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Johannes Cabal The Necromancer  By  cover art

Johannes Cabal The Necromancer

By: Jonathan L. Howard
Narrated by: Christopher Cazenove
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Editorial reviews

Johannes Cabal was just your average, everyday scientist trying to cure death before he gave up on science and turned to necromancy. To become a necromancer, all he had to do was sell his soul to the devil. Which was fine, he didn't think he'd need it. Turns out he was wrong, though, so he goes to hell to get it back. Only once there, he finds the devil's not so interested in returning it. At least not without making things interesting. So, Cabal and the devil agree on a little wager: If Cabal can collect 100 souls in the span of one year, the devil will return his soul to him. Cabal accepts the challenge not that he really had any choice, unless he wanted to settle for eternal damnation and returns to Earth to discover that the devil has kindly? provided him with a traveling carnival, which Cabal must use in his attempts to acquire those hundred souls.

If Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman had collaborated on another book after Good Omens, or Christopher Moore had been raised in the UK by devil-worshiping carnies, or J. K. Rowling had decided to write a humorous novel but had a cold, black lump of coal in her chest where a heart would otherwise be, Johannes Cabal the Necromancer is the book they, he, or she might have written. Which is to say a laugh-out-loud funny fantasy, with liberal doses of the devil, darkness, and death.

To narrate such a text- one rife with numerous (and challenging) voices and requiring of impeccable comic timing would be a tall order for any actor, but Christopher Cazenove makes it seem as child's play. His sonorous British tone matches up with Jonathan L. Howard's prose precisely, and he provides several unique voices, bringing a wide range of characters to life (some of which are dead!), resulting in a truly remarkable dare I say...flawless? audiobook production.

Given the subject matter of the novel, it's entirely possible Howard and Cazenove sold their souls in exchange for their incredible talents. If you run into either of them, be sure to read very carefully anything they ask you to sign... John Joseph Adams

Publisher's summary

Johannes Cabal, a brilliant scientist and notorious snob, is single-mindedly obsessed in heart and soul with raising the dead. Well, perhaps not soul.... He hastily sold his years ago in order to learn the laws of necromancy. But now, tormented by a dark secret, he travels to the fiery pits of Hell to retrieve it. Satan, who is incredibly bored these days, proposes a little wager: Johannes has one year to persuade 100 people to sign over their souls, or he will be damned forever.

To make the bet even more interesting, Satan throws in that diabolical engine of deceit, seduction, and corruption known as a “traveling circus” to aid in the evil bidding. What better place exists to rob poor sad saps of their souls than the traveling carnivals historically run by hucksters and legendary con men?

With little time to lose, Johannes raises a motley crew from the dead and enlists his brother, Horst, a charismatic vampire, to be the carnival’s barker. On the road through the pastoral English countryside, this team of reprobates wields their black magic with masterful ease, resulting in mayhem at every turn.

©2009 Jonathan L. Howard (P)2009 Random House

What listeners say about Johannes Cabal The Necromancer

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    5 out of 5 stars

I looved this book

Perfect combo of Humor and Curious, very good for teenagers and young adults. Very nice set of characters with a wonderful plot. This book is a great present and is narrated beautifully.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

4 star story but didn't ensnare me.

well written and good narrator. didn't catch my attention the way I wanted but can respect the story.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

what a fun and odd story

really enjoyed it in an odd sort of way.
narrator was very engaging with good switches between characters

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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5 stars

if you like fantasy and you like Sherlock Holmes you will love this series. TERRIFIC character who you love even though you hate.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great story, a little too Pratchet.

First started listening with the new short stories and then got this after really enjoying the former.

Great storytelling, good humor, but just trying a little too hard to be Terry, a little too absurd too quickly.

In the short stories they all had the fans type of humor but were still decently serious stories that reminded me of Sherlock Holmes if he was a necromancer. Except for the last one which was pretty absurd, but 3 out of 4 isn't bad and it was a good switchup.

This one started off absurd seemed a little too grounded in it but slowly moved away from that at the end. That is until the very end that revealed his motivation is basically just the exact same as the Batman villain Mr Freeze and it really took away from the great story.

That is why I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Okay story overall

Two friends recommended the book to me, so I decided to give it a try. Based on subject matter I thought it would be pretty good, since I generally tend to enjoy darker fantasy and macbre style stories. Well either through the story or narration I never really got into it, partially cause through the telling I kept getting a sense of "can't be bothered" which may be because of the main character. Admittedly, the last 1.5 to 2 hours seemed to pick up, but even then it was limited. The overall story and plot was pretty good (hence the three stars instead of lower), but either the writing style or tell wasn't my style.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Good read/listen

Long ago, Johannes made a deal with the Devil for his soul. But now he needs his soul back. Lacking of a soul is interfering with his life’s work.
However, Satan has a pretty strike no returns policy. And so Johannes makes a second deal to win back his soul. He must trade 100 souls for his 1.
Now, how to get 100 souls?? Satan’s got a plan!

This was a unique story. I liked the idea behind it. Intrigued enough to read more in the series.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Such a great series

The Cabal universe is one of my absolute favorites. Anti-hero so we’ll done. Smart and fun

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Recommended!

A great book to cheer you up while stuck in rush hour traffic! Very funny and well performed.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Most Excellent Story and Reader

One of my favorite books, the best I have 'read' in a long time.
Solid plot, A book you can't put down, suspense and sarcasam with a bit of British Humor. A sort of Monty Phyton meets Satan kind of humor, yet dark enough to make you keep the lights on at night !

And Christopher Cazenove is an outstanding reader.

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7 people found this helpful