Wednesday, August 12, 2009

THE ALCHEMASTER'S APPRENTICE by Walter Moers in Booklist

The Alchemaster's Apprentice is the new novel from Walter Moers, the world renowned German author of novels and comics. Following in the steps of The 131/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear, Rumo, and The City of Dreaming Books, The Alchemaster's Apprentice takes readers back to that favorite place: Zamonia.

Booklist offers a preview in the September 1 issue: "In another fascinating fantasy, Moers takes us to Malaisea, the sickest place in all Zamonia. Echo, a crat (much like a cat, except it talks), recently bereft of his mistress and thrown out on the street to fend for himself, makes a deal with Ghoolion the Alchemaster, who terrorizes the city: in exchange for a month of entertainment and delightful food, Ghoolion can kill Echo and render his fat at the next full moon. Despite some false starts, the curious and likable Echo makes a variety of interesting new friends, learns some of the Alchemaster’s best-hidden secrets, and even comes up with a plan to save himself. Among his friends are the revolutionary tuwituwu Theodore T. Theodore and a colony of leathermice named Vlad; both teach Echo valuable lessons in startling ways. Meanwhile, he eats some of the strangest and most delectable food imaginable. Moers has created an absolutely charming world populated by lovable characters, and the well-paced stories he tells about it are informed by fairy-tale morality."

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