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Tunnels #4
Closer
Closer to victory...or closer to death? An army of darkness is on the Who won't escape with their life? The fourth book in the New York Times Bestselling TUNNELS series!At long last reunited with his dad, Will now spends his days exploring the "land of the second sun," decoding the cryptic glyphs carved into its three mysterious temples--or eyeing the wild animals with renegade girl Elliott. Chester, meanwhile, has finally returned Topsoil, where his homecoming is rapidly becoming a horror show. But an army of darkness is on the march. And the ruthless Rebeccas have once more cheated death. With a corps of cold-blooded Limiters at their command, they're determined to hunt Will to the bitter innards of the earth. This time, who WON'T escape with their life?
549 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 30, 2010
114 people are currently reading
3322 people want to read
About the author
Roderick Gordon
26 books649 followersRoderick Gordon is the author of the Tunnels series of books. Born in 1960, he grew up in Highgate, North London, and eventually went to University College where he dabbled in genetics and listened to Joy Division. After graduating without the faintest idea what he wanted to do for the rest of his life, he spent some time in the wilderness when he played in a few bands, then somehow fell into a job doing corporate finance for an investment bank in the City of London. He genuinely thought this was all that the future held for him until he was made redundant in 2001.
But Roderick surprised himself by working on a book with help from an old university friend and, in 2005, he self-published it as The Highfield Mole, which caught the attention of Barry Cunningham, founder of Chicken House, a publisher of children’s books. Following a period of editing, Barry republished it as Tunnels in July 2007. After intense media interest around its launch, Tunnels was published in almost forty countries and was a New York Times Bestseller, achieving sales of more than a million copies worldwide. Shortly after publication the film rights were purchased by US-based Relativity Media, and Mikael Håfström has been appointed as director. Roderick followed Tunnels with further books in the series, Deeper, Freefall, Closer, Spiral and, finally, Terminal in 2013.
He has just released a new book called Summerhouse Land in a very limited run of hardbacks. Please see www.summerhouseland.com for more details.
But Roderick surprised himself by working on a book with help from an old university friend and, in 2005, he self-published it as The Highfield Mole, which caught the attention of Barry Cunningham, founder of Chicken House, a publisher of children’s books. Following a period of editing, Barry republished it as Tunnels in July 2007. After intense media interest around its launch, Tunnels was published in almost forty countries and was a New York Times Bestseller, achieving sales of more than a million copies worldwide. Shortly after publication the film rights were purchased by US-based Relativity Media, and Mikael Håfström has been appointed as director. Roderick followed Tunnels with further books in the series, Deeper, Freefall, Closer, Spiral and, finally, Terminal in 2013.
He has just released a new book called Summerhouse Land in a very limited run of hardbacks. Please see www.summerhouseland.com for more details.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 238 reviews
August 23, 2014
Well, that was another rollercoaster.
My good friend who read these before me said, in answer to my question about whether they were still as good this far in to the series as they were at the start, that they were getting better if anything. Perhaps, yes, perhaps. Certainly no worse, still intense and vaguely infuriating in the way of all slightly bleak situations that aren't going the way one would hope they might.
The series has a terrible, though entertaining, habit of people not dying when they should have. Kill the damn characters god damn it! The authors need to read Game of Thrones or something. It's not every day in your life you're practically screaming at a book to kill a young girl or two, but still, that's the beautiful magic of the story - exposing your inner psychopath.
The Journey to the Centre of the Earth feel was almost blotted out by going further than that novel ever did in terms of the hollow earth theory. Certainly stretching the plausibility factor, even within the fantasy frame of reference, but it was tempered by a bit more modern day human intervention and a decent weaving of three threads/locations for most of the story.
So many of the characters appear to be Darklit, under mind control, as sleeper agents, that it reminds me of playing Yuri's Revenge (Red Alert series). I always played as Yuri's side, it was awesome, now I feel guilty for behaving like a Styx.
Have already ordered the next in the series, just two left. Mind you, from the way this book just ended, I really can't see how the goodies are going to achieve a Disney ending.
My good friend who read these before me said, in answer to my question about whether they were still as good this far in to the series as they were at the start, that they were getting better if anything. Perhaps, yes, perhaps. Certainly no worse, still intense and vaguely infuriating in the way of all slightly bleak situations that aren't going the way one would hope they might.
The series has a terrible, though entertaining, habit of people not dying when they should have. Kill the damn characters god damn it! The authors need to read Game of Thrones or something. It's not every day in your life you're practically screaming at a book to kill a young girl or two, but still, that's the beautiful magic of the story - exposing your inner psychopath.
The Journey to the Centre of the Earth feel was almost blotted out by going further than that novel ever did in terms of the hollow earth theory. Certainly stretching the plausibility factor, even within the fantasy frame of reference, but it was tempered by a bit more modern day human intervention and a decent weaving of three threads/locations for most of the story.
So many of the characters appear to be Darklit, under mind control, as sleeper agents, that it reminds me of playing Yuri's Revenge (Red Alert series). I always played as Yuri's side, it was awesome, now I feel guilty for behaving like a Styx.
Have already ordered the next in the series, just two left. Mind you, from the way this book just ended, I really can't see how the goodies are going to achieve a Disney ending.
March 27, 2016
this books are totally underrated
I didn't like one thing in last chapter but generally - epic
I didn't like one thing in last chapter but generally - epic
July 30, 2010
Brilliant addition to the Tunnels series. Very fast paced and action heavy, it was a quick read and better than the book that came before (Freefall, which was also excellent).
This book is an excellent addition to the Tunnels series. It follows on from 'Tunnels' 'Deeper' and 'Freefall'.
'Closer' is as much a page-turner as the other three and it is slightly easier to read and enjoy. This could be partially related to the plot being interchanged between different members in the group, as well as different locations, with the team being split up between Topsoil and under the earth.
The action is believable and well paced throughout and the comedy and drama are an asset. The main characters of Will, Chester, Elliot and Drake are very engaging and the story flicks between the four of them.
This book does contain deaths and some pretty gory details that are slightly unusual to find in kids stories. But they add to the story!
This book will not make much sense if the previous three have not been read in the correct order, so the others are recommended :)
Overall this book is a cracking read and is highly recommended!
I_Am_Artemis
New Zealand :)
This book is an excellent addition to the Tunnels series. It follows on from 'Tunnels' 'Deeper' and 'Freefall'.
'Closer' is as much a page-turner as the other three and it is slightly easier to read and enjoy. This could be partially related to the plot being interchanged between different members in the group, as well as different locations, with the team being split up between Topsoil and under the earth.
The action is believable and well paced throughout and the comedy and drama are an asset. The main characters of Will, Chester, Elliot and Drake are very engaging and the story flicks between the four of them.
This book does contain deaths and some pretty gory details that are slightly unusual to find in kids stories. But they add to the story!
This book will not make much sense if the previous three have not been read in the correct order, so the others are recommended :)
Overall this book is a cracking read and is highly recommended!
I_Am_Artemis
New Zealand :)
June 28, 2024
Pierwsza część, której nie słucham jako reread i o matko, ile się tutaj działo! Nie wiem jeszcze, czy jestem fanem tego, w jaką stronę idzie ta historia (chociaż mogłam się tego spodziewać), ale jednocześnie jestem ogromnie ciekawa kolejnego tomu. Ten tom obfitował w plot twisty (parę razy otwierałam paszczę ze zdziwienia) i mam wrażenie, że niekiedy bohaterowie stoją na rozdrożu i nie wiadomo, czy w tym konkretnym składzie będą do końca. Niesamowicie fascynują mnie Rebecci i to chyba od samego początku, ale cokolwiek się stanie - ufam autorom, że będzie to niezapomniana a przygoda, bo oryginalności tej historii nie można odmówić.
January 26, 2025
I’m going to call this a 3.4 rounded down. I don’t know what happened between book 3 and 4: maybe the authors changed editors, maybe the problem is that I read the UK version instead of the US, or maybe they just decided to take a different plot direction for the last 3 books of the series. Whatever the cause, there is a noticeable drop off in quality.
The first 3 books are tightly written, the pacing is good, and the characters feel consistent. Then it’s like they kind of forgot how to write complexity into characters. The dialogue feels cheap if that makes sense. Even though the stakes are higher and things are getting crazier, they feel so much less important because of the way the characters’ responses to those situations are written. Plus, at the very end of the book, there’s a whole unnecessary 4th wall break when they talk about a children’s book being written about this story. Weird.
But, overall, still liked the plot and the settings. I thought they did a great job with keeping it interesting, just thought the characters left lots to be desired.
Age range: 16-21
There’s also a big jump in inappropriate content in this one. Again, maybe because I read the UK version? Not sure if that changes things. Language, violence, death, cannibalism.
The first 3 books are tightly written, the pacing is good, and the characters feel consistent. Then it’s like they kind of forgot how to write complexity into characters. The dialogue feels cheap if that makes sense. Even though the stakes are higher and things are getting crazier, they feel so much less important because of the way the characters’ responses to those situations are written. Plus, at the very end of the book, there’s a whole unnecessary 4th wall break when they talk about a children’s book being written about this story. Weird.
But, overall, still liked the plot and the settings. I thought they did a great job with keeping it interesting, just thought the characters left lots to be desired.
Age range: 16-21
There’s also a big jump in inappropriate content in this one. Again, maybe because I read the UK version? Not sure if that changes things. Language, violence, death, cannibalism.
April 7, 2011
This book is called Closer it is the 3rd book in the Tunnel series by Roderick Gordon. Its is about Will Burrows a kid who's dad discovers an underground world and goes missing. So Will and his friend Chester follow him underground to find out where he went. But Will gets separated from Chester and gets back with his dad, his father finds out that Will's supposed sister Rebbecca has a twin and they work for the evil group called the Styx, Wills father jumps off the edge of a place called "The Pore" Will has no choice but to follow him down into an unknown world.
I think the best part about this book is when Will and the renegade Elliot are exploring the world with Wills dad and they discover pyramids in the jungle. Also when Will, Elliot and his father discover the world so do the Rebbecca twins and the Styx and they also find a German city hidden deep within a mountain. I liked that part because it was interesting and suspenseful. I also think that there is no real bad things about this book that I can see. I found it a really good book.
The characters in this book are very interesting. There is Will who's parents are divorced and he travels the world with his dad Roger Burrows who is an archeologist and travels to different places around the world. There is Elliot who is a renegade and was living with Drake (another renegade) around the deeps a place under the Colony (the underground city) on the run from the Styx. Her father was a Styx but her mother was a Colonist. There is also Chester who is a tall kid and Will's best friend, he accompanied Will to the Colony but got separated from him in the deeps. Drake is another renegade who helps Will and Chester but escaped topsoil (above ground) and teams up with Elliot's father who he calls Eddie to try to get Will and Elliot topsoil.
I really liked the book.
I think the best part about this book is when Will and the renegade Elliot are exploring the world with Wills dad and they discover pyramids in the jungle. Also when Will, Elliot and his father discover the world so do the Rebbecca twins and the Styx and they also find a German city hidden deep within a mountain. I liked that part because it was interesting and suspenseful. I also think that there is no real bad things about this book that I can see. I found it a really good book.
The characters in this book are very interesting. There is Will who's parents are divorced and he travels the world with his dad Roger Burrows who is an archeologist and travels to different places around the world. There is Elliot who is a renegade and was living with Drake (another renegade) around the deeps a place under the Colony (the underground city) on the run from the Styx. Her father was a Styx but her mother was a Colonist. There is also Chester who is a tall kid and Will's best friend, he accompanied Will to the Colony but got separated from him in the deeps. Drake is another renegade who helps Will and Chester but escaped topsoil (above ground) and teams up with Elliot's father who he calls Eddie to try to get Will and Elliot topsoil.
I really liked the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2011
Ages 10-14. Book 4 of the Tunnel series. In this futuristic world, Will, Elliott and Dr. Burrows have left Rebecca One for dead and have taken a "journey to the center of the earth", where they've discovered pyramids and vestiges of an early civilization. Chester is taken hostage by crazy Martha on their journey Topsoil (aboveground), and must escape to find his parents. Drake, taken for dead, has made an alliance with Elliott's father, a Styx (the enemy) who claims to be against the Styx's campaign to overtake the Topsoilers. Meanwhile, the Rebecca twins are out for revenge and team with the New Germanians (think WWII Nazis) to recover the Dominion virus, their vehicle for wiping out the Topsoilers, from Will who stole it from them. The tendrils of this story weave together in the end, but leave us hanging for the next installment. I read it as a stand-alone but my understanding of these complicated, layered worlds and the relationships of the characters would have really benefitted from having read the earlier books.
February 22, 2015
Closer by Roderick Gordon is a very interesting book. Will is in the center of the earth, in a place no one knows even exists. He and his friend Elliot have to escape from this world deep inside the earth to prevent the evil Styx from using a virus to take over the outside world. On the surface, Drake, another of Will's friends, plots against the Styx and tries to stop them. I liked this book because it had a lot of action and suspense, like when Drake is carrying out on his plan to stop the Styx from getting new viruses. I would recommend this book to people who like the fantasy genre and who are 12+ years old to understand the plot. Overall this book is interesting with a story line that is very complex, which is why the book is good.
March 28, 2011
...You've probably read the other 3 tunnels books... if you haven't.... suffice it to say.... Get. Them. Read. Them. Love. Them.
I love this series.
P.S. If you have red this... poor Chester gets all the badness... badosity? Badovity?
I love this series.
P.S. If you have red this... poor Chester gets all the badness... badosity? Badovity?
January 7, 2016
My favourite book from Tunnels series!!!!
December 8, 2025
Alleluja
Skończyłam to.
Sama w to nie wierzę.
Czuję się jakbym kurde studia skończyła czy coś (albo db, nie przesadzajmy. More like... Jakbym skończyła kurs na lepoleku 😌)
Ale no anyways. Ngl. Wkurzał mnie ten tom. Przy poprzednich się lepiej bawiłam a to mnie strasznie męczyło (co widać po tym, że czytałam to chyba z pół roku XD... tho na moją obronę, miałam to czytać na semkach. Ale jak przeczytałam moment z kanibalizmem na reumatologii to stwierdziłam, że ja nie umiem utrzymać przy tym kamiennej twarzy i to się nie nadaje na semki. A no poza nimi nie mialam motywacji 😩)
Wracając: podobała mi się końcówka (jak już pisałam przy moim updacie - kocham robienie z faktycznej fizycznej książki, książki w powieści - if u know u know, tak poza tym to brzmi jak masło maślane ale whatever) + to co się stało z mrs Burrows (I mean przez 'podobało mi się' brzmię pewnie jak psychopata, ale no chodzi mi o to, że teraz weszła na jakiś kurde wyższy poziom i ma jakieś dziwne zdolności. Nie to, że kinda ją torturowali)
+ten pomysł z światem pod ziemią też był spoko
Ale reszta... Eeeh? I mean. Na upartego. Ale no... Nudziło mnie to w 80%. (a sprawa z chesterem straumatyzowała)
Więc no sorry not sorry ale 3⭐ to jest max. I są bardzo naciągane.
Skończyłam to.
Sama w to nie wierzę.
Czuję się jakbym kurde studia skończyła czy coś (albo db, nie przesadzajmy. More like... Jakbym skończyła kurs na lepoleku 😌)
Ale no anyways. Ngl. Wkurzał mnie ten tom. Przy poprzednich się lepiej bawiłam a to mnie strasznie męczyło (co widać po tym, że czytałam to chyba z pół roku XD... tho na moją obronę, miałam to czytać na semkach. Ale jak przeczytałam moment z kanibalizmem na reumatologii to stwierdziłam, że ja nie umiem utrzymać przy tym kamiennej twarzy i to się nie nadaje na semki. A no poza nimi nie mialam motywacji 😩)
Wracając: podobała mi się końcówka (jak już pisałam przy moim updacie - kocham robienie z faktycznej fizycznej książki, książki w powieści - if u know u know, tak poza tym to brzmi jak masło maślane ale whatever) + to co się stało z mrs Burrows (I mean przez 'podobało mi się' brzmię pewnie jak psychopata, ale no chodzi mi o to, że teraz weszła na jakiś kurde wyższy poziom i ma jakieś dziwne zdolności. Nie to, że kinda ją torturowali)
+ten pomysł z światem pod ziemią też był spoko
Ale reszta... Eeeh? I mean. Na upartego. Ale no... Nudziło mnie to w 80%. (a sprawa z chesterem straumatyzowała)
Więc no sorry not sorry ale 3⭐ to jest max. I są bardzo naciągane.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 18, 2010
I had been waiting for months for the fourth installment of the Tunnels series, "Closer", to be released.
And finally it has.
I read the book in a couple of days, so caught up was I in the ever-developing story of Will and friends.
The previous three novels have been a joy for me, pure ecstasy.
I adore the whole world Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams have spun from their creative imaginations and I am so glad I have had the privilege of seeing the plot bloom and thrive, pulsate with excitement and pound with tension.
I was quite worried "Closer" wouldn't be as captivating and majestic as its predecessors...
WHAT THE HELL HAD I BEEN WORRIED ABOUT??!!?!
Closer is just as brilliant and breath-taking as the others, maybe even more so as a whole new world-slash-mega metropolis unfurls word by word, page by page. My eyes drank in every description and I felt dizzy with anticipation as each character, be it Will, Chester, Mrs Burrows, Drake, Elliot or Dr Burrows, fell into more dilemmas and drastic situations.
All the characters become more and more realistic in terms of actions taken and dialogue spoken as the series progresses, and my fvourite character has to be Drake (Will being a close second) who i think i may have a little crush on thanks to all his machoism and stuff.
He is so awesome and just plain manly. i love his character, the roughness and his far-from-perfect character.
The story is fast-paced, with only a few dull parts. But the rest was so great that i read through these irregular pages smoothly and without much boredom.
Now for the actual plot: well, i don't think I should divulge on much as the whole story changes and develops at a fast rate, nearly every chapter adding another ingredient to the tantalisingly complicated recipe.
O-kaaay, maybe just a small part of the plot, since i can't resist :)
Basically, Chester and Martha are back in the outer crust of this exciting and thrilling world we live in (in this series, anyway).
They contact Drake (swoon), but Martha, messed-up freak that she is, decides she rather likes Chester to herself (Im sure you all remember the nightmare that was Martha's shack in Freefall, wherein she nearly let Elliot die just to keep dear Will and Chester, her "replacement sons", all to herself).
Well, I am with Chester all the way as he decided he didnt much like or trust the creepy lady anymore (and i doubt if he ever did).
So, as thta strand of the novel lengthens and thickens we jump to the Rebecca twins (does anyone need reminding of these two brats? No? I thought so).
Brat No.1 is wounded after Elliot bombed them at the end of Freefall...I admit not having remembered this until Closer informed me very helpfully.
Its upto Brat No.2 to save her sister, and herself.
And she does this, too, in the msot extraordinary manner: (MILD SPOILER WHICH WONT RUIN ANYTHING (I HOPE:)))
She finds another world. Inside our world.
Geez, I thought having the frigging Styx colony beneath our feet to be exhilarating enough, but obviously dear old Roderick found just one secret society to be not nearly enough; after all, what's one secret world when you can just shove in another to heat things up, right?
I admit it: it's very cool to have 3 worlds crammed into one, each layer offering up another.
However, a flaw which made me enjoy the novel a bit less was the fact i just couldnt imagine this inner world in my head. At all.
I mean, where the hell did the sun come from? And how could there even be a sky under the crust, never mind a blue one at that?
I wasnt sure whether it was just me, but after my brother had started reading the book (he's also a massive Tunnels fan), he also complained of the problem.
Hey, maybe it was just a family trait: Genes of the Way-Too-Unimaginative.
Or it could be because we're both too young to envision it in our heads (I've just turned 16, while he's 19)
But i doubt it.
Not that this really affects the story, as the words are good enough to keep me hooked and itching to gobble up the next page, the next chapter (metaphorically speaking, of course ;))
Will, Elliot and Dr Burrows are where we left them, in that hot, humid tropical paradise, that "world within a world" which is home to animals like quaggas who are extinct in the outer crust (apparently. i've never heard of them, but i am trusting Dr Burrows' expertise here) but alive and kicking down below.
Dr Burrows seems adamant he's seen a German plane, a Suka used in World WarII, but Will and Elliot aint so sure.
Elliot spends most days working on escape plans and weapons and emergency just-in-case shelters as well as foraging for food, whislt Dr Burrows' whole existence revolves around his journal and findings, of the pyramid markings and any signs of historical importance down there.
Will is usually stuck between anxious-to-please mode with his father, or heart-pounding-unconsciously-with-desire mode for brave, feisty Elliot.
By the way, this little insertion of a love-subplot is interesting and it has obviously been coming for a while now.
And a love triangle doestn seem far off, what with Chester also being very fond of dear old Elliot (though let's hope Martha doesnt become aware of his adorable crush, as she'd probably react as if he was telling her she only had two days left to live.
Not that it wouldnt be amusing :D)
Drake (double swoon) is in a bad way when we first meet him, as he resorts to desperate measures (i.e. alcohol) to block out the failed disaster that was his so-caled Destroy-the-Styx mission. I swear, i had thought he had stumbled inot the character of a typical useless British slob.
THANK GOD for Eddie is all I can say.
He's Elliot's dad and claims he wants to help Drake destroy the Styx colony so his daughter is safe, or something like that.
Now, i would go on, but i figure that's enough to make you desperate for more spoilers and go out to buy/borrow a copy of "Closer", the fourth book in the adorable "Tunnels" series.
It's worth it. I swear.
And finally it has.
I read the book in a couple of days, so caught up was I in the ever-developing story of Will and friends.
The previous three novels have been a joy for me, pure ecstasy.
I adore the whole world Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams have spun from their creative imaginations and I am so glad I have had the privilege of seeing the plot bloom and thrive, pulsate with excitement and pound with tension.
I was quite worried "Closer" wouldn't be as captivating and majestic as its predecessors...
WHAT THE HELL HAD I BEEN WORRIED ABOUT??!!?!
Closer is just as brilliant and breath-taking as the others, maybe even more so as a whole new world-slash-mega metropolis unfurls word by word, page by page. My eyes drank in every description and I felt dizzy with anticipation as each character, be it Will, Chester, Mrs Burrows, Drake, Elliot or Dr Burrows, fell into more dilemmas and drastic situations.
All the characters become more and more realistic in terms of actions taken and dialogue spoken as the series progresses, and my fvourite character has to be Drake (Will being a close second) who i think i may have a little crush on thanks to all his machoism and stuff.
He is so awesome and just plain manly. i love his character, the roughness and his far-from-perfect character.
The story is fast-paced, with only a few dull parts. But the rest was so great that i read through these irregular pages smoothly and without much boredom.
Now for the actual plot: well, i don't think I should divulge on much as the whole story changes and develops at a fast rate, nearly every chapter adding another ingredient to the tantalisingly complicated recipe.
O-kaaay, maybe just a small part of the plot, since i can't resist :)
Basically, Chester and Martha are back in the outer crust of this exciting and thrilling world we live in (in this series, anyway).
They contact Drake (swoon), but Martha, messed-up freak that she is, decides she rather likes Chester to herself (Im sure you all remember the nightmare that was Martha's shack in Freefall, wherein she nearly let Elliot die just to keep dear Will and Chester, her "replacement sons", all to herself).
Well, I am with Chester all the way as he decided he didnt much like or trust the creepy lady anymore (and i doubt if he ever did).
So, as thta strand of the novel lengthens and thickens we jump to the Rebecca twins (does anyone need reminding of these two brats? No? I thought so).
Brat No.1 is wounded after Elliot bombed them at the end of Freefall...I admit not having remembered this until Closer informed me very helpfully.
Its upto Brat No.2 to save her sister, and herself.
And she does this, too, in the msot extraordinary manner: (MILD SPOILER WHICH WONT RUIN ANYTHING (I HOPE:)))
She finds another world. Inside our world.
Geez, I thought having the frigging Styx colony beneath our feet to be exhilarating enough, but obviously dear old Roderick found just one secret society to be not nearly enough; after all, what's one secret world when you can just shove in another to heat things up, right?
I admit it: it's very cool to have 3 worlds crammed into one, each layer offering up another.
However, a flaw which made me enjoy the novel a bit less was the fact i just couldnt imagine this inner world in my head. At all.
I mean, where the hell did the sun come from? And how could there even be a sky under the crust, never mind a blue one at that?
I wasnt sure whether it was just me, but after my brother had started reading the book (he's also a massive Tunnels fan), he also complained of the problem.
Hey, maybe it was just a family trait: Genes of the Way-Too-Unimaginative.
Or it could be because we're both too young to envision it in our heads (I've just turned 16, while he's 19)
But i doubt it.
Not that this really affects the story, as the words are good enough to keep me hooked and itching to gobble up the next page, the next chapter (metaphorically speaking, of course ;))
Will, Elliot and Dr Burrows are where we left them, in that hot, humid tropical paradise, that "world within a world" which is home to animals like quaggas who are extinct in the outer crust (apparently. i've never heard of them, but i am trusting Dr Burrows' expertise here) but alive and kicking down below.
Dr Burrows seems adamant he's seen a German plane, a Suka used in World WarII, but Will and Elliot aint so sure.
Elliot spends most days working on escape plans and weapons and emergency just-in-case shelters as well as foraging for food, whislt Dr Burrows' whole existence revolves around his journal and findings, of the pyramid markings and any signs of historical importance down there.
Will is usually stuck between anxious-to-please mode with his father, or heart-pounding-unconsciously-with-desire mode for brave, feisty Elliot.
By the way, this little insertion of a love-subplot is interesting and it has obviously been coming for a while now.
And a love triangle doestn seem far off, what with Chester also being very fond of dear old Elliot (though let's hope Martha doesnt become aware of his adorable crush, as she'd probably react as if he was telling her she only had two days left to live.
Not that it wouldnt be amusing :D)
Drake (double swoon) is in a bad way when we first meet him, as he resorts to desperate measures (i.e. alcohol) to block out the failed disaster that was his so-caled Destroy-the-Styx mission. I swear, i had thought he had stumbled inot the character of a typical useless British slob.
THANK GOD for Eddie is all I can say.
He's Elliot's dad and claims he wants to help Drake destroy the Styx colony so his daughter is safe, or something like that.
Now, i would go on, but i figure that's enough to make you desperate for more spoilers and go out to buy/borrow a copy of "Closer", the fourth book in the adorable "Tunnels" series.
It's worth it. I swear.
January 19, 2025
4,5/5⭐
Will wraz z doktorem Burrowsem i Elliott dostają się jeszcze głębiej we wnętrze Ziemi, gdzie odkrywają niesamowite tajemnice. Oczywiście nadal czyha na nich niebezpieczeństwo w postaci Rebek, pragnących za wszelką cenę ich powstrzymać oraz odzyskać wirus Dominium. Tymczasem Chester będzie musiał zmierzyć się z Martą, która staje się zdecydowanie zbyt nadopiekuńcza, a Drake wraz z tym, którym nigdy się nie spodziewał, że będzie współpracował, przygotowują się do walki, aby ocalić ludzkość.
Bardzo mi się podobała ta książka, szczególnie druga połowa. Bardzo ciekawy zabieg wykorzystany w zakończeniu, epilog wprowadzana napięcie, którego zresztą na przestrzeni całej powieści nie brakowało. Bohaterowie i relacje między nimi wydają się coraz bardziej realistyczne, pojawiają się nowe postaci, miejsca i stworzenia - co jest bardzo fascynujące. Dużo się dzieje.
Will wraz z doktorem Burrowsem i Elliott dostają się jeszcze głębiej we wnętrze Ziemi, gdzie odkrywają niesamowite tajemnice. Oczywiście nadal czyha na nich niebezpieczeństwo w postaci Rebek, pragnących za wszelką cenę ich powstrzymać oraz odzyskać wirus Dominium. Tymczasem Chester będzie musiał zmierzyć się z Martą, która staje się zdecydowanie zbyt nadopiekuńcza, a Drake wraz z tym, którym nigdy się nie spodziewał, że będzie współpracował, przygotowują się do walki, aby ocalić ludzkość.
Bardzo mi się podobała ta książka, szczególnie druga połowa. Bardzo ciekawy zabieg wykorzystany w zakończeniu, epilog wprowadzana napięcie, którego zresztą na przestrzeni całej powieści nie brakowało. Bohaterowie i relacje między nimi wydają się coraz bardziej realistyczne, pojawiają się nowe postaci, miejsca i stworzenia - co jest bardzo fascynujące. Dużo się dzieje.
October 11, 2019
The fourth book in the fantasy Tunnels series. While Chester and Martha have made it back to Topsoil, Will, Elliott, and his dad are stuck in the mysterious world at the center of the Earth. Unfortunately, the evil Rebecca twins are also there and are trying to retrieve the Dominion virus Will stole to continue their evil plans.
August 31, 2025
3.5/5
July 3, 2013
The only reason this book is four stars is because I haven't read the others in this series for a long, long time and really had no idea what was going on. Half of the people I didn't remember, apart from the main characters.
But, all of me not remembering what this series is about aside, this is a seriously good book. Before reading, I remember thinking that they should just end the series already, but now that I've read this one... there's a lot more stuff to wrap up. Maybe it's because Freefall wasn't the greatest that I thought that - Tunnels and Deeper were both amazing, and so was this book.
There are four main plotlines - Will, his father, and Elliott working around the pyramids and hiding the Dominion virus, the Rebecca twins trying to get the Dominion virus, Mrs. Burrows pretending to be an invalid, and Drake & Chester & their new Styx friend Topsoil. My favorite plotline was probably Drake's, because although I don't remember that much of him from previous books, he is seriously the best. He's really vague about his backstory, which is kind of annoying, but overall I really love him.
I really love the entire book, and now I really want the next one. And I sort of want to reread Tunnels and Deeper, but I'll get to them another time.
But, all of me not remembering what this series is about aside, this is a seriously good book. Before reading, I remember thinking that they should just end the series already, but now that I've read this one... there's a lot more stuff to wrap up. Maybe it's because Freefall wasn't the greatest that I thought that - Tunnels and Deeper were both amazing, and so was this book.
There are four main plotlines - Will, his father, and Elliott working around the pyramids and hiding the Dominion virus, the Rebecca twins trying to get the Dominion virus, Mrs. Burrows pretending to be an invalid, and Drake & Chester & their new Styx friend Topsoil. My favorite plotline was probably Drake's, because although I don't remember that much of him from previous books, he is seriously the best. He's really vague about his backstory, which is kind of annoying, but overall I really love him.
I really love the entire book, and now I really want the next one. And I sort of want to reread Tunnels and Deeper, but I'll get to them another time.
August 4, 2011
I've generally enjoyed this series so far, but with this book and the one before, I've had a hard time sympathizing with any of the characters. I know most sci-fi is plot-driven rather than character-driven, but I feel so disconnected from these characters at times that when one character dies in this book, I was actually glad to be rid of that person. The characters are flat, and some of the events of the last two novels seem unnecessary. I'm still not sure what the function of the Land of the Second Sun is in this series, as it thus far seems to serve little purpose aside from adding enough complication to drag out the series for another book. I also wasn't crazy about the meta-commentary in the epilogue. Why on Earth is Will's father's journal the basis for a novel called The Highfield Mole (the original title of the first novel in the series)? What possible function will this serve? Or is it just an inside joke? As I usually do when I read a series like this, I'll reserve judgment until the final book comes out, but at this point, some of the series elements seem strategically unnecessary.
June 16, 2014
Al igual que el anterior, es de lectura rápida y ágil, especialmente porque gran parte de la novela está centrada en la acción y los peligros a afrontar, se consumen con velocidad las palabras y las páginas porque ansiamos llegar a las respuestas y la sensación de poder refugiarnos en un lugar seguro para poder detenernos a pensar. Así mismo hay varios personajes nuevos que traerán nuevas historias y nuevas esperanzas para salvar a la superficie, como Eddie, cierto styx que tiene mucho que contar.
La escritura de los autores ha evolucionado mucho, ha madurado y nos hace adentrarnos en la lectura sin sentir que nos fatigamos de información. Ha dejado de lado el ambiente infantil de los primeros y se dirige hacia una escritura más amena y organizada, donde saben qué hilos mover para que la apariencia sencilla se transformara y las emociones afloren...
Reseña completa: AQUÍ
La escritura de los autores ha evolucionado mucho, ha madurado y nos hace adentrarnos en la lectura sin sentir que nos fatigamos de información. Ha dejado de lado el ambiente infantil de los primeros y se dirige hacia una escritura más amena y organizada, donde saben qué hilos mover para que la apariencia sencilla se transformara y las emociones afloren...
Reseña completa: AQUÍ
April 22, 2020
Right away, I am going to say that Closer is likely my favorite novel in the Tunnels series due to the highlighted storyline involving Drake. He's always been my favorite character in literature out of all the novels I have ever read. He is just so excellently designed, and adding Eddie into the mix was certainly a fantastic idea. Plus, the story of Chester and Martha was also a hilariously tragic inclusion to the series.
Honestly, I love reading Closer. Oftentimes, I'll read Closer without rereading the rest of the series simply due to how amazing the story is. So much action, plot development, and utter chaos for the characters. It has everything that has always made the Tunnels series so great, and I think that is why it is always safe and sound on my bookshelf, right in easy reach. I swear, there isn't anything as fun as reading Closer and enjoying the dry comments that help to add humor to an otherwise bleak and depressing situation.
Honestly, I love reading Closer. Oftentimes, I'll read Closer without rereading the rest of the series simply due to how amazing the story is. So much action, plot development, and utter chaos for the characters. It has everything that has always made the Tunnels series so great, and I think that is why it is always safe and sound on my bookshelf, right in easy reach. I swear, there isn't anything as fun as reading Closer and enjoying the dry comments that help to add humor to an otherwise bleak and depressing situation.
November 14, 2013
Uno de los que más me gustó de la saga.
Ver a las Rebeccas desde adentro fue muy interesante (¡ya era hora!), y me gustó que avanzara un toquecín la relación de Elliott y Will.
¿Qué más? Mistress Burrows es una genia, me encanta cómo un personaje insoportable se convirtió en una heroína, aunque sería hora de empezar a llamarla por su nombre, ¿no?
Las aventuras de Chester me gustaron, pero se hicieron repetitivas después de un rato.
Adoro en general la mayor participación de los padres en este libro, y el final que de algún modo cierra pero, claro, deja abierto para el siguiente, está muy bueno.
Ver a las Rebeccas desde adentro fue muy interesante (¡ya era hora!), y me gustó que avanzara un toquecín la relación de Elliott y Will.
¿Qué más? Mistress Burrows es una genia, me encanta cómo un personaje insoportable se convirtió en una heroína, aunque sería hora de empezar a llamarla por su nombre, ¿no?
Las aventuras de Chester me gustaron, pero se hicieron repetitivas después de un rato.
Adoro en general la mayor participación de los padres en este libro, y el final que de algún modo cierra pero, claro, deja abierto para el siguiente, está muy bueno.
October 4, 2015
Excuse me? The Rebeccas are alive? JUST DIE ALREADY!!
Well, basically I can't give this book a super high rating, because everybody seems to keep dying - except for the people I actually want dead.
Let's make a list of all of the dead people! Uncle Tam, Imago, Sarah Jerome, Cal, Dr. Burrows, Leatherman... and do you notice something? NEITHER OF THE REBECCAS!! Why?? Why couldn't they just die? DIE REBECCAS! If they don't die in the next book, I will hunt them down and kill them myself. I don't think it matters that they're fictional characters...
Well, basically I can't give this book a super high rating, because everybody seems to keep dying - except for the people I actually want dead.
Let's make a list of all of the dead people! Uncle Tam, Imago, Sarah Jerome, Cal, Dr. Burrows, Leatherman... and do you notice something? NEITHER OF THE REBECCAS!! Why?? Why couldn't they just die? DIE REBECCAS! If they don't die in the next book, I will hunt them down and kill them myself. I don't think it matters that they're fictional characters...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2024
Will's New Life
Will is reunited with his father and explores the "land of the second sun," working to decode cryptic glyphs and navigating the wild alongside the renegade girl Elliott.
Chester's Return
Chester's return to Topsoil is marred by escalating horror, hinting at grave troubles awaiting him.
Threat of Darkness
An army of darkness, led by the ruthless Rebeccas and their cold-blooded Limiters, is determined to hunt down Will, creating a perilous situation where survival is uncertain.
Will is reunited with his father and explores the "land of the second sun," working to decode cryptic glyphs and navigating the wild alongside the renegade girl Elliott.
Chester's Return
Chester's return to Topsoil is marred by escalating horror, hinting at grave troubles awaiting him.
Threat of Darkness
An army of darkness, led by the ruthless Rebeccas and their cold-blooded Limiters, is determined to hunt down Will, creating a perilous situation where survival is uncertain.
February 16, 2011
I didn't really care for this book. It had some action but the story seemed to drag on. It was also very violent, which I did not like. I was hoping this was the conclusion, but it wasn't. Maybe the next book in this series will turn out better.
March 16, 2011
I loved the series because they use strong vocabulary and description, so I learn a lot of new words. The characters are always scheming, and making plans that depend on many factors, I would find it hard to be able to come up with things like that.
December 31, 2016
Butuh nyaris 2 minggu untuk menyelesaikan buku ini, tepatnya sih 12 hari
Saya sempat kebingungan soal lokasi cerita dengan adanya pencantuman daerah dengan matahari yg selalu bersinar di dalam pusat bumi.
Saya sempat kebingungan soal lokasi cerita dengan adanya pencantuman daerah dengan matahari yg selalu bersinar di dalam pusat bumi.
November 18, 2010
I've always assumed that the adventure of Will Burrows and friends are over in Closer. I was completely wrong. The story gets bigger and better and all the more addictive. I couldn't put it down.
April 6, 2011
This is one of the better books of the series, but I am ready for the story to wrap up. How long are they going to milk this story; when can we expect the conclusion?
April 7, 2019
UH NO THANKS
I didn't rate the previous book in the series because I knew it was a book I probably would've enjoyed if I was younger, and it wouldn't have been fair to let my adult self rate it low.
But this. This one I just hated.
First of all, Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams just can't write female characters. It's painful. Did they not have editors who told them that this just isn't how girls and women act? One example from one of the last chapters in the books; Elliott has lived her entire life below ground. She knows nothing about modern comforts. But as soon as she's in a normal house above ground she spends hours in the bathroom in front of the mirror, "like all teenage girls". Barf.
Also there are some weird nazi-things in this book? Like they run into this underground society of germans who "escaped" during WW2 and have just lived underground since. I say "escaped" because they weren't really fugitives, as in they weren't a group at risk in Germany at the time, they just decided to leave for some reason (idk???) and just go underground in 1945! They say they aren't nazis, and they don't exactly say anything particularly pro-nazi in the book, but Hitler is clearly a style icon and they're very much an ideal nazi-Germany society. There are a lot of unecessary references to the war too, which would mean nothing to most middle graders reading this. None of that was needed. It was just weird.
Another weird thing; most of Will, his dad, and Elliott's plot. First of all, they just did nothing in the first 1/3rd of the book. And Will is supposed to be our main character. Secondly, there was no reason for Will's father to be jealous of Elliott. It didn't make any sense. I don't get it. I also don't get the Will/Elliott romance. It's a very mild romance, you could probably not even notice it if you were really young and not used to picking up on those kind of signals, but there were there. They have nothing in common and it would make more sense for them to just annoy each other. They remind me slightly of Percy and Annabeth actually. Obviously I like Percy/Annabeth, but the thing about them is that as much as they were different, they supported each other and understood each other. I didn't see any of that with Will and Elliott.
Lastly; Drake and Eddie are adult characters who are completely uninteresting to read about, and the twist was too obvious, because I think even as a middle grader you would read what Eddie said and just immediately be confused and go .
TL;DR: Bad.
I didn't rate the previous book in the series because I knew it was a book I probably would've enjoyed if I was younger, and it wouldn't have been fair to let my adult self rate it low.
But this. This one I just hated.
First of all, Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams just can't write female characters. It's painful. Did they not have editors who told them that this just isn't how girls and women act? One example from one of the last chapters in the books; Elliott has lived her entire life below ground. She knows nothing about modern comforts. But as soon as she's in a normal house above ground she spends hours in the bathroom in front of the mirror, "like all teenage girls". Barf.
Also there are some weird nazi-things in this book? Like they run into this underground society of germans who "escaped" during WW2 and have just lived underground since. I say "escaped" because they weren't really fugitives, as in they weren't a group at risk in Germany at the time, they just decided to leave for some reason (idk???) and just go underground in 1945! They say they aren't nazis, and they don't exactly say anything particularly pro-nazi in the book, but Hitler is clearly a style icon and they're very much an ideal nazi-Germany society. There are a lot of unecessary references to the war too, which would mean nothing to most middle graders reading this. None of that was needed. It was just weird.
Another weird thing; most of Will, his dad, and Elliott's plot. First of all, they just did nothing in the first 1/3rd of the book. And Will is supposed to be our main character. Secondly, there was no reason for Will's father to be jealous of Elliott. It didn't make any sense. I don't get it. I also don't get the Will/Elliott romance. It's a very mild romance, you could probably not even notice it if you were really young and not used to picking up on those kind of signals, but there were there. They have nothing in common and it would make more sense for them to just annoy each other. They remind me slightly of Percy and Annabeth actually. Obviously I like Percy/Annabeth, but the thing about them is that as much as they were different, they supported each other and understood each other. I didn't see any of that with Will and Elliott.
Lastly; Drake and Eddie are adult characters who are completely uninteresting to read about, and the twist was too obvious, because I think even as a middle grader you would read what Eddie said and just immediately be confused and go .
TL;DR: Bad.
October 28, 2024
Tunnels adalah seri fantasi yang menurut saya underrated di Indonesia. Saya jatuh cinta pada petualangan Will Burrows, Chester, dan Elliot di dasar bumi sampai terinspirasi menulis cerpen 'The Grounder', sebuah cerpen yang mengkritik pencemaran di atas bumi dan menjadi juara 1 Antologi ECA (AE Publisihing) pada 2014. Saya membaca novel tersebut dengan meminjam sampai ke beberapa seri setelahnya.
Makanya, sungguh bahagia setelah saya menemukan Closer (seri keempat Tunnels). Setelah Will bertemu ayahnya yang maniak penggalian dan berusaha memecahkan kehidupan di perut bumi, petualangan berlanjut dengan lebih memusingkan. Penduduk Colony (orang bawah tanah) begitu membenci Topsoiler (orang normal di atas tanah). Kaum Styx yang menjadi pemimpin Colony ingin mengembalikan kelestarian bumi dengan meluncurkan virus Dominion dan membunuh populasi Topsoiler. Alasannya mirip Thanos di Avengers. Silakan geser kanan untuk membaca argumen Styx. 🤡
Styx adalah kaum yang dikenal punya intelegensia super, poliglot, dan kemampuan bertarung ulet. Mereka memiliki kepercayaan sendiri dengan pedoman yang disebut Kitab Petaka. Untuk memanipulasi otak lawannya, Styx menggunakan metode pencucian otak menggunakan Cahaya Gelap.
Petualangan kali ini memisahkan Will dengan Chester yang terjebak dengan seorang ibu-ibu gila. Ada sedikit bagian sedih menuju bab-bab akhir. Buku ini saya temukan di @disperpusip_sidoarjo dan masih sisa dua judul lagi menuju ending. Sayangnya, buku ini langka. Ada yang menjual paket dengan harga jutaan 🤣
Saya pun akhirnya bisa membeli seri terakhir, Terminal, dengan harga wajar. Beruntung banget karena sisa satu 🤭. Buku yang saya tunggu filmnya sampai lewat satu dekade tanpa kejelasan dari rumah produksinya 🤕
Makanya, sungguh bahagia setelah saya menemukan Closer (seri keempat Tunnels). Setelah Will bertemu ayahnya yang maniak penggalian dan berusaha memecahkan kehidupan di perut bumi, petualangan berlanjut dengan lebih memusingkan. Penduduk Colony (orang bawah tanah) begitu membenci Topsoiler (orang normal di atas tanah). Kaum Styx yang menjadi pemimpin Colony ingin mengembalikan kelestarian bumi dengan meluncurkan virus Dominion dan membunuh populasi Topsoiler. Alasannya mirip Thanos di Avengers. Silakan geser kanan untuk membaca argumen Styx. 🤡
Styx adalah kaum yang dikenal punya intelegensia super, poliglot, dan kemampuan bertarung ulet. Mereka memiliki kepercayaan sendiri dengan pedoman yang disebut Kitab Petaka. Untuk memanipulasi otak lawannya, Styx menggunakan metode pencucian otak menggunakan Cahaya Gelap.
Petualangan kali ini memisahkan Will dengan Chester yang terjebak dengan seorang ibu-ibu gila. Ada sedikit bagian sedih menuju bab-bab akhir. Buku ini saya temukan di @disperpusip_sidoarjo dan masih sisa dua judul lagi menuju ending. Sayangnya, buku ini langka. Ada yang menjual paket dengan harga jutaan 🤣
Saya pun akhirnya bisa membeli seri terakhir, Terminal, dengan harga wajar. Beruntung banget karena sisa satu 🤭. Buku yang saya tunggu filmnya sampai lewat satu dekade tanpa kejelasan dari rumah produksinya 🤕
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