The Best of British Fantasy

The Wolves of Willoughby Chase

Joan Aiken's The Wolves of Willoughby Chase (1962) has been one of my favourites since childhood. And, even then, I knew that the covers were awesome.

Wolves is the first in a long series of Victorian-esque novels, as Aiken's adventures are set in a slightly alternate history. In the world of Wolves, King James III has ascended the throne and wolves have migrated to Britain through an 19th century version of the Chunnel. Curiously, the alternate history elements are merely set dressing, with the titular wolves - and the seemingly perpetual winter - are used almost wholly for atmospheric tension. They do come howling through at a few moments, but largely they pad around in the distance - a soft background of danger throughout.

(I wonder if this actually qualifies as environmental SF? The winter/wolves aren't plot elements, but they do change the tone of the book. Because of the cold, stakes are higher, help is more remote, the characters' decisions feel more absolute. Plus, wolves.)

Devices and Desires

K.J. Parker is a cult author.

I don’t mean that in entirely in the colloquial sense, but in the semi-Lovecraftian way—books talked about passionately, in hushed tones, by a cabal of true believers huddled in forbidden libraries and dark corners of basement bookshops. There are those that have stumbled upon Parker’s texts and worship them with a feverish intensity… and those that haven’t and are therefore unenlightened.

Needless to say, like any other cult, we Parker readers proselytise ceaselessly. There’s a gross, cosmic unfairness to the fact that we, who have been enlightened, are surrounded by the darkness of human ignorance. But, of course, we keep trying. The stakes are too high.

Keeper

Mal Peet's Keeper (2003) was a recommendation from a friend, who referred to it as the book that made him into a writer. He's a very good writer, so that's one hell of an endorsement. And he was right: Keeper is a terrific book, combining the known mechanics of sport with a type of ecological mysticism. It is a ghost story, a coming of age tale and a fantasy that's uniquely its own.

El Gato is the best football player in the world: a goalkeeper that's completely without peer. He's just won the World Cup, and, throughout Keeper, that ugly/beautiful trophy is always within our field of view. Keeper is structured as an interview - the reclusive El Gato is baring his soul to journalist Paul Faustino. Faustino, originally just keen on a few pretty pictures and some quotes, realises that he's bitten off more than he can chew, as El Gato's story goes all night, and into the morning.

I've added publication dates and fixed small typos, as well as adding links online. Fantasy, and other speculative, titles in bold. List originally compiled by DavidBowie.com. 

The Last Days of New Paris

China Miéville’s books range freely across categories and classifications – epic and urban fantasy, hard and squishy science fiction, crime, horror, young adult and more. He addresses, dances with and ultimately departs from the traditions and expectations of every genre. Although many thousands of words have been written trying to put Miéville’s work into neat buckets, a China Miéville book is ultimately, well – Miévillian. He is a category unto himself.

And what is Miévillian? ‘Tremendous’, ‘mind-blowing’ and ‘unmitigated brilliance’ are all true, but they’re not very helpful. The trick is to look at the books’ shared qualities. A Miévillian book provides glorious entertainment, powerful themes, intellectual depth, joyous wordplay, subversive approaches and with a few rare exceptions, monsters.

Each and every one of his books is an award-winner, a critical darling, and a reader favourite. So where to begin?