The Clockwork's Orange

by E.P. Isaacs (Author, Illustrator)

Stop me if you've heard this one.

A girl and her dog and a satchel of mail are just trying to find their way to Fort Kansas. On their heels are wolves, a troll, one irate goblin, a group of fiendish little girls, a witch's pet, and a witch, too. Wait. You haven't heard this one? Well, then. 'The Clockwork's Orange' picks up the story of Nika Thought-werk, hero of the book 'Do Clockworks Dream of Gear-toothed Sheep?' Once a clockwork doll, Nika is now a little girl without a home or family to look after her. Her eyes are now open to the dangers around her - but she sees a world of magic and wonder, too!

As she struggles to find her way to the ever distant Fort Kansas, old foes still dog her heels - along with a host of new ones. One thing about it though is that Nika knows no matter what lies ahead, she is not alone. Best of all - through it all - Nika has a best friend that wouldn't dream of leaving her side.

Fantasy and monsters abound in this story of magic, wonder, and struggle that, at its heart, seeks to show readers that the magic to change the world lies in their belief that they can change it.

339 pages, Paperback

First published March 21, 2020

About the author

E.P. Isaacs is the writer behind the Tales of the Robot Nika and the related books set to appear in the future. She first met Nika Thought-werk while listening to a poem about a hapless mail pilot. The poem was presented at the Der Hut Des Jäger Poetry Slam in March of 2011. The pilot in the poem was, of course, Nika Thought-werk. Over the next couple of months, the two became friends, and by the Summer of 2011, E.P. Isaacs had begun writing down the stories of her life that the little clockwork girl would share with her late at night as the two worked toward Nika's goal of expanding her clockwork postal system.

E.P. Isaacs was literary editor to the now-defunct Steampunk Tintype and Telegraph (ask Nika for all fourteen issues in Second Life. She is quite proud of them) and a frequent contributor to the bimonthly online writer’s group Tall Tales and Outright Lies. Her first book, Do Clockworks Dream of Gear-Toothed Sheep, was published in August 2015. Now, she is busily researching and plotting her second book, which she hopes will be in print in early 2016.

In her free time these days, Ms. Isaacs writes more of Nika's stories down, practices drawing, studies computing, and listens to music alongside Nika. The pair are especially fond of bands such as Punch Brothers and Joy Kills Sorrow, as well as singers such as Abigail Washburn and Sarah Jarosz. Her favorite books include the Mossflower Series, the Chronicles of Narnia, and anything having to do with L. Frank Baum's Oz.

Reviews

[Lori Alden Holuta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our story begins with a mother and her daughter watching a film. It’s an old film, revealing a strange place very far away. This film tells the continuing story of a little soldier, a story which began in book One, Do Clockworks Dream of Gear-toothed Sheep.

Reading The Clockwork’s Orange gave me a feeling of having found a long-lost treasure in an old trunk in the attic. This ‘old’ book speaks to me from a distance and the past, yet still somehow feels personal, as if it were trying to convey a message directly to me.

The cover art, the many illustrations scattered throughout the book, the songs, and the poetry have all been hand-crafted by author E.P. Isaacs. The artwork feels child-friendly and decidedly vintage. I’d love to sit down with a child and listen to them tell me about the pictures, and teach me to sing the songs. This attention to detail reminds me a little of the deliberately aged and filled with acquired history the authors of The Book of Speculation as well as S. (Ship of Theseus) instilled in their books. These are all books that have lived. These books were never new, not even on the day they were printed. The Clockwork’s Orange’s illustrations surely have been looked at by many generations of children. The poems must have been recited on playgrounds as children’s fleet feet danced over hopscotch grids.

Nika and her faithful companion, a … dog … named Postage, are travelers. Along their journey, they meet interesting people, animals and insects. Things are rarely as they seem. Things do not always work out well. These adventures were written for children. There’s messages carefully threaded throughout, ones that smart children and, hopefully their parents and older siblings and friends might also notice and think about.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sequel to Do Clockworks Dream of Gear-Toothed Sheep?, The Clockwork’s Orange continues on in the same whimsical and dreamy tradition of the original. There is something surreal to these works, which reminds me of Lord Dunsany, CSLewis, L Frank Baum, Lewis Carroll, and George MacDonald. This style of writing isn’t seen often today, and this makes the book a rare joy. It’s a delightful read and will leave you in a better mood for reading it.

Two cautions about this book: you’ll want to have read the first book, and you’ll be anxious to get your hands on the (at this point upcoming) sequel.