Deep Secret

Deep Secret is one of only 3 'adult' novels by Diana Wynne Jones (I'll get round to the other 2 at some point). Why is it an adult book? Well............there's a small amount of rudeness, I suppose. There's quite a lot of death and destruction - but no more than in your average Star Wars film. There is also the question of family betrayal - but that can be a staple of literature aimed at young people, so........

Of course, there is the whole people shagging centaurs thing. Apparently a half humanoid half centaur child is.... a centaur. I think it's important to clear that one up. I should probably also confirm that there is no centaur shenanigans actually depicted in the book. But the fact that it did happen is central to the plot, and its resolution.

There is actually a significant death toll in this book - but it doesn't really feel gratuitous. The main plot strand concerns the issue of succession to the throne of the Koryphonic empire - a previously vital construct which keeps the universe in balance, which has passed its sell by date and is due to decline and fall.

There is intrigue, danger, humour, a trip to Babylon, family betrayal, evil magic, heroism, bravery...................but the centrepiece of the action, and the book, is a science fictoin convention in Swindon. Oh yes. Not the Leisure Hive, I think - more likely to be based on a World Con, I'm guessing - but still. Very familiar scenario to those of us who spent rather too much time attending conventions in the 80s and 90s. In Swindon (sometimes). I'd almost certainly love this book if it didn't have the convention stuff. It is, after all, DWJ, my favourite author. The ocnvention stuff is just the icing on a very yummy cake.

(And yes - the magic roundabout and the one way system do get a mention.)