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Claire Fontaine and The Grandma have just arrived to Lyon while Joseph will arrive in two hours. Later, altogether will drive from Lyon to Saint-Étienne.
During the flight, they have been reading a new adventure of the most popular gaulois, Astérix the Gaul, an amazing adventure with the Golden Sickle.
Astérix and the Golden Sickle, also known as The Golden Billhook, translated from French La Serpe D'or, is a French comic story, written by René Goscinny and illustrated by Albert Uderzo.
It is the second story in the Astérix comic book series, and was originally published by Dargaud as a serial for Pilote magazine in 1960, before being later being published as a comic album in 1962.
The story focuses on Astérix, accompanied by his friend Obélix, as they attempt to acquire a golden sickle for their druid, only to find themselves dealing with a criminal consortium trying to profit from an illicit trade in them.
Following its publication, The Golden Sickle received favourable reviews, with Dargaud later planning an animated adaptation of the story; though they were forced to scrap the project after Goscinny and Uderzo blocked production following the company's animated adaptation of the previous comic story.
One day in the forest outside the village of rebel Gauls in Armorica, Druid Getafix breaks his golden sickle. He explains to the villagers that this will prevent him attending the annual conference of druids, as well as making the magic potion that provides their superhuman strength to resist the Romans. Determined to resolve his dilema, Astérix and his friend Obélix vow to travel to Lutetia (the predecessor of present-day Paris), ands secure a new golden sickle from Obélix's cousin Metallurgix, a renowned sicklesmith. On the journey to the city, the pair learn that Lutetia is currently suffering a shortage of golden sickles for unknown reasons.
Upon arriving in the city, Astérix and Obélix learn that Metallurgix has gone missing, and decide to spend the next day searching for information. This causes them to encounter Clovogarlix, a local rogue, who brings them to a club run by his superior, Navishtrix. After refusing to buy a golden sickle from him at an exorbitant price, the pair are forced to fight off Navishtrix's men. When the Romans raid the club, Navhistrix and Clovogarlix escape, while Asterix and Obelix are promptly arrested for their actions. When brought before the city's prefect, Surplus Dairyprodus, they are surprised when he releases them for providing him with good entertainment. As they leave his palace, his centurion informs the pair that Metallurgix may have been kidnapped by sickle traffickers, who have taken advantage of the sickle shortage in Lutetia.
Continuing their investigation, the pair track down Clovogarlix's house to search it for clues, but are arrested by the Romans again and thrown into jail. To their surprise, they encounter a drunkard in their cell who reveals that Navishtrix has a hideout in the Boulogne forest. After Dairyprodus releases the Gauls once again, they head to the forest and find a trapdoor to an underground hideout, which contains a vast hoard of golden sickles. Before they can explore further, Navishtrix discovers them, and orders his men to apprehend them as he escapes. Following the fight, the pair interrogate Clovogarlix, who admits his boss is working for someone else. Tracking down Navishtrix, which results in another run-in with the Romans, the pair are shocked to discover the mastermind behind the sickle shortage is Dairyprodus.
The prefect freely confesses to them and his centurion that he did so for his own amusement, sponsoring Navishtrix's illegal sickle operation. Dairyprodus and Navishtrix are arrested, while Astérix and Obélix are released. Learning Metallurgix had been held in the prefect's dungeon, the pair rescue him, whereupon he greatly rewards them with one of his best golden sickles for Getafix. With this in hand, the pair return home to their village, which holds a banquet to celebrate the success of their adventure.
Key Lessons From Astérix and the Golden Sickle
-This is the first time Obélix has a major role in the story and highlights his keenness to fight at every opportunity. It is also the first journey away from the village for Astérix and Obélix. There was a planned film adaptation of this book, but it was never released.
-This is the first time Obélix demonstrates his ability of opening doors.
-This also is the first book Astérix and Obélix have a mystery to solve.
-This is one of the few times Astérix uses his sword.
-When Astérix and Obélix were eating at an inn, a stranger tells them that Lutetia is a very beautiful but dangerous city and it is probably talking about what Paris is today
-The prefect (and chief villain) is a caricature of the actor Charles Laughton.
-Due to a mistake by Uderzo, the final pages were drawn in comic strip panels, which resulted in a printing error (the panels are smaller and the margins are larger than normal) in all versions.
-Lutetia (future Paris) satirizes the big city, in contrast with the countryside (Astérix's village)
-The great ox-cart race, the Suindinum 24 hours is a reference to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, France. Suindinum is the old name of Le Mans.
-The book contains much more satirical commentary on modern Paris society than its predecessor, Astérix the Gaul, (In an inspired moment, a fisherman has only been able to catch amphoras and has assembled quite a pile of them). Goscinny and Uderzo are starting to find their feet and this book shows it.
-Astérix is a great polyglot. Astérix and the Golden Sickle appears in several languages. There's La Falç d'or in Catalan, La Hoz de Oro in Castilian, O fouciño de ouro in Galician, and Urrezko Igitaia in Basque.
-Albert Uderzo's famous caricatures appear for the first time in this album. And so the long list begins, delighting physiognomists and others alike, from Raimu (French actor with a strong Marseilles accent) to Jacques Chirac via Kirk Douglas and the Beatles.
-A cartoon feature film of Astérix and the Golden Sickle was produced on the quiet by Dargaud at the same time as the first one, Astérix the Gaul. While the authors had accepted the first film, they flatly refused the second and went on to take part in the production of Astérix and Cleopatra.
Download Astérix and the Golden Sickle by R. Goscinny & A. Uderzo
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