How the Marquis Got His Coat Back

London Below #1.5

by Neil Gaiman

A Neverwhere short story from one of the brightest, most brilliant writers of our generation - the Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author of the award-winning The Ocean At the End of the Lane.

The coat. It was elegant. It was beautiful. It was so close that he could have reached out and touched it.

And it was unquestionably his.

Genres: Fantasy, Short Stories, Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Audiobook, Novella, Science Fiction Fantasy

43 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 27, 2015

Reviews

[Jayson · Rating 4 out of 5]

(B+) 78% | Good
Notes: A snack-sized side-quest, it's finished in a flash: plotted proficiently, sating sufficiently, though lacking past panache.

[Paul Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Marquis de Carabas is recovering rather nicely from a terminally bad case of death and the one thing he really, really wants? Is his beautiful coat back.

And it was truly beautiful, remarkable and completely unique, unusual pockets, some of which even he couldn't find every time he looked, magnificent sleeves, an imposing collar and made of leather the colour of a wet street at midnight. More importantly than all that, it had style and it made him the man he was, the Marquis de Carabas.

'The Marquis de Carabas liked being who he was, and when he took risks he liked them to be calculated risks, and he was someone who double-and triple-checked his calculations.'

The world building is phenomenally good, it's one of the many ingredients that go into making Neverwhere a place that feels just too real for words, a definite, dark imagery, full of magical things, slightly warped people and intrigue, lots of intrigue.

'The paths of London Below are not the paths of London Above: they rely to no little extent on things like belief and opinion and tradition as much as they rely upon the realities of maps.'

It's a joy to revisit London below, a dangerous journey indeed for the Marquis where he encounters a grievance that has festered for a long long time, the terrifying Shepherd's of Shepherd's Bush and even more fascinating, a member of his family. How the Marquis got his Coat Back is a quite fantastic Neverwhere short story, wonderfully written and filled with a charming prose that is simply enchanting.

Also posted at http://paulnelson.booklikes.com/post/...

[Lyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short story set in Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere universe and focusing on the character of the Marquis de Carabas.

This was a fun visit to Neverwhere, Gaiman’s imaginative creation of London Below. Published in the fantasy anthology Rogues (along with some TASTY George R.R. Martin and Patrick Rothfuss stories), we follow up with the Marquis after the events in Neverwhere.

Gaiman fans want more of the Neverwhere vision and this is almost a cruel snack when we want a full meal. While we gain some backstory for the Marquis and his brother Peregrine (as well as Neverwhere in general) this is too short and just not enough.

Gaiman has hinted that he is writing an actual novel length sequel and this will have to do til then.

For fans.

[Lee (the Book Butcher) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun short story I read after neverwhere. Involving the marquis from the under London world.

[Ioanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Kon R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this one. I read this right after Neverwhere, but in retrospect, it would have been a better read as an apetitizer while waiting for the sequel. It cannot be considered anything more than a filler. It has only one character from the original book and nothing of importance happens. Honestly, I wouldn't even think about how the Marquis got his coat back when I dive into the sequel. Only read this if you're itching to take a quick stroll through the world of the London Below.

[Mitticus · Rating 5 out of 5]

The paths of London Below are not the paths of London Above: they rely to no little extent on things like belief and opinion and tradition as much as they rely upon the realities of maps.

Cuando uno quiere encantarse a si mismo, debe leer a Gaiman. Que historia tan genial por un mundo paralelo de cuentos de hadas , venganzas, estafas y un bribón simpático.

El marques de Carabas de Londres de Abajo sigue fascinando.

[Amin · Rating 4 out of 5]

یه داستان کوتاه توی دنیای «ناکجا» دربارۀ مارکی د کاراباس که می‌ره کتش رو پس بگیره. جالبه، پر اتفاقه، با جنبه‌های جدیدی از دنیای زیرین آشنامون می‌کنه، با برادر جذاب مارکی آشنا می‌شیم و بالاخره کسی رو می‌بینیم که مارکی خودش رو پایین‌تر از اون می‌بینه و بهش غبطه می‌خوره. داستان رو دوست داشتم و لذت بردم و همچنان مشتاقم داستان‌های بیشتری از لندن زیرین بخونم.

چیزی که توی داستان‌های گیمن بارزه، تعدد اتفاق‌هاست. داستان می‌تونه به عجیب‌ترین شکلی که فکرش رو نمی‌کنی چرخش کنه یا یکهو اتفاقی بی‌ربط رخ بده و خط داستانی متغیر بشه. همین باعث می‌شه به یاد موندن خیلی از جزئیات داستان‌هاش سخت باشه و همین هم احتمالاً سبب می‌شه دوباره خوندن کتاب‌هاش ارزش خیلی بالاتری نسبت به دوباره‌خوانی آثار نویسنده‌های دیگه داشته باشه. یعنی وقتی کتاب یا داستانیش رو دوباره می‌خونی، قطعاً چیزهایی هست که ازش یادت نمونده و باز غافلگیر می‌شی. الان که اومدم این ریویو رو بنویسم، یه بخشی از داستان رو دوباره خوندم و این موضوع به چشمم اومد (با اینکه خود داستان رو حدود دو ماه پیش خونده بودم و زمان زیادی از خوندنش نمی‌گذشت).

نسخۀ فارسی دو بخش جالب دیگه هم داره. ترجمۀ مصاحبه‌ای کوتاه با گیمن و ترجمۀ یادداشتی نسبتاً بلند از مجلۀ نیویورکر دربارۀ گیمن که البته الان می‌شه گفت قدیمیه، چون حدود چهارده سالی از عمرش می‌گذره و در این بین اتفاقات زیادی برای گیمن و آثارش افتاده. با این حال خوندنش خالی از لطف نبود و دوستش داشتم.

[☾❀Apple✩ Blossom⋆｡˚ · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Beg for mercy,” said the Elephant.
That one was easy. “Mercy!” said the Marquis. “I beg! I plead! Show me mercy—the finest of all gifts. It befits you, mighty Elephant, as lord of your own demesne, to be merciful to one who is not even fit to wipe the dust from your excellent toes …”
“Did you know,” said the Elephant, “that everything you say sounds sarcastic?”



The Marquis was by far my favourite character in Neverwhere, so I was very happy to read his story. It was really entertaining, and in it he does exactly what you would think the Marquis would do. Which is not having a talking cat and killing a giant but, you know, being sarcastic and stuff. A nice addition to the series!

[mayy · Rating 4 out of 5]

"He stopped for a moment, and he thought about people, and about things, and about how hard it is to do anything for the first time."

I thought it would be a bit better. But it was still great.

I really loved Neverwhere. No, I mean I REALLY loved it. It was one of the most unique books I have ever read. So I’m not going to lie, my expectations were set very extremely high for this one. Probably too high. Definitely too high. I mean, the book has like 70 pages. What was I really expecting?

Nevertheless, I really enjoyed it and also was really excited about reading about The Marquis again. Who doesn’t love him, right?

Oh and the story was pretty good, too. It wasn’t AMAZING, but pretty good. I’ll even give it a really good.

[somuchreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Αυτό εδώ το πολύ μικρό, πολύ cute βιβλιαράκι, από το οποίο αγόρασα 7 αντίτυπα μέσα στον Δεκέμβριο [μεγάλη ιστορία], είναι ένα διήγημα του Gaiman που συνδέεται με το Neverwhere.

Ασχολείται με τον Marquis de Carabas, ένας από τους φανταστικότερους χαρακτήρες που έχουν ξεπηδήσει από το μυαλό του συγγραφέα και έναν αγαπημένο ήρωα που δύσκολα θα ξανασυναντήσουμε.

Δεν έχω να πω πολλά, μπορεί κάποιος να το δει και σαν κομμάτι του Neverwhere, μάλιστα νομίζω πως στην πιο φρέσκια Αμερικανική εκδοχή του Neverwhere η ιστορία του πως ο Marquis de Carabas ξαναβρίσκει το αγαπημένο του [και ιδιαίτερο] παλτό βρίσκεται στο τέλος του βιβλίου. Εγώ το αγάπησα, γιατί κάθε ευκαιρία να ξαναβρεθώ στο London Below είναι ένα μεγάλο κέρδος.

Πρέπει να έχετε ήδη επαφή με το Neverwhere για να διαβάσεις αυτό το βιβλιαράκι. Αν δεν έχετε, καιρός να αποκτήσετε.

How the Marquis Got His Coat Back: ★★★★

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was by coincidence (thank you, Social Media) that I found out about this short story about the Marquis de Carabas, one of the best characters Neil Gaiman has invented in his novel Neverwhere.

For anyone wondering: yes, you need to read the novel before you read this.

I won't say any more about the content of the story because if I do, there will be major spoilers. In fact, the very fact that this story exists is probably a major spoiler to anyone reading the novel but that is not my fault. I'm just glad this story was released AFTER I had finished the novel.

Anyway, it is a good short story, full of "the usual" London Below fun and adventure.

[Ian Payton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such fun to be back in the company of the Marquis of Carabas, after enjoying him so much in Neverwhere. The lore expands with shepherds, an elephant, and mushrooms ("the Mushroom", in fact).

A lovely little extra 37-page nugget, perfect for those who wanted to know... well... how he got his coat back. And it is a very a fine coat indeed!

[Rachael (RedRchlReads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars!

“Beg for mercy,” said the Elephant.
That one was easy. “Mercy!” said the Marquis. “I beg! I plead! Show me mercy—the finest of all gifts. It befits you, mighty Elephant, as lord of your own demesne, to be merciful to one who is not even fit to wipe the dust from your excellent toes …”
“Did you know,” said the Elephant, “that everything you say sounds sarcastic?”

How the Marquis Got His Coat Back was included in the Audible edition of Neverwhere that I recently listened to. When Richard's story finished and I wasn't done hearing about the fantastical world of London Below, I immediately dove in. This story, like the title suggests, tells us how the Marquis got his coat back. Although quick, it was a rich and detailed story that gives the reader a glimpse further into the world of London Below.

The Marquis' coat is not any ordinary coat. It is quite a wonderful coat full of pockets, seen, unseen, and impossible to find, and is the color of a wet street at midnight. Not only that, but it fits him perfectly. And really, it is the coat that makes the Marquis du Carabas.

The Marquis was one of my favorite characters in Neverwhere. You never really knew where his true intentions lay throughout the story, and I loved getting to see a bit more of him and his history. Also what kind of trouble he got up to when on his own.

The depth and fullness of all the characters, even the ones with tiny roles, is remarkable and really makes the story come to life. As with Neverwhere, the worldbuilding is fantastic and the writing is flawless. No detail is missed. No corners cut because of the shorter length. It was really an enjoyable read!

Full of interesting characters, some quite sinister, and more of Neverwhere's curiosities this story will not disappoint. I highly recommend it to anyone who is a fan of Neverwhere and wants to see more of London Below.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the original Neverwhere - partly because I saw to the TV series (as cheesy as it was) and loved it, partly because it is set in around London and that is always a good start and obviously it was Neil Gaiman.
Now over the years there have been several versions of the book from the definitive version to the graphic novel (yes I have them all) but never really has there been a return to the world of Richard, Richard Mayhew, Dick.

Until now - this was a one off story set a short time after the book - dealing with yes you guessed it the Marquis De Carabas. The story had all the old name drops, the hinted at magics and of course the play on words from ole London Town.

The story itself is also collected in an anthology called Rogues which have famous stories and characters revisited for one more story - and I must admit if the level of quality is the same there as it is here then I am in.

I will have to say that there was nothing really new here - so yes its for the fans but one thing it does show is that the world of Neverwhere has plenty more to give and I for one hope Mr Gaiman returns there soon.

[Amanda B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great short story back in London Below. I really hope that Neil Gaiman writes more Neverwhere stories....

[Dimitrije Srebric · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little bit too short, this story provides somewhat of an epilogue to the "Neverwhere's" character Marquis de Carabas, and how he managed to retrieve his fabulous coat after suffering a "minor" accident in the main story.

Although complete, I could not escape the feeling that there is more that could have been said.

[Sarah Booth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an actor's read version so abridged bit with an all star cast. A lovely listen. I wish Gaiman would develop this series. The concept is wonderful and I'd love to hear more about London underneath.

[Hanieh · Rating 4 out of 5]

۴/۵
این داستان کوتاه در مورد مارکی داستان تلاش اون برای پس گرفتن کتش بعد از ماجراهای ناکجا هست. به دو دلیل خیلی دوستش داشتم؛ اول اینکه مارکی خیلی کاراکتر جذابیه و خب توی ناکجا ما دیدم همیشه چه قدر حساب شده رفتار می‌کنه و خیلی کامل به نظر می‌اومد یه کم نزدیک شدن بهش برای من عجیب بود ولی توی این داستان گیمن نشونمون داد اون هم به اندازه‌ی خودش ممکنه نیاز به کمک و نجات داده شدن داشته باشه و اشتباه کنه و این باعث شد من خیلییییی بهتر با مارکی ارتباط برقرار کنم. دوم اینکه من عاشق لندن پایینم و برگشتن اونجا فوق‌العاده بود. ادبیات گیمن مثل همیشه بود، انگار از یه دنیای دیگه اومده و اینم دوست داشتم که اضافه کاری نکرده بود و مفید و مختصر جمعش کرده بود.
امیدوارم زودتر هفت خواهران رو بنویسه ( گریه به زبان موشی)
چیزی که توی نسخه‌ی فارسی کتاب خیلیییییییییییی دوست داشتم مصاحبه با گیمن و مقاله‌ای در مورد اون بود که بعد از داستان مارکی بود و می‌تونم بگم به اندازه‌ی خوندن خود داستان از خوندنشون لذت بردم.

[Kevin Lopez (on sabbatical) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short tale is a delightful, pitch-perfect coda to Neil Gaiman’s urban-fantasy novel Neverwhere. It centers on one of Neverwhere’s most intriguing and entertaining characters, the Marquis de Carabas, and it felt great to be able to spend a bit more time with him here.
Having already read the novel, this was about as enjoyable and well-written an addition as I could’ve hoped for. However, although I have no compunction in giving five-star ratings to works of short fiction—indeed, I feel that in many instances short stories deserve that rating more than their more capacious cousins, if only because the constraints set by the form make it considerably more difficult to tell a compelling, self-contained story—this particular story is not self-contained. Captivating and pleasurable though it is, it’s more of an extended epilogue than a short story, as it wouldn’t be enjoyable or even coherent if one hadn’t read the novel first. In this respect it’s more akin to Patrick Rothfuss’s The Slow Regard of Silent Things (but better) or a Marvel post-credit scene (but much better) than it is to The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County or The Snows of Kilimanjaro.
So, four stars it is. But, if you’re one of the lucky ones who’ve had the pleasure of reading Neverwhere first, as I very recently was, then you certainly may feel, as I did, that this is indeed a five-star read.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Marquis de Carabas has mislaid his coat. Or it may have been stolen. It was unique, with imposing collars, numerous hidden pockets and was the colour of a wet street at midnight. Whatever has happened to it, he wants it back. Rumour has it that it is in being held by the shepherds in Shepherds Bush and having just got over a nasty incident of dying, he needs to be very careful how he goes. Very careful indeed…

In this all too brief novella, we are deeply immersed once again in the surreal world of London Below. As we follow the Marquis de Carabas as he seeks his coat, we are drawn through familiar but twisted places and characters. It is dark, as you would expect from Neverwhere, but full of surprises and whimsical observations. Great little story that only has one flaw; it is way too short.

[Sophia · Rating 3 out of 5]

B.R.A.CE. 2017 ένα βιβλίο με έναν τίτλο με πάνω από 5 λέξεις

Δεν μπορώ να πω τίποτα παραπάνω για τον Neil Gaiman πέραν από αυτά που έχουν γραφτεί ήδη. Θα τον "κρίνουν" οι Θεοί του Fantasy!

Μια υπέροχη μικρή ιστορία από το "Κάτω Λονδίνο" που απλά δεν ήθελα να τελειώσει! Αλλά τελείωσε για αυτό έκοψα ένα αστεράκι από τα 4! Κακό Βιβλίο! :P

[Kitty G Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really fun little short story which can easily be read as a standalone but which I assume would work well if you have also read Neverwhere. I haven't yet read Neverwhere but I did really like this and so I now do want to read it a lot more than I did previously and as this was such a short little novella I am happy to see that it made me want to pick up more.

This is exactly what the title says, it's the story of how the Marquis got his coat back and the various places and people that he visited and met along the way. As always with Gaiman you have to expect the unexpected and when peculiar character make an appearance it only serves to make the story as a whole more interesting and whimsical and fun.

A lovely little read and one I certainly enjoyed a lot :) 3.5*s overall!

[Sheila Beaumont · Rating 5 out of 5]

This full-cast dramatization is a delightful short-story sequel to Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere, continuing the adventures of the Marquis de Carabas in London Below. For maximum enjoyment of the story, it's a good idea to read Neverwhere first.

[that_scarlet_girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

"It was beautiful. It was remarkable. It was unique."

[Andy Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great quick read set in Gaiman's 'Neverwhere' world. Does exactly what it promises and tells the story of how The Marquis de Carabas sets out to retrieve his magnificent coat which has been stolen from him and sold on.

London Below is as fascinating as I remember, both in it's places and characters and makes for a very visual read. At times it felt a bit like it was written for children but when I sat back after finishing it and reflected on it that seemed less the case. Masterful storytelling by, well, a master storyteller

[Anne (ReadEatGameRepeat) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was such a fun short story, so happy to finally have read it. It was just a fun little adventure set in a world I already love - I 100% think I would've enjoyed this more if I had read it straight after Neverwhere rather than a few years later (oops). I remembered the general beats of the original story but honestly I felt like I was missing references here and there, but regardless of that it was just a fun ride.

[Wiebke (1book1review) · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a fun trip back to London below.

[Alaina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now this was a really short but fun novella to jump into. It came at the end of my audiobook, Neverwhere, and I really liked getting to know The Marquis a bit more. I wouldn't necessarily say he was my favorite character in the previous book but he was an interesting one.

Any character that has constant sarcasm coming out of their mouth is a winner in my book. Mostly because I am a very sarcastic person. So I guess in a way, he is sort of winning my fake favorite character in a new series. So far. I might have to actually make a list but he definitely made me laugh a whole bunch of times while this book is like - what - 60 pages?

In the end, it was a nice edition and I wonder if Neil will ever write novellas about the other characters? Not sure but I think they would be a nice addition.

[Paz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars
It was nice, after years, to be in London Below again with a new story.
The Marquis de Carabas is looking for his coat, after the unpleasant events that occurred to him in Neverwhere.
Oh Marquis, whoever you are, I did miss you.
The story expands the world more and we get to be in the head of this unique character.
I wish the story could have been longer. There were glimpses here and there of the world I fell in love with, but it wasn't the fantastic story I was expecting. And although the Marquis is still in a delicate state, he wasn't the cunning figure that he was before. His brother was the hero, in more than one occasion, in this story.
I also missed the humour and some good minor characters.
It was an alright story, nothing spectacular, and because it is THE Marquis it should have been spectacular, flamboyant, witty and odd. So, I can't help but to feel a little disappointed.