First published in the Rogues anthology and now available as a pocket-sized little book in its own right, How The Marquis Got His Coat Back sees Neil Gaiman finally return to the London Below of his classic TV series and novel Neverwhere. Here we see the Marquis de Carabas talking his way in and out of trouble in search of his famed coat, along the way visiting the Floating Market and the notorious Shepherd’s Bush, and encountering all manner of dark and dangerous people.
Everything that made Neverwhere so good (and it is good. Very, very good.) is present and correct here, Gaiman’s unique touch lending the twisted London landmarks and bizarre characters a distinct, otherworldly air. Only Gaiman could make Shepherd’s Bush so scary, or inject so much magic into a coat. It sheds a little light on the Marquis, perhaps the most interesting of all the characters from the original story, giving us hints of what goes on in his head and what lies in his murky past, but somehow still leaves us with as many questions as it answers. Until the long-rumoured sequel arrives this is the next best things for fantasy fans hoping to spend a little time in the London Below that we all secretly (or not so secretly) want to visit.
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