Un-Lun-Dun by China Mieville - Revision history

Sue at 14:24, 14 May 2018

2018-05-14T14:24:00Z

Sue at 15:47, 25 February 2018

2018-02-25T15:47:50Z

Sue at 14:14, 1 March 2015

2015-03-01T14:14:06Z

Sue at 11:32, 26 November 2014

2014-11-26T11:32:58Z

Sue at 14:24, 8 September 2012

2012-09-08T14:24:58Z

Keith at 20:57, 9 January 2011

2011-01-09T20:57:05Z

Keith at 00:45, 7 November 2009

2009-11-07T00:45:47Z

Keith: 1 revision

2009-10-24T17:32:32Z

1 revision

Sue at 14:44, 8 June 2009

2009-06-08T14:44:06Z

New review

{{infobox
|title=Un-Lun-Dun
|author=China Mieville
|reviewer=Dave Martin
|genre=Teens
|summary=Un Lun Dun follows Zanna and Deeba's epic journey across a parallel world where they will meet ridiculous characters and a sinister adversary. All lovers of dark fantasy should get this and teens will love it!
|rating=5
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|format=Hardback
|pages=528
|publisher=Macmillan Children's Books
|date=6 April 2007
|isbn=978-0230015869
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0230015867</amazonuk>
|amazonus=<amazonus>0345495160</amazonus>
}}
Londoner Zanna finds herself inextricably drawn into a parallel city called ''Un-Lun-Dun.'' With her reluctant friend Deeba also along for the ride, Zanna discovers a city that is as different from her own as anything she could imagine. In Un Lun Dun the garbage is alive, ghosts exist and the government consists of an 'all-knowing' band of Propheseers. However, all is not well in this weird ''ab-city''. An evil force known as Smog is threatening to destroy and devour Un Lun Dun and has ambitious plans to move into Zanna and Deeba's own city. In world that is in desperate need of a hero, can two girls stop the Smog with the help of a half-ghost, a pint of milk and a strangely powerful man who controls broken umbrellas?

''Un Lun Dun'' is one of the strangest novels this fantasy reader has encountered, and who usually has his own monopoly on strange! The author, China Mievelle, blends fantasy, thriller and horror to stunning effect in what can only be described as a masterpiece of a story. Mievelle cites authors such as Lewis Carroll, Neil Gaiman and Clive Barker as his inspiration for his novel and it is easy to see where these influences have been drawn upon - elements of Barker's [[Abarat]] and Carroll's [[Alice's Adventures in Wonderland]] are obvious. However, what Un Lun Dun really reminds me of is [[The Wonderful Wizard of Oz]]. I am certain Mievelle has attempted to update the classic tale for a modern audience.

If this was Mievelle's intention then, wittingly or not, this is a hugely successful and entertaining update. '' Un Lun Dun'' is a much darker, atmospheric city than Oz but the sense of wonder at the imagination of the writer in creating such a fantastic setting remains. This author's powers of description are second to none and I found myself fully immersed in Un Lun Dun and its wacky inhabitants. The characters are truly ridiculous and at times you cannot help but laugh at an elite security force in the shape of dustbins called "The Binja" or a man with a birdcage for a head. Yet, somehow, Un Lun Dun is not a particularly humorous novel.

Despite the ridiculousness of the setting and characters ''Un Lun Dun'' is a scary, edgy piece of writing. The heroines have considerable scares and the writing is dark and foreboding with an underlying environmental message that is rammed home in several dark and vivid episodes of violence. There are variations on zombies for Zanna and Deeba to contend with and the villainous fog is a genuinely frightening creation the likes of which schlock horror writers such as James Herbert would be proud. In fact, although this novel is billed as China Mievelle's first venture into fantasy fiction for younger readers, I would think some young readers and even adults may find some of the potential graphic violence a bit much.

In a literary domain dominated by the schmaltzy idealistic world of Harry Potter, ''Un Lun Dun'' is a refreshingly gritty tale of magic and adventure where people die, things happen and not everyone wins. Rowling and co would do well to take note of how this author writes to a teenage audience without patronising them with simplistic language and one-dimensional characters.

This is a truly imaginative piece of writing that rarely disappoints. However, if I was looking for criticism, it does take a good while to get going. It is also quite lengthy at a hefty five-hundred plus pages so you will need some perseverance until its wonders unfold before you. If you do stick with it though, what you will find is an edgy, original take on an old classic that will excite and intrigue throughout. This is an author who refuses to dumb down and although you might question the graphic content, any teenager will love this and you owe it to them and yourself to get a copy.

Our thanks to the publishers for sending us a copy of this wonderful book.

Those who like this will likely love Clive Barker's [[Abarat]].

{{toptentext|list=Top Ten Books About London}}

{{amazontext|amazon=0230015867}}

{{commenthead}}

{{comment
|name= Lucy Beadle
|verb= said
|comment= I love China's stuff, he was one of the first authors to get me into the more 'adult' style of fantasy his other works are amazing, amazing wonders and when I do say wonder I mean it, his portayal of other worlds are stunning. UnLunDun was however a welcome return to teen fantasy and as his first venture into this market I think he did superbly.
Yes I'm a Londoner and yes I'm familiar with the grittiness of it but OMG China really does take you for a turn, UnLunDun is an amazing view of the city but on the flip side where everything is turned on its head and viewed through a skewed concave mirror. If you are used to China's more mature stuff this might not be for you but if you're into teen or young fantasy this is a must :)
I give this a five out of five and as a Londoner I want to give it another star for being so much fun.

Cheers Sue and thanks to the BBag again!

Lucy

}}

@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 Londoner Zanna finds herself inextricably drawn into a parallel city called ''Un-Lun-Dun.'' With her reluctant friend Deeba also along for the ride, Zanna discovers a city that is as different from her own as anything she could imagine. In Un Lun Dun the garbage is alive, ghosts exist and the government consists of an 'all-knowing' band of Propheseers. However, all is not well in this weird ''ab-city''. An evil force known as Smog is threatening to destroy and devour Un Lun Dun and has ambitious plans to move into Zanna and Deeba's own city. In world that is in desperate need of a hero, can two girls stop the Smog with the help of a half-ghost, a pint of milk and a strangely powerful man who controls broken umbrellas?
-''Un Lun Dun'' is one of the strangest novels this fantasy reader has encountered, and who usually has his own monopoly on strange! The author, China Mievelle, blends fantasy, thriller and horror to stunning effect in what can only be described as a masterpiece of a story. Mievelle cites authors such as Lewis Carroll, Neil Gaiman and Clive Barker as his inspiration for his novel and it is easy to see where these influences have been drawn upon - elements of Barker's [[Abarat]] and Carroll's [[Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (150th Anniversary Edition) by Lewis Carroll and Anthony Browne|Alice's Adventures in Wonderland]] are obvious. However, what Un Lun Dun really reminds me of is [[The Wonderful Wizard of Oz]]. I am certain Mievelle has attempted to update the classic tale for a modern audience.
+''Un Lun Dun'' is one of the strangest novels this fantasy reader has encountered, and who usually has his own monopoly on strange! The author, China Mievelle, blends fantasy, thriller and horror to stunning effect in what can only be described as a masterpiece of a story. Mievelle cites authors such as Lewis Carroll, Neil Gaiman and Clive Barker as his inspiration for his novel and it is easy to see where these influences have been drawn upon - elements of Barker's [[Abarat]] and Carroll's [[Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (150th Anniversary Edition) by Lewis Carroll and Anthony Browne|Alice's Adventures in Wonderland]] are obvious. However, what Un Lun Dun really reminds me of is [[The Wizard of Oz by L Frank Baum, Michel Laporte, Olivier Latyk and Vanessa Mieville (translator)|The Wizard of Oz]]. I am certain Mievelle has attempted to update the classic tale for a modern audience.
 If this was Mievelle's intention then, wittingly or not, this is a hugely successful and entertaining update. '' Un Lun Dun'' is a much darker, atmospheric city than Oz but the sense of wonder at the imagination of the writer in creating such a fantastic setting remains. This author's powers of description are second to none and I found myself fully immersed in Un Lun Dun and its wacky inhabitants. The characters are truly ridiculous and at times you cannot help but laugh at an elite security force in the shape of dustbins called "The Binja" or a man with a birdcage for a head. Yet, somehow, Un Lun Dun is not a particularly humorous novel.

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:24, 8 September 2012
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-{{infobox
+{{infobox1
 |title=Un-Lun-Dun
 |author=China Mieville
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 |date=April 2007
 |isbn=978-0230015869
-|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0230015867</amazonuk>
+|cover=0230015867
-|amazonus=<amazonus>0345495160</amazonus>
+|aznuk=0230015867
 }}
 Londoner Zanna finds herself inextricably drawn into a parallel city called ''Un-Lun-Dun.'' With her reluctant friend Deeba also along for the ride, Zanna discovers a city that is as different from her own as anything she could imagine. In Un Lun Dun the garbage is alive, ghosts exist and the government consists of an 'all-knowing' band of Propheseers. However, all is not well in this weird ''ab-city''. An evil force known as Smog is threatening to destroy and devour Un Lun Dun and has ambitious plans to move into Zanna and Deeba's own city. In world that is in desperate need of a hero, can two girls stop the Smog with the help of a half-ghost, a pint of milk and a strangely powerful man who controls broken umbrellas?

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 |buy=Yes
 |borrow=Yes
 |pages=528
 |publisher=Macmillan Children's Books
@@ Line 35: / Line 34: @@
 {{amazontext|amazon=0230015867}}
 {{commenthead}}

← Older revision	Revision as of 17:32, 24 October 2009
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