The Merlin Conspiracy

The book arrived safe and in the condition as described (it stated no dustcover and in "very good condition"). At first, I actually didn't realize it would come with no dustcover. I wanted the artwork. The hardcover book without dustcover is dark blue with gold lettering. I went back to re-read the description, and yup, it was there, "no dustcover." But that's okay because when I opened the book, my copy actually has the author's signature. I haven't read it yet, but the book arrived in very good condition and I am happy.

This is one of my favourite Diana Jones books. I think the best part is the amount of charecters in the book. Helga, Mini, London, the white dragon, too-much-to-count terrified and sparking salamaders, a panther and a big cat (?leopard?) and more are only the ones that are not human, and I wouldn't suggest memorising the charecter's names and how they are linked to each other, especially Adrianrhod Hyde, or Roddy's, family. The story is about a boy named Nicothodes or Nick in Earth who has already travelled through different worlds and wants to go to another one. There is also Adrianrhod (Roddy) who is a daughter of two court wizards and she lives in a place called Blest, which has similarities to England. Roddy and her friend Ambrose Temple/Grundo discover a plot to control all the magic in the multiverse which seems to include the Merlin, the keeper of magic in Blest. The two teenagers stories twine into each other, giving a clear view in every direction. As you go on, the Merlin conspiracy gets deeper and there's a surprise on every page. Truly reccomended!

Do you believe in coincedences? Roddy, Grundo, and Nick (who is from a different world and is accidentally summoned by Roddy) don't. So when the Merlin dies of a heartattack at the worst possible moment they refuse to believe his death is "natural". But who's going to believe a couple of kids? Absolutely no one, until they meet Maxwell Hyde and Romanov, two extremely powerful wizards who finally believe them. But will even their help be enough to take on the new Merlin and everyone helping him?This is a wonderful book, when I finished reading it I went back to the beginning and read it another two times.

The Merlin Conspiracy (2003) is a fantasy novel about the Islands of Blest, an equivalent of the British Isles in another timeline. Roddy and Grundo are two children of the Court who travel in the King's Progress. They live in buses and move frequently. They hardly ever get to stay in real buildings and sometimes they have to use the drafty bathtent for their showers. Worse yet, Roddy and Grundo are the only mages in their age group at Court. Roddy's father is the Court Weather Wizard and her mother works in the exchequer keeping track of the King's money. Grundo's mother is the Court Earthmistress and she favors her daughter, Alicia, over Grundo; only Sybil knows who is the father of Grundo and Alicia. Roddy and Grundo began to notice something unusual going on after the death of the current Merlin. Then Roddy's maternal grandfather sends a car around to bring the two for a visit and the Court has moved on elsewhere they return. Nick is the foster son of Ted Mallory, a writer of horror stories, and the former heir of the Koryfonic empire... He is a typically self-centered teenaged boy who is convinced to accompany his foster father to a convention of mystery writers. There he is bumped across the timelines to one where the English Empire covers most of Europe. He appears within a group of people near a flier and is assumed to be an apprentice who is late for an assignment with an Imperial security mage unit. At first he thinks he is dreaming and then he is afraid that he is not. Roddy and Grundo meet Nick on a dark path between timelines and Nick sort of agrees to come to Blest to help them solve their problem. However, he has a few problems of his own to solve and several unexpected encounters to survive. This novel is one of the author's Magid stories. The Magid in this tale turns out to be one of the unexpected encounters during Nick's path through the timelines. However, the Magid does add a touch of stability as well as bringing Nick together with Roddy and Grundo. Of course, there are also the panther, the elephant, the goat, and the white and red dragons. Recommended for Jones fans and anyone else who enjoys zany, action-filled tales of magic and intrigue. -Arthur W. Jordin

Diana Wynne Jones is a marvel. This is a children's book, a sequel to her adult scifi/fantasy "Deep Secret," but everyone should read both, one right after the other. This book is *very* sophisticated for a kid's book, mostly because in part the narrative has the weird, disjointed atmosphere of dreams. Still, it's a terrific story, and some parts of it are laugh-out-loud hilarious (particularly if you're a fan of Douglas Adams, Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, etc.). Once again Wynne Jones has created two utterly great protagonists (Nick Mallory from Deep Secret, and a new character named Roddy who is another of Wynne Jones' standard feisty, mercurial, unsentimental heroines), plus a bunch of completely great supporting characters, including a girlishly nervous elephant and twin witches who are more maddening than a roomful of Eloises. The story careens around in time and space, every action is not without a reaction in the future, and in the process Wynne Jones actually makes a convincing case for *not* having to like horrible relatives just because they're your blood. Amazing! I hope to God she never stops writing, as her imagination and vision are mind-boggling, as well as being wildly entertaining.

Diana Wynne-Jones is one of the best authors of fantasy still living, from her hilarious spoof "Tough Guide to Fantasyland" to the wizard Chrestomanci. And fans of her imaginative books won't be disappointed with "Merlin Conspiracy."Roddy has lived a fairly ordinary existance in an alternate version of Britain, as the daughter of two Court Wizards and part of the Progress (which goes around the Islands of Blest and gives various rituals where they are needed). Soon the Merlin (the sort of magical leader) dies and a new Merlin is chosen -- except the new Merlin may not be right for the job, because suddenly rituals and magic are going awry.In a different world, a teenager named Nick slips into what seems to be a dream world -- but is actually another universe altogether. He wants to go to other worlds, but it turns out to be a lot more dangerous than he had believed it would be. And Roddy needs his help to fix the magic, before the conspiracy overwhelms them."Merlin Conspiracy" is, like most of Jones's books, complicated and twisted without being bewildering. The characterizations are tight and realistic, and the writing is quite good. "Merlin Conspiracy" shows a certain polish that comes from long experience, and Jones knows how to use her strengths by now.Like many of her books, "Merlin Conspiracy" is funny and well-plotted. The dialogue is excellent ("If you say "Alicia" quickly it sounds just like a well-behaved sneeze - just like Alicia, in fact.") And though this book is written in the first person, unlike many of Jones's books, it doesn't detract from her deft writing.Roddy and Nick are flawed in a likable way. Roddy is a bit bossy and fussy at times, and Nick is more languid and inclined to take things less seriously. They seem very real. Grundo and the "Merlin" are also quite well written; so is the very large and unusual cast, including obnoxious witch twins, assassins, the lord of the dead, dragons, goats, silver tea services, and plenty of wizards..."Merlin Conspiracy" is a fun fantasy for adults and kids alike (regardless of age, you have to be drawn in by the complex plotting). Definitely an entertaining read, and no sign of Jones's talents on the wane.