- MP3 CD
- Publisher: Blackstone Audiobooks; MP3 Una edition (April 2010)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1441732594
- ISBN-13: 978-1441732590
- Product Dimensions: 19 x 13.7 x 1.5 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 2,218,919 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
If Norman Juster had written "The Hobbit," it might have turned out something like "The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear."
It's also the best description of Walter Moers' debut novel, which is probably the best children's book ever written for adults. Set on the mythical continent of Zamonia, Moers sketches out hundreds of strange creatures and surreal adventures, all written in wryly colourful prose.
Bluebear was found floating in a walnut shell, raised by peg-legged hook-handed Minipirates, taught by the talking waves, and kept as entertainment by gruesome hobgoblins. But when he ends up on a giant carnivorous island disguised as a gourmet's paradise, Bluebear is rescued by Deus X. Machina, a Reptilian Rescuer who later brings him to the Nocturnal Academy, run by the seven-brained Professor Abdullah Nightingale.
But when he reaches the end of his education, Nightingale sends Bluebear onto a strange series of adventures -- he falls into a Dimensional Hiatus, is almost eaten by the Spiderwitch, travels through a Bollogg brain, gets swept up in an aging tornado, chases mirages with the Muggs, and finally becomes a Congladiator (lying/storytelling competitor) in Atlantis. But after a match gone bad, Bluebear must flee Atlantis -- and is abducted by the Moloch, a monstrous ship run by the most insidious substance in Zamonia...
Walter Moers should get some kind of award for cramming as many fantastical, bizarre creatures into one book -- carpet dimensions, tiny cyclops, hairy imps, metallic rock-eaters, killer sugar-skeletons, antlered dogs, and headless giants all turn up, and that's only the start. It's a good thing Bluebear gets an encyclopedia in his brain (from Nightingale), or else we would never keep them all straight.
And Moers brings this to life with writing that is straight-faced, detailed, colourful, but still slightly arch ("It should be explained that in the 2364th Dimension music is played on instruments made of milk"), and full of bustling cities and sandy deserts. There's even a city that flies to another planet. But the whimsical plot pulls itself together in his last few-and-a-half lives, where hints and subplots from his previous lives come together -- and we finally find out Bluebear's destiny.
Bluebear himself is a likable guy, as well as very adaptable -- and somehow no matter what bizarre things he does, he's always just as likable. The supporting characters are wildly numerous, but a few stand out -- Fredda, the Alpine Imp who writes bad poetry, a gelatinous prince 2364th Dimension, the grumpy Mac, and the gloriously eccentric Professor Nightingale.
Except for its length, you'd think "The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear" was a kids' book, with its whimsical drawings and colorfully imaginative little world. But it's full of humor, solid writing and bizarre twists -- definitely a good read.
It's also the best description of Walter Moers' debut novel, which is probably the best children's book ever written for adults. Set on the mythical continent of Zamonia, Moers sketches out hundreds of strange creatures and surreal adventures, all written in wryly colourful prose.
Bluebear was found floating in a walnut shell, raised by peg-legged hook-handed Minipirates, taught by the talking waves, and kept as entertainment by gruesome hobgoblins. But when he ends up on a giant carnivorous island disguised as a gourmet's paradise, Bluebear is rescued by Deus X. Machina, a Reptilian Rescuer who later brings him to the Nocturnal Academy, run by the seven-brained Professor Abdullah Nightingale.
But when he reaches the end of his education, Nightingale sends Bluebear onto a strange series of adventures -- he falls into a Dimensional Hiatus, is almost eaten by the Spiderwitch, travels through a Bollogg brain, gets swept up in an aging tornado, chases mirages with the Muggs, and finally becomes a Congladiator (lying/storytelling competitor) in Atlantis. But after a match gone bad, Bluebear must flee Atlantis -- and is abducted by the Moloch, a monstrous ship run by the most insidious substance in Zamonia...
Walter Moers should get some kind of award for cramming as many fantastical, bizarre creatures into one book -- carpet dimensions, tiny cyclops, hairy imps, metallic rock-eaters, killer sugar-skeletons, antlered dogs, and headless giants all turn up, and that's only the start. It's a good thing Bluebear gets an encyclopedia in his brain (from Nightingale), or else we would never keep them all straight.
And Moers brings this to life with writing that is straight-faced, detailed, colourful, but still slightly arch ("It should be explained that in the 2364th Dimension music is played on instruments made of milk"), and full of bustling cities and sandy deserts. There's even a city that flies to another planet. But the whimsical plot pulls itself together in his last few-and-a-half lives, where hints and subplots from his previous lives come together -- and we finally find out Bluebear's destiny.
Bluebear himself is a likable guy, as well as very adaptable -- and somehow no matter what bizarre things he does, he's always just as likable. The supporting characters are wildly numerous, but a few stand out -- Fredda, the Alpine Imp who writes bad poetry, a gelatinous prince 2364th Dimension, the grumpy Mac, and the gloriously eccentric Professor Nightingale.
Except for its length, you'd think "The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear" was a kids' book, with its whimsical drawings and colorfully imaginative little world. But it's full of humor, solid writing and bizarre twists -- definitely a good read.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The 13.5 lives of Captain Bluebear is a refreshing read and certainly the funniest book that I have read in a long time. The plot gets wilder and wilder as you progress through this large tome. From start to finish it had me hooked and really is one of those books that has you yearning for more.
Captain Bluebear's adventures obviously require a certain amount of suspension of disbelief, but don't all the best stories? An absolute delight.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Moers' novel is witty, enjoyable, and smooth. If I had children, I'd read it to them. It doesn't shy away from long words or complex ideas, but plots a course through them. An intelligent book to stimulate the mind and delight the heart.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Best book ever
A perfectly written book with great illustrations all by Walter Moers. My favourite book, it tells the epic tale of the Captain Bluebear from a small cub to his 13 1/2 life. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Genius 95
My top favorite
This book is my absolute favorite! I found this one at an age of 11 years old in our library and it won me over in no time. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Jazzy
Divertido, e mais intrinseco do que uma leitura por cima deixa...
As primeiras 11 vidas são do mais puro génio literário, as peripécias rocambolescas e os percalços em que o Capitão Bluebear se mete vão se tornando mais... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Oslec
Where does Moers get his ideas
There was a funny part in this book where Bluebear is getting medical treatment from a werewolf and the doctor asks him "With or without anesthetic" and the next line goes "With... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Mr. Gordon T. Muir
a must read
my son has read this book over and over,its fantastic,so inspiring,funny...everything...you must read it x
Published 18 months ago by Indogo beauchamp
Fantasic, original odyssey of adventure
If you can imagine The Odyssey crossed with Doctor Who then you'll have a pretty good idea of what this book is like. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Katie Stevens
Excellent fun to read!
Stumbled across this book by accident, it kind of found me in a way :)
Have just finished yesterday. Read more
Have just finished yesterday. Read more
Published 20 months ago by David Ferguson
definitely not just for 4-8 year olds
Don't be put off by that 4-8 reading age. I was 27 when I read this and I really loved it, it's an absolute delight. Read more
Published on 29 Oct 2009 by E. Thompson
Entertaining and creative
Captain Bluebear has given me hours of pleasure!
What's it about?
Quite simply - everything! Read more
What's it about?
Quite simply - everything! Read more
Published on 3 April 2009 by SJSmith
Rubbish!
I read an awful lot of stuff, from comic books, through science fiction, fantasy, non-fiction and up to classic literature, and enjoy a good yarn as much as the next guy. Read more
Published on 15 Mar 2009 by R. McCardle
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