Book Review: Interworld by Neil Gaiman and Michael Reaves

There is an unmistakable, and probably justified, prejudice against children’s novels being enjoyable for adult tastes. I mean there are surely good kid books, from beloved classics like “Heidi” or “Daddy Long Legs” to modern tales like the Lemony Snicket and Harry Potter series. But overall, adults don’t read children’s books and there is a good reason for that. Not to say that they’re all crap, but the black-and-white morality, simplistic storylines, and straightforward character interactions tend to conflict with the expectations of an adult world and the preferences of an adult mindset.

Joey Harker, an average boy, discovers he is a Walker, a being with an ability to cross from Earth to another in an endless continuum of alternate universes. As soon as he discovers his ability, he is targeted by the forces of magic and science who want to strip him, and alternate versions of Harker across the multiverse, of his Walking ability to fuel their ships. Harker is recruited by an organization called InterWorld, operated by different versions of Harker, which seeks to maintain balance between magic and science.

“Interworld” is a children’s novel. The storyline is simple, almost formulaic, but the way in which Gaiman and Reaves write the story make it feel more than going through the motions. There is real excitement in how they portray their universe (or universes, to be clear). The villains are cartoonish and there is never a sense of moral ambiguity amongst the characters or in their decisions. Evil is evil, no matter in what world you’re on. I think that is perhaps the book’s greatest flaw.

What makes up for it though is Gaiman and Reaves’ excellent worldbuilding skills. The mythology underlying “Interworld” is impeccable and captivating. They construct a fantastic universe that seems a shame not to return to. Despite the concept of alternate universes, the authors allude to pop culture and history with great ease. There are numerous references to popular events, some of which a thirteen-year-old reader should have no appreciation for. Likewise, Gaiman and Reaves make fantastic use of clever fantasy tropes and high scientific concepts, both fictional and real. They do not underestimate their readers’ capacity to understand ideas, a notion which seems to escape many children’s writers today.