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The City of Dreaming Books

by Walter Moers

The City of Dreaming Books Cover

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

The publication in 2005 of Walter Moers's The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear was an event — the hilarious epic fantasy garnered grand reviews and surprising sales, which continue to grow. In this new Zamonian adventure, Optimus Yarnspinner, a young writer, inherits from his beloved godfather an unpublished short story by an unknown author. His search for the author's identity takes him to Bookholm — the so-called City of Dreaming Books. On entering its streets, our hero feels as if he has opened the door of a gigantic second-hand bookshop. His nostrils are assailed by clouds of book dust, the stimulating scent of ancient leather, and the tang of printer's ink.

Soon, though, Yarnspinner falls into the clutches of the city's evil genius, Pfistomel Smyke, who treacherously maroons him in the labyrinthine catacombs underneath the city, where reading books can be genuinely dangerous. In The City of Dreaming Books, Walter Moers transports us to a magical world where reading is a remarkable adventure. Only those intrepid souls who are prepared to join Yarnspinner on his perilous journey should read this book. We wish the rest of you a long, safe, unutterably dull and boring life!

Review:

"'German author and cartoonist Moers returns to the mythical lost continent of Zamonia in his uproarious third fantasy adventure to be translated into English (after 2006's Rumo), a delightfully imaginative melange of Shel Silverstein zaniness and oddball anthropomorphism la Terry Pratchett's 'Discworld.' Optimus Yarnspinner, a young saurian novelist, embarks on a quest to track down the anonymous author of the 'most magnificent piece of writing in the whole of Zamonian literature.' Traveling to Bookholm, the legendary City of Dreaming Books, the nave Yarnspinner falls victim to Pfistomel Smyke, a maggot-like literary scholar who poisons Yarnspinner and abandons him in the treacherous catacombs miles below the city's surface. Stranded in an underworld steeped in terror-inducing myth and home to more than a few bizarre inhabitants, Yarnspinner undertakes a long and perilous journey back to the world above. Enchanting illustrations by the author compliment a wonderfully whimsical story that will appeal to readers of all ages." (Sept.) Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Review:

"German novelist Moers puts Tolkien through some sort of Willy Wonka sweetening process and comes up with characters such as Optimus Yarnspinner, who, names being fate and all, just has to be a storyteller." Kirkus Reviews

Synopsis:

The author of 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear transports readers to a magical world. Optimus Yarnspinner finds himself marooned in the subterranean world of Bookholm, the City of Dreaming Books, where reading can be dangerous, and ruthless Bookhunters fight to the death.

About the Author

Walter Moers was born in 1957 and is an author, cartoonist, painter and scriptwriter.

What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 3 comments:
Lora Walker, January 12, 2008 (view all comments by Lora Walker)
A book about a city of books? My word, what could possibly be better for the ardent bibliophile? The title lured me in, but after standing there reading and grinning, I had to have it! This book cut right through my annual winter "ineffectual booklust" (too many interesting books to focus on just one). Warning that reading the book could prove dangerous is a great hook. You could compare the author to Tolkien, Douglas Adams and Lemony Snicket, but that would not be giving Moers credit for his own unique voice and wit. His illustrations are brilliant, too. Proof that the best of writing lurks in the children's section.
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Edward, October 24, 2007 (view all comments by Edward)
A plethora of pleasure and joy! This book is a journey into the wonderful land of books. Moers's accompanying illustrations are also splendid-- as per usual. If you have read his cult-classic Bluebear or just want to dabble into some black-book-magic, please, please procure this literary feast. Have you tried beebread?
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Fiftyfoot, October 2, 2007 (view all comments by Fiftyfoot)
This story will please all book lovers. In a fantastic world where books are heavily revered, Optimus Yarnspinner, a dinosaur, searches for the author of the perfect story bequeathed by his godfather. Adventures ensue and Yarnspinner reveals a world where Bookhunters fight to the death over tomes, a love of books will make close friends, and inspiration is everywhere.
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Product Details

ISBN:
9781585678990
Author:
Moers, Walter
Publisher:
Overlook Press
Translator:
Brownjohn, John
Author:
Yarnspinner, Optimus
Subject:
Fantasy - Contemporary
Subject:
Imaginary places
Subject:
Books and reading
Subject:
Fantasy fiction
Edition Description:
Special DD Eng-
Publication Date:
September 2007
Binding:
Hardcover
Grade Level:
General/trade
Language:
English
Illustrations:
, Y
Pages:
455
Dimensions:
9.00x6.40x1.29 in. 1.59 lbs.

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