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The Alchemist's Apprentice
Sale price: $0.49
Author(s): Dave Duncan
Binding: Digital
Label: Amazon
Language(s): English Published
List Price: $0.49
Manufacturer: Amazon
Number Of Pages: 32
Product Group: Book
Address: 2006-08-04
Publisher: Amazon
Release Date: 2006-08-04
Studio: Amazon
Editorial Reviews
Product Description:
Michel de Nostredame, known as Nostradamus, died (in France of course) in 1566. His work was continued for many years by Filippo Nostradamus, who published in Italy and claimed to be Michel's nephew. Michel's family denied any knowledge of Filippo and nothing more is known of him. I have rectified this sad state of affairs by writing a fantasy-historical-mystery novel set in Renaissance Venice. This is how it begins.
Customer Reviews Average rating - 4.5
Rating - 5 Date: 2008-04-01
Content: The Alchemist's Apprentice is a re-imagining Nero Wolfe. It has some minor fantasy elements. It is set in 16th century Venice, where it seems almost impossible to avoid arrest and torture. And of course, eternal damnation is a constant threat. But this is at heart a murder mystery, and magic is of surprisingly little help when it comes to unmasking a killer. The only thing missing is photographic plates of the art the wealthy people of Venice are surrounded by.
Summary: Five Black Orchids!
Rating - 3 Date: 2007-11-21
Content: I never thought that I would give less than 5 stars to the book written by Dave Duncan, but obviously everything has to happen for a first time. If you pick up this book, you have to be aware of one major thing:
It is mystery, not a fantasy!
Ok, I knew that and still I was disappointed. I think I am spoiled by the originality of plots in Duncan's fantasy books. On the contrast, The "Alchemist apprentice" is read as a Venetian version of Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin adventures. It is classic mystery "who's done it?" with classic twists and classic characters. As a result, the mystery is quite predictable. What's worse, the clairvoyance, demons and Tarot - the tools that are supposedly to help us to experience the atmosphere of medieval Venice - all these look like not necessary attributes, and can be removed from the plot without any disturbance to the major events. Maestro Nostradamus himself (aka Nero Wolfe etc.), as described by Duncan, is highly intelligent and educated private detective and doctor (reminds you of somebody?) and is very out of place in the medieval Venice. Him being an astrologist comes more like "by the way"...
To conclude, I did enjoy historical descriptions, and liked Alfeo Zeno (major character) to the same extent as I used to like Archie Goodwin. Unfortunately, this accounts for three stars only. I doubt that the book would appeal to fantasy fans, and because the mystery part lacks originality, some mystery fans are also up to disappointment.
Summary: Not the best by Duncan
Rating - 5 Date: 2007-10-11
Content: I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Mostly I was surprised it was in the Fantasy genre, but I suppose, with its touch of the supernatural it wouldn't quite fit in with the Mysteries... Although it could.
This was a good solid mystery, with an engaging amateur sleuth--the very surprising apprentice to Nostradamus. And, surprise--it's not THE Nostradamus, but his nephew (although it really seems to make no difference--this Nostradamus is quite as formidable and fascinating). And the historical facts and details of life in the amazing city of Venice is deftly handled so that the reader feels comfortably back in time and place.
Fortunately for me, this combination of fantasy, mystery and history is totally welcome. I enjoy reading historical mysteries about as well as I do reading fantasy, and the setting of Venice is also a favorite of mine. If you like these elements, as well as a dashing, multi-talented apprentice hero who can hold his own with his learned master, you should enjoy this book as well.
I am very happy to learn it may be a series as I will gladly read more along this line.
Summary: An Enjoyable Historical Mystery with a small dash of Fantasy
Rating - 5 Date: 2007-07-08
Content: The Alchemist's Apprentice (2007) is a historical fantasy. Maestro Filippo Nostradamus, nephew of Michel Nostradamus, is an astrologer, clairvoyant and alchemist as well as the best physician in Venice. His apprentice and protector is Alfeo Zeno, a young and impoverished nobleman. The Maestro is a long-standing friend of the Doge and is also his personal physician.
In this novel, a tarot reading suggests unexpected visitors that night, so Alfeo he arms himself just in case. He sends Luigi -- the night watchman -- to guard the back door and takes the watergate for himself. Then Raffaino Sciara appears with four fanti requesting entrance.
Although Alfeo states that the Maestro is not at home, the Circospetto -- chief secretary of the Council of Ten -- demands entrance in the name of the Republic. Alfeo reluctantly lets them inside, but still avers that his master is not home. Sciara offers Alfeo the choice of taking him to the Maestro or being taken into custody.
After spending the rest of the night in a cell, Alfeo is awakened and taken to see the Doge. There he is informed of the death of Bertucci Orseolo and the circumstances leading to the death. He is startled to learn that his master had been present at the affair and had attended the procurator after his collapse.
Alfeo immediately realizes that his master could be charged with causing the death of the procurator. After returning home, he advises his master to flee Venice, but Nostradamus refuses. Instead, the Maestro sends Alfeo on a series of errands, including interviews with the witnesses to Orseolo's collapse.
In this story, Alfeo is attacked by six bravos, but survives due to Bruno's iron skillet and help from the neighbors. He has prophetic dreams about a demon. He avoids a seduction attempt by an English woman. Indeed, he has an exciting time during Carnival.
Alfeo has the help of a few friends during this time. Bruno is a giant of a man who is a deaf-mute. Bruno carries the Maestro on his shoulders whenever his master leaves the Casa. Although very sweet tempered, Bruno can get quite excited whenever someone attacks his friends.
Giorgio is the Maestro's gondolier. He also is the father of many children. The twins Christoforo and Corrado are the eldest still at home and run many errands for the Maestro and Alfeo. They are old enough to start planning a sexual revel.
Violetta is the most expensive courtesan in Venice and she lives right next door to Alfeo. Occasionally she likes to invite him over for a visit. Since she is probably the most intelligent person that he knows (maybe even smarter that the Maestro), Alfeo welcomes the opportunity to talk over his problems with Violetta. She also has great sources of information.
This story is a murder mystery in the style of Nero Wolfe, with the Maestro as the brain and Alfeo as the brawn. Yet this story does not slavishly follow the Rex Stout formula, for Nostradamus does sometimes leave the Casa. Moreover, he doesn't even own the palace, but only has the use of his apartments. And the penultimate denouement takes place at the scene of the crime.
This work is brought to a satisfying conclusion, but the characters are so interesting that one really wants a sequel. Let us hope that the author has more to write in this mileau!
Highly recommended for Duncan fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of late Renaissance Venice, murder mysteries, and convoluted plots.
-Arthur W. Jordin
Summary: The Case of the Poisoned Cup
Rating - 4 Date: 2007-04-10
Content: Yes he does. Dave Duncan is one author who never fails me. An excellent story with completely believable characters this is a murder mystery set in Italy in the time of Nostrodomus. One of his clients has died and the old master is blamed. Now, it's up to his apprentice to prove who done it.
Duncan keeps the plot moving and keeps you guessing right up to the end with a few neat twists thrown in for good measure.
Summary: Duncan Does it Again
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