A dieselpunk novel with Spanish-created robot hobos kicking sawdust in the circus in a balcanized America at the beginning of the XXth century.
If you don’t want to spoil the end, don’t continue reading.
Name | Date of Birth | Place of Birth | Race | Circus job | Other data — |— |— |— | —| — Frank Rivers aka Fulgencio “Full” Rivera aka Fulgencio Ribera | 1892 | Hispanic | Said to be in a non-specific place in California, but actually Bernalillo, NM | Roustabout | Main character, goes after the Mechanical Man, does not smoke. Putative mother Tarsicia, real mother, not known. Manuel the Mechanical Man | 1908 | Mech | Pensacola Naval Yards | Mechanical Marvel | A roving robot Rufus “the Mechanical Man man” Reed | 1883 | Black | Pensacola | Mechanical marvel fixer-upper | Blacksmith and then mechanic Vince “Chilly” Winters | 1887 | Virginia | Black | Roustabout | Fulgencio’s buddy in the circus, circus roustabout and all-hands man. Bill “Red” Rickard |- | Florida | Black Seminole | Circus roustabout | Shows up only fleetingly Boris “Just Boris” Bacigalupo | 1858 | Memphis, Tennessee | Black | Circus manager | - Raúl “Puff” Ramírez | 1867 | Bayamo, Cuba | Hispanic | Ringmaster | Cynical ringmaster of the circus, he’s been through all and seen it all. Smokes a pipe. Guy “Indian Giver” Hillcrest |- |- | Caucasian | Layout man| He says he’s octoroon. Good with negotiations and cracking wise at kidnappers. Theodore “Cracker” Armistead | 1846 | Augusta, Georgia | White | Blackface clown, boss of the clown posse | Son of plantation owner and slaver, fought as a volunteer for the confederate Army, joining the Revolution for being against the USA “Clippo” | - | - | - | Auguste clown | Cracker’s sidekick, usual butt of his jokes Tracy Wilson | 1888 | Miami, Florida | White | Poser at the jig show | Possum girl that joins the circus. Shorty | - | - | - | Circus midget? | Shares cabin with Full in the boat to New Orleans.
| Name | Date of Birth | Place of Birth | Race | Other data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reuben “Duke of Poo” Poole | 1843 | Richmond, Virginia | Caucasian | Bum with delirium of greatness, former railroad owner |
| Gummy Eddy | 1881 | - | Caucasian | Hobo with no teeth |
| Captain Cabo | - | - | Hispanic | Hobo that served in the American army during the Cuban-American war. |
| Wireless Jim | - | - | Black | Hobo that invented the radio and talks like one |
| Henry Hatless Daring Dale | - | - | Black | Revolutionary bum |
| Eyebrowless Eric | - | - | Asian | Hobo mentioned once |
| Name | Office | Race | Other data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyrus | Albuquerque and then Tallahassee | Black | Mission officer for the mech retrieval. |
| Gary | Albuquerque and then Tallahassee | Hispanic | Mission officer for the mech retrieval. |
| Claire | St. Louis and then Tallahassee | White | Undercover operative |
| Name | Position | Race | Other data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday Cudjo | Patriotic Council Chairman | Mixed, black, Muskogee, Hispanic | Not mentioned in this book, only in the geography appendix. |