Things seem to be looking up for Oliver Gryffon. He is one of three winners of the illustrious Weirdy competition and is on his way to meet his hero, the incredible Arthur Weirdwood!
Oliver is a handsome and troubled boy, whose life has been surrounded by misfortune and strange rumour. He’s quiet (some might say brooding) but not because he’s shy. Oliver has always felt a little bit set-apart from everyone else – never feeling like he belongs – and his “problems” just reinforce that separation. People tend to think of him as strange – or even cursed.
At first glance Celia may appear to be a beautiful, sweet, 12-year-old whose biggest concerns are with makeup and clothes. In reality, however, she’s a proud, strong-willed, intelligent and extremely talented young lady (and more than a little bit spoiled). Celia has an almost preternatural way with words. She is incredibly persuasive, and almost always gets her own way.
Eugene is a self-proclaimed uber-nerd. He is quirky, quick-witted, inquisitive, and has a constant smirk that seems to say he’s always about to tell another joke. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of all things sci-fi and fantasy – whether it’s books, movies, TV, games or comics. He is very suspicious of authority figures, and is prone to believe in wild conspiracy theories.
Known and loved the world-over for his many enchanting storybooks, wind-up toys and strange inventions, Arthur Weirdwood is nonetheless a mysterious, reclusive and incredibly eccentric man surrounded in rumour. Ever since the strange disappearance of his young apprentice William Booke, he’s withdrawn more and more from the world.
Ms. Brimley is the well-meaning, if not slightly annoying host for the children during their visit to Weirdwood Manor. She is somewhat flighty and while friendly to the kids, she does treat them much younger than they actually are. She is very excited to be at Weirdwood Manor, but doesn’t seem to really notice the mysterious things that happen.
Walter Tinsworth, the loyal, intelligent and very capable automaton-valet of Arthur Weirdwood, is the pragmatic balance to Arthur’s eccentricity. A wise and tactful automaton, he is a loyal servant capably organizing Arthur’s life, and fixing any awkward situations he may stumble into. Arthur and Tinsworth are the closest of friends and most trusted conspirators.
Things seem to be looking up for Oliver Gryffon. He is one of three winners of the illustrious Weirdy competition and is on his way to meet his hero, the incredible Arthur Weirdwood!
Things are starting to get interesting. After a brief tour of the Manor, Oliver makes some new friends—with remarkable talents of their own—and they all finally meet their gracious host.
The children need to work together to unlock a most unusual door, behind which lies the promise of an explanation for their gifts — and of the strange world of Arthur Weirdwood.
The children find themselves lost in an enormous, monster-filled maze of books. But a good deed makes a new friend who has a few tricks up his sleeve for navigating this labyrinth of a library!
The children are reunited with Arthur at what appears to be the centre of both the Manor and somewhere — no, something — else. This is a place unlink any they’ve seen. A place of power and magic!
