The Labyrinth of Dreaming Books by Walter Moers

The Labyrinth of Dreaming Books

Walter Moers

A satirical romp through literature and culture boasts a hero like Mr Toad on acid, a Lindworm actually, who receives a mysterious invitation to revisit Bookholm, the scene of former adventures. A slow start and a controversial end, but in between what grandiloquent, entertaining, scary diversions await, enlightening too if you're new to Zamonia. If you can solve all the anagrammatic names you deserve a prize. I certainly wouldn't win!

Extract
When I examined the goods on display to distract myself, I involuntarily shrank back as if I'd seen an aggressive scorpion or a huge fat spider about to pounce. The truth was far more alarming, however, for in the middle of the display sat an Animatome, a live book! A creature of the catacombs! What was more, it was one of the most dangerous kind. It had just captured a rat and was pleasurably engaged in biting off its head.
Parallels
  • The City of Dreaming Books by Walter Moers
  • The Well of Lost Plots by Jasper Fforde
  • Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift