∎ Libro Free The Merlin Conspiracy Magids Diana Wynne Jones 9780060523206 Books

The Merlin Conspiracy Magids Diana Wynne Jones 9780060523206 Books

Download As PDF : The Merlin Conspiracy Magids Diana Wynne Jones 9780060523206 Books

The Merlin Conspiracy Magids Diana Wynne Jones 9780060523206 Books

Diana Wynne Jones is probably the best British fantasy author out there, and she is finally starting to get her recognition.
This is a semi-sequel to "Deep Secret", since it carries on the story of Nick Mallory, one of the principal characters. Still casting about for a way to develop his magical talents, he becomes swept up in the efforts of our other point of view character, Roddy, a teenage girl on the world of Blest (an alternate England where the King progresses around the kingdom most of the year) to defeat a magical conspiracy led by some nasty characters.
Filled with delightful moments...and captivating characters, from Nick himself to the enigmatic, powerful character of Romanov, a very strong mage whom Nick encounters while floundering from world to world, to an escaped elephant named Mini.
As is usual in Jones's work, it is not all sweetness and light. Not all of the "good" characters are entirely good, and learning that will be part of the growing-up process for our teenage heroes. There are dark moments, deaths, family conflicts, mistakes by our characters, all of which is part of life and which Jones never spares us.
The ending did seem sort of hurried, not as though Jones had run out of ideas (I can't imagine that) but as though she were forced to keep the book within reasonable bounds. And, to a certain extent, the ending is telegraphed within the book. Usually, Jones is a bit more clever about that.
As usual, Jones borrows liberally from legend and story, and makes it all her own. While not quite as good as "Deep Secret", still a fine, fine addition to her works--and leaving enough unresolved (I could have heard more about Nick's panther and what it indicates about him) to hope for more episodes in Nick's story, and that of Roddy and her world as well.
Highly recommended.


Tags : The Merlin Conspiracy (Magids) [Diana Wynne Jones] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. When the Merlin of Blest dies, everyone thinks it's a natural death. But Roddy and Grundo, two children traveling with the Royal Court,Diana Wynne Jones,The Merlin Conspiracy (Magids),Greenwillow Books,0060523204,Fantasy & Magic,Fantasy.,Magic;Fiction.,Self-perception;Fiction.,Children's BooksAges 9-12 Fiction,Children: Grades 4-6,FICTION Fantasy General,Fantasy,Fiction,Fiction-Fantasy,JONES, DIANA WYNNE,JUVENILE,JUVENILE FICTION Animals Dragons, Unicorns & Mythical,JUVENILE FICTION Fantasy & Magic,Juvenile Fiction,Juvenile Grades 4-6 Ages 9-11,Magic,Self-perception,United States

The Merlin Conspiracy Magids Diana Wynne Jones 9780060523206 Books Reviews

It might have been helpful to have read whichever book introduced the Magids, but it was not necessary in order to fully enjoy Diana Wynne Jones' The Merlin Conspiracy. The threads of narrative begin far apart, but even in the beginning there are clues that tell the reader how these threads might eventually weave together. The main character's two grandfathers represent the civilized and the wild facets of this world's system of magic-- definitely one of Diana Wynne Jones' strengths as a writer --but they do so in a fairly subtle way. Once again, I am impressed by this author's ability to devise an engaging world that naturally brims with magic and unique characters.
This book can be read as a stand alone story, but it is a lot more fun when you read Deep Secret first. The magids concept was fun, I wish the author had explored it more. I wouldn't trade anything else she wrote in exchange, though! Ms. Jones is greatly missed by all her fans.
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.
While not quite up to the level of her classic children's works - Archer's Goon or Witch Week - The Merlin Conspiracy is definitely one of the best, and most characteristic, books she's written in a long time.
Plot Summary
Roddy's world is in trouble; only she and her friend Grundo know there's a conspiracy to unseat her King, and no one will listen to them. Nick, meanwhile, is having his own problems. His attempts to learn magic aren't working, he misses the adventures he used to have, and apparently someone wants him dead. But when Roddy, Nick, and Grundo unite, they'll be able to solve the problems of several different worlds, and their own into the bargain.
Commentary
This is a children's novel, but it's sort of a sequel to Jones's adult novel Deep Secret. This causes a few complications. The adult main characters from Deep Secret (Maree and Rupert) don't appear in Merlin; Nick Mallory has a starring role without ever mentioning his cousin or friend. Also, there's some redundancy in explanations. But a fan of Deep Secret will still enjoy Merlin Conspiracy. And Merlin Conspiracy can stand alone, although readers of the first book will be far more familiar with the world and the concepts in it.
This book resembles Deep Secret in narration. Varying narrators tell the story in first person, sometimes offering different viewpoints on the same events but sometimes relating entirely different plot threads. However, this isn't complicated enough to pose serious problems for any kid old enough to read the book in the first place.
And this book is well worth reading. The plot is quite good, an unusually well-done mystery for children. The world is infinitely more appealing and realistic than, for example, the one from Dark Lord of Derkholm. And Jones does something she hasn't done in a kid's book since her heyday - she provides characters with real flaws as well as real strengths. The multiple-narrator technique works well here, giving the reader different takes on each main character.
All in all, this is an excellent book for children or adults. Fans of Jones's previous work will almost certainly enjoy Merlin Conspiracy. It isn't as funny or as enchanting as her best books, but it is one that will definitely stand the test of time.
Diana Wynne Jones is probably the best British fantasy author out there, and she is finally starting to get her recognition.
This is a semi-sequel to "Deep Secret", since it carries on the story of Nick Mallory, one of the principal characters. Still casting about for a way to develop his magical talents, he becomes swept up in the efforts of our other point of view character, Roddy, a teenage girl on the world of Blest (an alternate England where the King progresses around the kingdom most of the year) to defeat a magical conspiracy led by some nasty characters.
Filled with delightful moments...and captivating characters, from Nick himself to the enigmatic, powerful character of Romanov, a very strong mage whom Nick encounters while floundering from world to world, to an escaped elephant named Mini.
As is usual in Jones's work, it is not all sweetness and light. Not all of the "good" characters are entirely good, and learning that will be part of the growing-up process for our teenage heroes. There are dark moments, deaths, family conflicts, mistakes by our characters, all of which is part of life and which Jones never spares us.
The ending did seem sort of hurried, not as though Jones had run out of ideas (I can't imagine that) but as though she were forced to keep the book within reasonable bounds. And, to a certain extent, the ending is telegraphed within the book. Usually, Jones is a bit more clever about that.
As usual, Jones borrows liberally from legend and story, and makes it all her own. While not quite as good as "Deep Secret", still a fine, fine addition to her works--and leaving enough unresolved (I could have heard more about Nick's panther and what it indicates about him) to hope for more episodes in Nick's story, and that of Roddy and her world as well.
Highly recommended.