Memorias de un hombre de palo. (Memoirs of a Wooden Man)

Sixteenth-century Italian inventor Juanelo Turriano, whose mechanical ingenuity has drawn comparisons to Leonardo da Vinci, is reanimated in this fictionalized account of the Spanish court-appointed mathematician's triumphs and frustrations in creating a hydraulic device to transport water from the Tagus River to the city of Toledo. A magic realism element unfolds in the plot involving Turriano's other legendary invention, a wooden robot dressed as a monk that remains the subject of local folklore in present-day Toledo. Lázaro's meticulous research makes the narrative read like a history book-turned-thriller, complete with the menacing undercurrent of the Spanish Inquisition. The pace tends to drag during a few scenes involving Turriano's encounters with skeptical city bureaucrats. However, Lázaro's lush language and subtle humor evoke city life in 1560s Toledo, a chaotic mélange of drunken brawls, bawdy street carnivals, and opulent royal pageants. Although the title character's role does not begin to evolve until halfway through the novel, his presence further develops core themes about the value of relationships and following one's dream, which build steadily to a poignant climax. Highly recommended for those with an interest in 16th-century Spanish history or inventors of the era.—Pamela Corante, Los Angeles, CA