Magic

Last time I was at the library, I grabbed a few random fantasy books of the shelf to fulfill my New Year's resolution to read more fantasy. The books, however, were not that random, as I'd actually read one of them before! Fortunately, it improves upon a second reading.

The book I'd read before is Deep Secret by Diana Wynne Jones. Jones writes very interesting and eclectic fantasy/sci-fi novels. One of my favourites from her is Hexwood, which I picked up from the library's used book sale several years ago. It mixes Arthurian myths with sci-fi ideas and is completely brain-twisting; but very excellent. I highly recommend it.

I think brain-twisting is a good adjective to describe most of Jones' novels: certainly Deep Secret became clearer on a second reading. It is about a young man named Rupert Venables. Rupert is a Magid (as are his 2 brothers), and he lives on Earth, helping to maintain magical balance. He is a junior Magid until his senior Magid dies. Then Rupert has to search for a replacement junior Magid, while in the meantime dealing with a succession crisis in the Empire of Koryfos. It all gets slightly more confusing from there, until all of the main characters end up at a very strange sci-fi convention in a magically mysterious hotel.

On my first read of the book, I was quite confused by the Koryfos plot and its resolution (somehow involving centaurs?). I am happy to say that the book makes more sense on its second reading: I was able to follow the plots better and had a better understanding of what went on. Some characters improved over time: the character of Maree, for instance. Maree is one of Rupert's potential new junior Magids. However, upon first read, I quite disliked the character: especially for her propensity to stop her car in the middle of roads to do strange magical dances! But upon second reading, the character becomes more sympathetic. I think this is because Maree is much more sympathetic towards the end of the book. You remember this when you read it again, and so your sympathy for her colours your perception of her at the beginning of the book.

Jones creates a very interesting fantasy/magic/techy universe in Deep Secret. And while I wouldn't mind more stories about Rupert and Maree, I would also like to read stories set on other worlds within the same universe. I especially like her linking of magic and computers: I think that is very clever to have both magical ways of doing things, but also still have to rely on modern-day conveniences such as computers.

If you are a fantasy fan, I definitely recommend checking out either Deep Secret or Hexwood by Jones. I think I will try to check out some of her other books, now that I've read Deep Secret twice and Hexwood a few times. However, if her other books are anything like these two, I'm going to have to read the book a few times!