Finally, you guys – the big day is here: Fiddlehead is now in stores in the United States and the UK! It’s been a hell of a ride, you guys, but this is the final full-length* Clockwork Century novel, and I promise you IT IS A DOOZY.

I mean, I don’t know about YOU, but MY definition of “DOOZY” is somewhere along the lines of “WILD-ASS 19TH CENTURY POLITICAL THRILLER UNLIKE ANYTHING YOU’VE EVER READ AND I DO MEAN EVER.”

Oh, but I can already hear the protests: “MORE STEAMPUNK???! It is probably just gears on hats and curly mustaches for no reason and BESIDES if I haven’t read the other books, I’ll have NO IDEA what’s going on!”

INCORRECT.

THINGS YOU WON’T FIND IN FIDDLEHEAD no matter how hard you look (no for real I am SERIOUS):

• Gears on hats.
  
• Curly mustaches for no reason.
  
• Stuff that makes no sense unless you’ve read all the other books.
  

THINGS YOU WILL TOTALLY FIND IN FIDDLEHEAD and you won’t even have to look very hard (I PROMISE):

• MURDERY ESPIONAGE PLOTS
  
• A KICKASS INVENTOR FIGHTING CRIME WITH SCIENCE
  
• SECRET AGENTS WITH VERY SKETCHY PASTS
  
• A LADY DETECTIVE WHO FIGHTS DIRTY
  
• WICKED INDUSTRIALIST WARHAWKS
  
• TWO PRESIDENTS UNDER SIEGE BY ASSASSINS
  
• A ZOMBIE WHO TOTALLY DESERVES TO BE ONE
  
• OH MY GOD PEOPLE THIS IS BARELY THE BEGINNING
  

That said, YES – FANS OF THE SERIES WILL GET SOME ANSWERS. Have you wondered what became of Croggon Hainey and the crew of the Free Crow? Curious about the mysterious Kirby Troost: is he full of hot air, or the badass he pretends? Pondering how the Civil War is going to end?

THEN KEEP READING, MY FRIENDS.
Because Fiddlehead is the cure for what ails you!

Publishers Weekly had some very kind things to say about it – to wit:

“Priest’s final Clockwork Century novel (after The Inexplicables) wraps things up nicely, once again turning a mash-up of too-worn genre tropes (steampunk, alternate Civil War, zombies) into a work of entertainment laced with social criticism. In 1879, as the Civil War continues to rage, scientist and ex-slave Gideon Bardsley’s invention, a massive computer called the Fiddlehead, has predicted that the zombie outbreak from the Northwest will overwhelm both sides if they don’t end the war. Working with ex-president Lincoln (long disabled from an assassination attempt), he enlists the Pinkertons, including their agent Belle Boyd, in an attempt to find allies in the South. Meanwhile, amoral businesswoman Katharine Haymes attempts to prolong the war for her own reasons. Priest again throws in a huge cast of characters, and the historical figures (Boyd, Lincoln, Grant) are as interesting as the fictional ones. New readers would benefit from starting at the beginning of the series, but returning fans will be satisfied by the elegant conclusion and will regret that a great series has ended.”

[:: flings confetti ::]
[:: deploys tee shirt cannon ::]
[:: performs ridiculous touchdown dance ::]

AND HOW DO YOU GET YOUR HOT LITTLE HANDS ON THIS BOOK? Let me help.

First and foremost, if you have the option – it’d be really nice if you’d hit up your local independent bookseller. If they don’t have it in stock, they can order it for you, easy-peasy; or if you’re not sure what’s out there, you can check this link at IndieBound for a store that carries it near you.

Failing that, here are some links to set you up with the usual suspects:

• Fiddlehead at Amazon.com
  
• Fiddlehead in Kindle form
  
• Fiddlehead at Barnes & Noble.com
  
• Fiddlehead in Nook form

• For other e-reader editions, click here – And scroll down to the “Buy the Book” section for digital options.
  
• For UK readers click here – For all the availability details.
  

SO NOW WHAT?

So now…on a different note. (Because I can have as many notes in my post as I want, that’s why.)

This is the end of an era for me, and it is a bittersweet thing to send Fiddlehead out into the world. May you find it easily, read it happily, and share it with friends of a like-minded nature. Thank you all for your support, always – thank you for embracing this weird little series with the zombies and the gas, and the spies and the dirigibles, and giants and monsters and heroes.

Thank you for everything.
But most of all, thank you for reading.

~Cherie Priest

---

* Novella Jacaranda will be out through Subterranean Press late next year, I believe. It takes place 20 years after the events of Fiddlehead, and will be unrelated to the main arc.

Posted Uncategorized |