New Amsterdam

Set in a Victorian era and a New Amsterdam still apart of the British Empire, where many of the familiar vampire tropes made popular by the likes of Anne Rice and Laurell K. Hamilton, and a good bit of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle the mix, Elizabeth Bear shows what can be produced at the hands of a talented writer. Think vampires, sorcerers, detectives, political revolutionaries, corrupt aristocracy, and a British Empire still in its prime where places like New England never achieved independence framed with a skillfully woven character study.

Sebastian de Ulloa is a vampire over 1000 years old enduring his long unlife. Partially spurned by his own kind, yet given allowance for his advanced age, he seeks more intimate human connection in contrast to others of the Blood. New Amsterdam begins with him fleeing Europe and all it’s traditions for the New World with only one remaining member of his court – Jack Priest, a young man now coming of age. A murder occurs and Sebastian’s now centuries old employ as a private investigator takes center stage.

Abigail Irene Garrett is the Detective Crown Investigator for New Amsterdam and a powerful sorceress. A middle-aged woman of aging beauty, she fled a past of royal scandal in England for the isolation of the New World. As a strong, independent, intelligent, and powerful woman who is long past caring overmuch for other’s opinions, her new life is not without scandal and controversy.

Bear weaves this mosaic novel together through a series of short adventures – some from the point of view of Sebastian and some from Abby Irene. The characterization of both Sebastian and Abby Irene is wonderfully complete and complex, as is that of even the secondary characters. The interplay and frequent role-reversal of the Sherlockian mysteries forming the spine of each adventure is fascinating to watch unfold as present and past pain bleeds from the pages and the complex lives of the characters. Abby Irene’s enduring loyalty to the Crown is tested through former and current lovers and gross injustice. Sebastian struggles with the inevitable – the independence, interdependence and death of those he comes to love in spite of knowing better and the knowledge that history repeats itself and he will continue.

Bear is at her peak when dealing with the strange love triangle between Sebastian, Abby Irene and Jack. Two courtesans and their master, an immortal and two mortals, two men and woman, two respected investigators and a youth – this is the heart of mosaic. I love the shifting vantage of Sebastian’s view of Jack and Abby Irene and Abby Irene’s view of Sebastian and Jack and I would have loved to see more of Jack’s view of Sebastian and Abby Irene. Through this triangle we see struggles of love, loyalty and the inevitable told in alternative historical world of upheaval and advance where light invades the darkness, yet creates shadow.

New Amsterdam is a skillfully told mosaic of mystery and fantasy with the potential for appeal to many. Those looking for a different take on the vampire mythos, those seeking another strong female protagonist, those seeking political intrigue, love triangles, alternative history, steampunk with its zeppelins and engines, sorcery and beasts in the dark – New Amsterdam castes a wide net. However, the real strength of the mosaic is the character study of Sebastian, Abby Irene and Jack.

Other Reviews of works by Elizabeth Bear

Hammered - Jun 20, 2006