The Golem's Eye

By: Jonathan Stroud

Narrated by: Simon Jones

Length: 16 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's Summary

Two years have passed since young apprentice magician Nathaniel became famous by foiling the ruthless Simon Lovelace. Now 14, Nathaniel is ambitiously climbing the ranks of the magicians' government. The Prime Minister himself has placed Nathaniel in charge of capturing the Resistance, a group of unruly commoners working to undermine the magicians' empire. But after several failed attempts, Nathaniel is forced to admit he can't do it alone. With his career on the line, he reluctantly summons his only hope for success, the 5,000-year-old wise-cracking djinni Bartimaeus.

The duo is reunited just in time: the Resistance is growing more audacious than ever. And to make matters worse, a seemingly invulnerable clay golem is wreaking destruction throughout London, sending the entire city into pandemonium. With time running out, the young magician and his uncontrollable djinni must find the source of the golem's power, a task they quickly learn will involve much more than they ever anticipated.

In the ensuing chaos, Nathaniel and Bartimaeus will be chased through the streets of Prague, hunt a dancing skeleton across London's skyline, encounter the horror of the dreaded Night Police, and meet a surprising new ally. Together, these three will have to go head-to-head with the fearsome golem before the mysterious identity of its master is finally revealed.

©2004 Jonathan Stroud (P)2004 Random House, Inc. Listening Library, an imprint of the Random House Audio Publishing Group

great fun

I have been reading SF and Fantasy for 45 years and thought the first book of this trilogy was a riot. The second book is even better. Can't wait for the next one. Oh, by the way if you are looking for the tradional hero in this story, like Harry Potter, one will not appear, at least so far. Great fun, very funny, very very scarey, goodbye Potter, I've been Demonized, and I like it!!!!!!!!!!!

16 of 16 people found this review helpful

The Plot Thickens

If you liked The Amulet of Samarkand, you'll like this one. We get some of the story from Kitty's point of view and find out why she's part of the Resistance. Nathaniel isn't any better than he needs to be, and Bartimaeus offers copious sarcasm. Read by the fantastic Simon Jones.

9 of 9 people found this review helpful

Terrific story, Great Reader

Some people have found this second volume of the trilogy a letdown after the superb "Amulet of Samarkand," but I actually liked it better. A very satisfying ending sets up the final-volume finale. Simon Jones is at the top of the all-time great narrators list, and when he's matched with terrific characters and a suspenseful story, it's audio bliss.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Keeping up the excellent work.

Two years have passed since the events of Amulet of Samarkand. Nathaniel, now called John Mandrake to his colleagues, is a member of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the same department formerly headed by his late former master, the cowardly Arthur Underwood. Now apprenticed to a new master, Jessica Whitwell, Nathaniel is currently involved in a mostly fruitless hunt for a group of rogue commoners known as the Resistance, who wage small attacks on Magicians' dwellings and businesses to steal magical objects which they hope to use to eventually overthrow the cruel government. That operation is sidelined by a series of attacks on London by an unknown and seemingly invulnerable creature. Finding himself in peril of his life, Nathaniel summons the Djinni Bartimaeus, who discovers that the creature responsible for the destruction of many London businesses is a Golem,, sending Nathaniel to the ancient city of Praague, where such magic originated.
As with Amulet, narrator Simon Jones does an excellent job of narrating, bringing life to old and new characters alike, from Kitty Jones to the Afrit Honorius. If you haven't read this series yet, you definitely should. It may take a bit of getting used to since the magic isn't as pure as in, say, Harry Potter, but it's definitely innovative and interesting.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Fun and witty

My son (13) and I have both enjoyed Book One, The Amulet of Samarkand. I just finished listening to the audio edition of Golem's Eye. The narration is very well done, Bartimaeus is as articulate and witty as ever, and the characters are more defined now as the story line has begun to flesh out. Good ending too... resolution to the current story, but you're stil left looking forward to the next installment. Slightly darker and much more demon oriented than Harry Potter, the humor and pithiness of Bartimaeus makes it well worth the ride. Great fun!

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Better than the first one!

This book had me cracking up. The reader fit in the accents for each character perfectly. Bartemaeus is just as smart-mouthed as usual, his first confrontation with "Nat" is a must-hear. Worth buying, as long as you liked the first book.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Another Excellent Bartimaeus Book

This trilogy is one of the best, most entertaining series I have listened to in an extremely long time. Stroud does a great job keeping things moving with plenty of witty repartee. And I can't say enough about Simon Jones! He is now my favorite narrator- and I'm insanely picky! After I listened to the first book, I bought the rest of the series immediately! Well worth your credits. I listen to kids books when my young children are around so that they aren't hearing profanity and adult content...if I'm listening with headphones, I'm often listening to Preston/Child books and I save the children's books for when we are in the car. Not so with this series! I had to listen to them till I finished, whether it was in the car or with headphones.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Terrific story, Great Reader

Some people have found this second volume of the trilogy a letdown after the superb "Amulet of Samarkand," but I actually liked it better. A very satisfying ending sets up the final-volume finale. Simon Jones is at the top of the all-time great narrators list, and when he's matched with terrific characters and a suspenseful story, it's audio bliss.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

FANTASTIC!!!!

This is probably the BEST audiobook I have ever listened to. The story is fantastic and the NARRATION by Simon Jones sets the standard for all others to be judged against. I probably have 100 audiobooks in my collection and you quickly learn to follow the NARRATOR almost as much if not more than the author. Simon Jones is the best I have heard so far. In this trilogy Jonathan Stroud gives Simon Jones a fantastic story to bring to life....I just can't say enough about the story or the narrator....

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Better than the first!

I really enjoyed this installment of the series. Its far better than the first, which I liked well enough to buy the second, but this one has much more in depth character development. We get to know Kitty much more, but hear less from Bartimaeus this time around. If you enjoyed the first book, it only gets better. Just bought the third.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful