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The Alchemist Hardcover – January 31, 2011

by Paolo Bacigalupi (Author), J. K. Drummond (Illustrator)
3.9 3.9 out of 5 stars 533 ratings
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Magic has a price. But someone else will pay. Every time a spell is cast, a bit of bramble sprouts, sending up tangling vines, bloody thorns, and threatening a poisonous sleep. It sprouts in tilled fields and in neighbors' roof beams, thrusts up from between street cobbles, and bursts forth from sacks of powdered spice. A bit of magic, and bramble follows. A little at first, and then more--until whole cities are dragged down under tangling vines and empires lie dead, ruins choked by bramble forest. Monuments to people who loved magic too much.

In paired novellas, award-winning authors Tobias Buckell and Paolo Bacigalupi explore a shared world where magic is forbidden and its use is rewarded with the axe. A world of glittering memories and a desperate present, where everyone uses a little magic, and someone else always pays the price.

In the beleageured city of Khaim, a lone alchemist seeks a solution to a deadly threat. The bramble, a plant that feeds upon magic, now presses upon Khaim, nourished by the furtive spellcasting of its inhabitants and
threatening to strangle the city under poisonous vines. Driven by desperation and genius, the alchemist constructs a device that transcends magic, unlocking the mysteries of bramble s essential nature. But the power of his newly-built balanthast is even greater than he dreamed. Where he sought to save a city
and its people, the balanthast has the potential to save the world entire--if it doesn t destroy him and his family first.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    96 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Subterranean
  4. Publication date
    January 31, 2011
  5. Dimensions
    5.75 x 0.5 x 8.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    159606353X
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1596063532
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The first foray into fantasy from Hugo winner Bacigalupi (The Windup Girl) is one of two novellas (the other by Tobias S. Buckell) set in a world where using magic has terrible consequences. Jeoz is a destitute alchemist living in Khaim, a city literally being strangled to death by bramble, a "wormy malevolence" that expands its thorny vines every time someone uses magic. The bramble's hairs are poisonous, and the forest of vines has already destroyed entire empires. The genius alchemist, obsessed with finding a way to destroy the bramble--and desperately motivated by his sickly six-year-old daughter--invents a device that he believes will rid the region of the thorny pestilence forever. But when he unveils his potentially realm-saving creation to Khaim's mayor, Jeoz realizes his benevolent work has darker applications. This bite-sized tale is charming, lyrically written, and thematically rich. (Jan.)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

From the Inside Flap

Magic has a price. But someone else will pay. Every time a spell is cast, a bit of bramble sprouts, sending up tangling vines, bloody thorns, and threatening a poisonous sleep. It sprouts in tilled fields and in neighbors' roof beams, thrusts up from between street cobbles, and bursts forth from sacks of powdered spice. A bit of magic, and bramble follows. A little at first, and then more--until whole cities are dragged down under tangling vines and empires lie dead, ruins choked by bramble forest. Monuments to people who loved magic too much.In paired novellas, award-winning authors Tobias Buckell and Paolo Bacigalupi explore a shared world where magic is forbidden and its use is rewarded with the axe. A world of glittering memories and a desperate present, where everyone uses a little magic, and someone else always pays the price.In the beleaguered city of Khaim, a lone alchemist seeks a solution to a deadly threat. The bramble, a plant that feeds upon magic, now presses upon Khaim, nourished by the furtive spellcasting of its inhabitants and threatening to strangle the city under poisonous vines. Driven by desperation and genius, the alchemist constructs a device that transcends magic, unlocking the mysteries of bramble's essential nature. But the power of his newly-built balanthast is even greater than he dreamed. Where he sought to save a city and its people, the balanthast has the potential to save the world entire--if it doesn't destroy him and his family first.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Subterranean; Deluxe Hardcover Edition (January 31, 2011)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 96 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 159606353X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1596063532
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.75 x 0.5 x 8.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.9 3.9 out of 5 stars 533 ratings

About the author

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Paolo Bacigalupi

Paolo Bacigalupi

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Paolo Bacigalupi’s writing has appeared in WIRED Magazine, Slate, Medium, Salon.com, and High Country News, as well as The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction and Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine. His short fiction been nominated for three Nebula Awards, four Hugo Awards, and won the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award for best science fiction short story of the year. It is collected in PUMP SIX AND OTHER STORIES, a Locus Award winner for Best Collection and also a Best Book of the Year by Publishers Weekly.

His debut novel THE WINDUP GIRL was named by TIME Magazine as one of the ten best novels of 2009, and also won the Hugo, Nebula, Locus, Compton Crook, and John W. Campbell Memorial Awards. Internationally, it has won the Seiun Award (Japan), The Ignotus Award (Spain), The Kurd-Laßwitz-Preis (Germany), and the Grand Prix de l’Imaginaire (France).

His debut young adult novel, SHIP BREAKER, was a Micheal L. Printz Award Winner, and a National Book Award Finalist, and its sequel, THE DROWNED CITIES, was a 2012 Kirkus Reviews Best of YA Book, A 2012 VOYA Perfect Ten Book, and 2012 Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist.

He has also written ZOMBIE BASEBALL BEATDOWN for middle-grade children, about zombies, baseball, and, of all things, meatpacking plants. Another novel for teens, THE DOUBT FACTORY, a contemporary thriller about public relations and the product defense industry was a both an Edgar Award and Locus Award Finalist.

Paolo's latest novel for adults is The New York Times Bestseller THE WATER KNIFE, a near-future thriller about climate change and drought in the southwestern United States. A new novel set in the Ship Breaker universe, TOOL OF WAR, will be released in October.

Customer reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars
3.9 out of 5
533 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Frank A. Longoria
4.0 out of 5 stars Thé Prize of Progress
Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2023
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The Alchemist by Paolo Bacigalupi is a dystopian novel set in a post-apocalyptic world devastated by environmental collapse. Nita, a skilled alchemist, embarks on a perilous quest to uncover the secrets of the legendary Alchemist, seeking to restore balance and hope to humanity. Facing moral dilemmas and navigating a treacherous society, Nita explores the consequences of progress and the relationship between nature and technology. Through sacrifice and personal growth, she embodies resilience and offers a message of unity and the pursuit of knowledge as vital paths towards a brighter future.
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2arapaho
5.0 out of 5 stars Extraordinary achievement by author
Reviewed in the United States on July 5, 2023
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The interplay between characters is quite lucid. Revulsion is a heightened keynote which illuminates a motivating force. The brevity of the literary work is also splendid.
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Ruth
3.0 out of 5 stars The Alchemist
Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2011
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I bought this book because I loved SHIPBREAKERS and THE WINDUP GIRL. The previous books were sci fi futuristic, and suggested future consequences of gene manipulation and using up fossil fuels. This very small book focused on consequences as well, but they were from using magic, for both good (fixing lung problems) and evil. Distrust of government (evil use of magic) seemed to be a sub-theme. I was a little disappointed but still enjoyed the writing,
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Paige Ellen
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting conundrum for The Alchemist
Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2016
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This book is a part of a pair of books about the same alternate reality, the companion volume being "The Executionist", by Tobias Buckell. In this world which seems to resemble medieval Europe in our reality, the practice of magic by anyone is forbidden. The use of magic could result in your execution. This is because the more magic is used, the more the thorny brambles grow and thicken, surrounding the town.The bramble can't be cut back and is resistant to fire. There seems to be no way to stop its growth. Soon, access to the one bridge that connects to the outside world may be cut off. Most of the citizens are capable of a little magic and don't hesitate to use it for simple things like quickly boiling water for cooking or bathing. They all individually make the excuse that "just this little bit won't hurt."
But, it does hurt and the bramble thickens more day by day. Enter the alchemist. He has found a way to kill the bramble. The problem is.... it uses magic. So if he goes to the leader to tell of his discovery, he could free the city and/or face execution. How he resolves that is the focus of the last two thirds of this novella. You'll have to read it to find out. If you are a fan of this author, as I am, you may find yourself wondering why he chose to partake in this duology. It is not his best work, but it is good, fast reading and does hold the reader's interest. One does not have to read the companion volume for this one to make sense. It works as a stand-alone.
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Jean Pierre Tamine
5.0 out of 5 stars A book which is said to be one of the best of his genre, a life story of "the alchemist" unravels.
Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2013
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More of a book who hints hidden meaning at our society than a very adventure type book.
The story is more passive than most books of his genre, exept for a quickening in the middle/ending,but the author artfully waives it so that it actually become interesting, and sucks you inside till the end of the book.
It struck me because the actual ennemy is not the invading plants, the wild taking back the humans because of their own overusing of magic ( in the real world technology ), but the real enemy is inside, as you will see if you read the book.
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J. Dunne
4.0 out of 5 stars Nice character introduction Novellas (The Alchemist and The Executioness)
Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2012
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Very nice hard-cover with great art work --- for my collection...but expensive for the size (especially since I purchased both this, and its companion Novel "The Executioness.") Speaking of -- This is a review of both in one --- and I will publish this review under both books.

Interesting world and characters are introduced. Good story telling/writing. Though I prefer the verse and writing in The Alchemist over The Executioness. Both read like great introductions to two very intriguing charactres, that hopefully are developed into a major joint Novel. (The problem these societies face --- "The Bramble" --- is only introduced...so plenty of drama left if the writers choose to return to this world)

However, this is really not even a Novella- - more just a short story/Introduction to a world and two main characters -- one in each story.

This new fantastical world is very unknown still -- but seems an interesting world steeped in mythology and magic, that seems to feed of of Eastern Mythology. However, magic was over-used, and a blight has taken over the land -- an Organic "Bramble" that feeds off of magical energy, is virtually unstoppable, and is deadly is choking out the world...one great civilization at a time.

As mentioned above -- "Bramble" is still ravaging the world at the close of these books, so very possibly the opening for something with more scope and depth.
One person found this helpful
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D. Mckenna
5.0 out of 5 stars Great story - I want more!!
Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2017
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I really enjoyed this and The Executioness. I bought this when looking for more of Paolo Bacigalupi's work after I read Windup Girl. My only question now is - these are several years old now - has there been more written about this world?
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L. Macafee
3.0 out of 5 stars Way too short!
Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2013
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I was really getting into this story, the fascinatingly designed world, and the father/daughter/partner characters when the book ended! Boo! After reading the Wind-Up Girl and LOVING it, I expected more from Paolo Bacigalupi. Very interesting parallels between the world we are making out of our greed and future possible ramifications. Great dystopian setting, just way too short and unresolved to be great.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Cliente Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente. Perfumado con ilusión y magia
Reviewed in Spain on February 10, 2017
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Muy buena. Emotiva. Excelente, con perfume a magia y destilando ilusión.

Con olor a almizcle, menta y hierbas orientales.

La magia es vida.
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Andrew Burrell
4.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 22, 2014
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brilliant story, well written. I will read more of the authors books, really enjoyed it, just a pity it wasnt longer.
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🐭 Miki101.Micha
5.0 out of 5 stars What a Read - Fantastic! We hope for more...
Reviewed in Italy on December 20, 2012
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...from this fantastic world, Mr Bacigalupi!

Having read the The Windup Girl written by this author I was intrigued.
And this short story didn't disappoint me.

The history of the city of Khaim, about to be invaded of the inhabitants of Lesser Khaim, is also the story of Jeoz, the minor magician but also handyman and alchemist that only wants to stop the Bramble to progress.

Bramble - a plant that is feeded by the use of MAGIC.
The Elder Ones lived with magic - and condemned their world to a life always more and more constrained by that Bramble...

Jeoz the Alchemist has constructed a Balanthast - an apparatus able to burn the bramble and its evil roots.
But the Merry Mayor with the help of Scacz the Magician will find a wholly new use for this invention.
Our Alchemist will held prisoner, daughter and girlfried in the hands of the mighty ones. Until ...

Yes - that You will have to disvover ...

I enjoyed the story very much - together with the "twin story" The Executioness written by Tobias S. Buckell, placed on the same world and likewise a fantastic read!

Try something new sometimes - It's worth it...
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Australia on December 13, 2014
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A very enjoyable read. Look out for 'The Windup Girl' and others.
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Nazli
1.0 out of 5 stars One Star
Reviewed in Canada on March 1, 2016
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This title is deceptive! The same as Paulo Coelho's famous book.
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