The Borribles

by Michael de Larrabeiti

Book Overview

"What is a Borrible?" Borribles are runaways who dwell in the shadows of London. Apart from their pointed ears, they look just like ordinary children. They live by their wits and a few Borrible... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0441071708
• ISBN13: 9780441071708
• Release Date: January 1979
• Publisher: Ace
• Length: 305 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Don't miss this book.

Like many here I read this book as a young man. Borribles are children that have chosen to run away from home and live on the street. As they live on the street their ears become pointed, which is why they wear hats to hide the fact from those that hunt borribles. Once you become a Borrible you will remain a kid forever...unless... Many of the cops that work the beat that Borribles can be found are on the look out for them. If a Borrible is captured, then the cops will clip his ears and he will turn back into a normal kid. People that were once Borribles become insanely jealous of those that still are Borribles and also hunt them. Couple this with extra large, intellegent sewer rats that are the sworn enemy of Borribles, and you can see that a Borribles existance is a bit dicey. As a Borrible you can't get a job, so they live by their wits, stealing their supper and defending themselves with thier trusty slingshots. They live in small tribes / street gangs throughout London scratching a rough existance from the sewers and back alleys. Forming alliances and rivalries with each other as well. The first book of Borribles, a Borrible finds a scout Rumble (really big sewer rat) and his tribe elects to seek out the rumbles and disrupt any plans of attack they may have. Think about a tiny Delta Force unit with sling shots and a candy fixation. Gritty and Tough as the Outsiders with a little Peter Pan thrown in, a great read. I highly recommend this book.

Blast from the past

This book brings back a lot of memories. I read it in my teen years, and it reminds me of one of my English teachers who took the trouble to track down and buy me one of the sequels. That was an act of kindness I never forgot, and why I think teachers are such marvellous people to this day (I had excellent ones.)The basic premise is of children who run away from home to an underworld/sub-world (yes, it's a kind of urban fantasy). The new arrivals have no name until they can prove they deserve one, and they can earn several. I don't remember the plot, but I know that the tribal/merit-based culture and the way they interacted was really interesting to me, and I'm getting ready to track down a copy for my niece who will soon be of an age to enjoy this one.

Borribles pre- Harry Potter adventure in a realistic London

First time I read the Borribles was at my grandmothers' gas station. It was on the rack for young readers. But that was clearly marketing's mistake. It should've been in the adult section for the down and dirty realsitic language, in your face emotional impact and vulgar settings. M.DeLarrabetti provides a quick read in that once you've read 5 pages, you've already absorbed enough information to fill what would take another author 50 pages. DeLarrabetti has the rare talent to have the readers own imagination work as feverently with providing description / details as reading with the eyes. This has been a story that has stuck with me for the last 15 years. I still recall the characters, places and events. From Dallas to New Orleans to Northern Virginia I have been reminded of what I once read. And seen sides of the charachters (namely Charlotte and Orrocco and Knocker) in the people I've met during my life. I've praised / recommendated The Borribles to my friends and gave away my only copy to one on her way to Seattle. That was 7 years ago. Does anyone have a copy they can spare?For the past year I've heard the heralds of Harry Potter. Harry Potter had to come from somewhere, and the Borribles provides an awfully good prequel to a less magical age of the depths of London and greater Europe. Perhaps Harry Potter's author (name escapes me at the moment) has read The Borribles?It can definately make you WANT to believe things aren't always as they appear. That's for sure. And who can read this book and not WANT to imagine a life before round ears? What name might you win?

Fantastical, Brilliant and Fun

I first read the Borribles trilogy when I was about 13 - and haven't stopped thinking about it since. Having been an avid fan (along with my brother whom I caught "secretly" practicing with a catapult in the back garden), it's been amazing to come to London and discover the settings of the stories. I used to block book the trilogy from my local library in Durban - re-reading the stories constantly - totally captured by the imaginative tellings. If ever there was a set of books that deserved to be put back into print - these are they. Please sort this out, publishers???!!

Borribles Trilogy: best appreciated by Londoners

Why isn't this fantastic trilogy available anymore? I was lucky enough to borrow the books from my local library but since then ( about 10 years ago) I haven't been able to find them again! This trilogy is a MUST for anyone who likes urban fantasy and adventure. And if you're acquainted with London, then you have the added bonus of knowing where all the action takes place! If anyone reading this knows how I can get hold of the whole trilogy, don't hesitate to contact me!