The Haunting of Tram Car 015

(Dead Djinn Universe #0.3)

Paperback, 130 pages

English language

Published Feb. 19, 2019 by Tor.

ISBN:
9781250294807

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4 stars (3 reviews)

The Haunting of Tram Car 015 returns to the alternate Cairo of Clark's short fiction, where humans live and work alongside otherworldly beings; the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities handles the issues that can arise between the magical and the mundane. Senior Agent Hamed al-Nasr shows his new partner Agent Onsi the ropes of investigation when they are called to subdue a dangerous, possessed tram car. What starts off as a simple matter of exorcism, however, becomes more complicated as the origins of the demon inside are revealed.

2 editions

A nice addition to the Dead Djinn universe

4 stars

I had to get over the fact that Agent Fatma isn't the protagonist in this one but two other agents of the Ministry - an experienced one and his new partner fresh from the academy. A classic setting. Together, they have to overcome plenty of difficulties to solve what at first appears to be a low stakes case that escalates. Clark does a really good job of making these characters come to life. I also like the connections to the previous story and its protagonists. Even though it's only a short tale he also manages to weave a lot of political background and worldbuilding into it.

Two Agents against a haunted tram car. What could go wrong?

4 stars

Another fascinating story set in the same setting (but after the events) of the author's story, "A Dead Djinn in Cairo", this one has two agents of the Egyptian Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities looking into the possible haunting of an aerial tram car. But what starts off as a possible 'simple' possession by a djinn evolves into something much darker, as further investigations start to reveal the true nature of the spirit occupying the tram car.

Woven into the tale is a background of female emancipation with a vote to be taken to give women the vote, which would give the agents more food for thought in the involvement of women in their work in the future. Quite a number of interesting secondary women characters are in the story, providing some humour and alternative viewpoints.

In the end, the agents solve the case, but not without some …