Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Publication
Greenwillow (2003), 468 pages
Description
Roddy and Nick, two teenagers with magical powers they are just learning to use, find that they must work together to save Roddy's home world of Blest from destruction by power-hungry wizards.
User reviews
LibraryThing member kaionvin
I hated The Merlin Conspiracy when I first read it in 2003. On re-read to decide whether or not to give my copy away, it's not as bad as I remembered. Maybe that's because now I've read the book it's the loose sequel to (the hilarious Deep Secret)?
But I'm inclined to think it's not so bad because,
The best explanation I can come up with is when I tried to summarize the plot of Merlin, that there's really no concept behind the book. Despite all the free-style shenanigans that characterize a lot of her work, it's usually funneled toward some central idea. Even in simple terms such as in Deep Secret where it's as small as "Sci-fi/Fantasy stuff happens at a Sci-fi/Fantasy Convention"; or more deeply integrated as in Howl's Moving Castle which was "what happens to the eldest daughter in a world where fairy tales are real"; or more literally played as in Magicians of Caprona ("Romeo and Juliet but with more Italian-ness and magic").
I can't really sum up Merlin in the same way. Is it "British Isles but with more magic", or "timey-wimey, the cause happened after the effect, a butterfly flapping in Mexico" story, or, "heredity magic, it exists"? The story doesn't really have anywhere to lead to, no matter how imaginative the events on the way, and the result is a really tepid 'who cares' kind of story.
But I'm inclined to think it's not so bad because,
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well, I don't find The Merlin Conspiracy to be much of anything. It's action-packed and while I didn't take much of a shine to the characters (not even Nick who I enjoyed in the preceding book!), neither was I offended by them. There's lots of world-hopping and usual percentage of horrible relations, but I can't quite put a finger about what makes not have the usual Diana-Wynne-Jones flair.The best explanation I can come up with is when I tried to summarize the plot of Merlin, that there's really no concept behind the book. Despite all the free-style shenanigans that characterize a lot of her work, it's usually funneled toward some central idea. Even in simple terms such as in Deep Secret where it's as small as "Sci-fi/Fantasy stuff happens at a Sci-fi/Fantasy Convention"; or more deeply integrated as in Howl's Moving Castle which was "what happens to the eldest daughter in a world where fairy tales are real"; or more literally played as in Magicians of Caprona ("Romeo and Juliet but with more Italian-ness and magic").
I can't really sum up Merlin in the same way. Is it "British Isles but with more magic", or "timey-wimey, the cause happened after the effect, a butterfly flapping in Mexico" story, or, "heredity magic, it exists"? The story doesn't really have anywhere to lead to, no matter how imaginative the events on the way, and the result is a really tepid 'who cares' kind of story.
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LibraryThing member ed.pendragon
My previous acquaintance with Diana Wynne Jones was through her The Tough Guide to Fantasyland (Vista 1996), a thoroughly enjoyable tongue-in-cheek encyclopaedic tour of the conventions of post-Tolkien fantasy writing. This outing for the much-published children's writer includes much of that
From this we gather that the main setting for the plot is not Earth as we know it but an alternative world in a kind of Moorcock multiverse. Nick Malory (not his real name, by the way) is eventually propelled into this other Britain called Blest, a rather apt title not only for its Otherworld echoes in Greek and Celtic mythology but also because many of its denizens are witches and others adept at natural magic, such as the story's other protagonist Arianrhod. The conspiracy involves the replacement of the chief wizard of the country of Logres (England in our world) with a false Merlin, and the repercussions this has on Blest and it world and on parallel worlds. Oh, and did I mention time-travel as well?
This is a very readable novel which you may well get through in very few sittings, right up to its apocalyptic conclusion. It's a given that reviews of this type of fiction will include favourable comparisons with J K Rowling and Philip Pullman, but in truth Diana Wynne Jones has a well-warranted reputation which needs no such hype. For those with a penchant for legends a lot of the fun comes from spotting both the overt and subtler Arthurian references, along with the overtones of, among others, William Blake. Then it'll be time to search out those other titles of hers, such as Deep Secret, this book's prequel.
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irreverant humour (we meet an elephant called Mini and a coffee-addicted SF-detective writer called Maxwell Hyde, for example, whose name seems to be a compound of a well-known instant coffee and a literary split personality). And it all starts with the title, which is about a conspiracy concerning the Merlin.From this we gather that the main setting for the plot is not Earth as we know it but an alternative world in a kind of Moorcock multiverse. Nick Malory (not his real name, by the way) is eventually propelled into this other Britain called Blest, a rather apt title not only for its Otherworld echoes in Greek and Celtic mythology but also because many of its denizens are witches and others adept at natural magic, such as the story's other protagonist Arianrhod. The conspiracy involves the replacement of the chief wizard of the country of Logres (England in our world) with a false Merlin, and the repercussions this has on Blest and it world and on parallel worlds. Oh, and did I mention time-travel as well?
This is a very readable novel which you may well get through in very few sittings, right up to its apocalyptic conclusion. It's a given that reviews of this type of fiction will include favourable comparisons with J K Rowling and Philip Pullman, but in truth Diana Wynne Jones has a well-warranted reputation which needs no such hype. For those with a penchant for legends a lot of the fun comes from spotting both the overt and subtler Arthurian references, along with the overtones of, among others, William Blake. Then it'll be time to search out those other titles of hers, such as Deep Secret, this book's prequel.
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LibraryThing member RebeccaAnn
Deep Secret set the bar high but luckily, this didn't disappoint. In this book, we follow Nick and two children from, Roddy and Grundo, as they try to discover what the new Merlin and Sybil, Grundo's mother, are planning to do. They may not be able to figure out the whole picture, but they know the
I loved this book. It was nice seeing things from Nick's perspective, though I did miss Rupert. He was hilarious and he didn't even earn a passing mention in this book. However, we did get to meet Romanov and I found myself loving him! The pace of this book was fast and exciting, and the ending was just intense! I never once felt like I was getting tired of the Magid story line, even though there wasn't much about Magids in here. That was another nice thing about The Merlin Conspiracy: I got to see how some other magic works. The more I read, the more I realize that the world building is very intricate and I really would love to know more.
The only thing I wasn't too pleased with is it felt like there were quite a few loose ends in this book. I want to know if Grundo and Roddy ever patched things up. I want to know if they do go on to be the next Merlin and the next Lady Governance, respectively. I want to know how much raising the land and turning the magic ninety degrees affected everything. I hoping these loose ends really just mean there will be a third book in the Magid series. I would love to continue my adventures in this universe(s).
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two are up to no good. Now if they can just get someone to listen to them!I loved this book. It was nice seeing things from Nick's perspective, though I did miss Rupert. He was hilarious and he didn't even earn a passing mention in this book. However, we did get to meet Romanov and I found myself loving him! The pace of this book was fast and exciting, and the ending was just intense! I never once felt like I was getting tired of the Magid story line, even though there wasn't much about Magids in here. That was another nice thing about The Merlin Conspiracy: I got to see how some other magic works. The more I read, the more I realize that the world building is very intricate and I really would love to know more.
The only thing I wasn't too pleased with is it felt like there were quite a few loose ends in this book. I want to know if Grundo and Roddy ever patched things up. I want to know if they do go on to be the next Merlin and the next Lady Governance, respectively. I want to know how much raising the land and turning the magic ninety degrees affected everything. I hoping these loose ends really just mean there will be a third book in the Magid series. I would love to continue my adventures in this universe(s).
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LibraryThing member bunwat
Love Diana Wynne Jones, and a bad DWJ is still better than a poke in the eye, but this wasn't her best work. Still filled with fun stuff - I absolutely love the apologetic elephant and the cantankerous goat, the canyon world is brill and I really like Roddy and Nick and Grundo a lot. But the plot
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rambles about a bit and some things are more worked out than others. If she'd taken some time to polish this up it could have been about nine times better. Sometimes her stuff reads a little bit like a potboiler that she knocked out because she had some bills to pay. However, no reason DWJ shouldn't pay her bills and even when she's not fully up to her top standard, she's still fun. Show Less
LibraryThing member lquilter
I really love Diana Wynne Jones, but sometimes I am really frustrated that sooo many of her female characters are kind of awful, and the boys are more sympathetic. This book sort of exemplified that for me. The grandfathers are both great. The lone magician (male) is great. The grandmother magician
DWJ does think about gender, and is a feminist, but the characterization stuff bugs me sometimes. Anyway, in other ways, the book was interesting and fun, as almost everything I've read by DWJ is.
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is awful -- both are silly, awful, figures of fun, and the mother magician is a villainess but not even the chief villainess. And two other mothers are distracted or crazy or bewitched or all three at different times. Of the six main kid characters, the two female kid twins are horrible; the two male kids are quirky and lovable even when one of them does something rather terrible. The two narrators -- one male, one female -- each have their vices and so forth, but over all, the male comes off a bit better: less "bossy", not manipulated .... this is a minor difference and I wouldn't have noticed it at all, or been bothered by it, had the rest of the gendered characters not been treated so disparately. DWJ does think about gender, and is a feminist, but the characterization stuff bugs me sometimes. Anyway, in other ways, the book was interesting and fun, as almost everything I've read by DWJ is.
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LibraryThing member katekf
The Merlin Conspiracy is set in the same universe as Deep Secret but it can be read on its own. Nick Mallory appears in both books and the Magid universe is explained in Deep Secret but through Nick and others it is explained. The Magid universe is one of my favorites of Diana Wynne Jones' because
The Merlin Conspiracy is about two young people who don't quite fit, Nick Mallory and Arianrhod, who come together to save the world of Blest. Throughout the book, we switch between their viewpoints and get to see them both see new opportunities in their future and understand how they fit best. For lovers of complex plots and fascinating characters in worlds where magic is normal, this book is a fantastic read.
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it works upon the same principles of the Chrestomanci books, many connected worlds that need to be looked after. A main difference is that the Magid books are written for a slightly older audience, they fit more into the Young Adult and Adult Fantasy genre as they take on harder topics. The Merlin Conspiracy is about two young people who don't quite fit, Nick Mallory and Arianrhod, who come together to save the world of Blest. Throughout the book, we switch between their viewpoints and get to see them both see new opportunities in their future and understand how they fit best. For lovers of complex plots and fascinating characters in worlds where magic is normal, this book is a fantastic read.
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LibraryThing member BoPeep
This is a great romp through familiar DW-J territory - alternative worlds, and magical families. Arianrhod (Roddy, one of the two narrators) and Grundo are part of the King's Progress, the travelling Court, but have to travel alone through the Isles of Blest (a "squished and stretched" British
Meanwhile Nick, the other narrator, already a refugee from one world, gets drawn through a few other worlds looking for Romanov, a man who might just have the power to solve the mystery of who is trying to kill whom and why. He promises to help Roddy as part of a journey quest, befriending an elephant on the way, and encountering a malevolent goat named Helga.
The plot's intricate but all comes together in a satisfying ending as Roddy works out just what "raising the land" involves - dragons, Stonehenge, and all her extended and rather mad family...
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Isles) to stop a plot to take all the magic in the land and use it for evil. The Little People advise Roddy to raise the land to stop the plot, but she has little to go on until she figures out her inherited magic "database".Meanwhile Nick, the other narrator, already a refugee from one world, gets drawn through a few other worlds looking for Romanov, a man who might just have the power to solve the mystery of who is trying to kill whom and why. He promises to help Roddy as part of a journey quest, befriending an elephant on the way, and encountering a malevolent goat named Helga.
The plot's intricate but all comes together in a satisfying ending as Roddy works out just what "raising the land" involves - dragons, Stonehenge, and all her extended and rather mad family...
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LibraryThing member Yarrow
Usually I love Diana Wynne Jones but this book left me slightly unsatisfied. Maybe I'm too old to appreciate it properly - I'm not sure. If you want to read something by Diana Wynne Jones (good choice) I'd recommend 'Fire and Hemlock' over 'The Merlin Conspiracy'.
LibraryThing member librisissimo
Alternating narratives from viewpoints of the girl and the boy, in different universes and time-lines.
The characters and basic story-line are okay, but the flips between worlds and times is unnecessarily confusing.
The events have an "Alice in Wonderland" episodic quality inside a hazy story-arc,
It helps to have some knowledge of Celtic myths.
Also, what is it with these supposed "leaders" who don't want to train their juniors (cf. Yoda v. Anakin); it shows up in lots of books and is total baloney.
Jones follows a common route of using Christianity as window-dressing and props, without ever coming to grips with the substance of prayer or priests.
The characters and basic story-line are okay, but the flips between worlds and times is unnecessarily confusing.
The events have an "Alice in Wonderland" episodic quality inside a hazy story-arc,
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which is eventually, sort of, clarified.It helps to have some knowledge of Celtic myths.
Also, what is it with these supposed "leaders" who don't want to train their juniors (cf. Yoda v. Anakin); it shows up in lots of books and is total baloney.
Jones follows a common route of using Christianity as window-dressing and props, without ever coming to grips with the substance of prayer or priests.
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LibraryThing member nimoloth
This was a gripping book that I wanted to keep reading once I started, even though it was pretty confusing, with none of the confusion ever really explained. It doesn't help that it invloves lots of complicated magic on different worlds and indeed between worlds in several ways too. But despite
This is a sort of sequel to Deep Secret - it's set in the same world (or rather, many worlds, if you see what I mean) although it only features one character in common, Nick Mallory. His sister was one of the lead characters in the other book. The other main character in this book is a girl called Roddy from a world other than our own Earth. There are many other fascinating characters, and the magic is some of the most complicated and varied I've read about! It also has a bit of British mythology, which I like (moslty English and a bit of Welsh). Roddy's world has hints of old England, although it is still modern in some ways.
If you like happy, likeable, easy to read, addictive fantasy with some suspense, you'll like this. Very good.
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this, it was still a really good read. I got to like the characters a lot - a good skill of Diana Wynne Jones.This is a sort of sequel to Deep Secret - it's set in the same world (or rather, many worlds, if you see what I mean) although it only features one character in common, Nick Mallory. His sister was one of the lead characters in the other book. The other main character in this book is a girl called Roddy from a world other than our own Earth. There are many other fascinating characters, and the magic is some of the most complicated and varied I've read about! It also has a bit of British mythology, which I like (moslty English and a bit of Welsh). Roddy's world has hints of old England, although it is still modern in some ways.
If you like happy, likeable, easy to read, addictive fantasy with some suspense, you'll like this. Very good.
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LibraryThing member phoebesmum
Not one of DWJ's strongest books; skips along happily enough, with her usual bizarre and wonderful characters and situations, but the ending’s decidedly rushed and untidy. Missed deadline??
LibraryThing member devilish2
Great magic. Good plot. Characterisation let it down a bit.
LibraryThing member elmyra
For a children's/YA authos, Diana Wynne Jones writes quite dense and challenging prose, and a very layered narrative. This was overall a very enjoyable read. Some of the world-building was beautiful, though occasionally there was just too much - too many different worlds and narratives coming
Bechdel: Pass, by a mile. :-)
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together. But if was definitely good fun. Bechdel: Pass, by a mile. :-)
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LibraryThing member Larkken
Three children are drawn together to fix the state of magic in Blest, beset by the usual problem of childhood: all the adults are under the impression they are either mistaken or not old enough to understand more adult magical dealings. This book is as entertaining as Jones always is and introduces
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a wonderful alternative reality full of odd characters and just familiar-enough sounding situations. Show Less
LibraryThing member rivkat
Diana Wynne Jones, The Merlin Conspiracy: Multiple worlds linked by magic; teens struggling with big powers and fighting adult conspiracies and dismissals; barely a decent adult woman to be found (there is a wise old crone, at least); parents who are sometimes awful for no reason and sometimes busy
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running the world, which is not always that big a step above--it's reasonably standard Jones, with some people turning out to be very different from who they initially seemed to be. I can't say I was drawn in, but I think younger RT might have liked it more. Show Less
LibraryThing member fyrefly98
Summary: Roddy is a young member of the King's court, and she has been a member of the King's Progress (his continual trek around the Islands of Blest, an alternate England) for as long as she can remember. When she and Grundo, her young ward, overhear a magical plot to overthrow the king, they're
Review: I need to stop listening to Diana Wynne Jones's books. I don't mean I need to stop reading them, because they ones I've read have all been imaginative, fun, and well-done. I just need to stop consuming them in audiobook form.
Jones is a huge fan of dropping readers right into the middle of a story without much (if any explanation), and of making readers piece together what the heck's going on as they go. That's fine, and probably part of what makes her books enjoyable, but it's not a format that's well suited to audiobook. So much is happening at such a fast pace that if your attention wanders even for two minutes (as it invariably does), you wind up irreparably lost.
That was my problem here. I'm sure there was a really great book going on, but because I don't always listen to audiobooks with 100% of my brain (that's their point, after all), I never got my footing as to what was going on in the story, to the point where I spent the last hour or so thoroughly confused as to who several of the characters that kept getting mentioned even were. So, while the writing was good, and it was definitely funny, and imaginative, and I'm sure the story was great, I'm not really the best judge. From here on out, no more DWJ audiobooks for me (plus I might have to go back and re-read this one) - I hate feeling like there's a good story I'm missing! 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: I'm assuming, based on what I heard and understood, that it's worth reading... with the emphasis on the read.
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taken away to Roddy's relatives - all of whom have some magical power of their own. In alternating sections, Nick Mallory, a young man, stumbles into an alternate dimension, where he meets some powerful wizards, and ultimately winds up in Roddy's dimension, where he must take what he's learned to help her save the kingdom.Review: I need to stop listening to Diana Wynne Jones's books. I don't mean I need to stop reading them, because they ones I've read have all been imaginative, fun, and well-done. I just need to stop consuming them in audiobook form.
Jones is a huge fan of dropping readers right into the middle of a story without much (if any explanation), and of making readers piece together what the heck's going on as they go. That's fine, and probably part of what makes her books enjoyable, but it's not a format that's well suited to audiobook. So much is happening at such a fast pace that if your attention wanders even for two minutes (as it invariably does), you wind up irreparably lost.
That was my problem here. I'm sure there was a really great book going on, but because I don't always listen to audiobooks with 100% of my brain (that's their point, after all), I never got my footing as to what was going on in the story, to the point where I spent the last hour or so thoroughly confused as to who several of the characters that kept getting mentioned even were. So, while the writing was good, and it was definitely funny, and imaginative, and I'm sure the story was great, I'm not really the best judge. From here on out, no more DWJ audiobooks for me (plus I might have to go back and re-read this one) - I hate feeling like there's a good story I'm missing! 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: I'm assuming, based on what I heard and understood, that it's worth reading... with the emphasis on the read.
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LibraryThing member rockycoloradan
The Isles of Blest are in danger and it is up to an intrepid band of youngsters to discover the danger, cause the danger and resolve the danger. And resolve some personal problems along the way. And they just about successful.
It is a well-told tale and, if you can get around the issue of
It is a well-told tale and, if you can get around the issue of
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maintaining an absolute monarchy that terrorizes its subjects/citizens into keeping the streets clean and the front doors painted, a fun read. Show Less
LibraryThing member lambada
As I started The Merlin Conspiracy I found myself confused about what was happening, who was who and who was where. It was a hard slog there's no question about it.
Yet, I persevered as I knew that Jones can deliver.
And as I reached the mid-way point and the bigger picture started becoming clearer,
Yet, I persevered as I knew that Jones can deliver.
And as I reached the mid-way point and the bigger picture started becoming clearer,
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I found the story had this new sense of purpose and direction which the first half had been lacking. Eventually I found myself unable to put this book down until I had reached it's thrilling conclusion. Show Less
LibraryThing member mostlyhazel
This was one of my favorite books growing up. It is imaginative, exciting, and it has great characters and plot. I was always a fan of Diana Wynne Jones' Chrestomanci stories, but this one always stood out to me.
LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
Roddy Hyde is the daughter of two court wizards, on the King's Progress she lives with the court and with travelling all the time. Presiding over all is the Merlin, a honorary title for the most powerful wizard, a person who is entrusted with the magical health of the Isles of the Blest. Nick
It's interesting and fun and the characters are well drawn and while they make mistakes it's true to life.
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Mallory lives on the ordinary earth. He's been to other worlds and wants to explore more. Events happen that bring the two of them together to save several worlds.It's interesting and fun and the characters are well drawn and while they make mistakes it's true to life.
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LibraryThing member MynTop
I hope for a sequel, I'd love to see a future story of Roddy and Nick!
LibraryThing member soybean-soybean
quite awesome..love how real dwj makes her stories!
LibraryThing member Katharine_Ann
Once again Diana Wynne-Jones creates a fascinating world for her characters. I was intrigued by this unique perspective on the Merlin legend, and how Wynne-Jones combines present day London, Merlin, and the amazing world of Blest. Although I was a little disappointed by how quickly the climax of
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the story ends, and how neatly everything wrapped up in the final chapter, I still found this book a delight to read. I would say that The Merlin Conspiracy is a must-read for fans of Diana Wynne-Jones. Show Less
LibraryThing member christophax
Fantastical and magical.
LibraryThing member comixminx
::big sigh:: lovely.
I love the way DWJ does magic in such a visual and unusual way - binding magic as great strands of white cottonwool cobwebs, magic to travel between worlds as dark paths or little strings of islands to jump between, elementals and spirits as their own characters.
I love the way DWJ does magic in such a visual and unusual way - binding magic as great strands of white cottonwool cobwebs, magic to travel between worlds as dark paths or little strings of islands to jump between, elementals and spirits as their own characters.
Subjects
Awards
CCBC Choices (2004)
Notable Children's Book (2004)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2003
Physical description
468 p.; 6 inches
ISBN
0060523182 / 9780060523183