The Merlin Conspiracy - Diana Wynne Jones
by Zia ~ January 4th, 2007. Filed under: Books, Random.
I think this was my favorite Diana Wynne Jones book. It draws on her popular conceit of alternate worlds that are tied together by magic. In the magical Isles of Blest, Roddy Hyde and her friend Grundo start noticing odd phenomena and behavior in the court when a new Merlin is appointed (the Merlins manage magic for the kingdom). At the same time, Nick Mallory gets pulled into these alternate worlds from the non-magical Earth. Roddy is convinced that Nick is the answer to Blest’s problems, while Nick himself doesn’t think he is magical at all. The two stories converge amid a host of wonderfully eccentric characters. Through it all, Wynne Jones displays her customary humor and incredible imagination. Very fun.
January 5th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
I love this book and I’m so happy to find someone else who likes it. I bought it to cheer myself up ages ago when I was feeling ill - and it certainly worked. I’m very interested in Diana Wynne Jones’ ideas about alternate worlds. I think my favourite book by her is Fire and Hemlock with this one a close second.
January 5th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
I haven’t read Fire and Hemlock, so thanks for the tip. I can never seem to get enough kiddie lit.
January 19th, 2007 at 5:54 pm
I liked “The Merlin Conspiracy” a lot too. I think that “Howl’s Moving Castle” is still my favourite Diana Wynne Jones though.