Un Lun Dun
Ratings60
Average rating3.7
This is a solid 4.5 stars for me. A trip into a wacky steampunk Wonderland-esque alternative version of London, this book plies a great middle ground between middle-grade and adult without being entirely one or the other. It's brimming with such refreshing creativity and such a vibrant world built with the vibes of Enid Blyton, Lewis Carroll, Terry Pratchett, and Neil Gaiman. Most of this review will be under a spoiler tag because it's just so hard to discuss it without spoiling anything.
“Where's the skill in being a hero if you were always destined to do it?”
The first part of the book was fun enough, although it read a little tropey and formulaic. The action and surprises only really started at about the 30% mark, and that's when I started getting really invested. There was a bit around the 50-60% mark or so where things got a little draggy, which is probably the only reason why I've knocked off half a star from my rating.
The characters in this book were generally endearing, although you're not really in it for fleshed-out developed characters per se. They're like the wacky ensemble cast that you might see in Alice in Wonderland, hanging out with our heroine throughout her adventure and making the odd humourous quip here and there. Despite this, however, it was easy to get attached to any one of them. My heart particularly belongs to Curdle and Diss.
The book also had such tongue in cheek humour, whether it's the names of places, characters, or things (the Black Windows in a Webminster Abbey is a striking example: predatory wooden windows moving about a cobwebbed church with eight wooden legs), or just the way it pokes fun at tropes and themes in conventional children's adventure stories (more on that under spoilers).
About the plot and themes of this book:
I loved that this book was both an homage and also a satire of the Chosen One trope that it seemed to play into right at the beginning. I was really expecting Zanna to be the main character in this whole thing, but she was the red herring Shwazzy and it was the "funny sidekick" Deeba who turned out to be the real hero. It was just so satisfying and pleasing that of course UnLondon would need an UnChosen One to save it in the end.I loved that it poked fun at that trope in adventure stories where the hero has to go around all the different lands/worlds to collect a series of magical items in order to defeat the big baddie at the end. After suffering a couple of casualties getting their first item, Deeba's like, "But why?" and basically skips past the rest of the list and makes a beeline to the actual weapon that they needed to get their hands on.My attention drifted a little during the bit where they were going to find the featherkey though, and I thought that part was a bit draggy. I only really snapped back when they were dealing with the Black Windows. That was one of the best bits in the book for me.Also particularly liked the ending where it's not some teary farewell, but just a "See you later". Deeba once again rejects the usual trope of having to choose between one world or the other, and just goes on determined to shuttle between both because why not? I love that she gatecrashed Minister Rawley's office and shows just how much her motley crew of UnLondoners can stand their own against Rawley's standard London defences. I almost wish there was a sequel!
Overall, a must-read for anyone who loves absurdist fantasy with a dash of humour. Dare I confess that I might actually have enjoyed this more than Neverwhere?
Really cool to see Miéville writing at the YA level. Nothing about this book was bad, per se, but somehow it just didn't grab me like some of his other novels have... it's a little Lemony Snicket and a little Mirrormask and a little Phantom Tollbooth and a little Neverwhere. Somehow, perhaps because of its similarity to so many other stories, it just read as a little formulaic and less purely inventive than his other work. A very fun read though.
A full review can be found at SFF Book Review.
China Miéville's brain must be an awesome and terrifying place.
Un Lun Dun is a young adult adventure that takes place in a city that is so original it could be a character of its own. I cannot put into words how original and fun and clever this book is.
Over 500 pages long, it reads like it's half that size. I was surprised how much I cared about all the characters (especially the milk carton Curdle) and delighted at how the author turns fantasy tropes on their head.
One of the coolest and most fun YA books I have ever read.
Smashing great read. The boys and I had gas with it. If I'd read it alone I'd have more quibbles, but as a read aloud it was perfect.
This was a wonderful book filled with quirky and interesting characters. I liked how Mieville played with descriptions and turned London into UnLondon. I especially admired Deeba's courage and her insistence that sometimes prophecies may not come true exactly as written.
Miéville's imagination is firing on all cylinder's in this one, his most inventive book yet. On top of that, it brims with a love for books and stories, and has a healthy dose of anti-authority woven throughout, as any good YA book should.
It was the image on the cover and the name that caught my eye when I was in the bookstore. And I'm gald I purchased it. Adding into what I call the Modern day faerietale and magic realism genres, this book tells the story of UnLondon, a world under and between our London. Smog (yes, the smokey stuff) has grown to intelligence and threatens to destroy this rich and lush world spun by Mieville. It's up to the heroine (seems like more books are choosing to write from the perspective of young women heroines these days) and her stalwart crew of unLondoners to save the day. The characters are real and have their quirks and flaws; all which help keep the action lively and fast paced. While this book is a nice fantasy created for younger readers, it's got a lot to keep adult readers engrossed and smiling at the turn of names and places. The ending, leaves room for a sequel; and I, do hope that Mieville makes a sequel. Again, not only does this book count into my goals as being more fiction than non, but it removes a big tome off my stacks.