Dennis Knuckleyard is an eighteen-year-old who works (and lives) in a second hand book store. He is a bit gormless, and mostly useless. He gets sent on an errand one day to collect some rare books. He discovers on his return to the store that one of the books doesn’t exist. It is a non-existent book, a work of fiction, yet he is physically holding it in his hands. Dennis’s boss explains to him that it comes from the Great When, a magical version of the city beyond time, another version of London. The other London. If Dennis doesn’t bring this book back, he will be killed.

So begins Dennis’s journey into a world he could never have imagined. He meets with London’s underbelly, and its occult underbelly, meeting with a broad range of eccentric sorcerers, murderers, thieves and gangsters. All of whom want the book for their own reasons. Dennis finds himself the centre of events that he has no control over, but which he must help take control over. It is all a bit much for a young man who can barely manage to shave in the morning.

I really wanted to enjoy this book. It had essences of authors such as Neil Gaiman and otherworlds. However I found it quite a challenging read. The author's style of writing was tedious at times. The start of the book was very slow. Dennis was a very annoying character, who I could never warm up to. Yes, he was supposed to be a wet blanket, but boy, he was wringing wet! At times there was a bit of stream of thought to the writing. I was not sure if I was getting lost as well as Dennis. For a story where a second world was to be built, where there should have been richness and dimension, it all fell a bit flat for me. Overall, I felt there was strong promise to the story, but it just didn’t land for me.

*I received this book from NetGalley for review, but all opinions are my own.

My first Alan Moore book was definitely quite an experience. His writing is so rich and intense that it gives such a unique quality to the story, made even more impactful by my learning of Moore's graphic novel history. The Under London idea is very clever and despite seeing similar concepts of this before, I was really intrigued by it.

Hoooboy this was some dense, rich writing! As a graphic novelist, I associate Moore with telling whole stories with sharp, succinct prose (and obviously stunning graphics) but when words are his only tool, he plays with them, layers them like paper mache to form a texture, twists them and turns them. It took me a while to get into The Great When, but after I did I was fully immersed, swept along by all the crazy linguistic tricks and treats until I found myself talking in ridiculously long sentences in life.

The under-London idea has been tackled many times before, like in Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere and even in Diagon Alley, but this is different. It's trippier - this isn't a magical funland for children to have adventures in, it's a writhing mass of ideas that somehow gives birth to the London we know. It does help you as a reader if you know London! I'm so glad I requested it and persevered. Now I need a bit of a lie down to get my head straight.

DNF

Struggled with the florid phrasing, and then got caught up in moving house and didn't manage to finish it before access expired

I suspect I'd enjoy a screen adaptation of this, but the writing isn't for me

I received an advance copy for free from NetGalley, on the expectation that I would provide an honest review.

The Great When missed the mark for me personally, but there’s a lot to love here if you’re a fan of Alan Moore’s other works, or like your fantasy worldbuilding on the surreal and psychedelic side. I’d also recommend giving The Great When a go if you’ve enjoyed other ‘hidden magical world’ novels set in the real world, most notably Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London series.

I think my issue with the book is Moore’s descriptions and comedy style, which I think is simply not to my personal taste. His worldbuilding and descriptions are undoubtedly imaginative and truly bizarre, but I found their consistent and wacky inclusions confusing, and it kept pulling me out of the story. I must admit though; this style of worldbuilding suits the book premise perfectly! It paints the picture of the Great When like a true fever dream that is shrouded in secrecy and mystery, and there’s a real sense of intimidation that comes from its denizens and their unknown power. The story has a dry sense of humor that is consistent throughout, but I found the jokes had more misses than hits for me.

I found the pacing of the story to be pretty inconsistent throughout, with the magical elements of the story petering out at times in place of Dennis’ everyday life. It may be that these segments are intentional to provide some contrast between the two Londons, but personally I found the book less engaging as a result - there were times where I felt the remaining page count was the only indication that the story hadn’t already been resolved! I struggled with lead Character Dennis as well, who felt less like a character in his own right, and more like a receptacle through which we can learn more about the world.

Alan Moore’s The Great When is a tough read that feels bogged down by its own writing. Right from the start, Moore’s language is dense, filled with confusing metaphors and flowery descriptions that make it hard to follow what’s actually happening. It’s as if Moore prioritized showing off his vocabulary over telling a clear, engaging story. At times, the prose veers into territory so unnecessarily complex that it distracts from the plot itself, making the whole book feel like an exhausting uphill climb.

The pacing doesn’t help, either. The story takes forever to really get going, with most of the action and character development not kicking in until the final third of the book. By then, it’s hard to care about Dennis, the young protagonist, or any of the other characters, who come across as flat and forgettable.

While Moore’s post-war London has a gritty, unique feel that could’ve been intriguing, it’s mostly overshadowed by the writing style itself, which feels more like a writing exercise than a fully-realized story. This mystical take on London has been done more accessibly by other authors, like Neil Gaiman and China Miéville, and without so much unnecessary flair. Fans of Moore might appreciate some of the darker, more atmospheric moments, but overall, The Great When comes across as an overly self-indulgent start to a series rather than a story that pulls readers in.

Grant's dystopian London is psychedelically surreal, a place where anything is possible, existing side by side with our familiar one. A place where impossible creatures exist who have great influence on our world, these are not creatures that you want to meet. By means of a smuggled book Dennis finds himself embroiled in this twisted space, in danger, and desperate to make amends for having handled the forbidden tomb. Dennis is a likeable character, a naïve young sap, living and working in a dilapidated bookshop, he has 2 friends and a grumpy boss. His world experience is practically nil and the likelihood of him surviving to the next page is slim. But perhaps because his expectations of life are so low, he garners the support of a few interesting characters who bridge the gap between our world the other, they feel kinda sorry for him as do you.

I can't believe this book is only 325 pages. It took me many hours longer to read on my kindle than a 'normal' book, so I thought it was one of those huge tomes of about 600+ words that so many authors seem to think are a good thing to publish nowadays. It took me longer to read than a genuine 900 page book I read recently. How strange.
Perhaps it was the style of writing? It took me a very long time to get into it, although I did find the story quite interesting when about three quarters of the way through. But I wasn't a fan of what happened nearer to the end.
There are sections of story, which are fine, and sections which are much more stream-of-consciousness or fantasy word salad. I did understand it, so am possibly being a little cruel, but did wonder at times whether the author was trying to show how learned he was, or how clever.
Mostly it read like a cross between literary fiction, which I mostly hate, and rather clever urban fantasy.
I'm torn between three or four stars; I didn't love it, so not five, but it didn't quite reach the 'it was fine' of a four stars rating. It was probably a bit too irritating at times for that, although I am probably being unkind to give it three, it is better than that.

For those who lean toward immense world-building ingenuity in a sci-fiesque novel, The Great When may be precisely what you've been looking for. In it we track Dennis Knuckleyard (fab name!) as he finds himself in a spot of bother brought on by a book he should not possess. This troublesome book takes him to places our mildly dim anti-hero is not meant to tred putting himself, and others, in danger as he does so. Along the way he meets more than a few colourful characters who help, and hinder, him on the way. Think of it as The Odyssey in deepest, darkest historical London.

I found the setting in post WWII London a rich, inspired novel to sink my teeth in. I love this period and especially enjoyed the unique dialects and lingo particular to London born people. The deprivation of this time and difficulties our orphaned Dennis face felt authentic and plausible...to a certain extent. The otherworldly aspects of The Great When are entirely fanciful and awe inspiring. A magical world the reader enjoys stumbling upon with the hapless Dennis as he navigates this previously unknown world.

As said before this felt like The Odyssey but mashed up with magical Harry Potter in a bomb debris depression era world. Ingenious, rich with fascination in a place new and unlike anything I've read before, I cannot see how this the start of a quintet but find unbelievability to be a magic potion in this new, undiscovered world. Great fun!

Dennis is 18, working for Ada in a bookshop. He goes to pick up some books from another bookseller, to find he has a book that shouldn’t exist. It is s book referred to by an author but was never published in ‘our’ London. As others find out about the book, Dennis is chased through the London streets and finds himself in another London, a kind of parallel universe - it’s in this London that the book belongs and he has to return it to the heads of state.
I usually love dystopian stories, but this didn’t grab me. I found it quite hard work, the chapters are very long - although I realised that each chapter was a day.

I was very much looking forward to this, an author with a history of inventive brilliance and a setting of alternative Londons. But…
Set in the 40’s an orphaned kid finds evidence in a book of an alternative London (The Great When). This is a book that will put him in danger and kick off his adventures.
I’m sorry to say I found it barely readable. Long winded prose and descriptions and very few characters worth caring about. And slow. So very slow. Nothing of any real interest or pace kicks in until the second half, by which time you have almost given up.
Moore is a genius but this shows more self-indulgence than the expected brilliance.

I’m not that familiar with Moore’s work but I am a fan of urban fantasy and of London. I also hugely enjoyed Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhre, which may explain the 5 stars.
Yes, there are a lot of words. It’s like sitting in a ratty pub, having your ear bent by an old gent who’s telling you a huge yarn, and going down loads of drunken tangents, trying to remember the point he was making.

In the. best. possible. way.

It’s hilarious and imaginative. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series. It does stall towards the end but the characters are engaging and the story kept my interest.
I am aware of all the streets mentioned in the story, which is perhaps why I felt pulled into the story, rather than alienated.

Alan Moore’s The Great When is a spellbinding journey into a post-WWII London like no other. The intricate world of Long London, where magic and reality collide, is brought to life by Moore’s lyrical prose and sharp wit. Rich in atmosphere and filled with an eclectic cast of characters, this novel immerses readers in a dark, alternate world full of mystery, danger, and wonder. Moore’s storytelling is unparalleled, making The Great When a mesmerizing start to what promises to be an extraordinary series.

A clever concept, but failed to land on an emotional level. The writing style is erudite, reminiscent of Victor Hugo. While that comparison is a compliment on many levels, it jarred a bit for a book set in the 1940s.

*The Great When* is set in 1949 London, where Dennis Knuckleyard, a hapless eighteen-year-old working in a second-hand bookshop, stumbles upon a novel that shouldn’t exist. The book he finds is fictional, a creation from another novel, yet somehow it physically exists in his hands. This strange book originates from the "Great When," a magical, timeless version of London where reality blurs with fiction, and abstract concepts like Crime and Poetry take on physical form as terrifying, wondrous beings. However, this magical London must remain hidden. If Dennis doesn’t return the book to its rightful place, the consequences could be disastrous—even to the extent of having his body turned inside out.

While the premise is fascinating, the first 100 pages can feel slow. Moore’s command of the English language is undeniable; his prose is lush, almost to the point of excess, with constant reminders of his linguistic prowess. As Dennis ventures into the Great When, it’s hard not to draw comparisons to other magical versions of London, such as Neil Gaiman’s *Neverwhere* or China Miéville’s *The City & the City*. But this is Alan Moore, a writer known for taking familiar concepts and turning them on their head. *The Great When* is no exception, with moments reminiscent of *The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen*, blending literary history and folklore with urban realities.

The plot centres around a fictional book mentioned in Arthur Machen's real-life work *N*, which mysteriously comes to life within this story. This is classic Alan Moore: a metafictional twist embedded within a work of fiction. Then there's Long London, the mystical realm of the title, a place as unsettling as it is intellectually stimulating.

Despite some pacing issues, *The Great When* is a rich and imaginative work, one of my favourite books of the year.
My thanks to both NetGalley and the publishers Bloomsbury for a free e-arc and an honest opinion.

The book tells the story of Dennis, an 18-year old war-orphan in post-war London, who has no ambition, no work-ethic, very few friends, and no prospects. He inadvertently becomes aware of a (presumably magical) “alternative London”, knowledge which is apparently very dangerous to have.

I read just under a third of this book. I tried really hard to like it, and feel that I gave it a fair shot – if I hadn’t been reading an ARC version, with the intention of writing a review, I would have given up at about 10%.

The story seemed like it might be intriguing, if it ever got going. The pace was so incredibly slow that at the point where I stopped reading the action was just starting. By this point, however, I didn’t actually care about the main character (or any of the supporting characters) and was unwilling to keep going. Connection with the characters is my primary requirement for enjoying any book.

The other problem with this book, for me, was the writing style. There were just so many words. Everything was described in excruciating detail, using flowery language, and so many words that the story just didn’t flow. It required extreme concentration (and frequent use of my kindle’s in-built dictionary) to make sense of almost every sentence, only to discover that most of these weren’t important to the storyline. That said, the writing style reminded me of some classic literature, bringing to mind The Great Gatsby. Admittedly, it’s been many years since I read that novel and I remember very little of the writing/story itself. However, it left me with the same sense of boredom. Given the enduring popularity of that novel, however, I’m sure that there is an audience who will enjoy The Great When.

The Great When
Dennis Knuckleyard is 18, still wet behind the ears, and living in 1949 London. The Luftwaffe have left their mark in the capital and, aged 9, he witnessed Cripplegate being obliterated.
But despite these terrors, there is one that scares him even more. The female boss of the second hand bookshop in which he works and lives, Coffin Ada. It’s rumoured that the reason why no plants grow in her empty flowerbed is because it’s where she buried her husbands. There is no escape from her for Dennis.
But his life changes, perhaps not for the better, when Coffin Ada sends him out to buy some rare books from a man called Flabby Harrison. In between being batted on the head by Flabby’s Airfix models of airplanes hanging from the ceiling they agree a price. Although Dennis feels that the deal shouldn’t have gone as it did but little does he know how badly its gone.
For he has obtained a book that doesn’t exist. ‘A London Walk; by Rev. Thomas Hampole is a fictitious book that appears in a real novel by Arthur Machen. It’s a guide to another London, The Great When, where all time and eras merge and reality and unreality can be the same.
Dennis soon becomes embroiled with the Other London’s in habitants and its occult labyrinth. Gangsters with nicknames, occultists, the demi-monde and an occult painter, Austin Osman Spare. One gangster, Gog Blincoe, is made of wood, the African Prince Monolulu hands out surefire racing tips and good time girl Grace Shilling puts Dennis up for a few nights.
And then there’s the four unsolved murders…..and Dennis uncomfortably realises that he may have found the killer…..
This is the first book in a planned quintet featuring Long London and I really enjoyed it. I read the author’s recent short story collection and liked that as well so I was keen to read this one. The author has such a witty, humourous style, although it might not be to everyone’s taste. With descriptions such as a ‘passageway that smelled faintly of gin and armpit’ I’m sure we’ve all reluctantly ventured down similar passages and the paragraph with the whelk seller was wonderful. Dennis realises with a shock that Coffin Ada has also visited the Other London and doesn’t want to know any more about it.
I have to say that the only female characters in the book as a dragon of a landlady and a tart with a heart of gold but who knows who or what will appear in the forthcoming books?
The setting, not long after the Second World War, was well evoked as people try to come to terms with what had happened to them and what might be coming next. A character in the Other London metamorphoses into the future as a Teddy Boy – now an extinct species.
I don’t normally read fantasy as I associate it with characters with strange names and pastel colours but this was fantasy that I could relate to and enjoy. As an ex-flaneur, I often felt that there was another London in the capital and if I could just find the right doorway or portal I could step in. It looks if Alan Moore has already found it.

My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC.

For those who know Alan Moore and his comic book career, this latest venture will tick all the right boxes and more.
Moore's writing is extraordinary and fascinating, even if, at times it's a long way for a short cut! I can only imagine the editor with their head in their hands as their pleas to trim down the deluge of words were ignored!
Set in a parallel London and filled with phantasmagorical images and characters it is a whirling dervish of a tale.
It isn't exactly my normal genre of writing, but Moore is such a wild and unusual author that I am happy to acknowledge his undoubted talent and go along for the ride!
Will I wait breathlessly for the next in the series? Probably not, but I can bet there will be many afficionados who certainly will!

A fascinating start to a series. The post-war London setting coupled with the utterly bizarre and chaotic other London made for compelling reading, and I’m looking forward to more.

This is a bit….mad…..it did take me a while to get into it to be honest as it is wild, but once I got the hang of it I absolutely loved it.

I felt so sorry for our main character- Dennis - thrust into a series of circumstances through other people, but what a fantastic character - and Coffin Ada! How I loved her!

Overall, this is absolutely mental - brilliant characters, brilliant story - a big pile of crazy!

My thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.