A lesbian highwayman seeks bloody revenge against an industrialist in a world fueled by a toxic metal, navigating class warfare and political intrigue. The story delves into themes of labor rights, environmental destruction, and queer empowerment in a punk-rock murder ballad setting.

Reader Review Summary

"Metal from Heaven" is a tour de force of imaginative worldbuilding, incisive social commentary, and unapologetic queer representation. Set in a world transformed by the toxic yet revolutionary metal ichorite, this novel immerses readers in a gritty industrial fantasy brimming with radical ideas.

The story follows Marney Honeycutt, whose family was massacred for daring to strike against the exploitative ichorite factories. Surviving this tragedy, Marney joins a gang of anarchist bandits known as the Choir. Driven by vengeance against Yann Chauncey - the ruthless industrialist behind the massacre - Marney hatches an audacious plan to infiltrate high society and get close enough to destroy him. Her quest takes her from the hardscrabble life of an outlaw to the glittering halls of the elite, confronting issues of class warfare, worker exploitation, gender identity and sexuality along the way.

Clarke's worldbuilding is staggering in its complexity and originality. The intricate mythology and sociopolitical structures underpinning this world gradually unfurl through immersive descriptive prose. While initially disorienting, the lush and dreamlike quality of the writing conjures a vividly realized setting overflowing with vibrant imagery. From roving biker gangs to decadent noble houses, this is a world that feels authentically lived-in.

More importantly, Clarke wields this rich fantasy backdrop to confront very real issues around class oppression, corporate greed, queer identity and gender politics. The novel unabashedly advocates anti-capitalist values, elevating the plight of laborers sickened by the very industry that powers the nation's wealth. But it integrates these weighty themes remarkably seamlessly into the propulsive narrative and multifaceted characters.

Speaking of characters, Marney makes for a compellingly flawed and morally murky protagonist. Her single-minded quest for vengeance is fueled by a potent mix of trauma, grief and an enduring love for her lost childhood companion. Clarke resists simplifying her into a straightforward heroic figure, allowing Marney's motives and methods to remain murky in their ethicality. The supporting cast is equally nuanced, each embodying complex intersections of ideology, sexuality and identity.

Above all, "Metal from Heaven" is a triumphant celebration of uncompromising queer representation in speculative fiction. Clarke centers a strongly lesbian perspective without ever needing to pander or pull punches. From explicit sex scenes to casual gender nonconformity, this is a story that places queer identities and experiences front and center without apologies. Motorbike-riding badass lesbians rampage across the pages in all their chaotic glory.

With its heady combination of imaginative fantasy worldbuilding, resonant sociopolitical themes, and subversive queer storytelling, "Metal from Heaven" is bound to be a landmark in thought-provoking speculative fiction. Clarke has crafted something truly special - a raucous queer fantasy epic that entertains as fiercely as it challenges power structures and societal conventions. For readers craving adventurous, boundary-pushing fiction, this punk-rock literary achievement is not to be missed.