Time Hunter: The Clockwork Woman by Claire Bott

This is the third in Telos Publishing's series of novellas relating the adventures of Honoré Lechasseur and Emily Blandish. Honoré is a 'time-sensitive', able to perceive a person's timeline (though he cannot fully control this ability). Emily, on the other hand, is a 'time channel', able to travel through time when she comes into contact with a time-sensitive. In The Clockwork Woman, the pair jump back to the 19th century, and the home of Sir Edward Fanshawe, the inventor of many fantastic devices, including the mechanical woman of the book's title.

One of the most striking things about The Clockwork Woman, when compared to the first two Time Hunter titles, is how Honoré and Emily are made members of the supporting cast. This first-person tale is narrated by - and is very much about - the 'clockwork woman' herself. Originally created as a servant and plaything for Sir Edward, she finds herself going against her programming when she helps the time travellers escape after they have been imprisoned by the master of the house. Fleeing with Honoré (Emily having flown off separately on a glider), the woman gives herself a name - Dove - and is tricked into going to London, where she is sold to a brothel - and finds Emily in the same predicament. But Honoré is not far behind...

'Shared world' enterprises can be maligned for being unimaginative, formulaic and not willing to take risks. Quite often, such criticisms are valid; but there are always exceptions - and what an exception we have here. Admittedly, Time Hunter isn't your average 'shared world' because its canvas is so large; and you would expect Telos to be a cut above the rest anyway. But, even so, Claire Bott has produced something special in this novella.

The Clockwork Woman explores such themes as being human, freedom, selfishness, gender and coming of age, as well as being a superbly written adventure story - and all in the space of a 74-page novella. Who needs doorstops when you can read something like this? The previous two entries in the Time Hunter series set a high standard; but this one surpasses them. If the series maintains this quality, it will become essential reading. Mind you, on the strength of The Clockwork Woman alone, I'd happily argue that it already is essential reading.

This review first appeared in The Alien Online.

Further links:
Telos