The Amulet of Samarkand (2003) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit see section history

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Summary edit see section history

Characters edit see section history

• Nathaniel: A young magician's apprentice. A gifted boy with an idiotic master, he intends to be a master magician someday. Right now, however, he is blinded by his need for revenge---this leads to him summoning Bartimaeus, and getting a lot more than he asked for. As all magicians must hide their birth name to retain power, he is given the official name of John Mandrake.
• Bartimaeus: A 5,000 year old djinni summoned by Nathaniel. He has a snarky, sarcastic and often sardonic outlook on things and a very dry sense of humor. He also is wise about magic and magicians as a result of his long enslavement. Also goes by: Sakhr al-Jinni, N'gorso the Mighty, Rekhyt, and the Serpent of Silver Plumes.
• Simon Lovelace: One of the most powerful magicians in London of the time. He is a very mysterious character who acts in his own interests. He is portrayed as a socialite, as is necessary of the high-class magicians, but believed to be on his way out of popularity by other magicians.
• Arthur Underwood: Nathaniel's semi-powerful, rather idiotic master. He is only concerned with keeping his job and trying to keep good ties with very powerful magicians, and utterly incapable of realizing the resentment Nathaniel holds for him or the capability of his apprentice.
• Martha Underwood: Arthur Underwood's wife and the closest person that Nathaniel has to a mother. He loves her and is obsessed with pleasing her. She knows his birth name, and uses it affectionately.
• Ms. Lutyens: Nathaniel's art tutor. He loves her just as much as Mrs. Underwood, and strives to please her in the same way. She also knows his birth name and uses it affectionately.
• Faquarl: A djinni who always seems to be taking the form of a cook and working in kitchens. He and Bartimaeus have a rivalry and are always trying to one-up(kill) each other.
• Jabor: A jackal-headed djinni who is known for his brute strength, power, and ruthlessness. He is the slave of Simon Lovelace and has a strange fondness for Detonation spells.
• Sholto Pinn: Owner of a the best magical items shop in London.
• Kathleen "Kitty" Jones: A teenage commoner girl who attacks Nathaniel and takes his scrying glass. While she is not really developed in this book, her character comes off as strong, outspoken, and rebellious.
• Simpkin: A foliot. Total suckup enjoys working for Sholto in his shop.

Quotes edit see section history

• “Hey, it was his first time. I wanted to scare him. And I did, too.”

  Bartimaeus

• “One magician demanded that I show him an image of the love of his life. I rustled up a mirror.”

  Bartimaeus

• “Watch where you leave your victims! I stubbed my toe on that!”

  Bartimaeus

• “Minor magicians take pains to fit this traditional wizardly bill. By contrast, the really powerful magicians take pleasure in looking like accountants.”

  Bartimaeus

• “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 was joining in too, when all I'd been doing was quietly trying to kill him.”

  Bartimaeus

• “He sounded almost eager. Wrong emotion, kid--try fear.”

  Bartimaeus

• “I even know a djinni once who was imprisoned in a dirty old lamp.”

  Bartimaeus

• “Yes, it is your fault, but, er, don't blame yourself. Life's for the living...and, erm....Oh, whatever.”

  Bartimaeus

• “Running's good if your skin needs saving.”

  Bartimaeus

• “Ignorance is bliss.”

  Maurice Schyler

• “I had a chance at him now. Things were a bit more even. He knew my name, I knew his. He had six years' experience, I had five thousand and ten. That was the kind of odds that you could do something with.”

  Bartimaeus

• “He was transfixed at the sight of the lords and ladies of his realm running about like demented chickens”

  Bartimaeus

• “I'm still not impressed. Murder's part of the game for you lot. I mean, you're obsessed with revenge already, and you're only about six."”

  Bartimaeus

• “Just what I needed: an amorous bird.”

  Bartimaeus

• “These polite asterisks replace a short, censored episode characterized by bad language and some sadly necessary violence. When we pick up the story again, everything is as before, except I am perspiring slightly and the contrite imp is the model of cooperation.”

  Bartimaeus (footnote)

Setting & Locations edit see section history

• London: Where this book and takes place.

First Sentence edit see section history

Table of Contents edit see section history

Series & Lists edit see section history

Followed by The Golem's Eye.

Followed by The Golem's Eye.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Jonathan Stroud (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Awards edit see section history

• Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor (2004, #1)
• Lancashire Children's Book of the Year (2005, #1)
• Aleks' interesting award (2004)
• ALA Notable Book (2004)
• Bank Street Best Book Of The Year (2004)
• Best Books for Young Adults Top Ten Pick (2004)

Notes for Parents edit see section history

This a great book that deals with issues such as doing the right thing.

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Children's Books › Literature › Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror › Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic
• Books › Literature & Fiction › World Literature › Mythology › Children's Books
• Books › Teens › Literature & Fiction › Adventure & Thrillers
• Books › Teens › Science Fiction & Fantasy › Fantasy
• Books › Teens › Science Fiction & Fantasy › Science Fiction
• Books › Children's Books › Literature › Action & Adventure
• Books › Children's Books › Literature › Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths
• Books › Children's Books › Ages 9-12

More Books Like This edit see section history