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China Miéville is best known for his award-winning adult fantasy books. Un Lun Dun is his first book for younger readers. The plot is inventive, but probably the most notable feature of this book is the array of surreal characters and settings, all showing off the author’s twisted imagination.
What it’s about
Best friends Deeba and Zanna accidentally travel to UnLondon, a weird alternative version of London full of people and things that have been discarded and forgotten by the people of London. They soon learn that Zanna is the ‘Shwazzy’, a chosen one who has long been prophesied to travel to UnLondon and rescue it from the evil Smog that threatens the city. What happens after that, however, is completely unexpected.
What I liked best about Un Lun Dun
- It’s inspired by Lewis Carroll. The topsy-turvy logic, nonsensical characters and incessant wordplay are all reminiscent of the Alice books, but this is a more complex work with many dark elements.
- It’s a playful take on quest stories. At first, it seems as though this story is going to follow a traditional path. There’s a prophesy, a chosen one, an arch-villain and a quest to collect magical items. But Miéville plays with us here, setting up our expectations then giving us something else instead.
- It’s full of strange and grotesque characters and settings. The book is like a series of performances showcasing the author’s bizarre imagination. Among the characters are a tailor with a pincushion for a head, a group of words that have come to life, a half-ghost and a man with a birdcage instead of a head. All these things are accompanied by Miéville’s own line-drawings.
Who would like Un Lun Dun?
The length, complexity and subject matter of this book make it unsuitable for very young readers – many describe it as a young adult book rather than one for children. Readers who like fantasy quest stories should enjoy Un Lun Dun’s refreshing take on traditional tropes such as prophesies, heroes and mentors. If you have a taste for the weird and grotesque, you’ll probably love this book.
In summary
Un Lun Dun is a surreal fantasy adventure novel for older children (and adults). You’ll need some stamina to get through its 500-plus pages, but a series of surreal encounters, coupled with an enjoyable twist on the usual quest theme, make this worth the effort.