The Amulet of Samarkand (Bartimaeus, #1)

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The Amulet of Samarkand (Bartimaeus #1)

3.93 of 5 stars 3.93 · rating details · 49,014 ratings · 2,394 reviews

When the 5,000-year-old djinni Bartimaeus is summoned by Nathaniel, a young magician’s apprentice, he expects to have to do nothing more taxing than a little levitation or a few simple illusions. But Nathaniel is a precocious talent and has something rather more dangerous in mind: revenge.

Against his will, Bartimaeus is packed off to steal the powerful Amulet of Samarkand...more

Paperback, 483 pages

Published 2010 by Corgi Childrens (first published 2003)

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Aug 10, 2007 Ian rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: magic lovers / smartasses

This book had some ground to make up to begin with because after checking its copyright date, all I could think was, "It's a book...about a magic apprentice...in England...written after Harry Potter." And that meant that I was skeptical, although not to the degree that I thought the main character would be named Barry Cotter or something.

Well, there is one big way in which it's like Harry Potter...

...I stayed up all night reading it.

This is a FANTASTIC book, one that suggests that Harry Potter b...more This book had some ground to make up to begin with because after checking its copyright date, all I could think was, "It's a book...about a magic apprentice...in England...written after Harry Potter." And that meant that I was skeptical, although not to the degree that I thought the main character would be named Barry Cotter or something.

Well, there is one big way in which it's like Harry Potter...

...I stayed up all night reading it.

This is a FANTASTIC book, one that suggests that Harry Potter books don't have to be just a phenomenon, but could be a genre as well, as long as there are people out there who have the capacity, as Jonathan Stroud does, to create new worlds. While Harry Potter may always be on the top of the heap (better protagonists), don't make me choose between Dobby and Bartimaeus; it will only end in house-elf tears.

Now, Stroud's magical rules, the key to success in the genre, are simple, spirits control magic, magicians control spirits. Now, if Krazy Christians thought Harry Potter was warping little kids' minds, then I'm surprised they haven't caught on to this series, with its pentacle circles and summoning "demons."

The plot works, though between action, it can slow down considerably, but the magical scenes are pretty fantastic, and, while HP has managed to sadden me on occasion, this book was the first that scared me with its monsters.

But the jewel in the crown is Bartimaeus. While I imagine writing books can be hard for some people, writing a character like Bartimaeus must make Stroud love his job. Barty's sarcastic, powerful, arrogant, informative, and all in all, seeing the magical world through his asides and footnotes makes the book. Unlike early Harry Potters, Stroud does not provide explanations of magic with a lengthy paragraph. Instead, our teacher is the salty djinni, who wise-cracks his way through our magical education.

All in all, his character would be worth the read, but all of the magic created by Stroud delights. You'd be surprised how original someone can be post-Hogwarts.(less)

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May 23, 2012 Alice rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2007, favorites

I really loved this book, the first of the Bartimaeus Trilogy.

It's tempting to compare the book to the Harry Potter series. Young boy. Magic. Sneaking around. Breaking the rules. Stern teachers. But the similarities really end there.

In Stroud's world, magicians have no power of their own - their power lies in the knowledge of how to summon (and enslave) spirits, like the djinni Bartimaeus, to do their will. These magicians are the proud, arrogant, entitled upperclass that pretty much oppress the...more

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Jan 22, 2012 Luana rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

‘L’esercito più formidabile di questo tipo che si sia mai visto fu messo insieme dal faraone Tuthmosi III nel 1478 a.C. Comprendeva una legione di afrit e un gruppo di jinn di vario livello, di cui il più notevole era sicuramente… No, la modestia mi impedisce di proseguire.’ -Bartimeus

Londra ha aperto le porte alla magia, ma questa volta ad attraversarle non sono i già noti ed affezionatissimi Harry&co., bensì Nathaniel, apprendista mago, combinaguai, intrepido vendicatore che nulla fareb...more ‘L’esercito più formidabile di questo tipo che si sia mai visto fu messo insieme dal faraone Tuthmosi III nel 1478 a.C. Comprendeva una legione di afrit e un gruppo di jinn di vario livello, di cui il più notevole era sicuramente… No, la modestia mi impedisce di proseguire.’ -Bartimeus

Londra ha aperto le porte alla magia, ma questa volta ad attraversarle non sono i già noti ed affezionatissimi Harry&co., bensì Nathaniel, apprendista mago, combinaguai, intrepido vendicatore che nulla farebbe senza il suo fidato antagonista, ma compagno di sventure Bartimeus, jinn irriverente, di grande prestigio e che ebbe addirittura l’onore di parlare con Bartimeus in persona.

Di prodotti fantasy stracolmi di elementi magici, folletti variegati e fatine multiformi ce ne son stati sciorinati fin troppi, ma Jonathan Stroud ribalta la scena facendo di Londra lo scenario di una storia tutta nuova e di una prospettiva nettamente ribaltata in cui un demone, anzi, IL demone, Bartimeus, riesce addirittura ad essere più buono di un mago corrotto nel compiere gli ordini impartitigli da Nathaniel, maghetto dodicenne ancora apprendista che ha deciso di giocare col fuoco per vendicarsi di un torto subito dall’ambizioso Lovelace e dalle umiliazioni continue ricevute dal suo maestro Underwood, mago di infimo livello con il pallino della mai raggiunta fama. Lo stile dello giovane scrittore è dinamico, fresco, scevro di inutili fronzoli, di tecnicismi e di dimostrazioni di bravura, insomma, più che guadagnarsi il favor populi, è palese che a Stroud interessava scrivere una bella storia, i cui caratteri fossero impressi anche nel modo di scrivere. La narrazione è scoppiettante, non esistono punti morti e tutto ciò di cui il lettore ha voglia è solo leggere, leggere e continuare a leggere preferibilmente senza che debba arrivare mai una fine. Ma purtroppo una fine c’è, come per ogni libro, solo che, (e qui vorrei conoscere Stroud di persona e ringraziarlo), per fortuna, la fine di questo libro apre un varco verso gli altri due libri della storia, che leggerò più in là nel tempo per non dover dire troppo presto addio a questa coppia sgangherata, ma sempre vincente di Nathaniel e Bartimeus.

La forza di questo libro, oltre che nella trama che non starò qui a raccontare, sta nella capacità dell’autore di presentare così bene ed approfonditamente i due protagonisti, il maghetto strappato alla famiglia d’origine per entrare nelle grinfie dell’inetto maestro che dovrebbe condurlo alla gloria da mago, ma che in realtà non ci sa proprio fare, e il demone dal maghetto convocato. Nasce tutto così, da una semplice formula di Convocazione iniziamo a conoscere questa coppia mal assortita che a Londra darà molto da fare a polizia, maghi e quant’altro. Ironia, lotte, intrighi nel jet set politico stranamente intrecciato con la magia, costituiscono la maglia di fondo di un libro che mette in ottima luce un genere, il fantasy, da me assai poco – pochissimo – apprezzato. Sono gli autori bravi come Stroud a far sentir dei vecchi reazionari barbuti delle donzelle che come che di solito si creano la loro élite di storie e autori senza mai fare capolino fuori.

Si è parlato di questo libro come dell’Anti Harry, e io non posso che confermare questa idea.
Laddove la Rowling ha creato un mondo di bontà, in cui si rivendicano l’orgoglio, gli affetti e ci si batte contro il male, Stroud ha invece assemblato una copia di mago e demone che fa scoppiare una catena di eventi a reazione solo perché a Nathaniel brucia la ferita ancora accesa dell’ingiustizia commessa nei suoi confronti da un gruppo di maghi superiori e Bartimeus, da lui convocato, è obbligato a diventare schiavo del maghetto e a seguirlo in ogni suo mirabolante e mal pensato piano.

Insomma, nostalgici di Harry e della magia, ecco a voi una nuova saga dalle mille qualità nella quale buttarvi, sempre tenendo a mente che qui non ci sono i buoni, e che tutta la trama si può facilmente riassumere in una sorta di ‘sbaraglia lo sbaragliabile,’ altro che ‘salva il salvabile’ a cui ci avevano abituati Hogwarts e compagnia.

Lasciatevi trascinare dall’ambizione di Nathaniel e dall’irriverenza di Bartimeus, sono disponibili per voi risate a crepapelle e avventure da mozzare il fiato. E a voi, Nat e Bart, arrivederci a presto con L’occhio del Golem.(less)

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May 06, 2008 Judith rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, fantasy

If the quality of a book rested solely on its plot, this would be an excellent novel. The general plot is, of course, standard fantasy fare (save the world!) but its details and the world built to drive it is unique. Also, there appears to be a second plot running under the main one which will obviously be continued in the later books, and this plot seems much more promising.

Story-wise, this first installment in The Bartimaeus Trilogy is respectably good. However, the writing failed to appeal to...more If the quality of a book rested solely on its plot, this would be an excellent novel. The general plot is, of course, standard fantasy fare (save the world!) but its details and the world built to drive it is unique. Also, there appears to be a second plot running under the main one which will obviously be continued in the later books, and this plot seems much more promising.

Story-wise, this first installment in The Bartimaeus Trilogy is respectably good. However, the writing failed to appeal to me in many ways that, were they not already in my possession, I might not even bother with the next two books. Jonathan Stroud somehow manages to write with so much distance between the narrator(s) and the readers — even when he’s telling the story in first person through Bartimaeus. This is partly because Bartimaeus is vain and patronizing, but mostly because even the first-person narrative sounds like a third-person omniscient storyteller is telling it, only with “I’s”.

The gratuitous footnotes did not help. I’ve seen authors incorporate even the most long-winded of footnotes smoothly and sparingly that they don’t disrupt the narrative. This book has too much of them, however, and most of them were either useless or flat-out unamusing. It makes me wonder if Mr. Stroud let an editor touch his book (he is, after all, an editor himself). Some of the footnotes are entertaining, but halfway through the book I was so sick of Bartimaeus’ self-satisfied, conceited remarks that I wanted to scream every time I saw a superscript. A number of the useful footnotes could also have been incorporated into the normal narrative with a bit of rearrangement. It would have been easier to absorb, would have saved me from moving my eyes, and would have kept the book flowing smoothly.

To cap off the distant, flat narrative, and the distracting footnotes, Nathaniel and Bartimaeus are so remarkably unsympathetic, I felt none of the usual drive to finish a book as soon as possible because I really didn’t care much about what was going to happen to them. I like the flawed hero as much as the next (I’ve even written my share of really crrrrrrrrazy heroes) but no one in the book liked Nat and Barty (apart from two very one-dimensional characters) and they didn’t like anybody back — heck, they didn’t even like each other. This made them so isolated, it was nearly impossible to relate to them. Also, I don’t know how the author managed it, but his two heroes had such a bland relationship — even when fighting or hating each other.

In the end, I’m of two minds about recommending this book to anybody. The story is all right (nothing revolutionary, though interesting) but the humor falls flat, the prose is cold, and the characters are not very loveable.(less)

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Sep 18, 2009 Leah rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Such a wise-cracking djinn, such a tiny, jerkish upstart. You will absolutely devour this book. It's hilarious. Told from the very different viewpoints of Bartimaeus ( a smart-aleck djinn who has lived thousands of years and has nothing to show for it but an I rock you don't attitude) and Nathaniel (12 year old jerkwad apprentice whose lifelong dream is to be a huge im portant government official and have millions of obedient djinn slaves at his fingertips. Bartimaeus isn't making it easy for hi...more

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Dec 31, 2008 Robin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: anyone

Recommended to Robin by: my husband

Shelves: fantasy

I was given this book by my husband because I was feeling a bit overwelmed by a number of large fantasy reads I had on my TBR file. I had just read a number of "smaller" works and really enjoyed them.

I was instantly captivated by this book. The begining is one of the most creative starts I've seen in a long time. I loved the humor of Bartimaeus and immediately got an impression of the character and I loved is Bravado.

I found the footnotes entertaining - I know some people have been crtical of th...more

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Jun 10, 2008 erry rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

Cerita berawal dari kisah seorang anak kecil yang karena kepolosan dan sifat kekanak-kanakannya, tanpa sadar melibatkan diri pada sebuah konspirasi berbahaya. Karena tak terima atas perlakuan yang dia terima, Nathaniel memanggil jin berusia 5000 tahun-Bartimaeus- dan memerintahkannya untuk mencuri amulet samarkand milik Simon Lovelace.

Plot cerita yang berjalan cepat serta kepandaian penulis dalam menggunakan sudut pandang orang pertama sangat menarik. Cerita ini menggunakan dua sudut pandang ora...more

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May 21, 2008 DahliaNagaDanBukanDahliaPinky rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

Oke, mungkin ini bakal jadi review panjang pertama g akibat kesalahan fatal merapal mantra penolak review (hehehe…tetep!)

Cerita ini berawal dari Nathaniel seorang bocah yang masih dalam tahap latihan sihir memanggil jin berumur 5000 tahun bernama Bartimaeus. Jin ini dipanggil untuk memenuhi keinginan kanak-kanak balas dendam Nathaniel karena telah dipermalukan di depan publik oleh Simon Lovelace dengan cara mencuri Amulet Samarkand. Tanpa disangka, amulet tersebut melibatkan Nathaniel dan Bartim...more

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Feb 17, 2009 Femmy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, for-recs-fantasy

I love this book! A djinn with an attitude (who had me constantly chuckling to myself), and a boy bent on revenge. Great characters, fast-paced action, fully-realized world with a cool magic system, what more could you want?

What I appreciate most, though, is that the characters face real danger. None of that false suspense -- you know, like the ones you see on movies/television like Prison Break . Apologies for the fans, but it really irked me whenever Michael Scofield is in the tunnel and the g...more

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Dec 19, 2010 Harun Harahap rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: punya, anak-hingga-remaja, fiksi, terjemahan

Bagi anda yang cerdas dan berpengalaman namun ingin mempunyai karakter tambahan seperti: Narsis, Angkuh, Cerewet, Sinis dan Sarkastik. Bacalah buku ini. Pelajarilah dengan seksama bagaimana cara Bartimeus, tokoh super dalam buku ini, berpikir, berbicara dan bertingkah laku. Aplikasikanlah dalam hidup anda dan Anda akan mempunyai karakter-karakter tersebut diatas dengan sempurna.

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Jan 18, 2010 Jeff rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I enjoyed the writing style of Jonathan Stroud. Most young adult authors have one style and one perspective. I found the voice of Bartimaeus hilarious and the highlight of the book. The footnotes were odd at first but after getting to know the demon it just fit.
Because of Barttimaeus' style it overshadowed Nathaniel's chapters. Some of them were almost dull and at the beginning I found myself irritated when I saw I had another "Nathaniel" chapter to read.
It could have done without some of the...more

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Feb 21, 2013 KRUSTAL-chan Joanna rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: xxl10-books

сюжет - 3
идея - 2
герои - 2
жанр - 2
поетика - 3

Първата книга от трилогията Бартимеус. Едно много юношеско фентъзи, което ни изправя пред бунта на детето, готово да се докаже и покаже в света на възрастните, които го омаловажават и унижават. Книгата е идеално четиво за всички малки любители на фентъзито или поне на тези, които въпреки всичко харесват магическото и тайнственото, без да желаят да се затормозяват с кръв, оръжия и секс, а интригата присъства по един лек и приятен начин в цялата история...more сюжет - 3
идея - 2
герои - 2
жанр - 2
поетика - 3

Първата книга от трилогията Бартимеус. Едно много юношеско фентъзи, което ни изправя пред бунта на детето, готово да се докаже и покаже в света на възрастните, които го омаловажават и унижават. Книгата е идеално четиво за всички малки любители на фентъзито или поне на тези, които въпреки всичко харесват магическото и тайнственото, без да желаят да се затормозяват с кръв, оръжия и секс, а интригата присъства по един лек и приятен начин в цялата история.

Още заглавието ни загатва цялостното развитие на историята. Идеята се задава от самото начало на книгата и върви по неговата линия, което я прави предсказуема, с прекалено малко събития. Историята се разказва от две гледни точки: тази на Бартимеус и авторовата, която описва действията на второто действащо лице Натаниел, като двете са преплетени една с друга. Този подход на представяне на събитията е интересен и грабва читателя веднага, защото започва именно с гледната точка на "страшното магическо същество" и предизвиква желание да се научи още, да се разбере как действа и мисли, какви са причините и прочие.

Сюжетът е представен добре, събитията следват своята хронологичност и последователност, няма изненади, но и липсва наистина шокираща развръзка. Кулминацията е предсказуема още от първата глава на книгата, където Натаниел заповядва на джина Бартимеус да открадне Амулета на Самарканд. Водени от алчност или отмъщение, героите следват "своя план" от действия до момента на сблъсъка, където по-хитрият печели и настъпва щастливият край, в който отмъщението побеждава алчността и спасява света. Свят, спасен гротескно, където възрастните, които трябва "да го спасят", остават неми и безпомощни и единствено едно малко 12-годишно момче, въпреки своите не толкова добри намерения, го спасява и се възползва от това, колкото би могло повече.

Светът на разгръщащата се история е една алтернативна вселена, в центъра на която е Лондон. Магическо и тайнствено място, сборище на всички магьосниците. Свят, в който именно магьосниците са на власт и всичко е в техните ръце. А обикновеният човек не би могъл да се издигне високо в йерархията и единственото, което му остава, е да стане част от съпротивата, но това беше само загатнато в историята. Управниците там "горе" - където обикновеният човек дори не знае какво се случва, защото магията се пази в тайна - са представени като низ от всичките всевъзможни най-лоши човешки качества: алчност, завист, подлост, лицемерие, желание за власт и слава. Сякаш магията прави хората по-лоши от тъмните същества, които призовават. А именно магьосниците тук не са това, което бихме си представили като чуем думата "маг". Те не са мъдри белобради старци с жезъл в ръка, заплашителни с атакуващите си магии. Те не умеят това. Техните способности се крият в умението да призовават различни по ранг магически същества и да ги подчиняват на волята си. Такова същество е и джинът Бартимеус призован от Натаниел, за да открадне Амулета на Самарканд, с което да бъде отмъстено поруганото същeствуване на главния герой.

Главните действащи лица в книгата са двама: Бартимеус и Натаниел. Един много спекулиран тандем по въпроса дали са добри герои и дали тяхното съчетание е подходящо. Двамата са много различни. Натаниел не е типичното 12-годишно дете, нито влиза в типичната или дори нормална представа за главен герой на едно юношеско фентъзи. Това не го прави лош герой, а различен, но трудно разбираем. Читателят не може да му влезе достатъчно в положението, да го разбере, да му съчувства и да го подкрепя. Натаниел бърза да порасне като почти всяко дете, което чувства несправедливото отношение на възрастните върху себе си. Той е обиден и унижен и иска отмъщение, като е воден само от тази си "зли" чувства и историята се развива заради тях. Това е интересно като идея, но може би не и в толкова юношенска книга, защото читателят трябва да симпатизира на главния герой, а не да го мрази или да му е безличен, най-малкото безинтересен поради липсата на съчувствие. Натаниел, за сметка на това, е твърде умен и изобретателен, върти всичко и успява да постигне желаното, но подбудите за действията му звучат дребнави и неприемливи. Това кара читателя да се запита: "Затова ли е всичко?". От едно унижение, Натаниел излива цялото си негодувание и дори озлобление към света в лицето на Лавлейс. Бартимеус, вторият главен герой, вековният джин, живял още по времето на фараоните. Половината история се разказва от неговата гледна точка, а тъй като той не е човек, разликата е изключително интригуваща. Неговите лирически отклонения за миналото му и различните събития и факти разведряват читателя. Той, със своето чувство за хумор и непремирим нрав, представя историята по неповторим начин. Двамата герои постоянно са в конфликт, но като че ли Бартимеус печели повече читателските симпатии. Остава отвореният въпрос, дали все пак двамата в крайна сметка няма да подобрят своите отношения? Дали няма да има пример за едно постигнато уважение между господар и джин? Или картината ще остане все така пропита от едни герои, събрали в себе си повече отрицателни чарти, в свят, в който всеки живее сам за себе си.(less)

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Aug 21, 2012 AH rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audio-book, children-s, chubby-chunkster, demons, djinn, fantasy, favorites, first-in-series, free-downloads, gargoyles, magic, middle-grades, own, read-august-2012, sorcerer, spies

What an awesome book to listen to on a very long car trip! The narrator was incredible. He was able to change up voices and input just the right amount of pomposity into Bartimeus' character to make him both believable and humorous. For those looking for a book in a similar vein to the Harry Potter series, this story of a young apprentice magician is a must read. I would recommend the audio version to children ages 9+. The parents in the car enjoyed the story, too.

This audio book was downloaded...more

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Jul 27, 2008 Riley rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Incredible! Well done Jonathon Stroud! You have put the most incredible twist on the world of fantasy. This amazing story will take you through an adventure that takes the world of magic and puts it into an entirely new perspective

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Mar 24, 2013 Jamie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

A very interesting and fun read. Bartimaeus is an unforgettable character and very witty. Well done Jonathan Stroud for a well invented young adult, fantasy novel. I ended up enjoying this book more than I thought I would.
When I first started reading, the pace was a bit...well, I guess scattered is the best way to put it. But Stroud quickly picks up the pieces and creates a unique and thorough environment and story. The book is written in two styles. The first is first person with Bartimaeus. He...more

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Aug 06, 2011 Zach Judkins rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Maybe I'm feeling slightly defensive, but I honestly believe some of the best books written today are in the childrens/young adult section. Well, the Bartimaeus trilogy by Jonathan Stroud is a book that fits completely into the great books written for children. This is one of my favorite childrens book of all time, primarily because of the great characterization of its protagonist, Bartimaeus. Bartimaeus lives in a world where magicians gain their power not from magic, but rather controlling oth...more

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Feb 11, 2012 Amanda rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, funny, fantasy-sci-fi

The Amulet of Samarkand is a fun, unique adventure with one of the most funny & clever main characters I've read about in a while. Bartimaeus. He definitely steals the show, and he's pretty much the best part of this book.

The main story of The Amulet of Samarkand is about Nathaniel, a young magician apprentice who summons a djinni, Bartimaeus. Magic in this book is a little different than the norm. Magicians don't actually have power, but they can summon demons to do things for them. This...more

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Dec 15, 2009 Rauf rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Everyone

Shelves: 2009-list, fromthepit, fiction, fantasy-and-sf, trilogy

One by one some of my Goodreads friends got bewitch'd by this book.
And I could see why.

Now, the book took us into an odd world.
Like the setting. The magicians drove cars and used laptop and it got me thinking, Was this set in present day London or did Stroud go steampunk in this one? Due to the lack of steam-engines and other steam-based technologies, I reckon the setting was present day London.

The magicians in this book didn't have magical power. Their magicking came from djinns, or stronger c...more One by one some of my Goodreads friends got bewitch'd by this book.
And I could see why.

Now, the book took us into an odd world.
Like the setting. The magicians drove cars and used laptop and it got me thinking, Was this set in present day London or did Stroud go steampunk in this one? Due to the lack of steam-engines and other steam-based technologies, I reckon the setting was present day London.

The magicians in this book didn't have magical power. Their magicking came from djinns, or stronger creatures -- like afrits and marids, or weaker creatures -- like foliots and imps. The magicians knew some spells and summoned these bad boys thru complex rituals.
Technically these magicians were called Nigromancers but Stroud didn't call them that.

All members of the government were magicians and they pretty much turned England into a police state.
Stroud mentioned Night Police and people seemed to fear them but in the end he didn't write about them.

I love all the main characters except the villain, Simon Lovelace. Lovelace wouldn't be entering my Rogue Gallery Hall of Fame because he was so vanilla. His motive was too simple, to become the new Prime Minister because he wanted to seize power. That's it.

The characters Nathaniel and his master, Arthur Underwood were a pair of delight. Nathaniel because the kid was an unusual protagonist in fantasy books. He summoned the djinn Bartimaeus and ordered him to steal the Amulet of Samarkand from Lovelace and planted it in Underwood's study.
When he was five, Nathaniel's parents gave him away to the government because he seemed to have magicking chops. The government made him an apprentice to Arthur Underwood.
Underwood, I had to say he was my second favorite character. I kept seeing him in a different light. When Nathaniel was a kid, he seemed to be powerful and a tad cruel. As Nathaniel grew up, from what he told us, Underwood seemed to be one of the weakest ministers -- no more than a stooge. But as the story went on, Underwood, like all men, was somewhere in between: he wasn't all powerful but he wasn't a doormat either. When push comes to shove, he'd stand up and fight.
Didn't like how he became a total pussy near the end, though. Yeeeessh. That was one of the turn-off in this book.
Another turn-off was the big climax. The big climax was BIG but it was all pow pow pow with no real action.

My favorite character was of course the djinn Bartimaeus, who kept me entertained with his rapier wit and sarcastic remarks. You have to read the book to find out what I'm talking about. As a Connoisseur of All Things Sarcastic, I could tell you that B's sarcasm level was akin to that of Gregory House.(less)

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Aug 18, 2008 Katie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

So I guess the Harry Potter series has ruined me and I only have a taste for young adult fantasy novels--they are just so much more fun than reading serious and depressing adult books. I read this after finishing the "His Dark Materials" series, and it was a nice change from that series because "His Dark Materials" was pretty serious--it was a good read, but there wasn't a lot of humor. About half of the book is narrated by Bartimaeus, a "djinn" (or demon) who is called to perform magic and task...more

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Mar 06, 2008 Angela rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Angela by: Kelly Hoffman

Shelves: fantasy, childrens-lit

This is a difficult book to rate: It was very well-written, with an intriguing plot and engaging wit. That being said, I must admit that it was more frustrating than enjoyable for me.

The main problem was that I disliked both of the main characters: one is a wily demon (Bartimaeus), and the other is a 12-year-old kid who is way too smart for his own good (Nathaniel). I think you'd get a similar result if you paired C.S. Lewis's Screwtape with Rowling's Draco Malfoy. Don't get me wrong - I love "T...more

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Mar 27, 2012 Kathleen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, fantasy

In this book orphans or unwanted children are trained as apprentices to magicians and they learn magic like a trade. Magicians have no power in themselves but they derive it from learning how to control demons from the "other place." Nathaniel is a precocious apprentice to an ignorant master. After he is publicly humiliated by another magician, Simon Lovelace, he makes it his mission to avenge himself. He summons the demon Bartimaeus to steal a powerful amulet from Lovelace, unknowingly getting...more

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Feb 24, 2013 Jason rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: owned-physical

Overall it was a pretty decent book. The main character (Nathaniel/John Mandrake) is a little hard to like. I guess every 12 year old boy is a "know it all" that feels like people don't take him seriously, but it almost goes too far. Bartimeaus, at the same time, is a really arrogant djinn, who (though funny at times) is also really hard to like.

The plot, however, is great. The story itself is intriguing, and the book itself is well written. I really enjoyed getting both Nathaniel's and Bartimea...more

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Jan 08, 2009 R.j. rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

An extremely action-packed, high-stakes adventure featuring a downtrodden young magician and the arrogant but likeable djinn who serves him. Stroud does a good job of making his main characters Nathanael and Bartimaeus flawed and allowing them to make some serious mistakes while still keeping them at least potentially likeable. I did find that the near-constant action wore on me after a while and that some episodes felt a bit like padding, but it all paid off in the end. Some intriguing loose th...more

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Jul 09, 2009 Destinee Sutton rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: moral magicians

Shelves: teen, fantasy, harry-potter-alternative, adventure, british

This series (a trilogy beginning with The Amulet of Samarkand) was just meant to be an HP rebound for me, but I ended up really caring about it. Like the Great Rowling, Stroud's really good at making serious ethical questions exciting by giving them a magical spin; but where Harry is a sympathetic character that has greatness thrust upon him, Nathaniel is a total douche most of the time. It'd be like HP following Draco Malfoy's moral development. Also, in many ways this series is a bit more soph...more

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Nov 05, 2012 Neha rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012, books-with-parts

Just another wizard boy..

Anyone or everyone who loves fantasy fiction with genies, wizards, witches, dark lords, magic and magicians would love this book. And for all those Harry Potter fans who miss HP books, you can read another author with the same recipe of – A wizard boy without parents but with exceptional magic, has been wronged and is out to avenge the offender and ends up saving the day too. You have the London setting, you have the young magician, you have the villainous powerful magic...more

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Nov 24, 2012 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

If Jim Butcher's brain had a baby with JK Rowling's brain, but Jim Butcher's brain had a sneaking suspicion that Neil Gaiman's brain might have fooled around with JK Rowling's brain, I think this would be the resulting brainchild. Really enjoyable, and hilarious in many parts.

2 likes · like · see review

Mar 15, 2008 Brigid *Flying Kick-a-pow!* rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: gave-up-on-series, young-adult, fantasy

I have to admit: I picked up this book because I had nothing else to read, and it had been lying around in my room for a year. I had started reading it once, but had given up after the first chapter. The beginning is a little boring, but it gets a lot more exciting as it goes along--I'm glad that I gave this book a second chance, because I actually really liked it. Bartimaeus is a great character with a consistent, humorous tone. He's sort of annoying, but somehow appealing at the same time. I f...more

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Jan 15, 2009 WK rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It was interesting to have this slightly different viewpoint of the world of magic and the authors wit is enjoyable. I had the added advantage of listening to the audiobook and the narrator, Simon Jones, was wonderful (he sounded just like Sebastian Cabot).

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Nov 26, 2008 Bettie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, fraudio, kiddlewinks, mystery-thriller, teh-brillianz, alternative-history

Sucked in right from the first summoning... dog walking is fun with beautiful forestal scenery and a damn fine book. This unabridged listen was seen off in one fourteen hour session because I just could not bear to break off for a moment (please note my eye baggage today hehehehe)

Many giggle-worthy one-liners from this sardonic djinni and I smirked at the skewed ancient history references, especially use of the Santorini/Atlantis theory and Thutmoses III command of a spirit army.

Maybe the imps c...more

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Jan 27, 2009 Mabenalex rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Imagine that there is a world ruled by magicians. This story takes place in Britain. There are two kinds of people in this world, Magicians, treated to rank, and commoners. There are seven planes of the earth, the first is the one we see, the others let you see magical threats. Magician lenses, which they wear all the lime, let you see planes 1-4, getting blurrier as you go. All the power of magicians are because of demons or spirits. You would summon a demon by drawing a pentacle(a star with 2...more Imagine that there is a world ruled by magicians. This story takes place in Britain. There are two kinds of people in this world, Magicians, treated to rank, and commoners. There are seven planes of the earth, the first is the one we see, the others let you see magical threats. Magician lenses, which they wear all the lime, let you see planes 1-4, getting blurrier as you go. All the power of magicians are because of demons or spirits. You would summon a demon by drawing a pentacle(a star with 2 circles around it) with special runes on the ground, and surounding it with special candles and herbs. You would then say the summoning spell along with the demons name. A name is very important in this world, as explained later. A demon would then be sommoned from the Other Place. If the demon finds one mistake in your penticle, it will instantly escape and tear you to shreads, and then will disinigrate to the Other Place. The same will happen if you attempt a complex demon with spells and powers to great for you. Demons can live forever, unless they get killed, the book didn't tell what would happen then. There are five levels of demons. Here is a list going from least powerful to most powerful: imps, foliots, djinn, afrits, and marids. There are things much more powerful than any of these catagories things, but they have few times been summoned because it takes an amazing amount of will power, and in most cases, have caused disasters, just look what happened to Atlantis, they sommoned one of these greater entities to take over the world and boom! The great and powerful thriving city disinigrated. There are also demons far weaker than any of these; but they could be defeated by an disabled child of 1, mind you, that is horrible. Only higher ranking demons, middle ranking djinn and up can see all seven planes. For lower demons, they can see only the lower planes and maybe even some very blurry higher planes. Demons is actually a bit offending, so I will use the word spirit from now on. Spirits have a thing called essence, it slowly dissolves when staying on earth, even faster when fighting on earth. The less essense the weaker they are and the more they suffer from staying on earth. Spirits can change forms of every plane except the seventh, which is where they have a form situated to their personalities. Essences are healed in Other World. Rosamary, Iron, and silver hurt them.Lets stop with the spirits. A magicians name is an important thing. They have 2 names, their true name and their common name. The true name is very dangerous in others hands and must be forgotton and disposed, and only extremely trusted people can know it. If somebody knows your true name, and he is not the best of friends, well lets just say that you won't be reading this, because your probably dead by now. Lets get on to a brief "hooking" section. Aurthor Underwood is a medium weak quick-tempered magician. And it is his turn for getting an apprentice. He and his wife get a scared looking 3 year old. His parents are gone and dead. Nathaniel, 10, and smart is publicly humiliated when at a adult party with Mr.Underwood by Mr.Simon Lovelace, a powerful snotty magician, full of charm and deciet. He decides to get even. With out his master's notice he starts to read Mr.Underwood's library of book about magic, he goes into subjects even some adults cant do. Almost 11, he's more powerful than his master, who still thinks that he is a imbecil. Nathaniel summons a high-level djinn, Bartameus. Bartameus is suprised at being summoned by an 11 year old. Nathaniel sends the demon to find the Amulet of Samarkand, an extremely powerful charm in possession of Lovelace. Bartameus finds out Nathaniels name, you get your common name at 12. Nathaniel finds a way to counteract this and is very clever about this, is Bartameus reveals his name, he is sent to a ciggarret canister full of rosamery, very painful herb,at the bottom of the murky thames river, for when he is sommoned. Soon bartameus and nathaniel find themselves in an interesting and dangerous magical web of events when Lovelace wants revenge, and summons something nobody expects him to, Ramathura, one of those greater entities I was talking about. I also wanted to say that this swiches between Bartimaus and Nathaniel every chapter, and switches between first and third person every paragraph. Bartameus is funny and uses footnotes; for example: (Bartameus) My hated mole form hit a pebble five times when burrowing through the ground. (endnote)Mind you, they were different pebbles, you humans are such idiots. (less)

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I wouldn't want this turned into a movie	23	156	12 hours, 44 min ago
SciFi and Fantasy...: Recommendation for Similar books - Anti Hero	21	269	Sep 02, 2012 02:29am
Addicted to YA: The Amulet of Samarkand	28	48	Aug 04, 2012 09:05am
What's The Name o...: young adult book, protagonist is a demon who has to serve this boy because the boy knows his name, the title is the name of the demon [s]	4	51	Jun 03, 2012 06:04pm
Addicted to YA: Anybody else wish Bartimaeus was a human???	5	19	Apr 16, 2012 07:42am

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About Jonathan Stroud

Jonathan Anthony Stroud is an author of fantasy books, mainly for children and youths.

Stroud grew up in St Albans where he enjoyed reading books, drawing pictures, and writing stories. Between the ages seven and nine he was often ill, so he spent most of his days in the hospital or in his bed at home. To escape boredom he would occupy himself with books and stories. After he completed his studies...more

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The Bartimaeus Trilogy Boxed Set (Bartimaeus, #1-3)

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Quotes from The Amulet of Samarkand

“One magician demanded I show him an image of the love of his life. I rustled up a mirror.” — 204 people liked it

“That did it. I'd gone through a lot in the past few days. Everyone I met seemed to want a piece of me: djinn, magicians, humans...it made no difference.I'd been summoned, manhandled, shot at, captured, constricted, bossed about and generally taken for granted. And now, to cap it all, this bloke is joining in too, when all I'd been doing was quietly trying to kill him.” — 98 people liked it

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The Amulet of Samarkand (Bartimaeus #1)

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