I Wish I’d Written: Ali Sparkes

Ali Sparkes would like to have written Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve (but she’d have to murder him or something, wouldn’t she?)…

To start with, the pure originality of Reeve’s idea – that London has been reduced, across centuries, to a monolithic metal hulk of multi-tiered neighbourhoods, powered by vast engines, running on mammoth wheels and tracks across a post-apocalyptic wasteland – hunting other small towns and cities. It’s the stuff of dreams.

And while the masterful writing pulls you in immediately, the depth of the characters in this amazingly visual story makes you believe. And care. A lot. I will never forget the moment when our young hero, Tom, is thrown to his (apparent) death by the person he adores. The shock of astonishment and betrayal is as palpable as a punch in the face.

The action is fast paced and brutally thrilling. And, as if Reeve could get any cleverer, there are also some sublime moments of comedy. Particularly of one character, sighing over his regrets about making, on balance, perhaps a rash mistake. Shooting his wife dead that time… Ah well…

Romance too. Ye gods. Is all this even possible? Yep. Reeve does it.

Haven’t met this author yet. May have to avoid it, because I’ll gush embarrassingly when I do. [sigh]

Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve is published by Scholastic (978 1 407 11091 2) at £6.99 pbk.

Ali Sparkes’ latest book Wishful Thinking (978 0 19 275611 4, £5.99) is published by Oxford University Press. Her new series S.W.I.T.C.H. will be launching in February.