Published by HarperCollins Children's Books, 2008

This is a short novella which stands alone and doesn't belong to any of Diana Wynne Jones's series. But, at the same time, The Game seems to belong to all of Jones's books. Within in she ties the strands of multiple myths into what she calls the "mythosphere", a dimension where legends live and which her fans know she has already made her own.

As is often the case with Diana's books, the hero of The Game is an outsider. Young Hayley has been living in a repressive, colourless home with her grandmother and grandfather, until she is sent away in disgrace for having become too friendly with a mysterious stranger.

For the first time she meets her many aunts and the huge gang of her boisterous cousins, who like to play The Game, a questing contest that takes place along different strands of the forbidden mythosphere. As Hayley finds to her surprise that she, too, can play The Game, she slowly learns about her family and her own abilities. And in the mythosphere she uncovers secrets that could drastically alter the balance of power in more than one world.

This is a sparkling short novel which I wanted to last much longer. The enjoyment was over far too quickly. I am always amazed by just how intense Diana's writing can be. In a few short paragraphs she can produce completely formed characters and settings, plot strands and a host of wild, wild ideas.

Since much of the action takes place in the mythosphere, there's an added bonus of trying to guess which characters might turn out to be which legendary figures, and trying to second-guess their motivations. I don't mind admitting I failed most of the time.

The cover reproduces exactly the right playful feel of the book, with people running along or sliding down strands of the mythosphere. It is scattered with silver stars which, sadly, don't show up on screen. At the same time, as in all of Diana's books, there is a deeply serious backdrop to the story, hinted at by the threatening figures shown on the edges of the mythosphere.

The Game was first published in the USA by Firebird in 2007. But the HarperCollins edition also contains "Beyond the Book" or "More than a Story" features, with an Author's Note, several useful or fun factual notes, a little quiz and a zodiac game, and - great - a sneak preview of the next book out, House of Many Ways, which will include a guest appearance by the popular wizard Howl.

Reviewed by Meredith