Diana Wynne Jones is not an author I’ve ever read or been particularly interested in reading – for some reason I’ve always just assumed I wouldn’t like her, although I should have learned by now not to make assumptions like that! #MarchMagics is a reading event hosted by Chris of Calmgrove to celebrate the work of both Diana Wynne Jones and Terry Pratchett, so I decided this would be a good opportunity to finally try one of her books. I chose Deep Secret, which is marketed as one of the few books she wrote for adults.
First published in 1997, Deep Secret is set in a multiverse shaped like infinity (a figure eight laid on its side) and made up of a collection of worlds which are either ‘Ayewards’, where magic is accepted and practiced, or ‘Naywards’, meaning they are more cynical towards magic. Early in the novel we learn that Earth is currently a Naywards planet and it’s the job of Rupert Venables to nudge it in an Ayewards direction. Rupert is a Magid, a powerful magician responsible for maintaining the balance of positive and negative magic in the multiverse and he is one of the novel’s two main narrators.
At the beginning of the novel, Rupert’s mentor Stan, an older Magid, is dying and on his deathbed gives Rupert the task of recruiting a replacement. Armed with a list of five new Magid candidates, located all over the globe, Rupert sets out to track them down and decide which has the most potential. Before he can make much progress, however, he is summoned to the Koryfonic Empire, a world which is situated across the twist in the middle of the infinity symbol, where another difficult mission awaits – the Emperor has been killed in an explosion, leaving no known heir. It’s believed that he does have several living children, but their identities and whereabouts are a mystery. Rupert must try to find them before the situation leads to the downfall of the Empire
A large part of the novel is set during a Fantasy and Science Fiction convention at a hotel, where Rupert manages to gather together all five of the Magid candidates. I’ve never been to one of these conventions myself, but I could tell Diana Wynne Jones was having fun describing the chaotic nature of the event, some of the colourful characters who attend it and the confusing, maze-like layout of the hotel (which becomes even more confusing when an evil presence begins weaving its spell). The world-building is very impressive, merging together the fantasy land of the Koryfonic Empire with its emperors and centaurs, the normality of daily life in Bristol, where a lot of the story takes place, and the craziness of the hotel, which is almost a whole separate world in itself.
One of the five possible new Magids on the list Rupert is given is Maree Mallory; it quickly becomes obvious from the way she is given so much more attention than the other four that she is likely to be the one Rupert recruits. Their relationship doesn’t get off to the best of starts and the way she is introduced into the story makes her difficult to like at first, but I warmed to her as the book went on and we started to see things from Maree’s perspective as well as Rupert’s. I also liked her relationship with her teenage cousin, Nick (who I think also narrates the companion novel to this one, The Merlin Conspiracy, which I haven’t read yet).
This is described as an adult book, maybe because there are a few references to sex, but I’m sure it would be suitable for young adults as well and the age of the protagonists (Maree and Rupert are in their twenties and Nick is fourteen) does make it feel as though it’s aimed at younger readers. As my first experience of reading Diana Wynne Jones, it was very enjoyable and I’m sure I’ll read more at some point.
She Reads Novels 
I’m attracted to fantasy as a genre but it inevitably covers such a wide spectrum. I am both unsure what I would enjoy and put off by the length of a lot of the books. I get the impression this novel is at the Harry Potter end of the spectrum which doesn’t appeal to me really. I know you have written positively about Robyn Hobb maybe I should give her a try. I am enjoying the tv adaptation of The Wheel of Time books by Robert Jordan but feel that if I start in on those I may never find my way out!
I thought this was much better written than the Harry Potter books and had a more mature feel, but yes, it’s a lot closer to that end of the spectrum than to high fantasy like Robert Jordan. I can definitely recommend Robin Hobb, particularly the Farseer trilogy.
I would like to read some Diana Wynne Jones but like you I’m put off by the magic/fantasy. I should follow your inspiration though and just read!
I do enjoy some fantasy, but don’t read very much of it and a lot of authors don’t appeal to me at all. I liked this one much more than I’d expected to!
Hmm, as you can imagine, this event (MarchMagics) isn’t one that attracts me. The book actually sounds like more of a children’s or youth book than one for adults.
I guess it’s the cover that makes me think that more than the synopsis of the plot.
I deliberately picked this one because it was supposed to be for adults, but it didn’t really feel like an adult book to me. And I know what you mean about the cover – I think it’s designed to match the covers of her other books, which are mostly for children.
Ah.
I’ve only read a few of her children’s books. I didn’t even know she’d written any books for adults. This one sounds like a very fun read. 😀
Yes, it’s very entertaining. I didn’t know she wrote books for adults either until I started looking for something to read for March Magics and came across this one.
There was an “adult” version of this one and then a version they edited for YA. But I hope the original has been restored now (the censorship was not really necessary, considering what else is out there.)
Anyway, age guidelines mean little to DWJ fans, there are lots of us adults who still enjoy her tremendously. I didn’t start reading her myself till I was in my teens and kept up eagerly as she was continuing to publish new work. I think Fire and Hemlock is her masterpiece, but I also especially love Howl’s Moving Castle, Charmed Life and the other Chrestomanci books, Dogsbody, Archer’s Goon, The Spellcoats, and Year of the Griffin.
That said, she will be a hard sell to anyone who categorically does not like fantasy. She’s definitely a fantasy writer and if any form of magic turns you off, you won’t like her. But for those who do like fantasy, she plays with those tropes like no one else. (Better than Harry Potter, I would agree.)
I’m really glad you liked this better than you expected, it’s another of my favorites. The Merlin Conspiracy is not bad, but a lesser work in my opinion. DWJ didn’t really write the kind of series that have to be read in order, so it’s fine to jump around as you wish.
Thanks for those recommendations, Lory. Although I enjoyed this one, I probably won’t move straight on to The Merlin Conspiracy and will try one of your other suggestions instead – maybe Fire and Hemlock, if you think it’s her best.
They’re all good, and may appeal to different tastes. But F&H is definitely one of the best.
I’m so pleased you got more out of this than you might have expected, Helen,and chuffed that you made the leap as a result of March Magics! Yes, as many of the above comments make clear any allergy to the fantasy genre can make adults reluctant to try it, and DWJ’s particular brand of fantasy often confuses at a first read.
However, the more of her I read (and these days it’s re-reading for me) the more wit, passion and entertainment I find – a win-win situation! Anyway, I hope you try her again sometime, particularly the titles that Lory recommended above.
I would probably have never been tempted to read her if not for your March Magics, so thank you! I’m sure I’ll read more of her books – maybe not immediately, but I would like to at least try one or two of the books Lory has suggested.