The Skiver's Guide

by Diana Wynne Jones

Skiving is getting out of things you do not want to do. It is shirking work and avoiding all boring things. It is a skill no one should be without! It is also an art, which can be carried to a high pitch of perfection. This book is designed to help beginners learn the skills of skiving and also to help those who have been skiving for years to carry these skills to new heights. It is the result of over two decades of painful research and contains secrets not hitherto revealed.

Genres: Childrens, Humor, Fiction

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Diana Wynne Jones was a celebrated British writer best known for her inventive and influential works of fantasy for children and young adults. Her stories often combined magical worlds with science fiction elements, parallel universes, and a sharp sense of humor. Among her most beloved books are Howl's Moving Castle, the Chrestomanci series, The Dalemark Quartet, Dark Lord of Derkholm, and the satirical The Tough Guide to Fantasyland. Her work gained renewed attention and readership with the popularity of the Harry Potter series, to which her books have frequently been compared.

Admired by authors such as Neil Gaiman, Philip Pullman, and J.K. Rowling, Jones was a major influence on the landscape of modern fantasy. She received numerous accolades throughout her career, including the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, two Mythopoeic Awards, the Karl Edward Wagner Award, and the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement. In 2004, Howl's Moving Castle was adapted into an acclaimed animated film by Hayao Miyazaki, further expanding her global audience.

Jones studied at Oxford, where she attended lectures by both C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. She began writing professionally in the 1960s and remained active until her death in 2011. Her final novel, The Islands of Chaldea, was completed posthumously by her sister Ursula Jones.

Reviews

[Nic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining, though not the fantasy I come to expect (I knew from the description it wasn't, but still). A little young for me, or I'd have liked it better. Still clever.

[Hilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Barely a book at all; it reads as though DWJ were bored one afternoon, spent a half-hour observing her kids, and then another half-hour knocking this out. Mildly amusing.