Conrad's Fate facts for kids
First UK edition
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| Author | Diana Wynne Jones |
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| Illustrator | Tim Stevens |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | Chrestomanci |
| Genre | Children's fantasy novel |
| Publisher | Collins |
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Publication date
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March 2005 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover) |
| Pages | 393 (first edition) |
| ISBN | 978-0-00-719085-0 |
| OCLC | 57199954 |
| Preceded by | Mixed Magics |
| Followed by | The Pinhoe Egg |
Conrad's Fate is an exciting fantasy novel for young readers by British author Diana Wynne Jones. It was published in 2005. This book is part of the popular Chrestomanci series, which includes seven magical stories written between 1977 and 2006.
The story follows a twelve-year-old boy named Conrad. He is sent to work at a mysterious place called Stallery Castle. His secret mission is to find and stop someone who is causing big problems with magic. At the same time, a fifteen-year-old boy named Christopher Chant also starts working there. Christopher has his own important mission. Both boys are hired, and their adventures begin!
The Chrestomanci series is named after a very powerful enchanter. This enchanter is a British government official in a world much like ours, but with magic! The Chrestomanci's job is to make sure magic is used properly. Conrad's Fate takes place about thirty years before the other books. It shows us Christopher Chant when he was a teenager. He later becomes the Chrestomanci in five of the other books.
Contents
What Happens in Conrad's Fate?
Conrad Tesdinic lives in a small town called Stallery. This town is in the "English Alps," a mountain range found in some parallel worlds. In these worlds, the British Isles are still connected to mainland Europe. Conrad's dad has passed away, and his sister, Anthea, is away at university. Conrad lives with his mother, Franconia, who is a unique author. Her books are only sold in her brother's bookshop, which is also where they live.
The Mystery of Stallery Mansion
High above Stallery town is Stallery Mansion. People call it a "possibilities mansion." It's home to the Count and his family. Conrad's uncle tells him that someone at the mansion is "pulling the possibilities." This means they are changing small details of the world.
Why is Someone Changing the World?
This person seems to be making a lot of money by changing things. Maybe they are using it to win on the stock market. But these changes are causing problems for everyone else. At first, only tiny things change, like the color of mailboxes or book titles. But the changes are getting bigger and bigger!
Conrad's Dangerous Mission
Conrad's uncle tells him something shocking. Conrad is going to die within the year unless he stops the person pulling the possibilities. His uncle believes Conrad should have stopped this person in a past life. To do this, Conrad needs to get a job at Stallery Mansion. Then, he must summon a "Walker." A Walker is someone who will give Conrad what he needs to defeat his unknown enemy.
Conrad's uncle and his magician friends perform a strange spell on a cork. This cork gives Conrad the power to summon a Walker whenever he wants. But Conrad must be sure who the "possibility puller" is before he calls the Walker. So, instead of going to school with his friends, he goes to work at Stallery. His job is to watch everyone there and figure out who the culprit is.
Conrad Meets Christopher
Conrad soon discovers he's not the only one investigating the mansion. He becomes friends with another new servant-in-training, Christopher "Smith." Christopher's real name is Christopher Chant. He is looking for his friend Millie.
Together, Conrad and Christopher find out that Millie is trapped in one of the changed "possibilities." The two boys must work together. They need to stop the person causing all the trouble, rescue Millie, and fix Conrad's fate. All this, while trying not to spill soup on the Countess! Conrad's bad luck, or "Karma," doesn't make things any easier.
Who Are the Characters?
Conrad Tesdinic
Conrad decides to use a fake name at Stallery. He calls himself "Conrad Grant," using his uncle Alfred's last name. Christopher suspects this isn't his real name. So, Christopher often calls him "Grant" in a sarcastic way. Conrad's uncle runs a bookshop, so Conrad loves books. This makes the changing book titles and details very annoying for him! He also brings his camera to Stallery and uses it a lot.
Christopher Chant
Christopher also uses a fake name: "Christopher Smith." In this book, Christopher is about fifteen years old. He is older than he is in The Lives of Christopher Chant but younger than in most other Chrestomanci books. Christopher is clever, confident, and charming. He also seems to care a lot about Millie. Christopher is good at talking his way out of tricky situations, even if he sometimes seems a bit vague.
Millie
Millie is Christopher's friend. She gets lost in the "possibilities" at Stallery. This happens when she runs away from boarding school. Christopher's main reason for coming to Stallery is to find her. When Conrad finds her, she becomes a maid for a while.
Mr. Amos
Mr. Amos is the pear-shaped, strict butler of Stallery. He always insists on good behavior and perfect clothing. He constantly reminds Conrad and Christopher about a servant's place. But the boys can't help feeling there's more to Mr. Amos than he lets on.
Anthea Tesdinic
Anthea is Conrad's older sister. She left home a few years before the story begins to go to university. She appears again later in a very messy situation that she doesn't seem to understand.
Count Robert
Count Robert is supposedly the owner of Stallery. He marries Anthea. His real name is Robert Brown.
Awards and Recognition
Conrad's Fate was ranked seventh for the annual Locus Award in the young adult book category.
