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Audio Book Review: The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud, read by Steven Pacey
Rating
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
Jonathan Stroud to write prequel to Bartimaeus Trilogy
There was fantastic news today with the announcement that Jonathan Stroud will write a prequel to his wonderful Bartimaeus Trilogy.
The new and fourth Bartimaeus book will follow Bartimaeus’s adventures during his 5,000 year career as a djinni. Bartimaeus took the publishing world by storm when the first book (The Amulet of Samarkand) was published in 2003, and since then the series has become one of the most successful and widely known fantasy series in the world with global sales of over 3 million copies. The books have been sold in 37 countries.
Miramax bought film rights for around $3million and a movie of The Amulet of Samarkand is currently in development. The series has been in the bestseller charts in the UK, USA, Japan and Germany.
It has won major literary awards around the world including the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award 2006 (USA), CORINE Youth Book Award (Germany), Le Grand Prix de L’Imaginaire 2007 (France) and many more.
In the new prequel, Bartimaeus is back and he’s as insolent and endearing as ever. Never one to hide his deadly Detonation rays under a bushel, the djinni with the 5,010-year career has decided it’s time to write his memoirs. The book follows him through recorded history, from Babylon to the Americas, from Ancient Egypt
to the modern Middle East. We meet pharaohs and peasants, augurs and kings; we witness the glory of old Baghdad and discover exactly what Bartimaeus did say to Solomon. And along the way we renew acquaintance with a few old enemies, and finish with a rediscovery of a friend.
The deal for English language UK and Commonwealth rights was secured by Annie Eaton, fiction publisher at RHCB, and agented by Laura Cecil.
Annie Eaton, RHCB fiction publisher, comments: “It’s only with the promise of a new Bartimaeus adventure
that I realise how much I have missed him over the last few years! Jonathan has created one of the wittiest
and smartest characters of the century and I know this book will be every bit as brilliant as the first three. Bart
fans old and new are in for a real treat.”
Laura Cecil comments: “Jonathan’s publishers all over the world have been asking if there is a new
Bartimaeus book coming, so they will be thrilled to hear it’s on its way. We’ve already sold it to Hyperion in
the US and judging by past performance, things will be very busy on the rights front from now on.”
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.
Posted: October 14th, 2009
Author: Lee
Categories: Jonathan Stroud
My Sister Jodie wins 2009 Bookseller BookVideo Award
Jonathan Stroud’s Heroes of the Valley book video, directed by Leevi Lemmetty, was narrowly pipped to the 2009 Bookseller BookVideo Awards 2009.
Anna Lavelle’s video for Jacqueline Wilson’ My Sister Jodie won the award, which was held in conjunction with Play.com. Random House, the NFTS and The Bookseller. Double Cross by Malorie Blackman was also a runner-up.
The three film-makers submitted winning pitches to create trailers for the three Random titles last year, receiving £5,000 to make their films and £1,000 prize money.
Lemmetty’s wonderful video can be seen in the delightful YouTube video below:
Heroes of the Valley book review
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.
Posted: March 21st, 2009
Author: Floresiensis
Categories: Jonathan Stroud
Jonathan Stroud to visit Earl High School in Halesowen
Best selling fantasy author Jonathan Stroud will talk about his new book Heroes of the Valley at Earls High School in Halesowen. The talk will be at the school in Furnace Lane on Monday February 9 at 7pm as part of Dudley Children’s Book Group. Entrance is free. Tickets are available in advance from Books Unlimited in Stourbridge or on the door on the night.
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.
Posted: February 7th, 2009
Author: Lee
Categories: Jonathan Stroud
Book Video Awards 2009
One of the winning entries for last year’s Book Video Awards is to be broadcast on BBC London tonight in time for this evening’s Costa Book of the Year Announcement.
The book video for Sadie Jones’ Costa-shortlisted The Outcast was Felix Wiedermann’s winning entry to the awards. It will be shown on BBC London’s news bulletins at 6.30 and 10.30pm.
The Book Video Awards, in association with The Bookseller, Random House, Play and the National Film & Television School (NFTS), were launched 2007. Three candidates were chosen from students at the NTFS who supplied successful pitches to create book videos for three RH titles.
This year the three film-makers were: Anna Lavalle creating a video for Jacqueline Wilson’s My Sister Jodie, Felix Weidermann for Double Cross by Malorie Blackman, and Leevi Lemmetty for Heroes of the Valley by Jonathan Stroud. The overall winner will be announced at the Book Video Awards in March.
The Outcast won the first novel category prize at this year’s Costa Book Awards, and is shortlisted for the £25,000 Book of the Year prize, alongside Sebastian Barry’s The Secret Scripture, Diana Athill’s Somewhere Towards the End, Adam Foulds’ The Broken Word and Just Henry by Michelle Magorian.
Source: Bookseller.com
Posted: February 7th, 2009
Author: Lee
Categories: Jonathan Stroud
Jonathan Stroud visits school in Lancashire
More than 100 school children from across Lancashire flocked to Kirkham this week to meet highly acclaimed children’s fantasy author Jonathan Stroud [link to biography].
Stroud visited Carr Hill High School and Sixth Form Centre to talk to pupils from a number of local schools as part of a UK tour to promote his latest book Heroes of the Valley.
The Hertfordshire-based Fantasy writer, who is best known as the author of the Bartimaeus trilogy, has written six novels in total and sold over four million books worldwide
Jonathan Stroud said: “It’s really important for the kids and the author, for everyone to meet. It’s not much good me just sitting for hours at a time writing. By meeting like this I can see what they are interested in and whether they like the books. It’s also really useful for them that they get to see what being an author is all about.”
Carr Hill regularly invites authors to talk to students and for this visit the school welcomed pupils from Kirkham Grammar School, Baines High School Poulton, and Preston’s Moor Park High School and Our Lady’s Catholic High to also take part.
Source: Lytham St Annes Express
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.
Posted: February 6th, 2009
Author: Lee
Categories: Jonathan Stroud
Jonathan Stroud visits local college
Harpenden resident Jonathan Stroud has this month published his first new book in more than two years. Heroes of the Valley (see review excerpt below) is a story which has been told to the students at Loreto College in Hatfield Road.
“It has been quite a long time since I have enjoyed a book this much. The feelings of warmth and enjoyment experienced are similar to those felt when reading The Hobbit; that is how good this book is. Although this may be my first encounter of Stroud’s work it will certainly not be the last and if the Bartimaeus trilogy is anywhere near as good as this then I am in for an absolute treat. I would highly recommend this book to all, regardless of age, an enthralling tale told by a master storyteller.”
Jonathan Stroud was born in Bedford in 1970. After studying English Literature at York University, he moved to London where he worked as an editor in a publishing firm. He is the author of Buried Fire, The Leap and The Last Siege as well as the bestselling BARTIMAEUS trilogy: The Amulet of Samarkand, The Golem’s Eye and Ptolemy’s Gate. Following the worldwide success of the BARTIMAEUS trilogy he now devotes his whole time to writing. He lives in Hertfordshire with his wife and two young children.
Posted: January 14th, 2009
Author: Lee
Categories: Jonathan Stroud
Kathryn Hughes of The Guardian left stunned by Stroud
Kathryn Hughes writes for the Guardian and has recently reviewed Jonathan Stroud’s wonderful Heroes of the Valley. She was glowing in her praise for his latest work:
“Children’s fiction of the past 30 years has been laced with sub-Tolkienian whimsy – all those quest narratives set in northern European winterscapes, prefaced with elaborate maps and a long list of characters with Norse names. Heroes of the Valley has a map, and it’s certainly jolly cold, and the names could well be Norse, but there the similarities to cookie-cutter fantasy end. Written out of a deeply felt world, and with a taut, disciplined voice that knows its Sir Gawain and the Green Knight as well as its Harry Potter, Jonathan Stroud’s new book is, quite simply, stunning.”
Heroes of the Valley reviewed in the The Guardian
FantasyBookReview.co.uk reviewed Heroes of the Valley recently and was no less taken with this spell-binding fantasy tale:
“It has been quite a long time since I have enjoyed a book this much. The feelings of warmth and enjoyment experienced are similar to those felt when reading The Hobbit; that is how good this book is. Although this may be my first encounter of Stroud’s work it will certainly not be the last and if the Bartimaeus trilogy is anywhere near as good as this then I am in for an absolute treat. I would highly recommend this book to all, regardless of age, an enthralling tale told by a master storyteller.”
Heroes of the Valley – full book review on FantasyBookReview.co.uk
Since 2002 Kathryn Hughes has written regularly for the Guardian, contributing pieces on history and biography to the Review and opinion pieces to the Comment pages. She is a contributing editor to Prospect magazine and also writes for the Times Literary Supplement and the Economist. Her particular interests are Victorian history and contemporary popular culture.
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.
Posted: January 10th, 2009
Author: Lee
Categories: Fantasy Book Review, Jonathan Stroud
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