When the 5000-year-old djinni Bartimaeus is summoned by Nathaniel, a young magician's apprentice, he expects to have to do nothing more taxing than a little levitation or a few simple illusions. But Nathaniel is a precocious talent and has something rather more dangerous in mind: revenge. Against his will, Bartimaeus is packed off to steal the powerful Amulet of Samarkand from Simon Lovelace, a master magician of unrivalled ruthlessness and ambition. Before long, both djinni and apprentice are caught up in a terrifying flood of murder and rebellion. For Lovelace, at the centre of government intrigue, will spare no one ... Book One of THE BARTIMAEUS TRILOGY, this is a brilliant, unputdownable, electrifying thriller, laced with humour, power, ambition and revenge.