The Merlin Conspiracy
By Diana Wynne Jones 

     In The Merlin Conspiracy, Merlin is not a person’s name; it is the job title of the chief wizard of Blest. Blest is an alternate Earth in another universe, and is also the name of the country we call England.

     In olden times, the king of Blest had to visit every square inch of the country to keep the magic healthy. The Merlin does that now, but the King still travels. His retinue of lorries and buses is called the King’s Progress. Arianrhod Hyde, daughter of the King’s chief weather wizard, has traveled with her parents all her life. Roddy has always taken care of Grundo, Ambrose Temple, who is dyslexic and has trouble reading and doing magic any other way but back to front.

     One day, at a ceremony in Scotland, the elderly Merlin dies in the middle of a spell. A new Merlin is brought in by Roddy’s grandfather, Maxwell Hyde. He is very young, but seems to be quite capable. Soon after, the entire Progress is brought to a powerful garden, and Grundo’s mother, Sybil, makes everyone drink the water. Only Roddy and Grundo escape.

     After all have left the garden but Sybil, the Merlin and Sir James, Sybil’s disgusting boyfriend, Roddy, and Grundo overhear the three plotting to do something to gain all the magic of Blest to use for their own purposes. Roddy and Grundo know they have to sound the alarm, but who can they tell, with everyone in the Progress subject to Sybil and the Merlin?

     The Merlin Conspiracy is nonstop action and adventure played out in a magical setting. Nick’s part in the story is often comical. In with the comedy is a hair-raising adventure. I’d have loved this book when I was a child, and I’m sure kids today will too.