Susan Hated Literature

Author: Jonathan Stroud
ISBN: 0552550272
DDC: 823.914
#2 in The Bartimaeus Trilogy
Group Read: FFseries
See also: Library thing

London: a great and prosperous capital, two thousand years old, which in the hands of the magicians aspired to be the centre of the world. In size at least it had succeeded.

Although in the previous book Nathaniel said, almost promised, he wouldn’t summon Bartimaeus again, events force his hand. He needs a servent demon that he can trust trust. Well, for a certain value of trust, given the relationship between magicians and their slaves.

The resistance that made a brief appearance in The Amulet of Samarkand make a reappearance, and a much more substantial one as they attempt to rouse the general populace into revolt against the tyranny of the magicians. But the commoners aren’t to be persuaded by random acts of theft and violence. So the resistance have to raise their game.

So we come to know more about Kitty, the girl who turned up in the first book. How she became part of the Resistance, and why.

And then there is the mysterious entity causing widesprad destruction throughout London. No one knows what it is, all they know is that it is dangerous, having killed several spirits.

Stroud’s second book in The Bartimaeus Trilogy is even more readable and enjoyable than the first. We get to see what changes 2 years and 8 months have wrought on Nathaniel, and to find out that for the most part these aren’t too great. Now moving in more powerful circles he has become more and more a magician, with all the faults that entails, such as being overly ambitous, power-hungry, unfeeling, vain and I could go on.

Bartimaues, of course, is his usual old self. Time doesn’t really pass in the Other Place, and besides as a djinni several thousand years old almost 3 years isn’t really that long a time span.

As with the last book the narrative shifts from one point of view to another, though this time round there are three narrators; Nathaniel, Bartimaeus and Kitty. Each with their own agenda and perspective on events.

This is the middle book of the trilogy, the one that is usually the least entertaining as there is no “shiny new world� to show off, and a lot of set-up for the final installment. This doesn’t really suffer from that problem as it has one self-contained story that the book resolves by the end. Stroud also develops the world he has created, so we get to visit Prague, and to see how the commoners live.

All in all an entertaining and amusing read, with plenty of humour thrown in.

Tags: 7 Stars, alternate history, ffseries, Jonathan Stroud, magicians, series, sff, The Bartimaeus Trilogy, The Golem's Eye

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Dir: Michael Apted, Julian Farino, Allen Coulter, Alan Poul, Timothy Van Patten, Steve Shill, Jeremy Podeswa, Alan Taylor, Mikael Salomon.
Writ: Bruno Heller, John Milius, David Frankel, William J. MacDonald, Alexandra Cunningham, Adrian Hodges.

• Kevin McKidd - Lucius Vorenus
• Ray Stevenson - Titus Pullo
• Polly Walker - Attia of the Julii
• Ciarán Hinds - Julius Caesar
• James Purefoy - Mark Anthony

it has been four hundred years since the founding of the Republic, and in that time Rome has grown into a mighty power. But military might, and subjugated lands don’t mean everything is happy at home. While Gaius Julius Caesar has been off subduing Gaul, the senators back home have been growing more discontented. And while at first his co-ruler of Rome, Pompey, isn’t willing to oppose him, slowly he comes around until conflict is inevitable.

But Rome is much more than a history lesson, though all attempts have been made to ensure that this show is as historically accurate as possible, because the writers and creators have made the central story revolve around two ordinary men, soldiers Titus Pullo and Lucius Vorenus.

The show itself is fantastic. It looks fantastic, set design, costumes, weapons. All look authentic. And the actors are even better, each and everyone seems so suited to their characters, I’ve reviewed most of the episodes already, so I won’t repeat myself.

The DVD has a number of special features. One flashes up historical facts as you watch the episode, giving you wonderful information, such as the name of some sexual positions. There are also a number of commentaries. These were interesting, but not spectacular, and in certain cases it would have probably been a lot better had they had two people do the commentary, rather than having just the one person.

There is also a bonus disc of documentaries, and again, they are all entertaining and informative. But nothing I’d really be bothered to watch twice. Still, the actual episodes themselves are great, and even without any extras at all, it would still be worth buying.

Tags: 10 Stars, Adrian Hodges, Alan Poul, Alan Taylor, Alexandra Cunningham, Allen Coulter, blood, Bruno Heller, Chicken and Lamb, Ciarán Hinds, David Frankel, historical fiction, James Purefoy, Jeremy Podeswa, John Milius, Julian Farino, Julius Caesar, Kevin McKidd, Lucius Vorenus, Michael Apted, Mikael Salomon, Polly Walker, Ray Stevenson, Roman Empire, Rome, Rome season 1, Steve Shill, Timothy Van Patten, Titus Pullo, violence, William J. MacDonald

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