The first volume in the brilliant bestselling Bartimaeus sequence 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 & 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 & ambition Before long both djinni & apprentice are caught up in a terrifying flood of magical intrigue murder & rebellion Set in a modern-day London controlled by magicians this hilarious electrifying thriller will enthral readers of all ages