'How The Marquis Got His Coat Back' – Neil Gaiman (Headline)

'The coat. It was elegant. It was beautiful. It was so close that he could have reached out and touched it. And it was unquestionably his.'

It has been far too long since I last read 'Neverwhere' so I'd totally forgotten that the Marquis de Carabas had even lost his coat, let alone that he needed to get it back (which of course he would have had to, it's his coat). But while I was looking for a little treat (to sweeten the prospect of going back to work after my holiday) I saw this title and it wasn't enough to know that the Marquis got his coat back, I needed to find out the 'how' as well. So I grabbed a copy and read it pretty much as soon as it came through the door (but not before realising that I already had the story in my copy of the Gardner Dozois and George R.R. Martin collection 'Rogues', oh well...)

It turned out that a short trip back to London Below was just what I needed; in fact it was almost like I'd never been away. Gaiman doesn't give himself a lot of room to work in terms of establishing the background (we're looking at a very slender, with small pages too, fifty eight pages of book here) but it turns out that he never really needed to. All it takes is a couple of familiar place names, slightly twisted and given darker meaning, and not only are we back in London Below but we're in at least one place where the Marquis really doesn't want to be. Add one introduction to The Mushroom (and how it sizzles in the pan, always make sure that it's well cooked...) and bang, welcome back to London Below. It's wonderful, ever so slightly scary but wonderful at the same time :o)

We know that the Marquis gets his coat back, the fun is in watching him do it and it looks like Gaiman had as much fun helping the Marquis as I did reading about it. It is a joy to watch the Marquis dance through London Below, making his dealings look almost inconsequential with how easy they come off and propel him towards his goal. The smallest things, at the beginning of the book, take on greater significance by the end and it's like watching a jigsaw fall into place. The Marquis is somehow three steps ahead of everyone yet very much in the moment at the same time, with just enough mystery about him to pull it off. It doesn't hurt that he has an amazing coat as well ;o)

It would be boring though if the Marquis was basically invulnerable and that's where the other joy, of this book, comes into play. If the Marquis really can't get himself out of a spot, he has a brother turns up to help, and it really pisses the Marquis off. What could have been a lazy plot device suddenly becomes a lot more as it hints at a relationship that I for one would love to see more of (and isn't there word about a 'Neverwhere' sequel...?)

The fact that the book ends with the Marquis' coat back where it should be is almost an afterthought once you've finished this gorgeously atmospheric, twisty turny little book. I'm really glad he has his coat back though, things just wouldn't have been the same otherwise.