Stainless Steel Droppings deserves much thanks for putting this book up there for a group read and providing the questions for Part I and Part II. Now, he has left it free form for Part III!
Some impressions of the book:
The Marquis de Carabas seems to hold to some form of honor and I always hope to be on the right side of that honor. It is clever and fascinating that he can keep his life in a box. Then he entrusted Old Bailey with his life! Is the Marquis a great judge of character or do you think he had some hold over Old Bailey?
Door is described as quite young throughout the book, yet she is making hard decisions (not always the right ones) all the time. If there is ever to be a sequel or prequel, I would love to see a bit of London Below through her eyes.
Vandemar and Croup got sucked out to the far end of the universe with Islington. I found it very interesting that Vandemar went willingly. We never did get to find out exactly what Croup and Vandemar are - they don't seem to take any notice of injuries and they don't bleed. I wonder if they are akin to The Marquis - who did take offense to pain and who did bleed, but who still came back from the dead.
Hunter went astray, didn't she? I can still remember the first time I read this book and I got to that point where you know for the first time that Hunter has sold out Door and is willing to crush anyone who stands between her and that spear and the Beast of London Below. I so wanted her to be the good good guy. In a way, she found her way back by giving Richard his chance. I do have to wonder how dead is dead - and what Lady Serpentine planned to do with Hunter's body.
Richard grew up a bit, didn't he? Though I did think he was jumping the gun to hire the Lamia. He was lucky to get his heat back, and his life. Then when it was all said and done, I really felt for Door when he left her there; it probably took remarkable courage for her to ask him to stay. However, I think Richard had to go back to his old life and see how pale and empty it is compared to London Below. Even with a promotion and everyone looking up to him, even with Jessica apologizing and wanting back into his life, it all just didn't measure up to what he became in London Below. It was achingly sweet when he wanted to return.
Questions for you:
What do you think the golden toad in the box Door opened for Hammersmith was all about?
I remember the first time I read this book, I didn't see all the twists and tricks coming, from Hunter's betrayal, to The Marquis returning from the dead, to Islington's need for power, to the fake key. What twists and turns caught you by surprise?
Out of all the food we experienced throughout the book, it was Richard's English breakfast of eggs and baked beans he shares in a diner at the end of the book with his work buddy that made me shudder. Did any of the food strike you as over the top? Any descriptions make you want to go out and cook a Neverwhere dinner?
Oh yes, I, too, wonder what Lady Serpentine wants with the body. Is Hunter dead dead, or just dead? Could she have something like de Carabas?
ReplyDeleteAs to what Croup and Vandemar are... hmm. I thought them either as something ancient and magical and indestructible or somehow akin to Islington and fallen angels. I definitely wanted to know more about the two.
I hadn't really thought about Croup and Vandemar being ancient and indestructible - perhaps demons? Interesting idea. This is why I would love Gaiman to write another book set in this world.
ReplyDeleteHe really needs to write a sequel, just so that he expand upon this world and answer some of our questions: there are so many left unanswered!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about wanting more of the world, but I think Richard is a complete package at the end of the book. He has achieved the normal success in London Above and found it lacking. He knows his worth in London Below, but things will always be uncertain and fresh because of that I think he has found his fit more fulfilling there ... what else do we need to know about him ? It might be interesting if Gaiman wrote a companion novel that made Richard a peripheral chacter and concentrated on another aspect of London Below. A prequel would be interesting too ...
ReplyDeleteYou know? I was shocked by Hunter's betrayal ... I had put the book down and was dozing and thinking about Richard's recurring dream and I had an 'aha moment' when it occurred to me that if he was a fighting the Beast than Hunter wasn't. Maybe I should retract the 'aha' and say it was an 'uh-oh moment' ... but I never thought she would betray the quest
ReplyDeletePrequel / sequel - I don't mind as long as we get more information! :D
ReplyDeleteI am not so interested in Richard - but what about Door's family? and de Carabas? Hunter's body and Lady Serpentine? Everyone we met had a backstory left unsaid and most had a future unknown.
ReplyDeleteThe first time I read this book, I was also shocked by Hunter's betrayal. I had found myself really drawn in by her character - cool, competent, deadly, restrained, honorable - and to find out that she would betray anyone and everyone for the chance to go toe to toe with the Beast of London Below.... totally blown away.
ReplyDeleteI wondered about the toad too, it seemed like an odd thing to keep in a box, what did it live on?
ReplyDeleteHunter disapointed me but I did think the retrieval of her body was significant, whether it was cementing her past 'relationship' with Serpentine or indicating a future like the Marquis though, i'm not sure.
Oh dear, eggs and baked beans was what we had for dinner last night! It's my comfort food from childhood and I don't mind eating it for breakfast too if I've been up for long enough.
ReplyDeleteI think the toad is a reference to the belief that toads could live for hundreds of years in the mud at the bottom of ponds - there are apocryphal stories about them being found when walls were demolished, still alive, particularly in parts of England where house walls were built of mud. And if you put that together with them being witches' familiars, they are very magical creatures.
I think the Marquis is honorable and a good judge of character. He might come across as aloof and hard-edged, but he knows what kindness is and he doesn't mock it.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way about Door and would welcome a sequel through her eyes as well. It felt like the book could be easily set up for the first in a trilogy or something--a lot of loose ends, right? But alas I think that's it.
I don't think I'm too keen to eat anything in Neverwhere except the Pepsi and Cadbury chocolates that were served in Earl's Court from the vending machines. ; )
I agree. Hunter was the last person I expected to betray others. That one shocked me. I wasn't as shocked by the angel because the toxic hangover from the wine sort of foreshadowed a potential darkness.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the toad fed on sleep and mystery. They'll have to build it a new puzzle box.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if Hunter's future will be something like Croup and Vandemar - no pain, no blood.....
Are the baked beans homemade or from a can?
ReplyDeleteWe have toads here in the dessert that winter over in protective pockets of earth. Every once in a while, I run into one while planting and have to move it to a safe location so it can finish waking up.
Food from our world to the London Below - prepackaged and highly preserved. Probably right on it being the safest things to eat.
ReplyDeleteI would love to see another book set in this world - prequel, sequel, side-el (happens at same time, different characters). I won't be picky.
"cool, competent, deadly, restrained, honorable" yup. I saw her as a a Zoe-type from Firefly, may not say a huge amount, but gets the job done. And gets it done *right*
ReplyDeleteBut I guess an obsession can mess with anyone
I thought the Lamia thing was hilarious. Richard made the mistake of thinking he knew better than everyone else and it came back to bite him.
ReplyDeleteOr maybe some short stories about each of the minor characters instead of a full prequel/sequel. I know he did a couple that were set in the American Gods mythos, and I think they'd work rather well here.
ReplyDeleteThis was fascinating to read- I absolutely love Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. Interesting questions that you bring up- the story line is so masterfully weaved together that are many ways to interpret meanings. The whole story kept me at the edge of my seat, yet was oddly familiar at the same time. Glad I popped over- great post! Thanks : ) ~ Jess
ReplyDeleteI can't exactly participate in this discussion nor answer the questions seeing as I haven't read this book yet, but this is a very interesting and thoughtful post regardless. :) You reminded me that I have to read some of Neil Gaiman's books sometime, so thanks for reminding me!
ReplyDeleteThis book is looking better and better. Maybe I SHOULD give it a go.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading your post, I am looking forward to this. Your post is particular useful, plz keep going. Sometimes I buy runescape accounts to enjoy more fun.
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