Short Stories 366:60 — “The Effluent Engine,” by N.K. Jemisin

[image error]How Long ‘Til Black Future Month? is fast becoming my favourite collection of this whole Short Story project. The sheer range of spec-fic Jemisin has on hand in this book is phenomenal. We’ve already seen contemporary urban fantasy and far future SF, and now we’re in an alternate history steampunk and dirigible story and wow, does “The Effluent Engine” deliver a great ride.

The story is centred through Jessaline, a woman on a very specific—and incredibly important—mission in New Orleans. She’s here on pretense, to make contact with a man who might have the key to granting her people freedom, but this man isn’t exactly like her, and New Orleans is a dangerous enough place to be for any free black woman—but Jessaline is far, far more than that.

She’s a spy.

What unfolds is a wonderful series of moves and countermoves as Jessaline hits a wall, figures out what might be a potentially better solution, survives multiple attempts on her life, admits the truth to the one person who might truly be able to help, and risks everything for a shot at love. That this story includes all of that (and queer love, to boot) and sacrifices not a jot to pacing, world-building, or characterization is flipping amazing. This story was freaking fantastic, and I would happily dive back into this world to learn more.

Bring on the dirigible battles for continued freedom, please, as well as a story of love between a clever Créole chemist and a spy.

I should note this audio collection continues to be performed to superb standards.