The Merlin Conspiracy

Diana Wynne Jones (author)

Collins, UK: 2003; 473pp

ISBN: 0007163614

Genres: adventure, fantasy

Issues: corruption, friendship, identity, loyalty, power

In another of her chaotic parallel-world novels, Diana Wynne Jones has crafted an entertaining and lively narrative that fantasy fans will thoroughly enjoy. The story begins in the Isles of Blest, as England is known on this alternate world, where the King rules and the parliament has very little political significance.

Arianrhod Hyde, daughter of two Court wizards, travels as part of the King's Progress, participating in the magical rituals needed to strengthen the links between the King and the power of the land. It has always been this way, the ceremonies directed by the Merlin (the name of the office rather than a particular person). Then the old Merlin dies unexpectedly and although a new one is found to take his place things are not quite the same. The rituals feel out of balance and dark powers are rising. Strange things happening and only Roddy (Arianrhod) and her friend, Grundo, seem to be aware of it. When it becomes apparent that the entire Court has been enchanted so that they don't notice the corruption of the land's power, Roddy knows that she needs if she is to save the King and the Isles from the machinations of the ghastly Sybil and her cronies.

With the assistance of her mysterious and enigmatic Welsh grandfather, Roddy summons help. She expects a powerful wizard and is less than impressed by the arrival of Nick Mallory, an apparently ordinary teenager from an Earth where magic is more often found in books. Nick's quite happy to help Roddy - it's just that he doesn't really have any idea how to go about doing that.

Written in parallel first-person narratives from the points of view of Roddy and Nick, the novel grows from few simple story threads into a complex and intriguing tale that is underpinned by Celtic myth, a signature of Diana Wynne Jones' work. The very different personalities of Roddy and Nick, and many other strong and idiosyncratic secondary characters make for an interesting and often amusing series of adventures and conflicts. One of her more light-hearted novels, this is definitely an entertaining read for fantasy-lovers.