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Type of bind: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 833.92
EAN num: 9781594201264
ISBN number: 1594201269
Label: Penguin Press HC, The
Manufacturer: Penguin Press HC, The
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 352
Printing Date: July 05, 2007
Publishing house: Penguin Press HC, The
Sale Popularity Level: 787950
Studio: Penguin Press HC, The
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
Based on a true story, The Chess Machine is the breathtaking historical adventure of a legendary invention that astounded all who crossed its path
Vienna 1770: Baron Wolfgang von Kempelen unveils a strange and amazing invention, the Mechanical Turk, a sensational and unbeatable chess-playing automaton. But what the Habsburg court hails as the greatest innovation of the century is really nothing more than a brilliant illusion. The chess machine is secretly operated from inside by the Italian dwarf Tibor, a God-fearing social outcast whose chess-playing abilities and diminutive size make him the perfect accomplice in this grand hoax.
Von Kempelen and his helpers tour his remarkable invention all around Europe to amaze and entertain the public, but despite many valiant attempts and close calls, no one is able to beat the extraordinary chess machine. The crowds all across Europe adore the Turk, and the sucess of Baron von Kempelen seems assured. But when a beautiful and seductive countess dies under mysterious circumstances in the presence of the automaton, the Mechanical Turk falls under a cloud of suspicion, and the machine and his inventor become the targets of espionage, persecution, and aristocratic intrigue. What is the dark secret behind this automaton and what strange powers does it hold? The Chess Machine is a daring and remarkable tale, based on a true story, full of envy, lust, scandal and deception.
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Rated by buyers 
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The Chess Machine, set in the late 1700s is a thrilling tale with very vivid period detail. The story is about Wolfgang von Kemplen who builds a famed chess machine to impress the crown. Little do people know that the real genius behind the automaton nick-named "Turk", is his little friend Tibor. The tour the country challenging and defeating king and pauper alike. The plot takes a turn with the "Turk" is accused of murdering royalty at a ball.
The author moves his characters like chess pieces giving them purpose and more importantly, conscience. The leading pieces are morally torn between the power of fame and money and the guilt of deception. The story is gripping and very well paced. The detail is very meticulous and lends itself very well for a motion picture adaptation.
Rated by buyers -
Like the device this story is about, this book is like an intricate mechanism that has cogwheels turning the pages, springs to keep the reader in the lurch, pullies that tug the reader along without pause. It has many gears for continuous movement from start to finish. The Chess Machine offers the reader a lighthearted fun frolic through Europe in the late 1700s as we learn the story that is based on the true life invention of the Mechanical Turk. The Turk was an automaton chess playing machine invented by Wolfgang Kempelen who created this mechanical marvel and took Europe by storm taking it on the road to entertain the wealthy and the royal. This is a creative novel with a plot and story different than the norm and offers the reader many hours of pure reading enjoyment. We have great characters, a creative story, good writing and many well thought out side plots that twist and turn. There are few slow spots but basically the story moves along at a good pace, never predictable and has a few surprises that come at you rather sudden to leave you stunned. There is great character development for a few of the key players and the author blends sincere human emotions with constant conflicting morals and values to allow them to come alive on paper. I thoroughly enjoyed the ingenuity of this novel and felt it a breath of fresh air to read something out of the ordinary. This is a very visual story, very colorful with vivid historical costumed scenes and lavish backdrops. Because of that I think it would make a splendid film as well. This is truly a wonderful debut novel and I eagerly await another book from the author.
Rated by buyers -
This is a very entertaiment book. The plot is not a top 5 story, but is easy to read and does not have any hole.
If you are looking for a very adictive novel, this is not for you, but if you don't have any plan about what to read, then this book will do its work: easy read, funny, curious and at the end of the book the author will give you the real story about the Turk.
Rated by buyers 
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A chess playing automaton. A dwarf. A murder most fowl. Imprisoned in mind and body. Add to that that The Chess Machine is a smart, well-written delight. How can you go wrong?
Rated by buyers 
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When I very first read the review of this book , I thought it should be rather colorful , full of suspections & horror. However, I found out that the technique of writing is quite boring & straight forward. The writer reveal all the tricks in the beginning chapters leaving no space for the imagination of the readers. I don't know how the original is when comparing with the the translation. But sure, it's a disappointment.
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