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Moon Over Brendle
Magical contemporary fantasy meets fantastical memoir in the new novel from a cult favourite, Jeff Noon.
1968, Joe Sutter is enjoying his last summer before going to secondary school. But this is another world; like ours but very different. Beyond and beside the world we know is Greot; a vast swirling rainbow of many-coloured dust. It settles on the dead, it swathes cities and fields. Joe is one of the 10% of the population who have the gift of being able to see it. But neither he or nor anyone else know what Greot is. Is it the trillion-eyed god? Is it the history of everything told grain-by-grain? Is it prophecy? Is it the magic of creativity?
Joe knows he is something of an outsider, all he wants to do is draw comics and listen to music but one day, as the moon rises over Brendle hill, he meets an old writer of cheap pulp SF books who is determined to pass on to Joe the power and joy of telling stories and everything changes. Decades later Joe is a successful writer of strange and powerful SF novels. And now the time has come to tell the story of how he became a writer and how Greot coloured everything.
1968, Joe Sutter is enjoying his last summer before going to secondary school. But this is another world; like ours but very different. Beyond and beside the world we know is Greot; a vast swirling rainbow of many-coloured dust. It settles on the dead, it swathes cities and fields. Joe is one of the 10% of the population who have the gift of being able to see it. But neither he or nor anyone else know what Greot is. Is it the trillion-eyed god? Is it the history of everything told grain-by-grain? Is it prophecy? Is it the magic of creativity?
Joe knows he is something of an outsider, all he wants to do is draw comics and listen to music but one day, as the moon rises over Brendle hill, he meets an old writer of cheap pulp SF books who is determined to pass on to Joe the power and joy of telling stories and everything changes. Decades later Joe is a successful writer of strange and powerful SF novels. And now the time has come to tell the story of how he became a writer and how Greot coloured everything.
256 pages, Paperback
First published May 12, 2026
About the author
Jeff Noon
53 books894 followersJeff Noon is a novelist, short story writer and playwright whose works make extensive use of wordplay and fantasy.
He studied fine art and drama at Manchester University and was subsequently appointed writer in residence at the city's Royal Exchange theatre. But Noon did not stay too long in the theatrical world, possibly because the realism associated with the theatre was not conducive to the fantastical worlds he was itching to invent. While working behind the counter at the local Waterstone's bookshop, a colleague suggested he write a novel. The result of that suggestion,
Vurt, was the hippest sci-fi novel to be published in Britain since the days of Michael Moorcock in the late sixties.
Like Moorcock, Noon is not preoccupied with technology per se, but incorporates technological developments into a world of magic and fantasy.
As a teenager, Noon was addicted to American comic heroes, and still turns to them for inspiration. He has said that music is more of an influence on his writing than novelists: he 'usually writes to music', and his record collection ranges from classical to drum'n'bass.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
May 13, 2026
I read several books by Jeff Noon so long ago that they're not recorded in Goodreads, which didn't exist at the time. And enjoyed them a lot! So of course I was intrigued to see how things had changed in 30ish years -- and was delighted to find how much I loved this magical realism memoir.
The nostalgia was strong throughout; be interesting to see how this lands for other folk, but for this Brit it was perfect. It's strange from the start (of course) since we are in a setting that has Greot, a swirling, pervasive rainbow dust. Everyone can see it for a few minutes every night, but narrator Joe is one of the few who can see it all the time. Which does not translate into understanding it in any way, but that's not the story. We're here to read about how Joe becomes a writer, influenced by a deeply odd older man who is himself a prolific writer (in particular of sci-fi.) And by Greot, by his free-range childhood, by his family, by comics, by thinking creatively, and so on. It all comes together in a lovely way.
Highly recommended for when you're in a weird mood.
Rating: 18/20
This review is based upon a complimentary advance reading copy provided by the publisher.
The nostalgia was strong throughout; be interesting to see how this lands for other folk, but for this Brit it was perfect. It's strange from the start (of course) since we are in a setting that has Greot, a swirling, pervasive rainbow dust. Everyone can see it for a few minutes every night, but narrator Joe is one of the few who can see it all the time. Which does not translate into understanding it in any way, but that's not the story. We're here to read about how Joe becomes a writer, influenced by a deeply odd older man who is himself a prolific writer (in particular of sci-fi.) And by Greot, by his free-range childhood, by his family, by comics, by thinking creatively, and so on. It all comes together in a lovely way.
Highly recommended for when you're in a weird mood.
Rating: 18/20
This review is based upon a complimentary advance reading copy provided by the publisher.
June 19, 2026
Review originally on JamReads
Moon Over Brendle is an imaginative and very British-infused magical contemporary fantasy novel written by Jeff Noon, published by Angry Robot Books. Written in the style of an imaginary autobiography, Noon takes the opportunity to put the spotlight on the intrinsical magic that is associated with the creative process, adding an extra layer of childhood nostalgia, but with a written style that allows readers from different backgrounds to enjoy it.
Joe Sutter has been writing novels for a long time, but with this manuscript, Moon Over Brendle, he pretends to capture how the summer of 1968 changed his life, how finding two strangers mutated his vision of the world, and moreover, a story about Greot and the ways it makes the world unique. A story that showed how those people helped him to open the eyes to a new, infinite world, that made life even more incredible and magical.
Noon starts by weaving quite a nostalgic setting, a 1960s community, fully analogue, all making the effort to put us in the shoes of young Joe, a kid who see the Greot, the small and weird detail that makes this world different from ours; from this Greot is from where Noon will create the events that will shape the story, that slowly will draw the weird elements of the story, and more importantly, puts that effort of portraying how the creative can see the world in ways that could be almost described as magical.
At the end, we have the Noon's version of a coming of age story, in this case, of how Joe becomes a writer; all enveloped in really elegant writing, mimicking how old Joe is the narrator of our story. Many details are vividly painted, similar to how Greot looks to those that have the ability to see it.
It's not a long book, so you can just trust the author to take you on a marvelous journey, even if you don't understand many things at the start.
It's difficult to capture what I felt while reading Moon Over Brendle, so my best advice is to pick the book and enjoy by yourself; an ode to the creative process that has the signature style of Jeff Noon!
Moon Over Brendle is an imaginative and very British-infused magical contemporary fantasy novel written by Jeff Noon, published by Angry Robot Books. Written in the style of an imaginary autobiography, Noon takes the opportunity to put the spotlight on the intrinsical magic that is associated with the creative process, adding an extra layer of childhood nostalgia, but with a written style that allows readers from different backgrounds to enjoy it.
Joe Sutter has been writing novels for a long time, but with this manuscript, Moon Over Brendle, he pretends to capture how the summer of 1968 changed his life, how finding two strangers mutated his vision of the world, and moreover, a story about Greot and the ways it makes the world unique. A story that showed how those people helped him to open the eyes to a new, infinite world, that made life even more incredible and magical.
Noon starts by weaving quite a nostalgic setting, a 1960s community, fully analogue, all making the effort to put us in the shoes of young Joe, a kid who see the Greot, the small and weird detail that makes this world different from ours; from this Greot is from where Noon will create the events that will shape the story, that slowly will draw the weird elements of the story, and more importantly, puts that effort of portraying how the creative can see the world in ways that could be almost described as magical.
At the end, we have the Noon's version of a coming of age story, in this case, of how Joe becomes a writer; all enveloped in really elegant writing, mimicking how old Joe is the narrator of our story. Many details are vividly painted, similar to how Greot looks to those that have the ability to see it.
It's not a long book, so you can just trust the author to take you on a marvelous journey, even if you don't understand many things at the start.
It's difficult to capture what I felt while reading Moon Over Brendle, so my best advice is to pick the book and enjoy by yourself; an ode to the creative process that has the signature style of Jeff Noon!
September 15, 2026
Series Info/Source: This is a stand alone book. I got this on ebook to review through NetGalley.
Thoughts: I found this incredibly slow and ended up setting it aside 25% of the way in. This has a very nostalgic feel to it. I just kept waiting for something to happen, and nothing really happened in the first 25% of the story. This might work for those who like deliberately paced coming of age stories with some magical elements to them. I struggled to get through the first 25% and was dreading sitting down to read more, so I decided to call it.
Set in rural England in the late 1960's Joe Sutter is plodding through the summer. However, Joe is not like other kids he can see the Greot, a swirling could of rainbow colored dust. Joe's summer gets more intriguing after he meets an old writer of SF books.
The idea of the Greot is intriguing, as is the fact that some can see it and others can't. However, at 25% of the way in, we were still watching Joe wander around and do "summer stuff" like kids used to do; get in trouble, hang out in abandoned train-cars, and try to navigate his best friend getting interested in girls. It was, to put it bluntly, boring and not at all relatable to me. I really struggled through this and was just getting to the part where Joe meets the sci-fi writer. I absolutely dreaded sitting down to push through more of this...so I set it aside. I have a lot of books to read, and this just wasn't for me.
The part that I did read flowed well and was grammatically easy to read. It just felt like we get a lot of Joe wandering around and admiring the colors of Greot and not of anything intriguing happening. I was hoping that the mystery of what Greot was would help pull me through the story, but I found myself disinterested in reading about more swirling colors as I progressed.
My Summary (3/5): Overall this was incredibly slow and I did not find it at all engaging. The writing flows fine, and there are some interesting ideas in here, they just don't seem to go anywhere. I liked the idea of Greot, I liked that only certain people can see it, I enjoyed the nostalgic summer feel to this. I didn't enjoy the characters and didn't enjoy the fact that by 25% of the way in the main character was still wandering around aimlessly. This might be for those who enjoy a very deliberate sci-fi story with a nostalgic feel to it. It was not for me. Giving it a neutral 3 stars because I read less than half the book.
Thoughts: I found this incredibly slow and ended up setting it aside 25% of the way in. This has a very nostalgic feel to it. I just kept waiting for something to happen, and nothing really happened in the first 25% of the story. This might work for those who like deliberately paced coming of age stories with some magical elements to them. I struggled to get through the first 25% and was dreading sitting down to read more, so I decided to call it.
Set in rural England in the late 1960's Joe Sutter is plodding through the summer. However, Joe is not like other kids he can see the Greot, a swirling could of rainbow colored dust. Joe's summer gets more intriguing after he meets an old writer of SF books.
The idea of the Greot is intriguing, as is the fact that some can see it and others can't. However, at 25% of the way in, we were still watching Joe wander around and do "summer stuff" like kids used to do; get in trouble, hang out in abandoned train-cars, and try to navigate his best friend getting interested in girls. It was, to put it bluntly, boring and not at all relatable to me. I really struggled through this and was just getting to the part where Joe meets the sci-fi writer. I absolutely dreaded sitting down to push through more of this...so I set it aside. I have a lot of books to read, and this just wasn't for me.
The part that I did read flowed well and was grammatically easy to read. It just felt like we get a lot of Joe wandering around and admiring the colors of Greot and not of anything intriguing happening. I was hoping that the mystery of what Greot was would help pull me through the story, but I found myself disinterested in reading about more swirling colors as I progressed.
My Summary (3/5): Overall this was incredibly slow and I did not find it at all engaging. The writing flows fine, and there are some interesting ideas in here, they just don't seem to go anywhere. I liked the idea of Greot, I liked that only certain people can see it, I enjoyed the nostalgic summer feel to this. I didn't enjoy the characters and didn't enjoy the fact that by 25% of the way in the main character was still wandering around aimlessly. This might be for those who enjoy a very deliberate sci-fi story with a nostalgic feel to it. It was not for me. Giving it a neutral 3 stars because I read less than half the book.
May 17, 2026
A great and unusual story about the power and process of creating stories all set in a small northern town - strong recommended!
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
July 9, 2026
4.5/5 stars
Moon Over Brendle is a contemporary fantasy by Jeff Noon, written as the memoir of its protagonist. Joe Sutter is a Witness, one of the few people able to see Greot, a strange multicolored dust that roams the world. When he was eleven years old, he is drawn to the mysterious house on Brendle Hill, where a reclusive and ailing pulp science fiction writer takes him under his wing, teaching him both the secrets of the dust and the power of storytelling. Decades later, now a successful science fiction author himself, Joe is finally ready to tell that story.
This is far more literary than my usual reading. Despite being marketed as fantasy, this feels much closer to literary fiction infused with magical realism than a traditional fantasy novel. I also suspect it’s very British in ways I couldn’t fully appreciate, with cultural nuances and subtleties that probably sailed right over my head.
This is a slow, reflective, and difficult book to neatly categorize. It’s vague without feeling aimless, mysterious without becoming frustrating, and quietly profound in ways that linger. The Greot remains mysterious throughout, with the novel refusing to explain its rules or offer neat answers. Instead, it embraces ambiguity, which would normally frustrate me, but here it somehow worked because the mystery itself became part of the novel’s charm.
At its heart, it is a story about imagination, creativity, and the stories and experiences that shape us, especially during childhood. Although much of the novel follows Joe as a young boy, it never feels like a children’s book. Instead, it beautifully captures the nostalgia of looking back on childhood—the innocence, curiosity, and boundless imagination that gradually give way to adulthood without ever truly disappearing. It may not be for everyone, but it’s well worth the journey if you don’t mind a story that leaves much still unsaid and unexplained.
Strange, nostalgic, and quietly profound, Moon Over Brendle is an unusual fantasy best experienced rather than explained.
*Thank you Angry Robot Books for sending me a copy
Moon Over Brendle is a contemporary fantasy by Jeff Noon, written as the memoir of its protagonist. Joe Sutter is a Witness, one of the few people able to see Greot, a strange multicolored dust that roams the world. When he was eleven years old, he is drawn to the mysterious house on Brendle Hill, where a reclusive and ailing pulp science fiction writer takes him under his wing, teaching him both the secrets of the dust and the power of storytelling. Decades later, now a successful science fiction author himself, Joe is finally ready to tell that story.
This is far more literary than my usual reading. Despite being marketed as fantasy, this feels much closer to literary fiction infused with magical realism than a traditional fantasy novel. I also suspect it’s very British in ways I couldn’t fully appreciate, with cultural nuances and subtleties that probably sailed right over my head.
This is a slow, reflective, and difficult book to neatly categorize. It’s vague without feeling aimless, mysterious without becoming frustrating, and quietly profound in ways that linger. The Greot remains mysterious throughout, with the novel refusing to explain its rules or offer neat answers. Instead, it embraces ambiguity, which would normally frustrate me, but here it somehow worked because the mystery itself became part of the novel’s charm.
At its heart, it is a story about imagination, creativity, and the stories and experiences that shape us, especially during childhood. Although much of the novel follows Joe as a young boy, it never feels like a children’s book. Instead, it beautifully captures the nostalgia of looking back on childhood—the innocence, curiosity, and boundless imagination that gradually give way to adulthood without ever truly disappearing. It may not be for everyone, but it’s well worth the journey if you don’t mind a story that leaves much still unsaid and unexplained.
Strange, nostalgic, and quietly profound, Moon Over Brendle is an unusual fantasy best experienced rather than explained.
*Thank you Angry Robot Books for sending me a copy
June 9, 2026
This is a very British and a very nostalgic book. Jeff Noon and I are roughly the same age and grew up in roughly similar environments so this book struck a chord with me. Noon describes environments and events that I remember from my childhood (though with less Greot in my case). Given this I couldn't help loving the book, but readers of other ages and backgrounds may not feel the same attachment to it.
The book is very different from the Vurt novels that started Noon's career as a writer. It's a very gentle story with mostly happy endings for everyone concerned. The writing is elegant and it has just right amount of mystery - I never did work out exactly what was going on with the Greot but I enjoyed failing. It can be a little slow in places, and a little verbose, but that's all part of the atmosphere - although the protagonist is an eleven year old boy we are never in doubt that this is a sexagenarian man remembering what it was like to be that boy.
I'm reluctant to give a blanket recommendation for this book as I suspect it will leave many younger readers unmoved. All I can say it that I loved it.
The book is very different from the Vurt novels that started Noon's career as a writer. It's a very gentle story with mostly happy endings for everyone concerned. The writing is elegant and it has just right amount of mystery - I never did work out exactly what was going on with the Greot but I enjoyed failing. It can be a little slow in places, and a little verbose, but that's all part of the atmosphere - although the protagonist is an eleven year old boy we are never in doubt that this is a sexagenarian man remembering what it was like to be that boy.
I'm reluctant to give a blanket recommendation for this book as I suspect it will leave many younger readers unmoved. All I can say it that I loved it.
May 19, 2026
Lovely little semi-autobiographical semi-fantasy novel. Was never super enthralled with it though.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My thanks to NetGalley and Angry Robot for an advance copy that of a book that is bit fiction, a bit real, a bit magical and dusty, about a boy leaning about the power of the mind and the imagination, lessons that will see him through life and his many creations.
I don't look back much. I don't have fond memories of school, old jobs, even current jobs. However I do remember having awesome summers. Being able to read what I want, watch unbelievable amounts of movies on our illegal cable box, doing the occasional lawn. I remember these years by books, by comic events, and movies. Many of which formed my thinking, for better or for worse. Maybe even shaping me into the man I am today. Just like it did for the main character in this book a bit of magical realism, and autobiography. Moon Over Brendle by Jeff Noon is a story about a young boy, science fiction, dust, family, a small town, and the odd things that go on, events that shape an author and his creations in different ways.
Joe Sutter is enjoying the summer of 1968, reading comics, thinking of fictional adventures, and seeing things that only he can see. The world is covered in a dust, called by the people Greot, but Joe and his best friend Denny call it the Koag. This dust is visible to humans only for 3 minutes and 39 seconds a day, but Joe is gifted in that he can see the many colors of Greot, a gift that is getting him into secondary school. One day Joe see the dust, the Greot, around a man who is dying, a grey color, and one that does not look right. This starts off something odd for Joe, where he finds that he and Denny seem to be going in different places, Denny finding girls, and Joe not wanting the world to change. Joe meets an old man, at least to Joe in a tower outside of town, a science fiction author of the pulp variety who introduces Joe to a world of thinking and looking at things that changes Joe. As Joe gets older he also becomes a writer of some renown, and looks back at these early days, sharing what the dust Greot has told him, and where things started to change.
A mix of autobiographical, magical realism, a love story to reading and ideas, and a bit of weird. The book starts right away, dropping the reader right into the story, with dust, Denny and Joe explaining his life, and the world. This pace keeps up, even when Joe is looking back. I liked this story quite a bit, though it was not what I expected. There are many moments that one can tell that Noon is sharing what happened in his past. There are references to classic books, science fictional and writers who have been unfairly forgotten. Noon has a real gift for putting one in a fantastical setting, and making things seem real, and relatable, not matter how high the weird gets.
A book that was not what I expected, but one I really enjoyed. Not like other Noon books, though still with some crazy things happening. This is more of a look back, a look at a magical time, when the world was bright, the books were new and the future seemed unlimited and bright. A very good and personal book, and one I am glad I read.
I don't look back much. I don't have fond memories of school, old jobs, even current jobs. However I do remember having awesome summers. Being able to read what I want, watch unbelievable amounts of movies on our illegal cable box, doing the occasional lawn. I remember these years by books, by comic events, and movies. Many of which formed my thinking, for better or for worse. Maybe even shaping me into the man I am today. Just like it did for the main character in this book a bit of magical realism, and autobiography. Moon Over Brendle by Jeff Noon is a story about a young boy, science fiction, dust, family, a small town, and the odd things that go on, events that shape an author and his creations in different ways.
Joe Sutter is enjoying the summer of 1968, reading comics, thinking of fictional adventures, and seeing things that only he can see. The world is covered in a dust, called by the people Greot, but Joe and his best friend Denny call it the Koag. This dust is visible to humans only for 3 minutes and 39 seconds a day, but Joe is gifted in that he can see the many colors of Greot, a gift that is getting him into secondary school. One day Joe see the dust, the Greot, around a man who is dying, a grey color, and one that does not look right. This starts off something odd for Joe, where he finds that he and Denny seem to be going in different places, Denny finding girls, and Joe not wanting the world to change. Joe meets an old man, at least to Joe in a tower outside of town, a science fiction author of the pulp variety who introduces Joe to a world of thinking and looking at things that changes Joe. As Joe gets older he also becomes a writer of some renown, and looks back at these early days, sharing what the dust Greot has told him, and where things started to change.
A mix of autobiographical, magical realism, a love story to reading and ideas, and a bit of weird. The book starts right away, dropping the reader right into the story, with dust, Denny and Joe explaining his life, and the world. This pace keeps up, even when Joe is looking back. I liked this story quite a bit, though it was not what I expected. There are many moments that one can tell that Noon is sharing what happened in his past. There are references to classic books, science fictional and writers who have been unfairly forgotten. Noon has a real gift for putting one in a fantastical setting, and making things seem real, and relatable, not matter how high the weird gets.
A book that was not what I expected, but one I really enjoyed. Not like other Noon books, though still with some crazy things happening. This is more of a look back, a look at a magical time, when the world was bright, the books were new and the future seemed unlimited and bright. A very good and personal book, and one I am glad I read.
May 21, 2026
Moon Over Brendle by Jeff Noon is the type of coming of age story that leaves you feeling enthralled, full of wonder and like you've just had that perfect cuppa at the end of a long day
"Magical contemporary fantasy meets fantastical memoir" if that isn't kne of the best hooks I have seen this year, I don't know what is!
1968 and Joe Sutter is at the age where he is about to leave junior school behind and go on to grammar school (age 10/11) his reality is that of any other young boy of the time, drawing, comics and getting into places he shouldn't, including talking to strangers, one being an old SF author at the top of Brendle Hill, the very perdon who imbues Joe with a desire to read, explore and to create .
Alongside this reality, is a gossamer cloud of dust, a fine ethereal, colourful apparition of sorts, opposite to the miasma of reality, the "greot" of Joes town. The old author's encouragrment leads Joe to explore the threads between realities, all while life trundles on around him
The wonder I have experienced with this book comes from the lyrical, deeply personal narrative that cradles a memoir, part fact, part imagination. The lines between the two are blurred throughout. This story is an entity that grows alongside the author. Was it borne out of escapism from everyday life in an industrial town or a desire to explore worlds beyond the boundaries of reality. Two very different things, although they appear the same and this exact feeling is borne from reading this book
The backbone of this book is a sort of ode to writing and reading and the voyage of discovery it takes us on. What inspires usto create, how we process what we read and how it is grounded in our consciousness. There is an innocence to the narrative when it is placed in imagination, the world has more colour, compared to the drunk and dinginess of reality and the re-imagined "Greot" that only 10% of humanity can see, Joe being one of the privileged few.
All in all, this book exceeded my already brimming excitement and will remain with me as a favourite
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and Angry Robot for this stunning ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own
"Magical contemporary fantasy meets fantastical memoir" if that isn't kne of the best hooks I have seen this year, I don't know what is!
1968 and Joe Sutter is at the age where he is about to leave junior school behind and go on to grammar school (age 10/11) his reality is that of any other young boy of the time, drawing, comics and getting into places he shouldn't, including talking to strangers, one being an old SF author at the top of Brendle Hill, the very perdon who imbues Joe with a desire to read, explore and to create .
Alongside this reality, is a gossamer cloud of dust, a fine ethereal, colourful apparition of sorts, opposite to the miasma of reality, the "greot" of Joes town. The old author's encouragrment leads Joe to explore the threads between realities, all while life trundles on around him
The wonder I have experienced with this book comes from the lyrical, deeply personal narrative that cradles a memoir, part fact, part imagination. The lines between the two are blurred throughout. This story is an entity that grows alongside the author. Was it borne out of escapism from everyday life in an industrial town or a desire to explore worlds beyond the boundaries of reality. Two very different things, although they appear the same and this exact feeling is borne from reading this book
The backbone of this book is a sort of ode to writing and reading and the voyage of discovery it takes us on. What inspires usto create, how we process what we read and how it is grounded in our consciousness. There is an innocence to the narrative when it is placed in imagination, the world has more colour, compared to the drunk and dinginess of reality and the re-imagined "Greot" that only 10% of humanity can see, Joe being one of the privileged few.
All in all, this book exceeded my already brimming excitement and will remain with me as a favourite
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and Angry Robot for this stunning ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own
May 17, 2026
Read c/ publisher and NetGalley.
Well that was one of the most remarkable books I've read in a long time.
It's 1968, and Joe is 11. It's the summer holidays, which means hanging out with best friend Denny, and generally exploring his small town. One day, the pair stumble across the dying body of the local drunk, Tom Halfpenny. Then Eileen starts turning up to hang around with Denny occasionally; then Joe sneaks into a weird, semi-neglected house, getting caught by the elderly inhabitant. The old man is a science fiction writer, and for a period of 1968 he and Joe form a strange, important relationship.
Those three things sound like they should be given very different values. But when you're eleven, they might have fairly similar weight. Indeed, Eileen maybe stealing your best friend may have the greatest import.
In terms of the book, there's one significant point I haven't noted yet. This is not our world. Joe is a witness: he can see the Greot, the colourful dust that flows over everything in the world, in varying hues and in different densities according to its own rules. Only witnesses can see Greot all the time - except at 3.06am, when everyone can - and an even fewer number of people can see what Greot sees; and there's even fewer who can manipulate Greot.
The novel is written as a memoir: a man looking back over his life, the paths he followed from 1968, how the events of that year had an impact on him. It could very easily have been written in a realist style: young boy influenced by slightly mysterious older mentor. It could have been magical realism, too - did the young boy really experience something magical? Instead, Noon commits fully to the novel as fantasy. and it's richer for it. Joe's experiences with the Greot, understanding what it is (and is not), what it can (and can't) do, how it impacts on other people; all of these are significant factors in his growing up. The fact that the Greot is never explained, and that otherwise this is recognisably our world, add to the beauty and delight and captivating-ness of the novel.
This novel is just stunning. I hope many people find it.
Well that was one of the most remarkable books I've read in a long time.
It's 1968, and Joe is 11. It's the summer holidays, which means hanging out with best friend Denny, and generally exploring his small town. One day, the pair stumble across the dying body of the local drunk, Tom Halfpenny. Then Eileen starts turning up to hang around with Denny occasionally; then Joe sneaks into a weird, semi-neglected house, getting caught by the elderly inhabitant. The old man is a science fiction writer, and for a period of 1968 he and Joe form a strange, important relationship.
Those three things sound like they should be given very different values. But when you're eleven, they might have fairly similar weight. Indeed, Eileen maybe stealing your best friend may have the greatest import.
In terms of the book, there's one significant point I haven't noted yet. This is not our world. Joe is a witness: he can see the Greot, the colourful dust that flows over everything in the world, in varying hues and in different densities according to its own rules. Only witnesses can see Greot all the time - except at 3.06am, when everyone can - and an even fewer number of people can see what Greot sees; and there's even fewer who can manipulate Greot.
The novel is written as a memoir: a man looking back over his life, the paths he followed from 1968, how the events of that year had an impact on him. It could very easily have been written in a realist style: young boy influenced by slightly mysterious older mentor. It could have been magical realism, too - did the young boy really experience something magical? Instead, Noon commits fully to the novel as fantasy. and it's richer for it. Joe's experiences with the Greot, understanding what it is (and is not), what it can (and can't) do, how it impacts on other people; all of these are significant factors in his growing up. The fact that the Greot is never explained, and that otherwise this is recognisably our world, add to the beauty and delight and captivating-ness of the novel.
This novel is just stunning. I hope many people find it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The book is a fictional quasi-autobiography narrated by an older man who is a science fiction author. He recalls his childhood as an 11-year-old boy in a small village in England. On the surface, it is a coming-of-age story: the boy begins to understand the world around him, one suffused with a mysterious Dust that only a few people can see and no one fully understands. During this time, he meets an older man who takes him under his wing and sparks his passion for writing.
At a deeper level, the novel is about writing, inspiration, and the creative process. Although I have not read much by the author, this feels like his most personal work, exploring his inner motivations and imaginative impulses. It is also a broader reflection on imagination and, perhaps, the meaning of life and how these elements are intertwined.
A deeply personal book from an author known for weird fiction. It is a lovely read, particularly for fans of the author and those interested in books about writing. It may not be his strongest literary work—being somewhat light on plot and lacking the tension of his other novels—but it remains more than adequate.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
At a deeper level, the novel is about writing, inspiration, and the creative process. Although I have not read much by the author, this feels like his most personal work, exploring his inner motivations and imaginative impulses. It is also a broader reflection on imagination and, perhaps, the meaning of life and how these elements are intertwined.
A deeply personal book from an author known for weird fiction. It is a lovely read, particularly for fans of the author and those interested in books about writing. It may not be his strongest literary work—being somewhat light on plot and lacking the tension of his other novels—but it remains more than adequate.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 19, 2026
Moon over Brendle is essentially a coming of age story full of innocence, stories and a sprinkling of magic.
Joe Sutter is an outlier, he is one of one 10% of the population who can see Greot, the multi coloured dust that swathes his world. This makes him special or an outsider, depending on your point of view. He loves to read comics, listen to music and make up fantastical stories. His adventures lead him to a dilapidated Farmhouse where he meets an old sci-fi author who takes him under his wing and mentors him sowing him the path to become a writer.
Moon over Brendle has more than just a sprinkling of magic, there is also a sprinkling of truth which nestles alongside the magic realism. This book feels very personal to the author and gives us, the readers a small window into some of Noon’s early life. On reading the Angry Robot website, the old man in the book refers to the renowned author, Ray Bradbury.
Thanks to Netgalley and Angry Robot for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. And Mr Noon, thanks for sharing.
Joe Sutter is an outlier, he is one of one 10% of the population who can see Greot, the multi coloured dust that swathes his world. This makes him special or an outsider, depending on your point of view. He loves to read comics, listen to music and make up fantastical stories. His adventures lead him to a dilapidated Farmhouse where he meets an old sci-fi author who takes him under his wing and mentors him sowing him the path to become a writer.
Moon over Brendle has more than just a sprinkling of magic, there is also a sprinkling of truth which nestles alongside the magic realism. This book feels very personal to the author and gives us, the readers a small window into some of Noon’s early life. On reading the Angry Robot website, the old man in the book refers to the renowned author, Ray Bradbury.
Thanks to Netgalley and Angry Robot for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. And Mr Noon, thanks for sharing.
June 3, 2026
Moon Over Brendle by Jeff Noons was a weird one - 12 year old Joe Sutter is one of the 10% of people who can see Greot, the strange multicoloured dust that is littered throughout the sky and congregates in certain places. When he meets an elusive old writer who lives in a dilapitated house, he begins to understand more about Greot, but also how to write powerful SF novels.
This was very well written and had me engaged throughout; with the mysterious Greot, the unique and interesting characters Joe meets, the anticipation on how it will come together. It was also very effective at showing the wonder and ethusiasm for learning young teenagers can have.
In the afterword I learned it's actually semi-autobiographical, which puts a lot of it in better persective knowing that. A great coming of age read from the author.
This was very well written and had me engaged throughout; with the mysterious Greot, the unique and interesting characters Joe meets, the anticipation on how it will come together. It was also very effective at showing the wonder and ethusiasm for learning young teenagers can have.
In the afterword I learned it's actually semi-autobiographical, which puts a lot of it in better persective knowing that. A great coming of age read from the author.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a comfortable and nostalgic tale that serves as a fascinating quasi-autobiography. Part fantasy, all tribute to SF, the imagination, and wonder.
It takes us back to 1968 when pulp fiction was pulp fiction dreaming about being something so much more, and alongside that, an 11 year old boy embodying it. The dust that so few people could see could be a magical element or imagination itself, and that's where we, the reader need to be.
It's absolutely a Jeff Noon book. Not nearly as weird as his other works, but still firmly wondrous.
I got a lot out of it. But then, the old classics are books I appreciate a lot. The nostalgia, even for works well before my own time, is real.
I'm very happy with this work.
It takes us back to 1968 when pulp fiction was pulp fiction dreaming about being something so much more, and alongside that, an 11 year old boy embodying it. The dust that so few people could see could be a magical element or imagination itself, and that's where we, the reader need to be.
It's absolutely a Jeff Noon book. Not nearly as weird as his other works, but still firmly wondrous.
I got a lot out of it. But then, the old classics are books I appreciate a lot. The nostalgia, even for works well before my own time, is real.
I'm very happy with this work.
May 25, 2026
This was my first Jeff Noon book, and it was much more than I expected. The summer setting gave me that feeling of sinking back into childhood, when ordinary places could still feel magical, and the Greot dust works almost like an extension of Joe’s imagination. Since this is also a memoir about becoming a writer, that magic fits beautifully with the way his creativity begins to grow. I especially liked watching him move from needing inspiration given to him, to setting his own writing tasks and finding his own momentum. It is a strange, cozy, unexpectedly personal book, and one I think more readers will be surprised by.
Arc provided by Angry Robot Via NetGalley
Arc provided by Angry Robot Via NetGalley
June 1, 2026
Moon Over Brendle had a nostalgic feel to it and I think Jeff did a good job of taking the reader back to childhood summers in Britain. I liked the contrast between the very normal English setting and the magical Greot, and the writing felt warm and relatable. I found it easy to picture the scenes because of that.
However, I did feel that the story dragged a little. I much prefer a fast-paced plot and this is definitely for readers who prefer their books to be character-driven.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read and I gave it 3 ⭐️
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
However, I did feel that the story dragged a little. I much prefer a fast-paced plot and this is definitely for readers who prefer their books to be character-driven.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read and I gave it 3 ⭐️
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
May 26, 2026
This reads like an 80/90s sci fi coming-of-age movie mixed with an Arthurian legend in the best way possible. John, our main character, is growing up in a post-war society where he's the "man of the house" and trying to figure out what that means for an eleven year-old. He's about to leave elementary school and is holding on the the last bits of his childhood(friends, hobbies, responsibilities) over one final summer, when he get caught up in a scheme from a wizardly old author who decides to make him his successor and pupil in writing. Weird, opaque tasks are set, and the stakes really feel incredibly high for what amounts to an 11 year-old given writing homework from a dying man... I loved it.
July 27, 2026
If you're intrigued by the blurb and expecting a mysterious fantasy about what this rainbow dust is and why it exists, this is 100% NOT that. This is a meandering, drawn out not-even-coming-of-age that follows an 11 year old for most of the book, then the rest of his life in 10 pages at the end. Nothing is ever resolved. You get zero answers about the dust. You get zero answers about a certain mysterious character (or several, really). You get zero answers about a mask. Save yourself a few hours.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2026
This was a five-star review up until three chapters from the end.
The beginning 90% of the book is brilliant, engaging, and draws you in to the world of this alternate 1968.
Then the author seems to not know how to end it. The last three chapters are a jumble of summarized "here's what happened between then and now" with hints of things that maybe he intended to write but didn't-- such as the meaning of Dr. Holbrook's last actions, or what happened, exactly, immediately after.
I'd have preferred one or two fully-realized scenes. It's frustrating how a weak ending can ruin a strong book.
The beginning 90% of the book is brilliant, engaging, and draws you in to the world of this alternate 1968.
Then the author seems to not know how to end it. The last three chapters are a jumble of summarized "here's what happened between then and now" with hints of things that maybe he intended to write but didn't-- such as the meaning of Dr. Holbrook's last actions, or what happened, exactly, immediately after.
I'd have preferred one or two fully-realized scenes. It's frustrating how a weak ending can ruin a strong book.
May 21, 2026
Moon Over Brendle reminded me a bit of Robert McCammon’s Boy’s Life, that feeling of summer and being young, and the inherent magical realism that can be felt in this time. Jeff Noon builds the story well and gives us characters that stand up well even when things get weird. While not my absolute favorite by this author it was well crafted and you can feel the heart in it.
Note: ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Note: ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 29, 2026
Moon Over Brendle
Book Review | 📚📚📚📚 4/5
Jeff Noon | Angry Robot
Why I was interested in this book:
Jeff Noon is one of those gifted authors that make you think, but not to the point where it hurts. So when Moon Over Brendle was sent to me as an ARC, I was thrilled to dive into it and am happy to share my thoughts. He conjures up just the right kind of intense, near-futuristic, on-the-fringe, magical storytelling. I wasn't disappointed.
My assessment:
This was a light and fun read. I wasn't sure where it was going to go, and once it went there, I wished there was more. Perhaps a sequel (nudge, nudge). While not my favorite of Noon's books, this was a great one for me to get back to his writing. Uplifting, sad, funny, magical. In some way, it was almost a fairy tale.
Mr. Noon -- Please write a sequel picking up right where this left off. And, hurry.
Stories of the human condition:
As I write down my thoughts, it occurs to me that this book is about balance and what happens when we step into the grey; by choice, by force, or by fate. That really speaks to the human condition. Life/death, positive/negative, yes/no, 1/0. Repeating the last sentence of my assessment: ...uplifting, sad, funny, magical. In some way, it was almost a fairy tale.
The characters all seemed to represent different emotions which affected the direction of the book and impacted the main character. The magical realism in the story was such that I really wanted to believe that it could happen to me.
This was a really good book. In some respects, it was a little thin - it could have used more umph to it. But if it's like a fairy tale, maybe that was intentional, too.
Full disclosure:
I received an advance copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Based on the author, which led me to read the book’s description, I was very interested in reading this book, and probably would have purchased a copy if I saw it online.
Read more of my reviews at https://tugglegrassblues.wordpress.com/.
Book Review | 📚📚📚📚 4/5
Jeff Noon | Angry Robot
Why I was interested in this book:
Jeff Noon is one of those gifted authors that make you think, but not to the point where it hurts. So when Moon Over Brendle was sent to me as an ARC, I was thrilled to dive into it and am happy to share my thoughts. He conjures up just the right kind of intense, near-futuristic, on-the-fringe, magical storytelling. I wasn't disappointed.
My assessment:
This was a light and fun read. I wasn't sure where it was going to go, and once it went there, I wished there was more. Perhaps a sequel (nudge, nudge). While not my favorite of Noon's books, this was a great one for me to get back to his writing. Uplifting, sad, funny, magical. In some way, it was almost a fairy tale.
Mr. Noon -- Please write a sequel picking up right where this left off. And, hurry.
Stories of the human condition:
As I write down my thoughts, it occurs to me that this book is about balance and what happens when we step into the grey; by choice, by force, or by fate. That really speaks to the human condition. Life/death, positive/negative, yes/no, 1/0. Repeating the last sentence of my assessment: ...uplifting, sad, funny, magical. In some way, it was almost a fairy tale.
The characters all seemed to represent different emotions which affected the direction of the book and impacted the main character. The magical realism in the story was such that I really wanted to believe that it could happen to me.
This was a really good book. In some respects, it was a little thin - it could have used more umph to it. But if it's like a fairy tale, maybe that was intentional, too.
Full disclosure:
I received an advance copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Based on the author, which led me to read the book’s description, I was very interested in reading this book, and probably would have purchased a copy if I saw it online.
Read more of my reviews at https://tugglegrassblues.wordpress.com/.
May 23, 2026
Jeff Noon does it again. What a treasure of a writer we have in this day and age. From first time reading Vurt in 1993 to Moon Over Brendle, I have enjoyed every single book he has written. Moon Over Brendle is a magical coming of age story that wonderfully blends the real and unreal. Can’t recommend this enough
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Well, I appreciated the concept that the world is composed of stories and history, but I didn't connect with the plot element of the dust used to represent that idea. The story dragged, and the metaphor was too random to land.
May 17, 2026
Unfortunately if you use blurb from wrong uns you're going to loose marks. 2.5/5
May 28, 2026
vurt to dust
feathers of words; a fine startles and dives; magic spells in the words worth waiting for, time to reread old beginnings
feathers of words; a fine startles and dives; magic spells in the words worth waiting for, time to reread old beginnings
June 29, 2026
This book had a really interesting concept. I loved that only certain people could see the Greot and that this was a coming of age story
August 9, 2026
Another excellent story fromt jeff noon. This time about the creative process and the power of language
August 12, 2026
Jeff Noon delivers an unforgettable experience. Feelings of an abundance of dust circling around me throughout the entire book.
September 9, 2026
It started great. I was flying through the pages. Then it slowed down. A bit long-winded. Missed surprises.
But altogether a nice book
But altogether a nice book
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