The stories of Karl, the apprentice; Dr. Kalmenius, his nefarious “savior”; Gretl, the brave daughter of the town innkeeper; and a young prince whose clockwork heart is in danger of winding down come together in surprising and magical ways in a story that has the relentless urgency of a ticking clock.
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While Philip Pullman's greatest popularity is as a creator of novel-length magical realism for young adults, such as The Golden Compass, he continues to explore and stretch the limits of other children's and young adult genres. Clockwork is no exception. With its inspiration lying solidly in the German romantic tradition of E.T.A. Hoffmann and the Brothers Grimm, the story begins, as all good fairy tales do, with someone whose human weakness sets events inescapably in motion. As the townspeople of Glockenheim gather in the White Horse Tavern on the eve of the unveiling of a new figure for their great town clock, Karl, the clockmaker's apprentice, reveals to Fritz, a young storyteller, that he has not been able to construct the figure. A new clock figure is expected of all apprentices, and Karl is the first in hundreds of years to fail. Fritz, in his turn, has the beginnings of a new story to tell, and as it rolls off his tongue, its dark antagonist materializes and offers Karl his dearest wish. Not surprisingly, Karl's Faustian pact brings him destruction, but an innocent child is the deus ex machina that saves another child and the spirit of the town from seemingly ineluctable oblivion. With its eerie black-and-white illustrations by Leonid Gore and its happily-ever-after ending to some thrilling suspense, Clockwork is a fine fairy tale for younger children and a thought-provoking twist on the art of narrative for older ones. --Barrie Trinkle
An apprentice clockmaker. A sinister doctor. An inn-keeper's daughter. A prince who is not-quite human, and a statue who is not quite...not. All of these characters are brought together in a masterpiece of suspense that keeps the heart thumping to the very last page, and the mind whirring long afterward.
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Hardback. Condition: Very Good. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # GOR002050951
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Seller: AwesomeBooks, Wallingford, United Kingdom
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Clockwork This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 7719-9780385407557
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Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 6545-9780385407557
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Cloth/Laminated Boards. Condition: Very Good. First Edition. Type: Book N.B. No dust jacket as published. Fading to boards, heavier to spine. (MODERN FIRST EDITION). Seller Inventory # 301290
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Seller: Raymond Tait, Beccles, SUFFO, United Kingdom
Original Cloth. Condition: Very Good. First Edition. Signed by the author on the title page with a dedication. Light bumping to the bottom corners and very slight surface wear to the boards. First printing. No jacket as published. Signed by Author(s). Seller Inventory # 006152
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Seller: Peter Pan books, Haltwhistle, United Kingdom
Soft cover. Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. Signed, with dedication, by Philip Pullman and illustrator Peter Bailey on title page. Paperback proof copy in very good condition, spine not creased or cracked, light creasing to top corner of back cover. Language: eng. Signed by Author(s). Seller Inventory # ABE-1505141663344
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