Audio Book Review: The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud, read by Steven Pacey
I had not come across the name of Steven Pacey before. He has now been added to my list of favourite voice actors, alongside Sir Ian McKellen, Sir Derek Jacobi, Simon Prebble and Roy Dotrice.
Pacey narrates Jonathan Stroud’s Amulet of Samarkand with perfect pace, using an assortment of excellent and appropriate accents. But most importantly of all he manages to inject a delightful sense of humour – that is now a Stroud trademark – into the narrative.
Pacey does of course have the perfect material on which to use his skills. 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 from Simon Lovelace, a master magician of unrivalled ruthlessness and ambition. Before long, both djinni and apprentice are caught up in a terrifying flood of magical intrigue, murder and rebellion. The Amulet of Samarkand is an absorbing tale of magicians and demons, a Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell for the younger reader.
This is one of the very best fantasy audio books. The book was written by a highly skilled author and now read by a highly skilled actor. Bartimaeus is one of the finest additions to the fantasy genre in recent years and Pacey’s portrayal of the irascible djinni is perfect. This audio book is very highly recommended, one of the very best.
Jonathan Stroud was born in Bedford and grew up in St Albans. He always had a burning desire to write a full-length work of fiction which he would have wanted to read when he was younger, and so after graduating from York University he embarked on a publishing and writing career in the game book and non-fiction department at Walker Books. He moved to Kingfisher Publications to edit children’s non-fiction, and for a time juggled working with writing; but Jonathan is now a full-time writer.
Steven Pacey is an English actor who was nominated for an Olivier Award for his role of Bertie Wooster in the musical By Jeeves. Other West End stage appearances include Dolly West’s Kitchen, The Room, Celebration, The Birthday Party, Things We Do For Love, Phantom of the Opera, Exclusive, The Admirable Crichton, High Society, West Side Story, Mr. Cinders and Godspell.
Posted: October 16th, 2009
Author: Lee
Categories: Audio-books, Jonathan Stroud
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Some doors are better left closed . . . In Barrington House, an upmarket block in London, there is an empty apartment. No one goes in, no one comes out. And it’s been that way for fifty years. Until the night watchman hears a disturbance after midnight and investigates. What he experiences is enough to change his life forever.
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