Title The Amulet of Samarkand Author Jonathan Stroud Cover Art Publisher First Printing
	Title The Golem's Eye Author Jonathan Stroud Cover Art Publisher First Printing
	Title Ptolemy's Gate Author Jonathan Stroud Cover Art Publisher First Printing
	Title The Ring of Solomon Author Jonathan Stroud Cover Art Publisher First Printing
	Category Fantasy Warnings None Main Characters Main Elements Wizards Website jonathanstroud.com

Review by Cliodna:

The Bartimaeus Trilogy is one of my favorite works of fantasy. It's set in an alternative modern London, where the society has been divided into magic-users and commoners. England is not ruled by the royal family, but instead by a parlament of magicians and the existence of other sorcerous empires is strongly hinted. The magic-users, wizards, get most of their powers by summoning demons of varying strenght and using them to do their bidding. All wizards are expected to adopt an apprentice at some point in time. The apprentice's real name must never be used, because knowing someones real name would give tremendous power over the person. At some point in time a new name will be picked for them, which they will use for the rest of their life.

The main characters are a young wizard Nathaniel/John Mandrake and a powerful genie summoned by him, named Bartimaeus. The story is filled with action and lots, lots of sarcastic humor, mostly from Bartimaeus's part. The books' sense of humor and original usage of magical devices, the alternative history and beautiful character development is what makes me warmly recommend it.

On the downside I highly disliked the ending of the third book, but I suppose that's a matter of personal opinion.