One of the three parts of the Bart Emsas Trilogy: The Zhamakan Amulet

Author: (British) Jonathan Stroud
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: Jonathan Stroud, a renowned British writer. This talented author began writing at the age of seven and later became an editor for children's literature, spending most of his time writing for children. His novel The Amulet of Samarkand has caused a sensation in the global publishing industry since its release in October 2003 in the UK and the US, with its rights sold to over twenty countries. Traditional fantasy novels often observe the world of monsters or demons from a human perspective—readers follow the protagonist into a non-realistic fantasy world and judge based on their own values. In contrast, the same fantasy-themed novel The Amulet of Samarkand reflects the human world from the perspective of a monster, allowing readers not only to enjoy the reading experience as usual but also to gain a pair of calm eyes to examine, critique, and even reflect.
Bartyrath, a mid-level demon, comes from another world and has lived for 5,010 years. Even as an ancient demon, he is subject to human control: anyone who masters the summoning spell, regardless of age or character, can summon him. Nathaniel is a young boy who can summon Bartyrath. He is only 12 years old, an age when children usually coddle their parents at home, but Nathaniel has no one to coddle because he was abandoned by his parents at birth and adopted by his mentor. Such a child is marked differently from birth. He is willful, lonely, arrogant, and vengeful, struggling to get along with and cooperate with others. However, he has two people he truly loves and trusts in his life—his tutor and his mentor's wife. If these two gentle women had stayed by his side for a long time, perhaps they could have awakened the tenderness in his heart. But he lost them. So, he begins to act, determined to steal the Amulet of Samarkand and use it to take revenge on everyone who has caused him pain.
Once summoned, a demon must serve their master, and Bartyrath is no exception. However, Bartyrath refuses to be controlled by Nathaniel and prefers to return to his demonic world, as he retains the dignity of a demon. Yet, Nathaniel is relentless in his pursuit. "Even the most powerful demon is a servant of the wizard." With his wit and cunning, Bartyrath manages to steal the rare Amulet of Samarkand for Nathaniel. Unbeknownst to them, this amulet brings unimaginable danger to both of them. To uncover the conspiracy behind the amulet, the nine days they spend together forge a strange, yet intertwined relationship between the boy and the demon—one of hatred and mutual dependence.
When Nathaniel loses everything in a disaster, his words reveal the desperate reliance of a lonely and helpless child on the demon. Meanwhile, as Bartyrath saves Nathaniel, he seems to develop a touch of sympathy, as well as the care and concern of an elder for a younger one. In Jonathan Stroud's The Amulet of Samarkand, Bartyrath is an unconventional demon—he doesn't like eating people and has always loved a deceased Egyptian boy named Ptolemy, even though it has been centuries since his death. Bartyrath often transforms into his appearance to comfort himself with deep longing. All these unconventional traits make Bartyrath seem more humanized, and a thousand years of experience have softened even a demon. On the other hand, when a soul is filled only with desires and ambitions, even a 12-year-old child can become extremely cold. At the same time, Bartyrath has a thousand years of human experience, giving him ample reason to judge the world.
Bartyrath also possesses a calm and rational perspective, using it to mock his master—Nathaniel. With a teasing tone, he lightly recounts the dialogues between humans and demons. The UK is a highly developed country in the field of best-selling children's books, with works like Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Carroll, Winnie-the-Pooh by Milne, the Harry Potter series by Rowling, and The Witches by Dahl, all being both bestsellers and classics. Jonathan Stroud's The Amulet of Samarkand, however, turns the perspective of the demon to reflect the human world and society, undoubtedly opening a new window for the fantasy children's book world.
A vengeful teenager, a wise demon, and the ever-changing nature of humanity
●A completely new fantasy world, different from Harry Potter
●Exciting and thrilling content, with a unique and refreshing concept
●Already sold over 300,000 copies in neighboring Japan, topping the bestseller list
●Miramax has purchased the film adaptation and broadcasting rights for The Amulet of Samarkand