Bartimaeus: the ring of Solomon

Jonathan Stroud (author)

Doubleday, Random House Books, Australia: November 2010

ISBN: 9780385619158

Genres: adventure, fantasy, humour

Issues: freedom, slavery

Bartimaeus, the insolent djinni with a wicked sense of humour and disturbing perceptions is back, doing his best to find every loophole he can in order to foil the plans of his Master. Not because he objects on ethical grounds, you understand, just because it's more fun that way. After all, if he's going to be summoned against his will to fetch, carry, build and steal, why not make life as difficult as possible for the humans he's forced to serve?

This time, however, there's a rather serious problem: King Solomon of Israel. Or, more to the point, the ring of power on Solomon's finger - a ring that binds armies of spirits to his will. Surely that's more than one fourth-level djinni can take on? You'd be surprised what Bartimaeus can achieve with the right Master - and a little imagination.

In The Amulet of Samarkand, Stroud introduced readers to the idea that ‘demons' - spirits from the Other Place - are in fact an enslaved race. Consequently the common perception of the fantasy genre - that demons are wicked and need to be punished - is not only challenged by Stroud but he strongly suggests that humans are not necessarily the ‘good guys' in this relationship. This repositioning allows Bartimaeus to deliver stinging commentary on human civilizations and social development and the actions and motivations of various characters. It takes skilful writing indeed to shape a rollicking adventure whilst also insinuating into it subtle commentary about the nature and uses of power and the ethics of those who wield it. In Ring of Solomon Stroud's use of the historical context of Ancient Israel and its neighbours adds further ironic humour to this very entertaining novel, as do the many complex and all-too-believable characters that surround Solomon's court. Bartimaeus, with his centuries of highly refined cynicism and far too much experience of the less attractive side of human nature is given a wit and insight that makes him almost as wonderful as he thinks himself.

Very clever, very funny and very more-ish.