The Clockwork King: a fantasy novella

by Simon Kewin

When Siggurd is given a task to perform by the Wirfather, he knows he is being sent to his death in punishment for his sins. For the Wirfather instructs him to track down and capture the Clockwork King of Pirathia, the fabled silver and brass homunculus Borealis Banderwar.

It is an impossible task, but Siggurd has no choice but to try...

A fantasy novella set in the world of the three miraculous homunculi of Endest.

Also contains two bonus fantasy short Threads and A Midwinter Sacrifice .

72 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 12, 2017

About the author

Simon Kewin is a fantasy and sci/fi writer, author of the Cloven Land fantasy trilogy, cyberpunk thriller The Genehunter , steampunk Gormenghast saga Engn , the Triple Stars sci/fi trilogy and the Office of the Witchfinder General books, published by Elsewhen Press.

He's the author of several short story collections, with his shorter fiction appearing in Analog, Nature and over a hundred other magazines.

He is currently doing an MA in creative writing while writing at least three novels simultaneously.

Reviews

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this short and very interesting steampunk story which debates the belief in a god, Aednir and shows the fanaticism shown by the followers, in this case the fathers, talons and acolytes of Thingwir who never questioned anything. This is the story of Siggurd the acolyte who had shown some disbelief, and as this was not tolerated he was sent from the cold North to the South, to Pirathia in search of the last homonculus known as the Clockwork King of Pirathia. He was to bring him to the Wirfather to be dismantled, same as the other two clockwork beings had been. However on the way Siggurd had time to think, to get angry at his god, and to debate with Borealis once he met him. What Siggurd discovers upon their return to Thingwir is a great surprise and I am dying to go on reading the next book which must be just as exciting, as this book leaves us on a sort of cliffhanger ending.

[Christine Rains · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pausing to admire the beauty of a goddess statue before he destroys it for his god, Siggurd is sent to the Wirfather to be punished. He's instructed to go to Pirathia and capture the Clockwork King. An impossible task, but a chance to live that Siggurd might not otherwise get.

This short fantasy novella takes the reader from a desperate land ruled by the followers of a cruel religion to grand mountains and a beautiful city where people do not live in fear. Siggurd is immediately sympathetic in that his tiny hesitation has brought him a great punishment. The silver and brass humunculus Borealis Banderwar, the ruler of Pirathia, is a wonder, and captures Siggurd's curiosity too. Well written with fine details and thoughtful.

The novella includes two bonus stories just as finely crafted.