Alchemy Forums
Would you like to react to this message? Create an account in a few clicks or log in to continue.

Alchemy in Novels

5 posters

Go down

Alchemy in Novels Empty Alchemy in Novels

Post  taceyoto Mon Dec 10, 2007 9:11 am

Hey everyone, I wanted to start a thread on novels containing alchemy. I have read a few,

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho - I recommend this book to any and everyone, it made a significant change in my life be it with alchemy or not.

Seven Taoist Masters - This is a chinese folk novel dealing with internal alchemy.

Any others out there some might recommend?
taceyoto
taceyoto
Interiora
Interiora

Number of posts : 35
Age : 37
Registration date : 2007-12-09

Back to top Go down

Alchemy in Novels Empty Re: Alchemy in Novels

Post  BeautifulEvil Mon Dec 10, 2007 9:14 am

Dante's Inferno, and The Tragic History of Doctor Faustus

Of course these aren't novels in the modern sense, but I believe they hold some fascinating alchemical secrets.
BeautifulEvil
BeautifulEvil
Occultum
Occultum

Number of posts : 754
Age : 36
Registration date : 2007-10-10

http://www.englishgematria.com

Back to top Go down

Alchemy in Novels Empty Re: Alchemy in Novels

Post  deviadah Mon Dec 10, 2007 3:46 pm

I didn't like The Alchemist, but I might have liked it more had I read it at the start of my alchemical journey.

A book I always recommend is:

Alchemy in Novels N3310

If you read this one and don't find it fascinating you are without a soul!

Evil
deviadah
deviadah
Occultum
Occultum

Number of posts : 875
Registration date : 2007-10-08

http://deviadah.blogspot.com

Back to top Go down

Alchemy in Novels Empty Quicksilver

Post  antonchanning Thu Jan 17, 2008 12:04 pm

I am about to start reading 'Quicksilver' by Neal Stephenson. I really liked his near future cyberpunk novel 'Snow Crash', but Quicksilver is set in the 17th Century. The blurb on the back includes this sentence:

"A novel of history, adventure, science, invention, sex, absurdity, piracy, madness, death and alchemy that sweeps across continents and decades, upending kings, armies, religious beliefs and all expectations."

And with the name 'Quicksilver' and a picture of Mercury on the front I would expect to see alchemy play and important role...

Alchemy in Novels N29586
antonchanning
antonchanning
Interiora
Interiora

Number of posts : 63
Age : 49
Registration date : 2008-01-15

http://serpent.antonchanning.com

Back to top Go down

Alchemy in Novels Empty Re: Alchemy in Novels

Post  antonchanning Thu Feb 28, 2008 12:48 pm

Well, its taken me a while, partly because I've been very busy lately, but I am finally getting towards the end of this book. And boy can I recommend it!

The book is not so much about Alchemy per sae as it is 'Natural Philosophy', which is to say it is about the birth of science out of alchemy. As such it includes characters such as Isaac Newton (and much is made of his interest in Alchemy), and we are introduced to Benjamin Franklin as a child (although he doesn't play a significant role in this book). The references to alchemy are both subtle and incredibly insightful. For example, the god Mercury gets mentioned quite a lot, but not always in the context of alchemy. Mercury is also a god of thieves, merchants and messengers, yet even here the author makes profound observations.

For example, in a great city of trade, where many of the buildings are adorned with the god Mercury, the characters discuss how everything, even money, becomes as quicksilver in the city and can be 'transformed' (through trade) into anything else. At another point it is discussed how an army in need of ammunition for its muskets, will happily trade gold for its weight in lead.

On top of all this is a gripping story, and really you won't want the book to end. Mind you, with around 900 pages of story, and a couple of sequels already released, it won't end too quickly unless you are a lot faster reader than I!

This book comes highly recommended from me! Cool
antonchanning
antonchanning
Interiora
Interiora

Number of posts : 63
Age : 49
Registration date : 2008-01-15

http://serpent.antonchanning.com

Back to top Go down

Alchemy in Novels Empty The Last Alchemist

Post  deviadah Sat Mar 08, 2008 2:13 pm

Ok, I will keep a note of this one!

I am aware of the authour, but have yet not read anything!

It is not really a fiction, but it is almost written like one:

Alchemy in Novels Lastalch
The Last Alchemist by Iain Mccalman

A highly enjoyable read I must say if you are interested in Cagliostro that is!

Third Eye
deviadah
deviadah
Occultum
Occultum

Number of posts : 875
Registration date : 2007-10-08

http://deviadah.blogspot.com

Back to top Go down

Alchemy in Novels Empty Re: Alchemy in Novels

Post  monkeyblood Tue Apr 01, 2008 2:30 pm

Its a comic series.....but with underlying perceptions I could live my life by and the characters are absolutely superb......its the discworld series by Terry Pratchett.....they have a guild of alchemists in it that are always blowing themselves up.....but the wizards of the Unseen University ......well its all magic,isnt it.
However Mr Pratchett makes some very unkind comments about astrology.........laugh

monkeyblood
Rectificando
Rectificando

Number of posts : 128
Registration date : 2008-01-16

Back to top Go down

Alchemy in Novels Empty Re: Alchemy in Novels

Post  Sponsored content


Sponsored content


Back to top Go down

Back to top

- Similar topics

 
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum