Clockwork: Or All Wound Up - Softcover

Pullman, Philip

Softcover

ISBN 10: 043985623X ISBN 13: 9780439856232

Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks, 2006

Synopsis

Unusual book

About this title

Review

While Philip Pullman's greatest popularity is as a creator of novel-length magical realism for young adults, such as The Northern Lights, 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

Review

* "Pullman, the consummate storyteller, offers a deliciously spooky story combining elements of Frankenstein, the Sorcerer's Apprentice, and Faust." Booklist, starred review * "In this tightly wound tale by the author of The Golden Compass and Count Karlstein...a delectably spooky train of events is set in motion when the novelist Fritz sets out to entertain the villagers with his most recent work: the tale of Prince Florian, the deceased local ruler's son, whose fate is linked to a brilliant clockmaker." Publishers Weekly, starred review * "Pullman manages to weave together the threads from both the story and the story within the story in a book filled with tension, menace, and suspense." School Library Journal, starred review * "An intricate little novel [that] ticks along to a gratifying conclusion that is more fable than fantasy." Kirkus, pointer review "Pullman's deft evocation of atmosphere stands him in good stead here, keeping suspension of disbelief alive as he tells the story within the story and brings his characters round the full, magical circle of his plot." Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books "A suspenseful story-within-a-story richly woven by the award-winning author of The Golden Compass and The Subtle Knife, Clockwork has all the elements of a great fantasy for adults as well as for kids: a despicable villain, a brave heroine and a heart in need of rescue. Pullman's setting may be vaguely historical, but his characters are decidedly updated: It's a young prince who needs to be saved, and it's a brave girl who does the saving." TimeOut New York "The tale is seamless, resolving happily and convincingly, with both the good and brave and the craven and cowardly receiving appropriate rewards. Pullman laces his tale with subtle humor while maintaining the suspense until the end. Misty, moody, and atmospheric black-and-white drawings by Leonid Gore make a perfect fit for this gothic gem." VOYA

Edition details

• Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks
• Publication date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 043985623X
• ISBN 13: 9780439856232
• Binding: Paperback
• Illustrator: Gore Leonid
• Number of pages: 107