The Borrible Trilogy
Encyclopedia
The Borrible Trilogy is a series of young adult books written by English
writer Michael de Larrabeiti
. The three volumes in the trilogy are The Borribles, The Borribles Go For Broke, and The Borribles: Across the Dark Metropolis. Each book contains a separate story but together they form an overall larger story, and as such should be read in succession. The books also become progressively more serious in tone and themes.
The Borrible Trilogy can be seen to subvert the mainstream of children's literature in that it does not attempt to gloss over grunge, pain, and violence. The language of the book is true to the London
streets, including various instances of swearing
. Though critically acclaimed, the books have been the subject of much controversy over the often graphic violence and plethora of bad language. These factors created much controversy among reviewers and contributed to the failure of the first volume of the trilogy to be paperbacked in the UK. The controversy surrounding The Borribles caused the book and its two sequels to go underground
for years. However, in June 2002 the trilogy was republished in one volume in the UK by Pan Macmillan as a trade paperback with an introduction by China Miéville
; in April 2003, the UK branch of Tor Books
reissued the trilogy in a smaller paperback
volume. Tor released the trilogy as three separate paperback volumes in the USA in late 2005.
The books have a strong anti-authoritarian
flair, with the neat, orderly and boring adult world positioned in direct contrast to the wild, scruffy and exciting world of the Borribles. Along with structure and organisation, materialism
is heavily derided; the Borribles have fulfilling existences despite their lack of possessions, while those who crave material wealth are inevitably presented as villains. Comradeship and cooperation
are also presented as highly laudable traits - the Borribles will go to any length and take any risk in order to protect one of their own. Though written as young adult fiction, the books deal with serious themes, most notably the debate over what causes are noble enough to die for and which aren't.
, Borribles can be found in any large city. They are runaway children whose ears become pointed as a sign of their independence and cunning. As soon as a child is "borribled," he or she ceases to physically age and will maintain the appearance of a child forever – unless caught by the "Woolies," the police who, believing the Borribles' freedom
a threat to the social order, capture Borribles and "clip their ears". If their ears are clipped, they will begin to age like any normal human, and this is a prospect worse than death for Borribles, because it means growing into a boring, adventureless adulthood; for this reason, Borribles wear woollen hats pulled low over their ears.
Borribles are skinny, scruffy, and tough; they have nothing to do with money
, and steal what they need to survive: "Fruit of the barrow is enough for the Borrible," as one of the many Borrible proverbs states. Stealing just enough food to survive, they generally live in abandoned houses, though they will live wherever they can, existing on the edge of a dull adult world. Borribles aren't given their names at birth as is usual in most human societies; they must earn them through an adventure of some sort.
How long Borribles can live is never made quite clear. One character in The Borribles speaks of having been Borribled in the time of "the old queen" (although it is unclear whether this refers to Victoria
or Elizabeth I
). Furthermore, although Borribles do not age physically, the wisdom they gain through their way of life and, in some cases, extreme old age, is often foregrounded in the books. Borribles are stated throughout the books to live forever. It is inferred that only the most cunning survive for excessively long periods of time.
The Borribles (occasionally known as The Borribles: The Great Rumble Hunt) is the first book in Michael de Larrabeiti
's Borrible Trilogy. It was first published in the UK in 1976 by The Bodley Head
, and in the U.S.
in 1978 by Macmillan
Inc., New York. It was named one of the Best Books for 1978 by the American Library Association
, and was shortlisted for the Whitbread Awards and the Other Award.
Chief-Lookout, Knocker, of a Rumble in Battersea Park
. The Rumbles are rat-like creatures that live in an underground bunker in Rumbledom, and are hated by the Borribles for their riches, power, and haughtiness. Fearing a full-scale invasion of Battersea, each of the Borrible tribes across London
send their best and brightest un-named members to form an elite hit squad, known as the Magnificent Eight or the Adventurers, with the purpose of infiltrating the Rumble bunker and eliminating the eight members of the Rumble High Command.
Rumbles are clearly a parody of the popular children's characters, the Wombles
of Wimbledon Common. On the way the Borribles also meet a particularly vicious parody of Steptoe and Son
(which was one of the most popular shows on TV at the time) in the form of Dewdrop, a former Borrible, and his son Ernie.
The Adventurers are each assigned the name of the individual target of the High Command that they are to assassinate: Napoleon Boot, the suspicious and cynical Borrible; Chalotte, the tough and brave girl Borrible; Vulgarian (Vulge), frail-looking, but "tough as nails"; Bingo, always cheerful; Sydney, another female and an animal-lover; Stonks, strong and kind-hearted; Torreycanyon, light-hearted with a knack for mechanics; Orococco, the jovial, black Borrible. Napoleon, Chalotte, Sydney, Vulge, Bingo, Stonks, Torreycanyon, and Orococco set out to squash the Rumble threat - but other Borribles have secret agendas and personal vendettas of their own which create an even greater threat than the Rumbles ever were. The supposedly straightforward adventure
dominoes into a desperate fight for the very existence of Borrible life.
The Borribles Go For Broke was first published in 1981 by The Bodley Head
in the United Kingdom
.
All this leads the Borribles deep in to Wendel territory beneath the streets of Wandsworth, and down into a shifting tunnel of mud dug deep beneath the mudflats of the Wendel River.
The Borribles: Across the Dark Metropolis was first published in 1986 by Pan Books
in the United Kingdom
.
), a section of the London police driven on by the fanatical Inspector Sussworth (an allusion to the sus law
s) and dedicated to finding Borribles and clipping their ears is determined to wipe them out. The Borribles decide to escort Sam the horse to safety in Neasden and then return to the old way of life of independence and freedom. They begin their journey Across the Dark Metropolis, a journey that tests the courage and cunning of the Adventurers to the limits.
The Borrible Trilogy is also in print in the following languages:
The Borrible Trilogy has been in print in the following languages, but is currently out of print:
. In 2004 CUBA Pictures, the film development arm of literary agents Curtis Brown
, is developing a film adaptation, penned for release around 2012.
. Each member of the High Command, in fact, corresponds directly to one of the main characters of The Wombles:
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
writer Michael de Larrabeiti
Michael de Larrabeiti
Michael de Larrabeiti was an English novelist and travel writer. He is best known for writing The Borrible Trilogy, which has been cited as an influence by writers in the New Weird movement.-Early life:...
. The three volumes in the trilogy are The Borribles, The Borribles Go For Broke, and The Borribles: Across the Dark Metropolis. Each book contains a separate story but together they form an overall larger story, and as such should be read in succession. The books also become progressively more serious in tone and themes.
The Borrible Trilogy can be seen to subvert the mainstream of children's literature in that it does not attempt to gloss over grunge, pain, and violence. The language of the book is true to the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
streets, including various instances of swearing
Profanity
Profanity is a show of disrespect, or a desecration or debasement of someone or something. Profanity can take the form of words, expressions, gestures, or other social behaviors that are socially constructed or interpreted as insulting, rude, vulgar, obscene, desecrating, or other forms.The...
. Though critically acclaimed, the books have been the subject of much controversy over the often graphic violence and plethora of bad language. These factors created much controversy among reviewers and contributed to the failure of the first volume of the trilogy to be paperbacked in the UK. The controversy surrounding The Borribles caused the book and its two sequels to go underground
Underground art
Underground art, as with underground music and underground film, is a term that seeks to describe art forms that are aloof to the mainstream art world, are illegal, taboo, unconventional, rebellious or revolutionary...
for years. However, in June 2002 the trilogy was republished in one volume in the UK by Pan Macmillan as a trade paperback with an introduction by China Miéville
China Miéville
China Tom Miéville is an award-winning English fantasy fiction writer. He is fond of describing his work as "weird fiction" , and belongs to a loose group of writers sometimes called New Weird. He is also active in left-wing politics as a member of the Socialist Workers Party...
; in April 2003, the UK branch of Tor Books
Tor Books
Tor Books is one of two imprints of Tom Doherty Associates LLC, based in New York City. It is noted for its science fiction and fantasy titles. Tom Doherty Associates also publishes mainstream fiction, mystery, and occasional military history titles under its Forge imprint. The company was founded...
reissued the trilogy in a smaller paperback
Paperback
Paperback, softback or softcover describe and refer to a book by the nature of its binding. The covers of such books are usually made of paper or paperboard, and are usually held together with glue rather than stitches or staples...
volume. Tor released the trilogy as three separate paperback volumes in the USA in late 2005.
The books have a strong anti-authoritarian
Anti-authoritarian
Anti-authoritarianism is opposition to authoritarianism, which is defined as a "political doctrine advocating the principle of absolute rule: absolutism, autocracy, despotism, dictatorship, totalitarianism." Anti-authoritarians usually believe in full equality before the law and strong civil...
flair, with the neat, orderly and boring adult world positioned in direct contrast to the wild, scruffy and exciting world of the Borribles. Along with structure and organisation, materialism
Materialism
In philosophy, the theory of materialism holds that the only thing that exists is matter; that all things are composed of material and all phenomena are the result of material interactions. In other words, matter is the only substance...
is heavily derided; the Borribles have fulfilling existences despite their lack of possessions, while those who crave material wealth are inevitably presented as villains. Comradeship and cooperation
Cooperation
Cooperation or co-operation is the process of working or acting together. In its simplest form it involves things working in harmony, side by side, while in its more complicated forms, it can involve something as complex as the inner workings of a human being or even the social patterns of a...
are also presented as highly laudable traits - the Borribles will go to any length and take any risk in order to protect one of their own. Though written as young adult fiction, the books deal with serious themes, most notably the debate over what causes are noble enough to die for and which aren't.
What is a Borrible?
Though the trilogy is set in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Borribles can be found in any large city. They are runaway children whose ears become pointed as a sign of their independence and cunning. As soon as a child is "borribled," he or she ceases to physically age and will maintain the appearance of a child forever – unless caught by the "Woolies," the police who, believing the Borribles' freedom
Freedom (political)
Political freedom is a central philosophy in Western history and political thought, and one of the most important features of democratic societies...
a threat to the social order, capture Borribles and "clip their ears". If their ears are clipped, they will begin to age like any normal human, and this is a prospect worse than death for Borribles, because it means growing into a boring, adventureless adulthood; for this reason, Borribles wear woollen hats pulled low over their ears.
Borribles are skinny, scruffy, and tough; they have nothing to do with money
Money
Money is any object or record that is generally accepted as payment for goods and services and repayment of debts in a given country or socio-economic context. The main functions of money are distinguished as: a medium of exchange; a unit of account; a store of value; and, occasionally in the past,...
, and steal what they need to survive: "Fruit of the barrow is enough for the Borrible," as one of the many Borrible proverbs states. Stealing just enough food to survive, they generally live in abandoned houses, though they will live wherever they can, existing on the edge of a dull adult world. Borribles aren't given their names at birth as is usual in most human societies; they must earn them through an adventure of some sort.
How long Borribles can live is never made quite clear. One character in The Borribles speaks of having been Borribled in the time of "the old queen" (although it is unclear whether this refers to Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
or Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
). Furthermore, although Borribles do not age physically, the wisdom they gain through their way of life and, in some cases, extreme old age, is often foregrounded in the books. Borribles are stated throughout the books to live forever. It is inferred that only the most cunning survive for excessively long periods of time.
Book 1: The Borribles
Michael de Larrabeiti
Michael de Larrabeiti was an English novelist and travel writer. He is best known for writing The Borrible Trilogy, which has been cited as an influence by writers in the New Weird movement.-Early life:...
's Borrible Trilogy. It was first published in the UK in 1976 by The Bodley Head
The Bodley Head
The Bodley Head is an English publishing house, founded in 1887 and existing as an independent entity until the 1970s. The name has been used as an imprint of Random House Children's Books since 1987...
, and in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1978 by Macmillan
Macmillan Publishers
Macmillan Publishers Ltd, also known as The Macmillan Group, is a privately held international publishing company owned by Georg von Holtzbrinck Publishing Group. It has offices in 41 countries worldwide and operates in more than thirty others.-History:...
Inc., New York. It was named one of the Best Books for 1978 by the American Library Association
American Library Association
The American Library Association is a non-profit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 62,000 members....
, and was shortlisted for the Whitbread Awards and the Other Award.
Plot summary
The stories begin with the discovery by the BatterseaBattersea
Battersea is an area of the London Borough of Wandsworth, England. It is an inner-city district of South London, situated on the south side of the River Thames, 2.9 miles south-west of Charing Cross. Battersea spans from Fairfield in the west to Queenstown in the east...
Chief-Lookout, Knocker, of a Rumble in Battersea Park
Battersea Park
Battersea Park is a 200 acre green space at Battersea in the London Borough of Wandsworth in England. It is situated on the south bank of the River Thames opposite Chelsea, and was opened in 1858....
. The Rumbles are rat-like creatures that live in an underground bunker in Rumbledom, and are hated by the Borribles for their riches, power, and haughtiness. Fearing a full-scale invasion of Battersea, each of the Borrible tribes across London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
send their best and brightest un-named members to form an elite hit squad, known as the Magnificent Eight or the Adventurers, with the purpose of infiltrating the Rumble bunker and eliminating the eight members of the Rumble High Command.
Rumbles are clearly a parody of the popular children's characters, the Wombles
WOMBLES
The WOMBLES are a loosely aligned anarchist and anti-capitalist group based in London...
of Wimbledon Common. On the way the Borribles also meet a particularly vicious parody of Steptoe and Son
Steptoe and Son
Steptoe and Son is a British sitcom written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson about two rag and bone men living in Oil Drum Lane, a fictional street in Shepherd's Bush, London. Four series were broadcast by the BBC from 1962 to 1965, followed by a second run from 1970 to 1974. Its theme tune, "Old...
(which was one of the most popular shows on TV at the time) in the form of Dewdrop, a former Borrible, and his son Ernie.
The Adventurers are each assigned the name of the individual target of the High Command that they are to assassinate: Napoleon Boot, the suspicious and cynical Borrible; Chalotte, the tough and brave girl Borrible; Vulgarian (Vulge), frail-looking, but "tough as nails"; Bingo, always cheerful; Sydney, another female and an animal-lover; Stonks, strong and kind-hearted; Torreycanyon, light-hearted with a knack for mechanics; Orococco, the jovial, black Borrible. Napoleon, Chalotte, Sydney, Vulge, Bingo, Stonks, Torreycanyon, and Orococco set out to squash the Rumble threat - but other Borribles have secret agendas and personal vendettas of their own which create an even greater threat than the Rumbles ever were. The supposedly straightforward adventure
Adventure
An adventure is defined as an exciting or unusual experience; it may also be a bold, usually risky undertaking, with an uncertain outcome. The term is often used to refer to activities with some potential for physical danger, such as skydiving, mountain climbing and or participating in extreme sports...
dominoes into a desperate fight for the very existence of Borrible life.
Book 2: The Borribles Go For Broke
The Bodley Head
The Bodley Head is an English publishing house, founded in 1887 and existing as an independent entity until the 1970s. The name has been used as an imprint of Random House Children's Books since 1987...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Plot summary
Following the adventures of "The Great Rumble Hunt" in the first volume of the trilogy, the second volume begins with the surviving adventurers' discovery that Sam the horse is still alive. In attempting to rescue him the Borribles are lured into danger both by the newly established Special Borrible Group, a branch of the police determined to wipe out the Borribles and their way of life, and by one of their own – Spiff, whose motives behind the mission to Rumbledom are slowly revealed.All this leads the Borribles deep in to Wendel territory beneath the streets of Wandsworth, and down into a shifting tunnel of mud dug deep beneath the mudflats of the Wendel River.
Book 3: The Borribles: Across the Dark Metropolis
Pan Books
Pan Books is an imprint which first became active in the 1940s and is now part of the British-based Macmillan Publishers owned by German publishers, Georg von Holtzbrinck Publishing Group....
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Plot summary
In The Borribles: Across the Dark Metropolis, Battersea is no longer safe for a Borrible. The SBG (an allusion to the Special Patrol GroupSpecial Patrol Group
The Special Patrol Group was a unit of Greater London's Metropolitan Police Service, responsible for providing a centrally-based mobile capability for combating serious public disorder and crime that could not be dealt with by local divisions....
), a section of the London police driven on by the fanatical Inspector Sussworth (an allusion to the sus law
Sus law
In England and Wales, the sus law was the informal name for a stop and search law that permitted a police officer to stop, search and potentially arrest people on suspicion of them being in breach of section 4 of the Vagrancy Act 1824.-1824 legislation:The power to act on "sus" was found in part...
s) and dedicated to finding Borribles and clipping their ears is determined to wipe them out. The Borribles decide to escort Sam the horse to safety in Neasden and then return to the old way of life of independence and freedom. They begin their journey Across the Dark Metropolis, a journey that tests the courage and cunning of the Adventurers to the limits.
The Borrible Trilogy in translation
The Borrible Trilogy is, as of 24 July 2006, in print in English in both the United States and the United Kingdom:- In the UK: The Borrible Trilogy. London: Tor, 2003. ISBN 0-330-49085-0.
- In the USA:
- The Borribles. New York: Tor, 2005. ISBN 0-7653-5005-X.
- The Borribles Go For Broke. New York: Tor, 2005. ISBN 0-7653-5006-8.
- The Borribles: Across the Dark Metropolis. New York: Tor, 2005. ISBN 0-7653-5007-6.
The Borrible Trilogy is also in print in the following languages:
- German:
- Die Borribles Auf zur Großen Rumbeljagd (translation of Book 1). Trans. Joachim Kalka. ???: Hobbit, 1996. ISBN 3-608-87511-5
- Die Borribles Im Labyrinth der Wendels (translation of Book 2). Trans. Joachim Kalka. ???: Hobbit, 1996. ISBN 3-608-87512-3
- Die Borribles Die Schleppnetzfahndung (translation of Book 3). Trans. Joachim Kalka. ???: Hobbit, 1996. ISBN 3-608-87513-1
- French:
- Les Zorribles (translation of Book 1). Trans. Alain Robert. Nantes: Librairie l'Atalante, 1994. ISBN 2-905158-87-5
- Gare Aux Zorribles (translation of Book 2). Trans. Alain Robert. Nantes: Librairie l'Atalante, 1995. ISBN 2-84172-004-7
- Les Zorribles Dans La Nuit (translation of Book 3). Trans. Alain Robert. Nantes: Librairie l'Atalante, 1996. ISBN 2-84172-023-3
- Italian
- I Borrible: Attacco a Rumbledonia (translation of Book 1). Trans. Annalisa Di Liddo. Roma: Fanucci, 2006. ISBN 88-347-1172-6.
- I Borrible: Alla riscossa (translation of Book 2). Trans. Annalisa Di Liddo. Roma: Fanucci, 2006. ISBN 88-347-1231-5.
- Japanese
The Borrible Trilogy has been in print in the following languages, but is currently out of print:
- Spanish
- Los Borribles (translation of Book 1). Trans. Joaquín Vidal. ???: Fontanella, 1984. ISBN 84-244-0527-7.
- Swedish
- Borriblarna och stora rumlarjakten (translation of Book 1). Trans. Sven Christer Swahn. Stockholm: Liber Förlag, 1983. ISBN 91-38-90273-7
- Borriblarna flyr för livet (translation of Book 2). Trans. Sven Christer Swahn. Stockholm: Liber Förlag, 1983. ISBN 91-38-90274-5
Film adaptation
The film rights for The Borrible Trilogy have been optioned many times but the project has always remained in development hellDevelopment hell
In the jargon of the media-industry, "development hell" is a period during which a film or other project is trapped in development...
. In 2004 CUBA Pictures, the film development arm of literary agents Curtis Brown
Curtis Brown
Curtis Lee "Curt" Brown, Jr. is an engineer, former NASA astronaut and retired United States Air Force Colonel.Colonel Brown graduated from East Bladen High School in Elizabethtown, North Carolina in 1974 and received a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the United States...
, is developing a film adaptation, penned for release around 2012.
Trivia
The Rumbles, who play a significant part in the first book, are in fact vicious satires of perennial children's favorites The WomblesThe Wombles
The Wombles are fictional pointy-nosed, furry creatures that live in burrows, where they help the environment by collecting and recycling rubbish in useful and ingenious ways. Wombles were created by author Elisabeth Beresford, originally appearing in a series of children's novels from 1968...
. Each member of the High Command, in fact, corresponds directly to one of the main characters of The Wombles:
- Vulgarian (Great Uncle Bulgaria)
- Bingo (Bungo)
- Chalotte (Madame Cholet)
- Torreycanyon (Tobermory)
- Orococco (Orinoco)
- Stonks (Tomsk)
- Napoleon Boot (Wellington)
- Sydney (Miss Adelaide)