The Alchemaster's Apprentice

A Culinary Tale from Zamonia by Optimus Yarnspinner

By: Walter Moers, John Brownjohn - translator

Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot

Malaisea, the unhealthiest town in the whole of Zamonia, is home to Echo the Crat, a multitalented creature resembling a cat in appearance but capable of speaking any language under the sun, human or animal. When his mistress dies, Echo finds himself out on the street. Dying of starvation, he is compelled to sign a contract with Ghoolion the Alchemaster, Malaisea’s evil alchemist-in-chief. This fateful document gives Ghoolion the right to kill Echo at the next full moon and render him down for his fat, with which he hopes to brew an alchemical concoction that will make him immortal. In return, he promises to regale the little Crat with the most exquisite gastronomic delicacies until his time is up.

But Ghoolion has reckoned without Echo’s talent for survival and his ability to make new friends. These include the Leathermice, the Cogitating Eggs, the Golden Squirrel, the Cooked Ghost, Theodore T. Theodore the one-eyed Tuwituwu, and above all, Izanuela Anazazi, the last Uggly in Malaisea.

Walter Moers’ magnificent translation of Optimus Yarnspinner’s novel introduces us to yet another of Zamonia’s hotbeds of adventure: Malaisea, a place where sick is healthy, up is down, right is wrong, and Ghoolion the Alchemaster reigns supreme—until Echo crosses his path.

©2007 Piper Verlag GmbH, Munich; Translation 2009 by John Brownjohn (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Cheerfully insane…. Remains lively and inventive right through the final heroic battle between good and evil.” ( New York Times Book Review)

Incredible story told beautifully

The story is a fun and cerebral adventure with a host of characters that the narrator masters.

Loved it

I was first introduced to this book through the 13 1/2 lives of captain blue bear the first books in the Zamonia series and fell in love with Walter Moore's riding, it's always been fantastic and The Alchemaster’s Apprentice is no exception.

Great story, reader is a little much

I love Walter Moers's stories. They're full of interesting characters and imaginative plots.
I do wish someone would just read the book rather than try to "perform" all the characters.
Still, I was able to enjoy the story (the characters voices were not as bad as Dandelion was in Rumo).

Delightful!

After hearing Bronson Pinchot read another title I was sold and went searching for more. This is a delightful story written for teens and children at heart like me. If you like fantastical adventures, hold on to your hat! Definitely one of the most unusual universes I’ve ever encountered.

The reader had very fun voices for all of the characters.

This book was assigned to me for class and was the only one I fully read. It was very good and I enjoyed reading this.