42: The Golem and the Jinni

The Golem and the Jinni is about two supernatural beings in 1899 New York. The Golem, Chava, was created by a wayward and fallen Jewish scholar for Otto Rotfelf in Prussia. A Golem is a being made of clay whose one task is to obey his/her master's will. Rotfeld dies while crossing the Atlantic leaving his Golem masterless, yet able to instinctively hear the desires of everyone around her.

The Jinni, who later chooses the name Ahmad, had been imprisoned in a tin jug for centuries. He is suddenly released and finds himself in Arbeely's tinsmith shop in New York's Little Syria neighborhood. Though free from the jug, the Jinni is still fettered with a bracelet, binding him to the wizard who trapped him.

Chava and Ahmad's paths cross and their lives become intertwined. As they venture out into the city, the must be careful about who they reveal their true natures to or risk endangering themselves and those around them. An nighttime incident threatens to destroy the tenuous "human" lives they have created for themselves. More dangerous though, are the unknown agents who seek the Golem and the Jinni and place their very existence in jeopardy.

The Golem and the Jinni was a great book that blends folklore, religion, science fiction, and fantasy. It took me about three weeks to read this since it's quite long, 471 pages. I found the action really picked up about halfway through the book. The story is layered and is told from alternating viewpoints that go back and forth in time and place.