- Paperback: 218 pages
- Publisher: Gollancz; New edition edition (12 July 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1857987888
- ISBN-13: 978-1857987881
- Product Dimensions: 17.2 x 10.8 x 2.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
-
Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
687,899 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #92 in Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators > J > Jones, Diana Wynne
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
More About the Author
Product Description
Book Description
Diana Wynne Jones does for universities what JK Rowling does for boarding schools
Product Description
The Wizards' University is short of money. Nothing comes in from tourists any more since Mr Chesney's offworld tours have stopped. High Chancellor Querida has left Wizard Derk and his family to run the work and handsome Wizard Corkoran to run the University. Corkoran is really only interested in being the first man to walk on the moon, but he does send begging letters to the students' parents. But Wizard Derk's daughter Elda turns out to be a large golden griffin, King Luther's son is penniless, the Emperor's sister has been disowned by the senate and the dwarf, far from owning a hoard of treasure, turns out to be a runaway slave. And then the first answer arrives: in the form of assassins . . . The situation is definitely out of control.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I had initially held off reading this book as I had not liked the first book 'The Dark Lord of Derkholm'. However this was much better(though not typical) Wynne Jones fare. It was reminiscent in style of Terry Pratchett, though maybe this was due to the fact it was based in a university for wizards and a lot of magical shenanigans went on. It picked up where the first book left off, though it focuses on the griffin Elda and the friends she makes at the university. The plot concerns how they shake the university out of its staid ways caused by the aftermath of the Mr Chesney tours, with only bit parts for the main protagonists of the original. It is quite similar to Hexwood in style but if you are wanting another 'Sudden Wild Magic' or a more adult Chrestomanci book this isn't it. It is, however, very good.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Year of the Griffin answers the question 'what next' from the end of Dark Lord of Derkholm. We meet the same family, eight years on, and many new faces. This book is more lighthearted than Dark Lord, and whilst no one would accuse Diana of having an evil streak, some of those jokes are a bit on the dark side! The assassins would probably vouch for that.
The family is all grown up and off on adventures, leaving Elda to fend for herself at University (easy to do when you're a cross between an eagle, a lion, a cat, and 2 powerful wizards with your own brand of magic thrown in to offset any problems!). Here she finds that everyone has their own unique problem, and groups up with a team of fellow oddbods in a bid to understand the incompetent and seriously outclassed teachers. The teachers, of course, are quite happy with the way things are run and don't want smart students asking difficult questions, especially not when you're a bar stool!
The story is a non-stop rollercoaster of good fun, with the usual mayhem and unexpected twists to keep you begging for more. I was disappointed at the end, because it didn't leave an obvious opening for another follow-on! Or did it!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I have enjoyed many of Diana Wynne Jones' books. They are extremely imaginative and entertaining. She has a wonderful sense of humour and her portrayal of characters is excellent. I read this when I was much younger, perhaps 10. Having bought it from Amazon recently, I read it again almost ten years later. It was still engaging and I did not want to put the book down. Indeed I didn't, I sat down with it and didn't move until I had finished it.
It is within a set of books, I don't know how many. Though I have not read any of the ones relating to this book it was not a hindrance to my following the plot.
I would recommend this book to any child or adult who has enjoyed fantasy books, perhaps having read the 'Harry Potter' books and enjoyed them. Again it is set in a school style environment but it is a far more sophisticated plot line and far more imaginative. If you are interested in that kind of amazing story with fantastical creatures, still written in an way that is easy to read, you would most likely really enjoy this book, as well as many of Diana Wynne Jones' other books.
It is within a set of books, I don't know how many. Though I have not read any of the ones relating to this book it was not a hindrance to my following the plot.
I would recommend this book to any child or adult who has enjoyed fantasy books, perhaps having read the 'Harry Potter' books and enjoyed them. Again it is set in a school style environment but it is a far more sophisticated plot line and far more imaginative. If you are interested in that kind of amazing story with fantastical creatures, still written in an way that is easy to read, you would most likely really enjoy this book, as well as many of Diana Wynne Jones' other books.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
The trials and tribulations of the Wizards University
Eight years after the events of "Dark Lord of Derkholm" Derk and Maras children are off to see - and put right - the world Mr. Read more
Published on 9 Sep 2006 by George Eliot
Prety awesome!!
This is a fantastic book following on from 'The Dark Lord Of Derkholm' - a fantastic sequel following the adevntures of Querida, Elda and the other various griffins and of course,... Read more
Published on 4 July 2005 by "helixstillangel"
Incomparable with JK Rowling!
To compare Dianna Wynne Jones with JK Rowling is incredibly unfair, as Jones is superior in every way. Read more
Published on 2 Feb 2004 by F. Knight
MAGIC
One of her best....the setting a Wizards Uni... follow her motley crew of students as they face pirates, mini assassins
and an enchanted coat stand .....
and an enchanted coat stand .....
Published on 13 Jun 2003
Year of the Griffin
This book is light-hearted and beautifully written, with the subtle and witty characterisation you would expect from the author. Read more
Published on 16 Jun 2002
an excellent read but with a slightly poor ending.
This book had an excellent general drift however the ending was not properly rounded off. The ending seemed to happen all the way through the story and did not give you a good... Read more
Published on 2 Jan 2002
Good, but not great
I enjoyed this book because I enjoyed Dark Lord of Derkholm, but it's nowhere near DWJ's best. It does have its moments, and there are some funny bits, so it's worth a read. Read more
Published on 10 April 2001
Enjoyable Read!
I have just finished this book and I really enjoyed it. I thought she finished off the book very well leaving it open for a follow up if she wants to write one. Read more
Published on 17 Mar 2001
Her worst book ever
I was hurt and puzzled when I read this book. I could put up with the slightly-less-than-sparkling Deep Secret. Read more
Published on 27 Dec 2000
Disappointing.
I love Jones' work. She is the pre-eminent modern fantasist for every age group. I wouldn't have thought she was capable of a duff book, but this is a real disappointment. Read more
Published on 19 Nov 2000 by Farah
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
