead Djinn in Cairo by P. Djèlí Clark (Dead Djinn Universe, #0.1)

A quick, entertaining read.

4 stars

Love the alternate universe revealed here, with Cairo and Egypt becoming a major world power, likely due to the discovery of Djinn leading to a boom in innovation. Granted, this is a short story, so much of the how Cairo got to where it is, is not discussed. That said, the murder of the Djinn of course leads to a major conspiracy that our intrepid police detective must unravel. The book is filled with strong female protagonists and characters and a world that has had the breath of life and magic breathed into it. Definitely recommend if you like speculative fiction of this type.

laprunminta reviewed A Dead Djinn in Cairo by P. Djèlí Clark (Dead Djinn Universe, #0.1)

Review of 'A Dead Djinn in Cairo' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

This is the first I've read of this author. Loved the main character and her suit and her interactions with her partner. The world was fascinating, and it made me wish that I knew much more about the cultural background (places, history, etc). The plot was probably the weakest point.

Soh Kam Yung reviewed A Dead Djinn in Cairo by P. Djèlí Clark (Dead Djinn Universe, #0.1)

A good read and intro to the author's version of a Steampunk Egypt with Djinn

4 stars

A fascinating story about an investigator looking into the death of a djinn in a steampunk version of Cairo. The investigation would lead her to conversations with an 'angel', fighting off ghouls and eventually meeting the old gods that the djinn worship from the beginning.

In this story, Cairo has become the heart of its own empire, made possible when a connection was formed with another dimension where djinn and various other spiritual denizens live. Through it, the djinn came, repelled the English and helped set up Cairo as the centre of a steampunk-ish nation with technology and magic.

But as in all tales involving djinn and magic, there is a darker side that is explored by the investigator, but it is only with the help of her wits can she possibly save the world from the hunger of old gods eager to devour mortals.

moving to outside.ofa.dog reviewed A Dead Djinn in Cairo by P. Djèlí Clark (Dead Djinn Universe, #0.1)

A Dead Djinn in Cairo review

5 stars

A lovely amuse bouche for Clark's steampunk Cairo stories, which has certainly left me wanting more of Fatma and of this world.

Pretense reviewed A Dead Djinn in Cairo by P. Djèlí Clark (Dead Djinn Universe, #0.1)

Review of 'A Dead Djinn in Cairo' on 'Goodreads'

2 stars

This was a curious little short story set in an alternate universe steampunk Cairo where djinn and other supernatural creatures walk among us humans. The story follows a Special Investigator Fatma el-Sha’arawi. Though this was a short, I found it easy to gauge her personality and enjoyed her character. The others were more forgettable, though I did like the hint of Fatma’s gender nonconformity and potential lesbian love interest. The mystery of the dead djinn is a fairly enjoyable mystery to work out, though you might not have to try too hard. I let myself flow along the story and found the ending an unsurprising but fitting conclusion.

I am new to Clark’s work and appreciated how he wrote the atmosphere of early 1900s Egypt. It feels like you are walking alongside the characters in an odoriferous bazaar or eyeing massive Khedive stone palaces. I have never been to Egypt but the prose made it feel like a familiar second home and let me feel at ease in the story.

I did have some issues with the pacing—the beginning and middle parts of the story had vastly varying tempos, and I almost found my interest waning. At times it would get exciting rather quickly and at other times it would halt to a stop just as quickly. Naturally the ending had the greatest amount of tension and was the most exciting part for me. Still, this was a decent read and excites me to read Clark’s other works in this universe as perhaps my main gripe was needing more time in the world. Man do I love steampunk.

Also the cover art is phenomenal. Great job to whoever did the piece.

AJ Kerrigan reviewed A Dead Djinn in Cairo by P. Djèlí Clark (Dead Djinn Universe, #0.1)

Review of 'A Dead Djinn in Cairo' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Well that was a fun intro romp!

I sense a tram ride in my future...

Michael Goodine reviewed A Dead Djinn in Cairo by P. Djèlí Clark (Dead Djinn Universe, #0.1)

Review of 'A Dead Djinn in Cairo: A Tor.Com Original' on 'GoodReads'

3 stars

Quite a lot of story and world building packed into this novelette. And if you are into this sort of thing, there is a much longer sequel, "The Haunting of Tram Car 015" that fleshes out the setting even more.

A bit predictable as far as mysteries go, but really atmospheric. Recommended.

patchworkbunny reviewed A Dead Djinn in Cairo by P. Djèlí Clark (Dead Djinn Universe, #0.1)

Review of 'A Dead Djinn in Cairo' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

A Dead Djinn in Cairo had potential but it felt like just a bit too much information to take in for such a short story. Set in Egypt in 1912, the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities investigates any supernatural crime and this story follows Special Investigator Fatma el-Sha’arawi. I would have totally been interested in a longer book or series, I could have just done with a slower introduction to all the supernatural beings.