Clockwork Cairo: Steampunk Tales of Egypt

Bright’s collection of steampunk stories set in Egypt notably includes no Egyptian authors, instead serving as an introduction to several popular Western steampunk authors and series. In Gail Carriger’s “The Curious Case of the Werewolf That Wasn’t, the Mummy That Was, and the Cat in the Jar,” Alessandro Tarabotti, a Templar, discovers a strange mummy and plenty of danger in bustling Cairo. In Jonathan Green’s action-packed “Worthless Remains,” set in 1998, adventurer and detective Ulysses Quicksilver learns that an old acquaintance is programming mummy automatons to murder. In Tiffany Trent’s “The Lights of Dendera,” science and magic collide when a singer is asked to perform for Nikola Tesla at a new Egyptian art exhibit and comes face to face with Anubis. In Zan Lee’s “Ushabti,” a dying pharaoh grapples with his own mortality. Nisi Shawl’s “Sun River” is atmospheric and sensuous, making full use of its locale. This immersive collection captures the whimsy and drama of steampunk as well as its flaws. (June)