Malaisea, the unhealthiest town in the whole of Zamonia, is home to Echo the Crat, a multitalented creature capable of speaking any language under the sun, human or animal. When his mistress dies, Echo finds himself out on the street. Dying of starvation, he is compelled to sign a contract with Ghoolion the Alchemaster, Malaisea's evil alchemist-in-chief. Walter Moers's magnificent translation of Optimus Yarnspinner's novel introduces us to yet another of Zamonia's hotbeds of adventure: Malaisea, a place where up is down, right is wrong, and Ghoolion the Alchemaster reigns supreme - until Echo crosses his path.