Indiana Jones and the Philosopher's Stone

Indiana Jones and the Philosopher's Stone is the first Indy novel by Max McCoy, and the ninth in Bantam's series.

Publisher's summary
BLOOD FROM A STONE

''For centuries the lust for wealth and immortality has driven men mad. Now Indiana Jones is called to London to recover an ancient alchemist's manuscript rumored to contain the formula both for turning lead into gold and granting its owner eternal life. Certain that a missing British alchemist and an insane Renaissance scholar are involved in the theft, Indy&mdash;along with the alchemist's beautiful sister&mdash;travels to Rome, and straight into the hands of Mussolini's fascists.''

''The mad scholar Sarducci has stolen the Voynich Manuscript, all right. But that's only half the story. The manuscript is really a map, leading into the desert and the most ancient and magnificent crypt in the world, where Indiana Jones will either witness an astounding miracle of alchemy&mdash;or become the tomb's next inhabitant.''

Characters

 * Indiana Jones – the adventurous archaeologist, protagonist
 * Leonardo Sarducci – scholar, villain of the piece
 * Alecia Dunstin – British Museum librarian
 * Alistair Dunstin – alchemist
 * Marcus Brody – Director of Special Acquisitions for the National Museum of Natural History in New York
 * Nicolas Flamel – French alchemist
 * Perenelle Flamel – Nicolas' wife
 * Luigi Volatore – fascist thug
 * Mario Volatore – fascist thug
 * Marco Volatore – fascist thug
 * Harold Gruber – Acting chairman of the Department of Art and Architecture at Princeton University
 * Penelope Angstrom – secretary of the Department of Art and Architecture at Princeton
 * Major John M. Manly – crytographer in service of the FBI
 * Bieber – FBI agent
 * Yartz – FBI agent
 * Hudson –one of Indiana's students
 * Farqhuar – libyan prince
 * Sallah – Indy's friend
 * Charles Rufus Morey – effective chairman of the Department of Art and Architecture at Princeton University
 * Vilhjalmur Stefansson – President of the Explorer's Club
 * Roger Cadman – Rare books dealer
 * Italo Balbo – fascist aviator
 * Alger Dresel – commander of the USS Macon
 * O'Toole – Part of the USS Macon crew
 * Edward Trimbly – Bank of England clerk
 * Giuseppe Rinaldi – owner of the Royal des Étrangers (a hotel in Rome)
 * Caramia – Sarducci's secretary
 * Mordecai Marlow – skipper in the Ayesha Maru

Artifacts

 * Crystal Skull
 * Emerald Tablet
 * Philosopher's Stone
 * Shew Stone
 * Voynich Manuscript

Locations

 * Rome, Italy
 * Libya
 * London, England, UK
 * Princeton, New Jersey, USA
 * New York City, New York, USA

Behind the scenes

 * In 2004 a fan film adaptation was made by Andrew Metzger & Ben Ludlow.