Deep Secret
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| Deep Secret | |
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| Author | Diana Wynne Jones |
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| Country | Great Britain |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Magids Series |
| Genre(s) | Fantasy |
| Publisher | Various |
| Publication date | 1997 |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 375 |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-8125-7572-5 (paperback) |
| Followed by | The Merlin Conspiracy |
Deep Secret is a 1997 novel by Diana Wynne Jones. It is the first in the Magid series.
[edit] Plot
The multiverse, shaped like an infinity sign, contains Ayeward (generally good, pro-magic) and Nayward (the opposite) areas. It is the task of the Magids to urge the worlds in an Ayewards direction. In many worlds, they can operate openly. On Earth, that is not the case.
The episodes in this book are alternately from the point of view of Rupert Venables and Maree Mallory, with an epilogue from Nick Mallory.
Rupert Venables is Earth's junior Magid. His responsibilities include the Koryfonic Empire, an unpleasant series of worlds lying at the twist of the infinity shape. The Emperor secrets his children away and makes it a capital crime for them to discover their identities. Rupert witnesses the execution resulting from one such "crime" and when the Emperor is assassinated a short time later, it is a relief--but where is the heir?
Meanwhile, Rupert's mentor Stan has died and it is Rupert's job to find a new Magid since their numbers are kept constant. The mysterious Upper Room allow Stan to hang around as a disembodied voice to act as Rupert's advisor. Stan has compiled a short list of five candidates, but each proves to be difficult to contact -- Rupert's fellow Englishman (or rather, woman), Maree Mallory, most of all.
Rupert is able to make limited progress on both problems. He finds coded information on the heirs, learning that some may be with a certain Knarros, and after a long chase, is able to meet up with Maree under embarrassing circumstances. Neither is impressed with the other. Rupert uses Magid methods to arrange to bring all his candidates together in the (fictional) town of Wantchester, by altering their fate lines. He no longer considers Maree a candidate, and adjusts things so she can have nothing to do with this. As it turns out, the best time and place to bring them all together is a science fiction convention. Rupert, despite his otherworldly connections, knows nothing of the genre and its fans. During the magic working to tweak the fate lines, his peculiar neighbor, Andrew, becomes involved by accident.
Maree, we learn, is a gloomy, vet student; she has been forced to move in with her uncle Ted, a horror writer, and her aunt Janine, who is extremely hostile. Also living there is their fourteen-year-old son, Nick Mallory, who is very good at manipulating his parents. Ted, of course, is to be the guest of honor at the upcoming convention. Janine, Maree, and Nick are to accompany him.
All arrive at the convention. Maree and Nick soon find that the hotel is rather strange. The strait-laced Rupert is somewhat stunned at the goings-on, and even more stunned to see Maree there. Rupert is somewhat relieved to find a more experienced Magid, Zinka, there.
Things come to a head when the Maree storyline comes together with the Koryfonic Empire storyline, and it's up to Rupert and his fellow Magids to sort things out.
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