Diana Wynne Jones Resident Scholar Profiles
TOP SCHOLAR: Liba
SCHOLARS: Michelle Michael Jung
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| Review Summary |
Rupert Venables is a Magid (human magician), the youngest of three magic-working brothers. There are many Magids throughout the multiverse. Their task seems to be that of guiding the worlds in the right direction without too much overt action. Every time one dies, another must be trained in his/her place. Earth is one of the Naywards worlds (i.e. not very accepting of magic) and the whole multiverse is tending Naywards. That's a problem. The Koryfonic Empire, of which Rupert is official Magid, is about to self-destruct.The emperor has been assassinated and the heirs are missing. Closer to home, Rupert's
friend and Magid Mentor, Sam, is dying, leaving Rupert with the task of finding and training the next Junior Magid.
Maree Mallory, a disastrous trainee vet, is one of the Magid candidates Rupert considers. She has no idea of her
possible destiny, nor does her “cousin” Nick, a handsome,
intelligent and extremely selfish teenager. Nick's horrible
mother Janine doesn't help, but Nick's father, an author,
is instrumental in bringing together many of the plot
strands at a fantasy convention at the Babylon Hotel.
Rupert is a loner, and in the course of the story he comes
to realise that he really wants to become more “human”.
Most of the story is told in first person through his written report but as honesty is a prerequisite, the events are truthfully presented. All the major characters have personality flaws, many of them imposed on them by circumstance or by active malice from the opposing forces of evil.
Sally Odgers, Resident Scholar
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Rupert Venables is a computer programmer and a Magid - one of a group of people who oversee the proper functions of the multiverse and who guide all worlds towards eventual magic use. When Rupert's boss dies, it's up to him to find a replacement, but the candidates handed down from On High are impossible to find, so he makes arrangements to bring them all together at a science fiction convention. As if that wasn't enough trouble, he's responsible for the Koryfonic Empire, and problems begin there when the Emperor dies - and no one can find the heir. The Con scenes in this book are really funny; people who have been to one would probably love it even more than I did.
Ivy, Resident Scholar
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 20%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 20%
Tone of book
- suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- part earth & part fantasy world
Coming of age
Yes
Youngster becomes
- a powerful magician
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- mage/magician
Age:
- 20's-30's
Has magical/special powers?
Yes
Magical/mental powers of main character:
- can cast many different spells
Eccentric:
Yes
- eccentric
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
- Very much smarter than other characters
Physique
- very athletic
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- none
- Female
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- mage/magician
Has magical powers?
Yes
Magical/mental powers of main antagonist:
- mind control
Eccentric:
Yes
- obsessed
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a little/some
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Setting
Terrain
- Domed/Underground City
Earth setting:
- 20th century
A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body:
- humans in a primitive/fantasy society
Takes place on Earth?
Yes
Planet outside solar system?
Yes
Style
Person?
- mostly 1st
- rotating 1st
Accounts of torture and death?
- moderately detailed references to deaths
Sex in book?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- vague references only
- orgies
How much dialogue?
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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