Un Lun Dun

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By China Miéville

Publisher Description

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “Endlessly inventive . . . [a] hybrid of Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, and The Phantom Tollbooth.”—Salon

What is Un Lun Dun?

It is London through the looking glass, an urban Wonderland of strange delights where all the lost and broken things of London end up . . . and some of its lost and broken people, too–including Brokkenbroll, boss of the broken umbrellas; Obaday Fing, a tailor whose head is an enormous pin-cushion, and an empty milk carton called Curdle. Un Lun Dun is a place where words are alive, a jungle lurks behind the door of an ordinary house, carnivorous giraffes stalk the streets, and a dark cloud dreams of burning the world. It is a city awaiting its hero, whose coming was prophesied long ago, set down for all time in the pages of a talking book.

When twelve-year-old Zanna and her friend Deeba find a secret entrance leading out of London and into this strange city, it seems that the ancient prophecy is coming true at last. But then things begin to go shockingly wrong.

BONUS: This edition contains an excerpt from China Mieville’s Embassytown.

Praise for Un Lun Dun

“Miéville fills his enthralling fantasy with enough plot twists and wordplay for an entire trilogy, and that is a good thing. A-.”—Entertainment Weekly

“For style and inventiveness, turn to Un Lun Dun, by China Miéville, who throws off more imaginative sparks per chapter than most authors can manufacture in a whole book. Mieville sits at the table with Lewis Carroll, and Deeba cavorts with another young explorer of topsy-turvy worlds.”—The Washington Post Book World

“Delicious, twisty, ferocious fun . . . so crammed with inventions, delights, and unexpected turns that you will want to start reading it over again as soon as you’ve reached the end.”—Kelly Link, author of Magic for Beginners

“[A] wondrous thrill ride . . . Like the best fantasy authors, [Miéville] fully realizes his imaginary city.” —The A.V. Club

“Mieville's compelling heroine and her fantastical journey through the labyrinth of a strange London forms that rare book that feels instantly like a classic and yet is thoroughly modern.”—Holly Black, bestselling author of The Spiderwick Chronicles

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472 Reviews

3.5

Ralemont

Created about 2 months ago

“If you are looking for a Stardust or Neverwhere type book full of inventive and imaginative characters but can't bring yourself to pick up a Neil Gaiman book in 2025, this is for you.”

Sara

Created about 2 months ago

Catch787

Created about 2 months ago

Memorable Satisfying conclusion Slow start, strong finish Atmospheric Dystopian Setting fits the story Beautifully-written Fascinating Thought-provoking Easy to follow Flows well

Hanna

Created 2 months ago

“Things I liked: - The imagination and creativity behind the whole world. It was absolutely brilliant and I loved it so much, if Wonderland had a cousin, it would be Un Lun Dun. - Deeba. Despite her penchant for using the word 'dunno', she was a surprisingly strong and decisive fmc. I honestly thought it would go the usual route, where her friends end up doing more than she does but somehow she still gets all the glory, however she made a LOT of decisions and paved her own way forward and SOME fmcs, not naming anyone of course Violet Sorrengail, could really learn a thing or two from her. Apparently it is possible to save the world without mentioning your physical inabilities every two seconds. - All the characters, they had so much personality and were so unique and fun, especially Hemi. Except for Zanna but that's to be expected I suppose. - That one plot twist that I didn't predict. - The humour, I didn't expect to laugh as much as I did -The second half of the book. - The ending was funny and satisfyingg Things I didn't like: - The first half of the book, the pacing was SO sloww , it was boring and I was just dragging myself through it while simultaneously digging my heels into the ground. The only thing that saved the first half was the world-building. - I saw all the plot twists coming from a mile away except that one - The pacing for events felt off, first we have to wait an eternity to figure out even a tiny bit of what's going on and the whole time, the two girls are whining about going home (the whining is understandable okay? I'm not heartless) and then the second they do get to go home, Deeba's pining as if she spent centuries living there and formed many incredible friendships even though she probably encountered everyone a maximum of... 3 times? It was just... it felt like she was acting. Quotes: “My dad hates umbrellas, said Deeba, swinging her own. When it rains he always says the same thing. 'I do not believe the presence of moisture in the air is sufficient reason to overturn society's usual sensible taboo against wielding spiked clubs at eye level.” “If you're brave enough to try, you might be able to catch a train from UnLondon to Parisn't, or No York, or Helsunki, or Lost Angeles, or Sans Francisco, or Hong Gone, or Romeless.” The parrot called again, and Cavea twittered. “Yes, he says no. He says he knows what you’re going to ask for, and we can’t have it. He says we should be ashamed of ourselves, wanting to take his crest. The males all use them to show off, and when they’re being aggressive. He says without it he won’t be a hit with the ladies. He says, uh…that the chicks dig his threads. Don’t look at me like that, Deeba, that’s what he says.” “Were you terrified, Murgatroyd?" Murgatroyd nodded eagerly. "There you go, girl: You're a terrorist. You make me twitchy, and under Article Forty-One of the 2000 Terrorism Bill, that's all I need. Time for some reasonable force, I think.” “Yeah, but where’s the skill in being a hero if you were always destined to do it?” I was going to give this a 3 but as I was writing this review, I kept remembering how amusing and entertaining this book wasss (AFTER the first half ahem) so I'm upping it to a 3.5.”

elliot

Created 3 months ago

About China Miéville

China Miéville is the author of King Rat; Perdido Street Station, which won the Arthur C. Clarke Award and the British Fantasy Award; The Scar, which won the Locus Award and the British Fantasy Award; Iron Council, which won the Locus Award and the Arthur C. Clarke Award; and a collection of short stories, Looking for Jake. He lives and works in London. Un Lun Dun is his first book for younger readers.