My main problem is with the main character, Richard. He is Arthur Dent without the sarcasm and existentialism. He is towed around by the other characters, and only exists to go, "What? THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE!"

Seriously, Richard, you are in a world where everything is a pun or a reference to London geography. You need to loosen up a little.

So, I hate him.

Secondly, a big part of the book is "Let's see what London landmark we'll visit next!" Which is a little neat, and probably even more entertaining for British people, but it does get a little old after a while.

It'd be like reading a book set in Never-New York (or New York Below, I guess), and the first chapter has an Emperor holding court at the Empire State Building, and then they have to cross Broadway (which is extremely broad, ominously), and Central Park is some kind of neutral ground because it's in the CENTER, and then they have to go talk to river nymphs who live in the brooks of BROOKLYN, and then there's a big war between the Queens and the Kings (trivia: which county used to be called Kings' County?), and then they get captured by the devil that lives in Hell's Kitchen until they're set free by the Statue of Liberty.

Maybe I'm just being cranky, but after a while I just want to go, "Yes, we GET IT."

Also, Door keeps reminding me of Kahlan from the Sword of Truth novels. She's not quite as... Goodkind-y... but she has the whole "vulnerable noblewoman with a mysterious power that works by touch, being hunted by assassins" thing. (I assume Neverwhere came out before SoT, but the association is still there, for me.)


Anyway! I'll finish my reread, but I just wanted to register my displeasure.