Alistair Grim's Odd Aquaticum

by Funaro, Greg

  However, if the word Odditoria, at once both singular and plural, is used to classify any object living, inanimate, or otherwise that’s believed to possess magical powers, perhaps the biggest lesson I learned back then is that friends and family are the most magical gifts of all.

  And who am I to speak of such?

  Why I’m Grubb Grim, of course. Son of Alistair Grim—inventor, fortune hunter, and, some say, mad sorcerer and river pirate. But I say he was the greatest father in the world. I know there’s many a lad who feels that way about his father, but how many can say theirs saved them from a man-eating rabbit?

  Good heavens! There I go getting ahead of myself again.

  My apologies, but I’m afraid you’ll have to take my word on all that rabbit business for now. Kiyoko is calling. Time for my sword-fighting lesson, you see.

  After all, now that the whole world had heard of Alistair Grim, there were loads more baddies coming after him for his Odditoria.

  An intriguing turn of events, wouldn’t you agree?

  Character List

  Some relevant persons at the Odditorium:

  Grubb: Name spelled like the worm but with a double b, Grubb is twelve years old and the narrator of our story. A former chimney sweep, he is both the long-lost son and newly found apprentice of Alistair Grim.

  Alistair Grim: Fortune hunter, purveyor of antiquities, and, some say, mad sorcerer. He is the inventor of the Odditorium, a flying house of mechanical wonders, and thus the chap after whom these stories are named.

  Nigel (a.k.a. William) Stout: The Odditorium’s jack-of-all-trades, he is big and bald and wears a pair of thick black goggles to hide the fact that Mr. Grim brought him back from the dead.

  Mrs. Pinch: Mr. Grim’s nearsighted housekeeper and resident witch.

  Lord Dreary: Mr. Grim’s business partner and longtime family friend.

  Professor Oscar Bricklewick: Mr. Grim’s former schoolmate and rival for the hand of Elizabeth O’Grady, Bricklewick is an expert on Arthurian legend.

  Kiyoko: A fierce shinobi warrior and friend of Grubb.

  Some baddies, human and otherwise, who’d like to see the above folks done in:

  Prince Nightshade: Mr. Grim’s nemesis and archaeological rival, the prince is an evil necromancer obsessed with finding a source of animus so he can build an army of purple-eyed Shadesmen.

  Mad Malmuirie: A fetching but mentally unstable witch from whom Mr. Grim “acquired” some Odditoria.

  Mr. Smears: Grubb’s former master, Mr. Smears is fond of drink and blaming others for his troubles.

  The Black Fairy (a.k.a. Bal’el): An evil winged demon who excels at blowing up things with his bolts of nasty black fire.

  Shadesmen: The long-dead armies of Romulus and Remus resurrected by Prince Nightshade.

  Judge Mortimer Hurst: A former enemy of Mr. Grim’s, Prince Nightshade turned him into a purple-eyed Shadesman with Mack’s animus and a magic spell.

  Doom dogs: A pack of vicious shadow hounds charged with fetching escaped spirits back to the Land of the Dead.

  Sea serpents, dragons, and other monsters, many of which have allied themselves with Prince Nightshade.

  A few people who are either dead or just talked about:

  Abel Wortley: An elderly philanthropist, purveyor of antiquities, and dear friend of Alistair Grim’s, Mr. Wortley and his housekeeper were murdered in London ten years before Grubb arrived at the Odditorium.

  Maggie Stout: Nigel’s/William’s daughter, Maggie was sent to live with Judge Hurst’s sister after her father was hanged for the abovementioned crime.

  Elizabeth O’Grady: Mr. Grim’s long-lost love and Grubb’s mother, she died under mysterious circumstances twelve years ago.

  Glossary of Odditoria

  Not to be confused with Mr. Grim’s Odditorium, the word Odditoria, at once both singular and plural, is used to classify any object living, inanimate, or otherwise that is believed to possess magical powers.

  Some Odditoria relevant to Mr. Grim’s Aquaticum:

  Cleona: A mischievous banshee, she is the source of the Odditorium’s animus, the mysterious blue energy that powers its mechanics.

  Lorcan Dalach: A soldier in the Order of the Gallownog, Dalach is charged with enforcing banshee law and assassinating their enemies.

  Gwendolyn, the Yellow Fairy: A wood nymph who is very fond of chocolate and gobbling up nasty grown-ups, and whose dust enables the Odditorium to fly.

  Dougal “Mack” McClintock: Chief of the Chronometrical Clan Mclintock, Mack is a salty Scottish pocket watch that Prince Nightshade wants for his animus.

  Nimue, Queen of Avalon: Also known as the Lady of the Lake, she is a beautiful water fairy capable of great feats of sorcery and forgetfulness.

  Moral: A temperamental goose that lays exceedingly messy colored eggs.

  Broom: The Odditorium’s maid, she is just that, a broom.

  The Eyes of Mars: A pair of magical orbs that the Roman god of war gave to his twin sons, Romulus and Remus. Alistair Grim has one Eye, and Prince Nightshade has the other.

  Demon catcher: A wooden box that…Well, you get the idea.

  The Black Mirror: A silver-handled mirror with dark glass that Elizabeth O’Grady gave to Mr. Grim upon their engagement.

  Excalibur: The legendary sword of King Arthur Pendragon.

  Map of Merlin: A magical map that shows the location of entrances into Avalon.

  Number One: A large mechanical wasp.

  Samurai: Legendary Japanese warriors; Mr. Grim uses their magic-infused armor to guard his Odditorium.

  Solphylax: A general term used to classify any receptacle capable of housing a disembodied spirit or demon.

  Acknowledgments

  At the risk of déjà vu, I must first thank my dear agent, Bill Contardi, as well as my brilliant editors, Emily Meehan, Jessica Harriton, and Elizabeth Law. Ladies, as always, I find myself in awe of your collective insight, and I cannot thank you enough for your assistance on this project. Boundless gratitude also to the people at Disney Hyperion who once again helped bring the world of the Odditorium to life: Laura Schreiber for first believing in this story; Whitney Manger, Su Blackwell, and Colin Crisford for another amazing cover; copy editor Alix Inchausti; and my incredible illustrator, Vivienne To, whose imagination never ceases to enchant. In addition, a load of thanks to my crackerjack publicist, Mary Ann Zissimos; the delightful Dina Sherman, director of school & library marketing; and the indefatigable Marianne Merola (Brandt & Hochman) for hustling those foreign rights deals.

  As always, I am eternally grateful to my wife, Angela, and the rest of my family for their love and support—especially my mom, Linda Franco, who must have bought at least a hundred copies of the first book. Much appreciation goes out to all the readers who offered critiques on the first draft: Michael Combs, Michael and Anthony Funaro, Jill Matarelli Carlson, Grace and Ellie Hamashima, Libby and Isabelle Snyder, Debbie and Sophie Lee, Paul and Jack Schneider, Jessica Purdy, and Holli Staats. Thanks also to the legion of friends, colleagues, and students (past and present) who helped promote the first book on social media. Your names are too many to list here, but each has been written in my heart.

  Finally, my undying gratitude goes out to you, dear reader, for joining Grubb and his family on their adventures. Then again, I am not surprised. After all, you are Odditoria, too!