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With a Golden Risha
An oud player joins a band of anarchist pirates on a search for a mythical city of riches.
ebook
First published September 1, 2020
83 people want to read
About the author
P. Djèlí Clark
58 books6,149 followersPhenderson Djèlí Clark.
Phenderson Djéli Clark is the author of the novel A Master of Djinn, and the award-winning and Hugo, Nebula, and Sturgeon nominated author of the novellas Ring Shout, The Black God’s Drums and The Haunting of Tram Car 015. His short stories have appeared in online venues such as Tor.com, Heroic Fantasy Quarterly, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, and in print anthologies including, Griots and Hidden Youth. You can find him on Twitter at @pdjeliclark and his blog The Disgruntled Haradrim.
Phenderson Djéli Clark is the author of the novel A Master of Djinn, and the award-winning and Hugo, Nebula, and Sturgeon nominated author of the novellas Ring Shout, The Black God’s Drums and The Haunting of Tram Car 015. His short stories have appeared in online venues such as Tor.com, Heroic Fantasy Quarterly, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, and in print anthologies including, Griots and Hidden Youth. You can find him on Twitter at @pdjeliclark and his blog The Disgruntled Haradrim.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 27, 2021
A delightful story, almost novella-length, about a somewhat indulgent musician and a ship of pirates.
"'I owe you thanks,' he said graciously. 'I would have starved out here. You must have been sent by the One.' He paused and then hastily added, 'Or the Many.' People could be touchy about religion. Best to cast a wide net.”
Despite being published in what seems like early career, it feels very polished. The story, while largely predictable, has an interesting undercurrent of economic awareness that isn't often present in fairy-tale, djinn-like settings. Another fine example of Clark's skill.
https://www.heroicfantasyquarterly.co...
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Well, at least this time they saved my review. I don't know why I was stuck under 'to read,' however.
"'I owe you thanks,' he said graciously. 'I would have starved out here. You must have been sent by the One.' He paused and then hastily added, 'Or the Many.' People could be touchy about religion. Best to cast a wide net.”
Despite being published in what seems like early career, it feels very polished. The story, while largely predictable, has an interesting undercurrent of economic awareness that isn't often present in fairy-tale, djinn-like settings. Another fine example of Clark's skill.
https://www.heroicfantasyquarterly.co...
***********
Well, at least this time they saved my review. I don't know why I was stuck under 'to read,' however.
April 5, 2022
A hapless oud player named Saleh, “mountains of gold,” a group of air pirates, a dead king, and a curse.
In this yarn we learn how Saleh earns the nickname of “Lucky Fool;” why he was “captured” by pirates on a deserted island, and whether his luck would save him from an untimely death. BTW a risha is the tool used to pluck an oud (one of the loveliest sounds you may hear in the real world).
This is one of Clark’s early efforts, but still very entertaining. My thanks to GR friend, carol, for making me aware of this shorter tale available online for no charge. https://www.heroicfantasyquarterly.co...
3.5
In this yarn we learn how Saleh earns the nickname of “Lucky Fool;” why he was “captured” by pirates on a deserted island, and whether his luck would save him from an untimely death. BTW a risha is the tool used to pluck an oud (one of the loveliest sounds you may hear in the real world).
This is one of Clark’s early efforts, but still very entertaining. My thanks to GR friend, carol, for making me aware of this shorter tale available online for no charge. https://www.heroicfantasyquarterly.co...
3.5
June 26, 2021
What a wonderful short story! This author is a master of creating compelling worlds and interesting characters and telling an entertaining story in short form. This is a rare gift that delights me every time I pick up one of his short stories. A must read.
January 20, 2023
“The wealthy rely on fear and superstitions to keep the masses oppressed”
A Middle Eastern steampunk story that plays off the “trope”(?) of the bard’s song having more than a little truth to it. Spoiler alert, there’s a sick guitar (oud) solo and a reference to Fat Bottomed Girls👀 I did say it was steamPUNK ;)
“That is the secret of power, oud player. It corrupts the just, as well as the wicked.”
A Middle Eastern steampunk story that plays off the “trope”(?) of the bard’s song having more than a little truth to it. Spoiler alert, there’s a sick guitar (oud) solo and a reference to Fat Bottomed Girls👀 I did say it was steamPUNK ;)
“That is the secret of power, oud player. It corrupts the just, as well as the wicked.”
October 4, 2021
This is a really fun audio short, with airship pirates, magical music, and a cursed ancient king. I really enjoyed this, and would happily read a novel set in this world.
January 9, 2021
This was actually a pretty good story for a short story. It reminded me of Kubo & The 2 Strings, but realizing that this was written in 2015, it wasn't copied or anything. From the beginning, I felt that this was really original, and it did a great job introducing the world to the readers. I wouldn't mind if the author decided to write a whole series based on this world. Bravo!
January 16, 2022
Available in the periodical,
Heroic Fantasy Quarterly -- Issue 23
.
To begin, a risha is to an Arabian oud as a plectrum is to a guitar. If you want to know more you can read all about ouds and rishas by clicking here.
So, with that out of the way, let's get to a review.
Great book. This is early Djèlí introducing steampunk elements into his fantasy. Our story begins with our oud player, Saleh, getting rescued by a philosopher pirate (captain who's not a captain), Usman, and the rest of the crew of the airship The Beggar. Then we're off on a 537-kindle-loc-point adventure to find treasure, amongst which is a magical golden risha with which Saleh gets to play his oud.
I really enjoyed this book and hopefully, one fine day in the future, Djèlí might even sit down and write some more stories with Saleh and Usman. There's got to be some great stories to be told about a philosopher pirate captain and his side-kick minstrel oud player.
And so, next up in my Djèlí reading list will be The Things My Mother Left Me
To begin, a risha is to an Arabian oud as a plectrum is to a guitar. If you want to know more you can read all about ouds and rishas by clicking here.
So, with that out of the way, let's get to a review.
Great book. This is early Djèlí introducing steampunk elements into his fantasy. Our story begins with our oud player, Saleh, getting rescued by a philosopher pirate (captain who's not a captain), Usman, and the rest of the crew of the airship The Beggar. Then we're off on a 537-kindle-loc-point adventure to find treasure, amongst which is a magical golden risha with which Saleh gets to play his oud.
I really enjoyed this book and hopefully, one fine day in the future, Djèlí might even sit down and write some more stories with Saleh and Usman. There's got to be some great stories to be told about a philosopher pirate captain and his side-kick minstrel oud player.
And so, next up in my Djèlí reading list will be The Things My Mother Left Me
June 25, 2021
📚
Free short story from Heroic Fantasy Quaterly
📚
P. Djèlí Clark does it again!
A well-crafted, original, Super Extra Luscious World (SELW™) I want to know more about! A refreshing, non-Eurocentric as fish setting! An oud player on the run! Pirates! Airships! A cursed island! Sky Krayken! Hahaha! A golden risha (duh)! A singing Efrit! ALL the bloody shrimping stars! Let's dance and stuff.
Approx. reading time: 56 minutes.
P. Djèlí Clark does it again!
A well-crafted, original, Super Extra Luscious World (SELW™) I want to know more about! A refreshing, non-Eurocentric as fish setting! An oud player on the run! Pirates! Airships! A cursed island! Sky Krayken! Hahaha! A golden risha (duh)! A singing Efrit! ALL the bloody shrimping stars! Let's dance and stuff.
Approx. reading time: 56 minutes.
April 30, 2021
I remain super impressed by Clark's ability to create such lush and detailed worlds in such a short amount of pages.
November 12, 2021
Awesome story! This author has been on my list for a while and now I definitely need to read more!
January 6, 2022
Quick read.
February 25, 2023
Fun short. Would love to see more tales set in this world. P. Djèlí Clark never disappoints.
January 9, 2022
Loved the narrator's accent
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews