Being a demon can often be risky business, especially if your true name is known and recorded in a magical book. This allows magicians of all kinds, even third-rate ones, to summon you and force you to do their bidding. The djinni Bartimaeus is over five thousand years old, but he has had the misfortune of losing control of his true name.
When he is first summoned by a mere child, twelve-year-old Nathaniel, Bartimaeus is sure there has to be a hand pulling the strings of this puppet. Ordered to obtain the Amulet of Samarkand from another magician, Bartimaeus grudgingly complies. No self-respecting demon enjoys being someone's else errand boy, after all, and Bartimaeus begins plotting the boy's demise.
Ambitious and determined to be one of the best magicians, Nathaniel was entrusted at the tender age of 6 to the Underwoods, a mid-level magician in her Majesty's government in London. A precocious boy, Nathaniel soon learned all that his master had to offer, and then some. Whereas Mrs. Underwood was very nice to him, Mr. Underwood barely tolerated him and only allowed him to be his apprentice because he was required to do so. During an encounter at age 11 with Simon Loveland, an ascending magician in the government, Nathaniel showed promise by displaying his growing skills, but in turn antagonized Loveland, whose demon ended up spanking Nathaniel. Vowing revenge, Nathaniel pursued his studies and became powerful enough to summon greater demons. When he discovered that Loveland had stolen the Amulet of Samarkand, Nathaniel summoned Bartimaeus and sent his to retrieve it and bring it back to him. Unfortunately for Nathaniel, Bartimaeus discovers that this is indeed the boy's true name and not the fake one most magicians adopt, and this gives the demon leverage over the budding magician.
Unknown to both of them, the stealing of the Amulet causes them to accidentally infiltrate a great conspiracy led by Loveland to seize control of Parliament and the government machinery. As they begin to realize the consequences of their actions, they grow ever so closely to Loveland and his murderous demons. Will the two of them be able to outsmart magicians bent on overthrowing the rightful government?
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