Un Lun Dun

Zanna has something that other girls like. She's unique, pretty and confident without being cocky at an age when insecurity combines with the desperate need to conform. It's no wonder that other girls find her intriguing, especially Deeba who is shy and insecure, intelligent but average. What is surprising is that animals and strange people around the city seem also to find her fascinating, and call her "Schwazzy." When a broken umbrella appears to be surveilling her house she drags the reluctant Deeba along to investigate and they find themselves in what appears to be an utterly different but strangely familiar alternate London, where all that is abandoned in London has a new life below. There are a number of twists in the story and part of the excitement is how it all unravels so I won't say more. The basic concept of an upside-down mixed up alternate reality is not entirely novel -- it is similar in some ways to Wonderland (where Alice goes) or to the strange world of The Phantom Tollbooth, and even more so to Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere -- but China Mieville gives this idea new life in this remarkable and exciting novel. Unlike Neverwhere, this one is pitched at a younger crowd -- my 12 year old daughter loved it, though I wouldn't recommend it for most children younger than 10 -- but is fascinating and clever and even scary enough to keep happy the same kind of adults who read Harry Potter to their children because they can't get enough. I enjoyed the novel quite a bit -- was taken by the story, and delighted by the endless cleverness of the creatures and places that inhabited Mieville's alternate London (Un Lun Dun). Highly recommended for readers of Harry Potter, Diana Wynne Jones, Neil Gaiman's YA fiction (Coraline), and other mind-bending fantasy for young readers.

A great many YA novels attempt a modicum of maturity but fall far short and end up being what would appropriately be termed children's literature. The level of condescension present in many of them is almost offensive, suggesting that young adults cannot be subtle nor intuitive readers. Mieville takes a remarkable stand against this trend and delivers a novel that is enchanting and challenging to multiple levels of readers. His language is beautiful, challenging, and most importantly playful. As with most of his novels, the setting of ULD is as much a character as is Deeba or any of her party. The inhabitants of the abcity Unlundun are rich in character and are conjured from the simplest of ideas into unforgettable characters--a conscious milk carton most of all. Mieville paints a city whose denizens force the readers to reconsider our lives: fated observer or willful participant? This is not a comfortable book to read, and readers will find themselves pausing frequently to compare their own cities with Mieville's abcities. The social and political commentary is subtle yet insistent. Young readers with a growing awareness of social and political ideologies would benefit from reading this novel with careful consideration of the historical context. Mieville's own leftist political ideologies are not overt, but they do beg themselves to be considered in light of the turmoil in Unlundun, a turmoil not unlike what is developing (or is peaking) in our own world. Subversion is a central theme, and Mieville does a masterful job of not only refusing to bow to the templates of the genre but of creating an entirely new one: heroes aren't heroic; prophecies aren't prophetic; and words aren't our own.

A fine move by Mieville into somewhat new territory. This is, in my opinion, his tightest novel yet, more reminiscant of King Rat than the the Bas-Lag titles. Compared to his other work, 'Un Lun Dun' is obviously geared to young adults (a tough market), but is extremely enjoyable for anyone who likes a well-written, imaginitive and a truly weird yarn. While Mievilles earlier books have a very open-ended feel, 'Un Lun Dun' wraps itself up nicely and really puts a fine twist on the typical 'chosen-one fullfills her destiny' cliche'. As usual, you can't go wrong with this fellas fine and bizarre writing.

On my son's tenth birthday he will get this book. This will happen in a little over seven years from now. Mieville has ventured into YA fiction with Un Lun Dun and it is a tremendous accomplishment within the genre. This is the story of a journey to another London that exists near the one we are familiar with. But things are different and there are some big problems for the two young ladies who find themselves in Un Lun Dun. Mieville's hallmark - imaginative monsters - is here and they exist in wonderful, fanciful piles. His punning creations are groan-worthy and painted a number of rueful smiles on my face. Mieville wants readers to have the joy of surprise, so I'm keeping quite about the details. But I guarantee you will never think of giraffes the same way ever again. There are also marvelous characters and companions, all vivid and memorable. Un Lun Dun subverts your typical fantasy formula. The chosen one doesn't seem to be getting it done, prophecies are falling apart, and quests are veering outside of expectations. Mieville has been both lauded and slammed for being a "message" author. The message for youngsters is pretty straightforward - don't wait to be saved by the hero, question authority, try hard, and with the help of good friends and you can change things for the better. Mieville has to this date been a very adult writer but he reigns in both the violence and the vocabulary to truly make this a YA title. There is violence and danger, but it is not excessive. He does keep the sense of excitement through the book and the pacing is very brisk. Un Lun Dun is not a departure for Mieville; he is just doing for young adult fantasy what he has already done for regular fantasy. He has given us a smart, non-formulaic, but always entertaining book.