And Put Away Childish Things by Adrian Tchaikovsky
I would like to thank Solaris for an advance copy of this novella in exchange for a fair and honest review
Publisher - Solaris
Published - 30/3
Price - £25 hardback £7.99 Kindle eBook
All roads lead to Underhill, where it’s always winter, and never nice.
Harry Bodie has a famous grandmother, who wrote beloved children’s books set in the delightful world of Underhill. Harry himself is a failing kids’ TV presenter whose every attempt to advance his career ends in self-sabotage. His family history seems to be nothing but an impediment.
An impediment... or worse. What if Underhill is real?What if it has been waiting decades for a promised child to visit? What if it isn’t delightful at all? And what if its denizens have run out of patience and are taking matters into their own hands?
The portal fantasy is always an attractive idea - that the right lace will take you from our reality to a magical world of adventure. Find the right doorway and you’re off. Like many children I’ve tried the back of the wardrobe and always searched for a police box. But eventually you have to move on and perhaps magical lands do too? In Adrian Tchaikovsky’s darkly entertaining novella And Put Away Childish Things a middle aged man very reluctantly finds himself required to arrive at a childhood world of adventure which is not safe in the slightest.
Harry Brodie is a forty year old who wants the world to take him seriously. However being a on screen Children’s TV presenter and a constant desire to get drunk and disorderly tends to get in his way. His bigger claim to fame is a distant relationship to the author of a famous set of post WW2 children’s fantasies The Books of Underhill. In early 2020 Harry is trying to find the leap into the stage and more fake when he finds himself pursued by a man who may be a faun; a PI who knows too much and a possible group of Uber-fans who may be very dangerous. Harry is about to find Underhill is real; has been waiting a long time and is in no way now a safe adventure.
I really enjoyed this intelligent novel that asks what is these fantasy worlds are real; where would they come from and what happens if no one used them. It could easily have gone for more cynical and funny fantasy world becomes adult but Tchaikovsky goes for something darker and creepier- a fantasy world that isn’t used that decays not just the land but the people in it. Our faun is not jolly but gaunt and losing hair with botched skin; a giant dog known for bravery is not one you’d like to meet on a dark night and comic relief clowns…well that’s never going to end well. When we meet Underhill it’s a scary ominous place that we find holds many family secrets.
Linking this is Harry who initially we will hate. Greedy; brittle and snobbish they are out after their own fame and fortune and that’s it. They’re also not that bright so initially when fauns and cults enter the mix he’s more unwittingly bundled from one mini adventure to another than taking a stance. He’s a great contrast from the ever so practical kids in portal fantasies that can lead armies and solve problems at a pinch. But to be honest wouldn’t most people? Tchaikovsky neatly shows sone contradictions in Harry the children’s entertainment presenter and the adult who wants to be taken seriously - you can’t initially be one or the other. But then as he finds Underhill is real he goes through understandable shock and denial to grudging acceptance. Neatly Tchaikovsky also placed the book in 2020 and there is a parallel to finding out your own wood has changed to a weirder and more dangerous place - as Harry returns from Underhill he is surprised how his simple London life is no longer there anymore and a new reality gets accepted. It can be both funny and a reminder reality can change in a moment for anyone.
Now if this sounds a dark story it is but it’s not cynical. Ultimately Harry although initially wants fake when pushed he does the right thing. While this book takes potshots at various mid-century fantasy books it’s all done with love. There is mention of Lewis; there is a wardrobe but not that one and we get a lot more characterisation of Underhill’s residents that you care about their fate. Can you do the right thing when you’re not the chosen one? When you’re not sure of victory or have a magical all powerful lion on your side? I found this a tale with affection for the writers of the past but evolving the stories for an adult 21st century audience and delivers it very successfully.
And Put Away Childish Things is funny, exciting, creepy and most of all humane. Things get dark but you can do your best even then. It’s a smart novel exploring our own world and reactions using fantasy which for me is a hallmark of good wrong and it’s throughly entertaining in the process. Well worth a look and highly recommended!
