Changeover

by Diana Wynne Jones

Reprinted for the first time in more than 30 years … first paperback edition … contains a new introduction The Origins of ChangeoverThe story …It is the 1960s and the small African country Nmkwami is preparing for independence from Britain. The prime minister is looking forward to becoming the first president. The last colonial governor is looking forward to a quiet retirement. The ordinary people are looking forward to a good party. But into this peaceful scene comes the shadowy figure of Mark Changeover. Is he an international terrorist? An anarchist bomber? Or really, nobody at all?As the hunt for Changeover brings chaos and confusion to Nmkwami, Diana Wynne Jones has fun with colonial attitudes, communist students, military coups and more …From Moondust Books, the publisher

Genres: Fiction, Fantasy, Childrens, Young Adult

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1970

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

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a comedy of errors of epic proportions, Diana Wynne Jones's first novel is wildly confusing, at times hard to follow, and unmistakably Diana. I loved it. Yes, it lacks magic or science fiction. Yes, the cast is enormous. Yes it takes some time to get into. But Diana operates on a level beyond ours, and honestly I've come to expect a certain level of confusion from some of her books. It's part of her genius.

I don't think this book is for everyone. But I can't separate my sentimentality from my enjoyment of the novel, or my rating of it. Diana Wynne Jones is my favourite author of all time. I have been working my way through her catalogue since I was ten years old. Tracking down a copy of this book was no easy (or cheap) feat. This is the last new Diana book I will ever read. I will treasure this forever, and even if the story itself lacked a lot of her later hallmarks, it lacked none of her charm.

[Zach Sparks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book because it was not something that I would normally read. I've read other reviews that complained about the size of the cast, but really I feel that nearly every character was necessary. If you are staging a military-type scene, you are going to need a military-sized cast. My only real complaint about this book would have to be some of the word choices. I knew enough to guess the meaning in most cases, but a lot of words in this book I just haven't seen before.
If you are a fan of Diana Wynne Jones, snarky political comedies, or outright farces, then give this book a try.

[Katelyn Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, I adore Diana Wynne Jones. After loving her books, I decided to seek out her difficult-to-find, first published novel. It has a very intriguing premise, and that same matter of fact, subtle humor that I've come to expect from Diana Wynne Jones novels. All that being said, I will probably never read it again. There were so many characters that we were expected to follow that it was slightly confusing. Because the story was spread out among these several characters, the reader doesn't spend much time with any of them, and as a result, I didn't feel any connection with any of the characters. It also took me awhile to really get into the story, and even when I did, I didn't feel that pull to keep reading that I usually do with her books. I'm glad I read it, but it is definitely very near the bottom on my list of favorite Diana Wynne Jones books.

[Elizabeth Dodd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't help myself. I love Diana Wynne Jones.
This is her earliest book published (I believe).
It is wonderfully twisted.
Later books often take on the British boarding school system and point out their, shall we say, less endearing aspects.
Here she takes on British colonialism and sets it in the bright light of her wit.

[Sharni · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a madcap tale! It feels like it has a cast of thousands and we all tumbled through the story together in a bit of blur - as a misunderstanding by the Governor balloons into a potential international incident as various government branches try to save face by inventing intelligence, which quickly spirals out of control… all this set against the looming independence of Nwkwami from British rule.

This book is out of print, and the few copies available for purchase were priced at eye watering levels. Happily, I was able to read a copy via the internet archive.

[Rhiannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminds me of Our Man in Havana.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

Despite Diana Wynne Jones being my favorite author, this book is definitely my least favorite of hers. The plot is hard to follow, with lots of characters, and she often will jump between multiple characters in different locations within a single paragraph. I understand that this is a style choice, but it led to a very difficult-to-follow novel. If I understand correctly, this was her first novel, so it is understandable that she might have had some issues, but ordinarily her books are extremely easy to follow, which is part of what makes them so enjoyable.

[Angel Catharian]

Wow, this must be Diana Wynne Jones worst book ever! Hundreds of characters, confusing conversations and an uninteresting story. And no magic, wtf?