Book description
A bestselling fantasy adventure from Diana Wynne Jones. The companion
novel to the novel Deep Secret.
The story is narrated by two very different teenagers, who each inhabit
two extraordinarily different worlds.
Arianrhod Hyde's world (or Roddy, as she prefers to be called) is very
much the world of magic, pageantry and ritual. Not unlike Britain in
King Arthur's Day, Roddy is daughter of two Court Wizards and therefore
part of the King's Progress, travelling round the Islands of Blest and
ready to take part in whatever ritual or ceremony is required, as it
occurs. Presiding over all, the most important person is the Merlin, who
is entrusted with the magical health of the Isles of Blest.
Nick Mallory's world is much more familiar - at least, it starts off
being our own. But it soon transpires that Nick's not quite the ordinary
15 year old he seems, as he slips sideways into something he thinks is a
dream - but in fact is another world entirely. Now, Nick's been on other
worlds before (although never alone) but he's a confident type. Maybe a
bit too confident…
In Roddy's world, the current Merlin expires and a new one takes his
place. Yet something is wrong - the rituals have been upset and nothing
is going the way it should. Roddy needs help, and certain powers
indicate that Nick is to be the one to help her. And Nick is cool about
helping her - in theory… but it's a bit worrying that she seems to
mistake him for a magic-user.
Their stories unfold, side-by-side, each part leading into the next, and
the Merlin Conspiracy thickens as the tales swirl around each other -
twining, meeting and affecting each other, yet never completely
combining until the very end chapters when all is finally revealed.
Compelling, howlingly funny in places, mind-boggling - this is going to
WOW DWJ fans all around the world (and probably in other universes too).
“The characterisation is first rate, the ideas are fabulous … This is
fantasy at its most inventive - canny, funny and far-reaching.” The Telegraph
“A curiosity shop of a book … a pleasure to lose yourself in.” The
Sunday Times
“The Merlin Conspiracy is Wynne Jones on top form … [her] powerful
narrative and her ability to create extraordinary charachers with real
emotions make her more than a worthy rival to J K Rowling.” Financial Times
“A must for all Wynne Jones fans, past, present and future.” Limited
Edition Diana Wynne Jones spent her childhood in Essex and has been
writing fantasy novels for children since 1973. With her unique
combination of magic, humour and imagination, she has been enthralling
children and adults with her work ever since. She won the Guardian Award
in 1977 with Charmed Life, was runner-up for the Children's Book Award
in 1981, and was twice runner-up for the Carnegie Medal. She is married
with three sons, and lives in Bristol with her husband.
