- Paperback: 384 pages
- Publisher: Tor Fantasy; First Edition edition (Jan 15 2000)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0812575725
- ISBN-13: 978-0812575729
- Product Dimensions: 17.2 x 10.6 x 2.3 cm
- Shipping Weight: 213 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #372,117 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Keeping the multiverse in balance requires MagidsApowerful magicians who are sensible, pragmatic and often very busy. One such Magid, Rupert Venable, is sorting out a crisis in the Koryfonic Empire while, on earth, he must locate the proper replacement for a recently deceased fellow-Magid. The Empire needs Rupert's talents to help locate missing heirs, and good Magid candidates are hard to track down. These plot strands tie neatly at a fantasy/SF conventionAthe fictional PhantasmaCon in the equally fictional Hotel Babylon of Wantchester, England. Anyone familiar with such "cons" will appreciate Jones's accurate and wryly fond depiction. The setup works admirably as the plot thickens, for the con hotel is situated on a magical "node" of power; the appearance of a handsome wounded centaur brings little more than comments like "Fantastic costume!" As readers are hurtled toward a conclusion involving the guest of honor's speech, Imperial troopers and a bush-goddess, what might first be perceived simply as mere embellishment and rich detailing prove to be adroitly handled story elements of an intricate plot. Throughout, Jones (Charmed Life, etc.) combines strong writing, high fantasy heroics and delightfully dark humor to sparkling effect.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From School Library Journal
YA-A romp through "the Multiverse," where reality, symbolized by the infinity symbol, contains numerous worlds ranging from "ayewards" to "naywards" and back again. The Multiversal balance between positive and negative forces is maintained by a small and unchanging number of Magids, powerful magicians able to cross the boundaries of worlds at will; still, though possessed of extraordinary talents, Magids are "only human." At the nexus of the Multiverse sits a politically backward Empire, and it is the misfortune of the most junior of all Magids, one Rupert Venables, to be assigned to oversee the Empire and all its worlds. As a new crisis is erupting, Rupert's mentor on Earth dies and, under a strict deadline, he must replace him. Attempting a sub-rosa interview of the people on his short list, he inadvertently brings them all together at a science-fiction convention that soon reels out of control. The best candidate for new Magid proves to be a young woman who irritates and upstages Rupert at every turn. Maree and her sidekick cousin, Nick, are eccentric, gifted, and plucky adolescents who should be familiar to teenaged graduates of YA fantasy novels; the two first complement and then prove instrumental in solving Rupert's problem with the Empire in a splendidly entertaining adventure. This should be a popular choice among readers of humorous fantasy and science fiction, and it will be a special treat for those who have already dipped their toes into the world of SF-fantasy fandom.
Christine C. Menefee, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Christine C. Menefee, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
I may as well start with some of our deep secrets because this account will not be easy to understand without them. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
I may as well start with some of our deep secrets because this account will not be easy to understand without them. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
GREAT book!!!,
By Rose (Victoria, BC, Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Deep Secret (Paperback)
This is one of my very favourite books, and certainly one of Diana Wynne Jones' best. If you've read The Merlin Conspiracy, you're in for a treat -- I personally thought The Merlin Conspiracy was nowhere NEAR as high calibre as Deep Secret.Deep Secret is crazy and fun. It is totally unexpected at every turn, and is very funny and witty. If you like Diana Wynne Jones, you will LOVE this book. If you haven't read any of her books, this book is great! It takes place in our world, and in other worlds as well, but with many a twist. Wynne Jones is extraordinarily imaginative (as usual), and keeps you wanting more. I can't say enough how awesome this book is. It was a pleasure to read.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Light Reading,
By A Customer
This review is from: Deep Secret (Paperback)
I was in England when I saw this book. I normally like Diana Wynne Jones books, so i picked this one up. I read the back, and knew I wanted it, so i bought it and spent the next few hours reading it. It was pretty good!I'd recomend this book for light reading. It is full of wit and humor and is overall very enjoyable. It was fast going, and even my younger brother liked it. I'm giving this book 5 stars for light reading, but if you are looking for something intellectual or something that will require any thinking at all, i do not recomend this book, but i think that in all of the other circomstanses this book is good. By the way, the english paperback cover is better.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another treasure from DWJ,
By
This review is from: Deep Secret (Paperback)
If you liked The Merlin Conspiracy, you'll like this! In fact, if you haven't read The Merlin Conspiracy yet but it's on your list, I highly recommend you tear through this first. Nick Mallory is introduced in this book, which takes place a year prior to The Merlin Conspiracy.But although Nick plays a key role, this book is (mostly) about Rupert Venables. Rupert is a magid, which is a wizard that travels through the universe making sure everything goes as its supposed to on orders from "Them Up There". Rupert is a magid to parts of Earth as well as the Korfyros Empire. Now don't get thrown in the beginning when quite a few people die. I should add not to get thrown later on in Chapter 16 when more people do too. One of the people who die is Stan, Rupert's mentor, who "stays behind" awhile longer in order to advise Rupert on sponsering a new magid. Finding a new magid, and the sudden assinasion of the Korfyros emporer, who's heir is nearly impossible to find, although it's something he's been asked to do, is hard enough on anyone. But in order to decide who he's going to sponser as a magid, he must have his 5 canidates all meet at a hotel in which a Fantasy/Sci-Fi convention is occuring. And someone is trying to kill off the heirs when they ARE found. PLUS most of his canidates are either completely insane or completely annoying. And he despises the fifth one, Maree Mallory. Or does he? We also hear a bit from Maree. Nick finishes the book up, but mostly we see the story from Rupert's point of view. This is a wonderful book and leaves you wishing there was more as you turn the last page.
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