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The Alchemist's Door

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Scientist, mathematician, and court astrologer to Queen Elizabeth I, John Dee is also one of the sixteenth-century's most renowned alchemists, driven by a passion to fathom the elemental secrets of the cosmos. But when his reckless assistant, Edward Kelley, succeeds in using a crystal sphere to summon angels, Dee is catapulted into an awesome struggle that may extinguish the light of reason forever.

One of the spirits invoked is a cunning demon who takes possession of Dee's young daughter, Katherine, and shows Dee a frightening vision of his own future. Terrified by what has been foretold, Dee abruptly decides to close his house in London and flee to Europe with his long-suffering wife, Jane, and their two young children.

Their desperate flight brings them at last to the city of Prague--a center of culture, knowledge, and learning, both sacred and profane, a gateway between the Eastern and Western worlds, and also, it is whispered, a door between our world and the world of the spirits.

There, in the city's ancient streets, Dee encounters the mystic Rabbi Judah Loew, who enlists his aid in the creation of a Golem--a man fashioned from the clay--to defend the city's Jewish Quarter from persecution. And he asks Dee's help to avert a impending crisis that threatens to engulf the world. For ancient legends say that the fate of the world rests on shoulders of thirty-six righteous men. And if one of those righteous men dies before his time, the world will end and dark spirits will remake it in their own image.

288 pages, Paperback

First published August 3, 2002

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About the author

Lisa Goldstein

99 books101 followers
Aka Isabel Glass.

Lisa Goldstein (b. November 21, 1953 in Los Angeles) is a Nebula, Hugo, and World Fantasy Award nominated fantasy and science fiction writer. Her 1982 novel The Red Magician won the American Book Award for best paperback novel, and was praised by Philip K. Dick shortly before his death. Goldstein writes science fiction and fantasy; her two novels Daughter of Exile and The Divided Crown are considered literary fantasy.

Elizabeth Joy "Lisa" Goldstein's father was Heinz Jurgen "Harry" Goldstein (b. June 08, 1922 in Krefeld, Germany; d. May 24, 1974 in Los Angeles), a survivor of concentration camp Bergen-Belsen; her mother, Miriam Roth, was born in Czechoslovakia and survived the extermination camp Auschwitz. Her parents came to the United States in 1947 and met in an ESL class.

She has published two fantasy novels under the pen name Isabel Glass. She chose to use a pseudonym to separate the novels from her other work. The "Isabel" is from Point Isabel, a dog park, and "Glass" was chosen because it fits Tor's requirements for pseudonyms.

With her husband since 1986, Douglas A. "Doug" Asherman, she lives in Oakland, California.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
Profile Image for Melki.
7,293 reviews2,612 followers
July 11, 2016
"We must leave now. Quickly!"

"Why?"

"The demon. It's followed us."


John Dee, court astrologer to Queen Elizabeth I and his assistant were attempting to converse with angels . . . instead, they summoned a demon.

To evade the creature's wrath, Dee and his family flee to Prague, but before long, it becomes evident that the demon has followed. Dee seeks the help of Rabbi Judah Loew, and together they must defeat not only the malevolent entity, but stop a megalomaniac ruler from changing the future of mankind.

Part fantasy, part historical fiction, this was quite a mesmerizing read.

I was particularly taken with the story of the golem who was created by Rabbi Loew. Despite his maker's wishes, he developed a mind of his own, wanting so badly to learn, read, and fall in love like human men. This clay creature's tale was heartbreaking, and bumped the book into five-star territory.

description
John Dee, (1527 – 1608 or 1609)

description
Rabbi Judah Loew, (1520 - 1609)
Profile Image for Mela.
246 reviews8 followers
June 10, 2015
What would you do with a set of intriguing characters, interesting settings and places, and a story about demons, alchemy and magic? The Alchemist's Door had all of those. I expected a historical alternative history, perhaps similar to like Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (only much shorter), spiced up with magic.
I got nothing from it though. The main problem I had with this book was the writing style. The characters seemed bland, their voices sounded all the same and the descriptions were lifeless. I expected action and excitement, but in the end it was more tell than show. I stopped caring about the characters, the story and I only finished the book because it was really short.
Profile Image for Lis Carey.
2,213 reviews137 followers
January 13, 2011
This is the real story of John Dee's trip to Cracow and Prague in the 1580s. Dee and his collaborator Edward Kelley are fleeing a demon whose attention they have attracted in their experiments in angel magic. Initially, they travel with Prince Laski, for whom the angels that only Kelley can see have prophesied that he will be king of Poland. When events do not proceed with the speed that Laski had hope for, and it becomes clear that the demon is still with them, Dee finds it desirable to move his family to Prague, and Kelley again accompanies them. Gradually, Dee realizes that Kelley is more interested in the wealth theoretically available from alchemy (if he can create a philosopher's stone and turn base metal into gold) than in higher knowledge. Even more gradually, he realizes that his wife Jane is right--Kelley is not his friend, and is not to be trusted.

While in Prague, Dee and Kelley are summoned to an audience with Rudolf II, and meets his very first Jew, Rabbi Loew, who has also been summoned for an audience. Dee quickly finds himself in deeper water than he ever imagined, as Rudolf wants both favorable prophecies from the angels, and the wealth that Kelley claims he's on the very point of being able to produce, and further meetings with Loew as well as some of the other seekers of occult knowledge who have gathered in Prague reveal that Dee's demon is merely a symptom of a far greater problem, one that endangers the whole world. There is a door between dimensions, and the door is has swung wide open. If the demons reaching through the door can find one crucial thing and accomplish one crucial task, they can remake this world according to their needs. Dee and Loew, sometimes barely able to communicate across the divide of their beliefs, experience, and prejudices, need to work together to close the door forever.

Most enjoyable.
Profile Image for Mara.
83 reviews
May 26, 2014
Eh, it was alright. The writing wasn't exactly top notch, which couple by the underdeveloped plot gave me a few eye rolling moments. The historical tie ins felt like they were done by Wiki'ing a few people and their related pages, fairly shallow. It never helps when I find the main character insipid and irritating either, and the character of Dee was pretty much just a narrow minded dickbag who never wised up. This was particularly annoying in relation to women, most of all the character of Magdalena, who was clearly his superior in every way and his head was too far up his own ass to understand that. There were continued hints that maybe he'd broaden his worldview, but they were repetitious and never went anywhere, which just made them irritating - foreshadowing without a payoff is lame. A lot of his prejudices were probably historically appropriate to have, but if historical accuracy of world view is the aim, the hints and him changing his views become inappropriate.

All in all, probably fine as light reading to pass the time on say, a long flight, for those who aren't into the Nicholas Sparks style light reading, but don't expect much.
Profile Image for Vickey.
793 reviews1 follower
January 4, 2018
Queen Elizabeth’s alchemist/astrologer and the golem-making rabbi of Prague teaming up with other magicians and historical figures to stop demons from taking over their world is a potentially very interesting subject that unfortunately isn’t explored that well. It’s just ok. The writing is very flat and reads like someone recounting a slightly tedious and unbelievable dream, not an adventure you’re in the thick of. The interesting characters are mentioned in passing or not developed as well as they could be and the main character is frustratingly dense for someone who supposedly studied 18 hours a day at Cambridge and mastered all the classic languages and was considered one of the foremost scientists of the day. It feels like a first draft and I was disappointed it wasn’t better! At least it was a short and fast read.
Profile Image for Ned Hayes.
Author 20 books269 followers
September 30, 2013
Interesting novel that interweaves history, alchemy and demonology.

Reads like a bit of found history from the life of John Dee, court astrologer to Queen Elizabeth. In the descriptions of Dee's perspective and the work he does, and the scholarship he evinces, it is quite convincing, and very tied to historical fact. I really got a sense of what life was like for a scholar seeking patronage in that age.

However, the whole magic element in here... although very down-played... almost feels underwritten and trivialized, instead of being an essential plot point. In truth, the ending therefore feels slightly disappointing.
Profile Image for Jill.
679 reviews25 followers
January 25, 2022
I’m a sucker for a golem. In this case, the golem enters late and I might have given up, because a lot of the book reads like a basic history and not a novel, but: I’m also a sucker for learning a bit about places I’ve never been. And there’s just enough 1500s Bohemia politics to keep it going so. If you like alchemy, spirit worlds, demons, golems, ponderings on Catholicism vs Anglicanism vs Judaism vs Islam vs paganism from the lens of a conservative 16th century Anglican, and a long and winding way back around to ecumenical “we are all one” ness: maybe you’ll like it.
Profile Image for Darshan Elena.
311 reviews21 followers
October 2, 2011
I appreciated the historical dimensions of this novel, including its characters' adventures a series of European capitals and villages. At times the novel seemed a bit slow, making me wistful for more thorough and fantastic descriptions of magic, alchemy, and the creation/animation of a golem. A great read for anyone on the verge of traveling to Central Europe or interested in the multiracial and inter-faith elements of Europe culture.
Profile Image for Danielle.
132 reviews
September 5, 2009
I read this book because I am fascinated by the Jewish folklore surrounding the Golem, especially since I've lived in Prague where it was supposedly created. For Rabbi Lowe and his creature to come alive in these pages was a lot of fun. I also liked the main character Dee. If you are interested in mystical stories and want a fun read, try this book!
Profile Image for Nakedfartbarfer.
253 reviews1 follower
Read
March 1, 2025
Cool setting, some nifty synchronous details and occult peculiarities, but so many expositional parts and storytelling contrivances were comparatively inexpert, making for an unexpectedly low reading level and a quick flip through. I miiiight read another genre piece in the same vein by this author, but I was kinda shocked to discover that this person has been previously nominated for anything at all.
Profile Image for Nancy Oakes.
2,021 reviews920 followers
February 12, 2008
While it was not all I was hoping for, I started reading it and couldn't put it down. Literally got sucked into the pages, so to speak. I thought it was a cute story, very preposterous, indeed, but a fun read that was well worth the time put into it. I have other books by Lisa Goldstein (walking the labyrinth, the red magician), but this was my first experience with this author. Won't be my last, either!

Would I recommend it? Hmmm...that's a toughie. If you want a good supernatural-ish/fantasy yarn, yes. If you're looking for something deeper, no. If you have to have everything believeable in your reading, then don't pick this one up. My advice: if you are looking for a fun way to spend a few hours, this would be a good choice. The story moves fast (in part because it is a little silly), and it will fulfill your non-serious entertainment quotient for the day.

A brief look at what's inside (no spoilers)

John Dee as you may or may not know, was an astrologist to Queen Elizabeth I, and was a practitioner of the hermetic arts (alchemy if you must). As our story opens, we find Dr. Dee, his family and his bizarre companion, one Edward Kelley, who may or may not have been a necromancer, going off to Poland, where Dr. Dee has been invited by Prince Laski. They had to leave England, it seems, because Kelley & Dee have called a demon into existence and it is tormenting Dr. Dee. His reasoning is that if he goes across water, the demon, who supposedly cannot follow, will remain behind and his life will vastly improve. He is urged on by Kelley, who predicts all types of dire things that will happen to Dee, his home and his family, so off the entourage goes. For a time, all is well, but Dee makes an incredible discovery while he's in Prague. A) the demon is still there, and B) that Prague is somehow the cosmic center of the universe and that there is a door that links the earth and the other plane that is demon riddled. In the meantime, Rabbi Judah Loew has been tasked with finding the 36th righteous man, who according to legend, keep evil at bay. None of these men (of the 36) know that they have this identity until they are on their death bed, and to maintain balance, any one of them dying must name an heir before he dies. The 36th man must be identified in order to be protected, because if he ceases to exist, the world will not only end but will actually start again and will be malleable to whoever can reshape it. Dee and Loew meet and together they take on the task of finding this 36th man. Dee's travels take him many places, none the least of which is Transylvania at the court of King Istvan (Stephen), whose cousin Erzebet Bathory (the heroine of Codrescu's novel "Blood Countess").

While Goldstein's message of "the union of opposites" rings through here, as does the true purpose of alchemy, it is as I said a little silly all around. I thought she portrayed Dr. Dee as a kind of bumbler, but it was fun. I'll definitely read more books by this author.
Profile Image for Catherine.
Author 53 books134 followers
November 21, 2013
Interesting historical fantasy featuring Dr. John Dee, the Rabbi Loew ben Bezalel and the latter's golem. I liked Goldstein's writing style and thought the book was full of interesting ideas. It reminded me a bit of Melissa Scott and Lisa Barnett's "Armor of Light" and to a lesser extent, Burgess' 'A Dead Man in Deptford." Where is fell short for me was that the character never really came alive for me, particularly the villains. There's also a rather simplistic drive-by reference to sexual assault and recovery as experienced by one character that I found distracting and unbelievable. Given the number of plot elements that the author works in, this feels like it should have been a much longer book.That said, there's a lot of interesting detail about the time period, alchemical and Kabbalistic practices, and I liked the notion that she has multiple functioning types of magic in the same world.
Profile Image for Sylvia McIvers.
791 reviews41 followers
August 18, 2016
Angels and Demons and Mysticism, Oh My!

John Dee, famous alchemist & astrologer to Queen Elizabeth, has to leave England in a hurry. He heads off to Krakow, Poland and then Prague, Bohemia, where he continues to deal with royalty - but his enemy follows him.

Meanwhile, Rabbi Judah Loewe of Prague has his own mystical problems. There is a legend of 36 righteous (wo)men whose merit keeps the world running - and one of them will be murdered by the king. This is a curious puzzle, because the 36 righteous don't know who they are, and so how can the King find one and how can Rabbi Loewe protect them? By consulting the angels and demons, of course. And how can the rabbi protect his people from marauding peasants and soldiery? By building a Golem...

Meanwhile, the wives and children of the two heroes play a stronger role in this story than I would have suspected.
Minor nitpick - in all the other golem legends i ever heard, golems can't speak.
Profile Image for Carol.
1,416 reviews
March 21, 2010
I chose this short historical fantasy because it concerns the same legend as a book I read last year, The Book of Splendor, and I wnated to see how two different authors would handle the story of Rabbi Loew and the golem in Prague. Goldstein's book centers more around John Dee, the English scholar who was in Prague at the same time that Rabbi Loew made the golem. And, being a fantasy, it takes the scholarly Renaissance magic (alchemy, scrying, etc.) seriously - it works. However, while The Book of Splendor was about the forging of deep connections between people, The Alchemist's Door is about responsibility, the nature of righteousness, and the courage required to face one's own darker side.
Profile Image for Laura.
780 reviews
May 2, 2009
What a waste of time. At least I only bought it for a dollar at a library bookstore. I enjoyed one of her previous novels, but that was many years ago, so maybe my taste has matured.

This novel had a good premise, but the plot was thin and the threats against the main characters were flimsy and not very threatening at all.

The timeline is confusing, with the main character moving from city to city, for reasons that were vague and uninteresting.

Don't bother with this one. I'm amazed that I actually finished it, but I kept expecting something grander to happen. It didn't. Blah.
501 reviews1 follower
July 6, 2017
Eastern European kings are vying for power and the world's alchemists start collecting in the area in search of a patron and the Sorcerer's Stone to seal the deal with their patrons. Not all kings are the good guys and alliances shift and alchemists who have yet to produce a stepping stone to further glory to the king are banished or worse. A partnership with a British and Jewish alchemists is forged as they both try to stay ahead of death decrees for them and their families. Lots of mystical intrigue across all religious sects keep this book fascinating to the end.
Profile Image for D..
306 reviews10 followers
July 1, 2011
Starts a little slow but I am very much into the story now. About halfway thru. The author does focus more on the story than on characters or scenery.

About three quarters through and I've given up on the story. It's not badly written but I feel the story could have been fleshed out more. Read more as a world tour of occult personages of the 16th century than a coherent narrative. As well action seemed a little flat.
Profile Image for Jocelyn R.
1 review20 followers
December 6, 2013
It's a great book, it kept me interested through the whole story. Although I am not entirely satisfied with the ending, as I find it rather simple after all the complicated plot, I think it is a book worth reading. Her writing was the best part, as she had some really memorable words you can relate to, even tho this book takes places around 1400's and 1500's. I think that is why it is amazing, it is a whole magic world you can imagine yourself living in.
Profile Image for Elisabeth.
813 reviews21 followers
September 8, 2014
This is a decent historical fantasy, 16th century Europe with magic, well written, definitely holds the reader in its grip. It got a bit scattered at the end but mostly wrapped up in a satisfying way. I did like the way the characters got to see the worst parts of themselves, and deal with it.

It reads a tiny bit young for my taste - I can never tell when something is aimed at YA or just sounds like it. Perfectly readable for an intelligent teen.
Profile Image for Ariel.
1,917 reviews41 followers
October 16, 2011
I loved this. I so wish Lisa Goldstein had not stopped writing about Jewish magic. Her most recent book is a re-make of fairy tale folklore. Not that faerie isn't great but so many people work with it and so few write about Jewish magic. I wonder if it was a marketing decision on Goldstein's part. Sigh.
Profile Image for Mike Klein.
467 reviews2 followers
November 13, 2011
Interesting sort of historical fantasy mashup that works. Some social commentary, some spirituality, and some action add up to something worth reading. No big messages are really brought through but that ends up not distracting from the overall enjoyment.
Profile Image for Diane.
16 reviews
April 7, 2008
Looks interesting, plus Orson Scott Card recommends her.
Profile Image for Daniel.
57 reviews16 followers
December 22, 2010
Wanted to like this. Did she do any research at all?
Profile Image for Mary.
326 reviews
October 3, 2011
This was an enjoyable quick read.
I could not put the book down.
This is the second book I've read by Lisa Goldstein and I have to say she may become one of my favorite authors.
Profile Image for David Rank.
75 reviews3 followers
January 17, 2012
Nicely written historical fantasy entwining historical people with Medieval European folk tales.
Profile Image for Jenine.
858 reviews3 followers
June 5, 2012
I liked the swirl of historical characters and setting. But I think the multiculti mind of the author allowed for characters that were not enough of their culture or time. I say eh.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews

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