S.A. Chakraborty ’s debut fantasy novel , The City of Brass , is n’t out until November , but we have a sneak peek at the first chapter , as well as insight from the author about the magical world she created . It begins in 18th century Cairo , and pursue a hustle artist who realizes her genuine great power after a mysterious encounter .
Here ’s more from the writer about The City of Brass :
I started indite The City of Brass as an geographic expedition into traditional belief about djinn . It ’s often learn that djinn are levelheaded beings standardised to humans , created from smokeless fire and living unobserved in our thick — which I always found a fascinating albeit slightly frightening concept , this idea of brute living silently among us , dispassionately watching the rise and fall of our various civilizations .
It ’s also a construct that offers a great opportunity to imagine how the djinn might have build their world , mime the ways of their human neighbors . So in the book , there ’s a djinn version of Baghdad ’s cracking depository library , filled with the ancient book humans have lost alongside powerful text of magic ; they battle with weapons from Achaemenid Persia ( enhance by fire of course ) ; the medical tradition of famed bookman like Ibn Sina have been adapted to treat magical malady ; terpsichorean conjure flower while singing Mughal love songs ; a court system based on the Zanzibar Sultanate deals justice to merchants who becharm their competitor … not to mention a cityscape sport everything from zikurat and pyramids to minarets and tope . I also pushed a short further with the mind of the unobserved , suppose a world of enchanted creatures make from other elements communicate through ours : marid raising rivers into gravid serpents , peris whipping the air into crack cocaine , djinn conjuring maps of smoke and racing bird of fire .
But for as much merriment as I had re - imagining chronicle through a fantastic lens , I also want its politics to palpate real , to examine conflicts and themes that run through all of our civilization . What does it feel like to last under strange occupation ? How can faith and patriotism be rick into something that makes otherwise decorous hoi polloi do dreadful thing ? Where ’s the product line between being a pragmatic rule and being a tyrant ? I doubt even legerdemain would offer an easy answer to some of these question ! ”
A good flavour at the back art :
And , finally , the excerption , in which we meet protagonist Nahri as she ’s still working as a ( mostly ) false fortune teller in a Cairo market stall .
Chapter 1
He was an soft patsy .
Nahri smile behind her velum , watching the two men bicker as they approach her kiosk . The jr. one glanced apprehensively down the skittle alley while the older man — her client — sweated in the coolheaded break of the day breeze . lay aside for the men , the back street was empty ; fajr had already been call and anyone devout enough for public supplicant — not that there were many in her neighborhood — was already ensconce in the small mosque at the end of the street .
She contend a yawn . Nahri was not one for dawn prayer , but her guest had prefer the early time of day and paid handsomely for discretion . She learn the manpower as they approached , mark their light characteristic and the cutting of their expensive coat . Turks , she distrust . The firstborn might even be a basha , one of the few who had n’t fly Cairo when the Franks invaded . She crossed her implements of war over her black abaya , produce intrigued . She did n’t have many Turkish client ; they were too clannish . Indeed , when the Franks and Turks were n’t press over Egypt , the only thing they seemed to agree on was that the Egyptians could n’t govern it themselves . God disallow . It ’s not as though the Egyptians were the inheritors of a great civilization whose mighty monuments still littered the land . Oh , no . They were bucolic , superstitious tomfool who ate too many beans .
Well , this superstitious fool is about to swindle you for all you ’re worth , so insult forth . Nahri smiled as the human being approach .
She greeted them cordially and show them into her lilliputian stall , serving the sr. a bitter tea made from crushed Greek clover seeds and coarsely chop spate . He drank it quick , but Nahri take her fourth dimension reading the leafage , murmuring and singing in her native tongue , a language the humanity most certainly would n’t bonk , a language not even she had a name for . The longer she take , the more desperate he would be . The more fleeceable .
Her stall was hot , the air trapped by the drear scarves she hung on the walls to protect her customer ’ secrecy and thick with the odors of burnt cedar , lather , and the cheap icteric wax she passed off as frankincense . Her client nervously kneaded the ahem of his coat , perspiration pour out down his ruddy cheek and dampening the broider collar .
The younger man scowl . “ This is jerky , brother , ” he whispered in Turkish . “ The Dr. sound out there ’s nothing ill-timed with you . ”
Nahri hid a triumphant smile . So they were Turks . They would n’t expect her to understand them — they belike simulate an Egyptian street therapist just utter right Arabic — but Nahri knew Turkish as well as she have it off her native tongue . And Arabic and Hebrew , scholarly Persian , high-pitched - class Venetian , and coastal Swahili . In her twenty or so yr of living , she had yet to come upon a spoken language she did n’t immediately empathize .
But the Turks did n’t require to know that , so she ignored them , dissemble to study the settlings in the basha ’s cup . in conclusion she suspire , the gauzy veil flapping against her lips in a fashion that drew the gazes of both men , and send packing the cupful on the floor .
It break as it was mean to , and the basha gasped . “ By the Almighty ! It ’s speculative , is n’t it ? ”
Nahri glanced up at the valet , languidly blinking long - whip black heart . He ’d give way pale , and she paused to heed for the pulse of his heart . It was dissolute and spotty due to fright , but she could sense it pumping healthy blood throughout his body . His intimation was fresh of sickness , and there was an unmistakable brightness level in his dark eyes . Despite the grey hairs in his face fungus — sick hidden by henna — and the plumpness in his belly , he endure from nothing other than an excess of wealthiness .
She ’d be glad to help him with that .
“ I am so disconsolate , sir . ” Nahri push back the small fabric sack , her quick fingers count on the routine of dirhams it held . “ Please take back your money . ”
The basha ’s eyes popped . “ What ? ” he cried . “ Why ? ”
She dropped her gaze . “ There are some things that are beyond me , ” she say quietly .
“ Oh , God . . . do you hear her , Arslan ? ” The basha turn to his brother , tears in his eyes . “ You said I was half-baked ! ” he accused , choking back a sob . “ And now I ’m exit to give-up the ghost ! ” He bury his psyche in his hands and wept ; Nahri matter the gold rings on his fingers . “ I was so take care forwards to marrying . . . ”
Arslan shot her an irritated look before turning back to the basha . “ Pull yourself together , Cemal , ” he hissed in Turkish .
The basha wiped his eye and looked up at her . “ No , there must be something you’re able to do . I ’ve hear rumour — People say you made a crippled boy take the air by just look at him . Surely you may help me . ”
Nahri leaned back , hiding her pleasance . She had no idea what cripple he was referring to , but God be praised , it would certainly aid her reputation .
She touched her center . “ Oh , sir , it grieves me so to deliver such news . And to think of your high-priced bride being deprived of such a prize . . . ”
His shoulders shake as he sobbed . She wait for him to develop a bit more hysteric , film the chance to value the dense gold bands circling his wrists and cervix . A fine garnet , attractively shorten , was pinned to his pillbox .
ultimately she speak again . “ There might be something , but . . . no . ” She shook her headland . “ It would n’t knead . ”
“ What ? ” he cried , clutching the narrow table . “ Please , I ’ll do anything ! ”
“ It will be very unmanageable . ”
Arslan sighed . “ And expensive , I wager . ”
Oh , now you talk Arabic ? Nahri hold him a sweet smile , knowing her humeral veil was gauzy enough to reveal her feature . “ All of my prices are middling , I assure you . ”
“ Be silent , comrade , ” the basha snapped , glowering at the other valet . He looked at Nahri , his fount set . “ Tell me . ”
“ It ’s not a certainty , ” she warn .
“ I must try out . ”
“ You are a brave man , ” she said , let her representative tremble . “ Indeed , I believe your affliction has come about from the malefic eye . Someone is envious of you , sir . And who would n’t be ? A humans of your wealth and lulu could attract only envy . Perhaps even someone close . . . ” Her glance at Arslan was abbreviated but enough to make his cheeks redden . “ You must acquit your home of any dark the enviousness has bring in . ”
“ How ? ” the basha ask , his voice hush and eager .
“ First , you must assure to fall out my instructions exactly . ”
“ Of course ! ”
She leaned forward , captive . “ prevail a mixing of one part ambergris to two constituent cedarwood rock oil , a full amount . Get them from Yaqub , down the alley . He has the best stuff . ”
“ Yaqub ? ”
“ Aywa . Yes . inquire for some powdered Citrus aurantifolia rind and walnut oil as well . ”
Arslan check his buddy with open incredulity , but Leslie Townes Hope brightened in the basha ’s eyes . “ And then ? ”
“ This is where it might get unmanageable , but , sir . . . ” Nahri touched his handwriting , and he shuddered . “ You must follow my command exactly . ”
“ Yes . By the Most Merciful , I swear . ”
“ Your mansion needs to be cleansed , and that can only be done if it is desert . Your full household must result , fauna , servants , all . There must not be a live soulfulness in the house for seven days . ”
“ Seven daylight ! ” he cry , then lowered his vox at the disapproval in her eyes . “ Where are we to go ? ”
“ The oasis at Fayoum . ” Arslan laughed , but Nahri continued . “ Go to the second smallest springiness at sundown with your youngest son , ” she read , her representative severe . “ Gather some water in a basket made of local John Reed , say the throne verse over it three times , and then use it for your ablution . Mark your door with the ambergris and oil before you pass on and by the time you render , the envy will be gone . ”
“ Fayoum ? ” Arslan interrupted . “ My God , girl , even you must know there ’s a state of war on . Do you opine Napoleon eager to let any of us leave behind Cairo for some useless desert trek ? ”
“ Be quiet ! ” The basha have intercourse on the table before change by reversal back to Nahri . “ But such a thing will be difficult . ”
Nahri scatter her hands . “ God provides . ”
“ Yes , of course . So it is to be Fayoum , ” he decided , looking determine . “ And then my heart will be cure ? ”
She paused ; it was the heart he was worried about ? “ God willing , sir . Have your new wife put the powdery birdlime and oil into your evening tea for the next calendar month . ” It would n’t do anything for his nonexistent centre problem , but perhaps his bride would better enjoy his breath . Nahri let go of his hand .
The basha flash as if released from a spell . “ Oh , give thanks you , dear one , thank you . ” He pushed back the small release of coin and then slip one’s mind a heavy gold ring from his little finger and handed that over as well . “ God hallow you . ”
“ May your marriage be fruitful . ”
He rose hard to his invertebrate foot . “ I must require , child , where are your people from ? You ’ve a Cairene accent , but there ’s something about your eyes . . . ” He trail off .
Nahri pressed her lips together ; she hat when people asked after her inheritance . Though she was n’t what many would call beautiful — years of living on the street had leave her much thin and far dirtier than gentleman typically preferred — her bright eye and sharp face unremarkably spurred a second glance . And it was that 2d glance , the one that revealed a line of midnight hair and uncommonly black optic — unnaturally dark eyes , she ’d hear it said — that provoked questions .
“ I ’m as Egyptian as the Nile , ” she see him .
“ Of course . ” He touch his eyebrow . “ In peace treaty . ” He ducked under the door to bequeath .
Arslan stayed behind another mo ; Nahri could feel his eye on her as she gathered her requital . “ You do realize you just committed a crime , yes ? ” he asked , his vox sharp .
“ I ’m no-count ? ”
He stepped nearer . “ A law-breaking , you fool . Witchcraft is a criminal offense under Ottoman law . ”
Nahri could n’t serve herself ; Arslan was only the recent in a long line of puff - up Turkish official she ’d had to deal with growing up in Cairo under Ottomon pattern . “ Well , then I hypothesise I ’m favourable the Franks are in commission now . ”
It was a misunderstanding . His expression instantly reddened . He raised his hand , and Nahri flinched , her fingers reflexively tightening over the basha ’s mob . One acuate edge switch off into her palm .
But he did n’t attain her . Instead , he spat at her feet . “ By God as my witness , you hook witch . . . when we empty the French out of Egypt , foulness like you will be the next to go . ” He shot her another hatred - make full glare and then left .
She took a wobbly breathing place as she watch the disceptation buddy disappear into the former morning sombreness toward Yaqub ’s apothecary . But it was n’t the threat that unsettled her : It was the rattle she ’d heard when he squall , the smell of iron - rich blood in the gentle wind . A diseased lung , consumption , peradventure even a cancerous sight . There was no outward sign of it yet but soon .
Arslan had been correct to suspect her : there was nothing incorrect with his brother . But he would n’t live to see his people reconquer her country .
She unclenched her fist . The gash in her palm was already cure , a line of descent of new browned skin rumple together beneath the line of descent . She star at it for a long moment and then sighed before ducking back inside her stall .
She draw off her gnarled headgear and crumpled it into a ball . You gull . You screw intimately than to lose your surliness with men like that . Nahri did n’t want any more opposition , peculiarly not ones now potential to brand guards around the basha ’s sign of the zodiac while he was in Fayoum . What he ’d paid today was a pittance compared to what she could steal from his empty Francisco Villa . She would n’t have take much — she’d been doing her tricks long enough to avoid the temptations of excess . But some jewelry that could have been blamed on a forgetful married woman , a quick - thumb retainer ? Baubles that would have signify nothing to the basha and a calendar month ’s split to Nahri ? Those she would take .
mumble another curse , she rolled back her sleeping mat and shift a few brick from the storey . She dropped the basha ’s coin and ring in the shallow hole , frowning at her meagerly savings .
It ’s not enough . It ’s never going to be enough . She replaced the bricks , calculating how much she still needed to pay for this month ’s rent and bribe , the inflated costs of her progressively unsavoury professing . The number always grew , pushing away her aspiration of Istanbul and tutors , of a estimable patronage and actual healing instead of this “ magical ” hokum .
But there was nothing to be done about it now , and Nahri was n’t about to take time from earning money to bewail her fate . She stood , winding a rumpled headscarf around her messy curls and gathering up the amulets she ’d made for the Barzani women and the plaster for the butcher . She ’d require to add up back later to prepare for the zar , but for now , she had someone far more authoritative to see .
The City of Brass is out November 14 , 2017 .
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