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105th out of 491 books
—
4,379 voters
Tunnels (Tunnels #1)
by
Roderick Gordon (Goodreads Author),
Brian Williams
14-year-old Will Burrows has little in common with his strange, dysfunctional family. In fact, the only bond he shares with his eccentric father is a passion for archaeological excavation. So when his dad mysteriously vanishes, Will is compelled to dig up the truth behind his disappearance. He unearths the unbelievable: a subterranean society that time forgot. "The Colony"...more
Paperback, 472 pages
Published
July 2nd 2007
by Chicken House Publishing
(first published January 1st 2007)
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Nov 13, 2012
Jennifer Wardrip
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
trt-posted-reviews
Reviewed by Joan Stradling for TeensReadToo.com
Like his father, fourteen-year-old Will Burrows has an obsession with archaeological digs.
When his father disappears, Will is determined to find him. With the help of his best friend, Chester, Will discovers a network of tunnels under modern-day London. As they follow the tunnels deeper and deeper into the earth, they discover a dark underworld.
But the inhabitants don't want them there.
Will never dreamed his digging would unearth dark family secr...more
Like his father, fourteen-year-old Will Burrows has an obsession with archaeological digs.
When his father disappears, Will is determined to find him. With the help of his best friend, Chester, Will discovers a network of tunnels under modern-day London. As they follow the tunnels deeper and deeper into the earth, they discover a dark underworld.
But the inhabitants don't want them there.
Will never dreamed his digging would unearth dark family secr...more
I don't remember who recommended this book to me, but I didn't really like it. It took sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo long for the author to say anything. The action took so long to develop and when there finally was action, there was too much dialogue and unnecessary description that it took the reader out of the action. I was just groping my through it the whole time waiting for things to happen. I think the book had potential, but the writing was so bad I just went crazy. It's like it was...more
12 likes · like · see review
view all 6 comments
Meh. This wasn't my kind of book at all. I was one of the multitudes who got sucked into the "next Harry Potter" hype and the one thing I've learned from the experience is that there isn't going to be a next Harry Potter, so I should just get over it.
Now, to the book. It's the story of Will Burrows, a Londoner whose great passion is conducting archaeological digs with his dad. When his dad goes missing, Will enlists the help of his friend Chester. Together they stumble on an entire underground c...more
Now, to the book. It's the story of Will Burrows, a Londoner whose great passion is conducting archaeological digs with his dad. When his dad goes missing, Will enlists the help of his friend Chester. Together they stumble on an entire underground c...more
22 likes · like · see review
Mar 07, 2011
Mike (the Paladin)
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
ya-fantasy
Well, this is the last YA (type) book I'm planning to read in the foreseeable future, and I'm just as glad. I've read several lately that have disappointed me. This had also.
I found the book mildly interesting as it opened with the "supposed" father son digging team stocking the little museum and saving their own prizes. But the book takes a turn and becomes something totally different. This (of course) isn't necessarily a bad thing, it could have been a very good thing. But if a book uses this...more
I found the book mildly interesting as it opened with the "supposed" father son digging team stocking the little museum and saving their own prizes. But the book takes a turn and becomes something totally different. This (of course) isn't necessarily a bad thing, it could have been a very good thing. But if a book uses this...more
Jun 19, 2010
Chloe
rated it
1 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
No one, really. Go read Princess and the Goblin.
My dear friend and I were discussing all the books that we have hated over our reading careers. This one came up, and so I decided to review it. This is an over-long, awkward, bipolar book. There is no point where the two authors' ideas connect. At one point, the story is set in a gritty, realistic world, with a dark, sinister fairytale encroaching upon it. Then, it's a quirky, childish, unrealistic world, with a random fantasy universe. The characters are bland. The story never really makes sen...more
1 like · like · see review
Sebuah ekspektasi yang terlalu tinggi kadang-kadang harus membentur dinding saat jalan yang dilewati menyempit dan memasuki terowongan.
Demikian pula saat saya membaca buku ini. Embel-embel "The Next Harry Potter" dan stiker "Soon to be Major Picture" di sampul depan segera membuat saya tanpa berpikir panjang langsung membelinya. Begitu pula di halaman pertama buku ini, ditulis bahwa Barry Cunningham, sang editor "Harry Potter" mengklaim bahwa buku ini mempunyai sensasi yang sama saat ia menemuka...more
Demikian pula saat saya membaca buku ini. Embel-embel "The Next Harry Potter" dan stiker "Soon to be Major Picture" di sampul depan segera membuat saya tanpa berpikir panjang langsung membelinya. Begitu pula di halaman pertama buku ini, ditulis bahwa Barry Cunningham, sang editor "Harry Potter" mengklaim bahwa buku ini mempunyai sensasi yang sama saat ia menemuka...more
Oct 25, 2011
El Templo de las Mil Puertas
added it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
01-eltemplo,
reseñas
"Como todas las navidades desde hace varios años, los medios de comunicación (a menudo con el beneplácito de las editoriales) insisten en traernos al “nuevo Potter” que han descubierto. La lista de obras que fueron encumbradas como “el libro que sustituirá a Harry Potter” es muy larga ya, y este año le ha tocado a Túneles, de Roderick Gordon y Brian Williams. ¿Y por qué Túneles? Pues porque Barry Cunningham, que fue el primer editor de Rowling, pero que hace ya mucho que se desvinculó de Harry P...more
1 like · like · see review
Tunnels may dig beyond your suspension of disbelief and beyond your concern for the characters. It starts off very well, but once we are under the ground the contradictions weigh heavy on Tunnels supports. Will Burrows goes from a brave, courageous, and intellectual to cowering, confused, and foolish without good expla...nation. Seemingly, the more difficult his adventure, the more brave, courageous, and intellectual he should become. Sometimes the contradictions happen on the same page as his f...more
Will Burrows, 14 years old, is a lot like his father. He loves digging for archeological finds and spends all his free time working with his dad in a series of tunnels beneath the city of London. Then strange things begin to happen. Weird looking people are showing up too often wherever Will and his Dad happen to be. An object is found that is unlike anything ever seen before. And one day, Mr. Burrows is simply gone with no explanation. Will and a friend set out to find him and discover a whole...more
02/07/13
Andrew Jung
Roderick Gordon
pg1~479
Will Burrows' life isn't much of the 'happy and bright life.' During school, his evil classmate always pick on him. At home, he sees a family with separated life. The only person who shares a common thing with Will is his father: an archaeologist who likes digging up the ground in search for ancient artifact. Every time when his father dig the ground, Will always help him for fun. Even when he can't dig with his father, Will digs a tunnel everyday with h...more
Andrew Jung
Roderick Gordon
pg1~479
Will Burrows' life isn't much of the 'happy and bright life.' During school, his evil classmate always pick on him. At home, he sees a family with separated life. The only person who shares a common thing with Will is his father: an archaeologist who likes digging up the ground in search for ancient artifact. Every time when his father dig the ground, Will always help him for fun. Even when he can't dig with his father, Will digs a tunnel everyday with h...more
Tunnels, by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams, is the first in a series of refreshing, gritty realistic fiction books which revolve around a boy called Will who does not truly fit anywhere, whether it be at school or at home. The only bond he shares is with his father, who like him, is interested in archaeology.
As time passes, they each separately stumble upon a secret underground city, “The Colony”. It is from a bygone era, populated by a society ruled by merciless, strange beings known as th...more
As time passes, they each separately stumble upon a secret underground city, “The Colony”. It is from a bygone era, populated by a society ruled by merciless, strange beings known as th...more
The premise of this book is interesting and it’s nicely illustrated with creepy ink drawings. Alas, it’s far too long for what it has to offer, and quite poorly written. I was put off by the way adult characters were consistently portrayed as cold, self-absorbed, and extremely flawed. There were only two adults in the entire story who were decent. Also, for those parents who might wish to know, the book abounds with smoking, drunken brawling, and kids drinking and mocking their religion. I didn’...more
1 like · like · see review
Title: TUNNELS
Authors: Roderick Gordon, Brian Williams
Pages: 472 (Hardback)
Rating: 3.8/5
I’ve always had a fascination with stories that take you beneath the surface of the Earth. So I absolutely had to read this book oh so many years ago. I enjoyed every bit off it to say the least.
It starts off with the usual premise. Dad disappears leaving his equally enthusiastic-about-digging son, Will Burrows to search for him. This task leads Will along with his friend Chester into a dark world beneath the...more
Authors: Roderick Gordon, Brian Williams
Pages: 472 (Hardback)
Rating: 3.8/5
I’ve always had a fascination with stories that take you beneath the surface of the Earth. So I absolutely had to read this book oh so many years ago. I enjoyed every bit off it to say the least.
It starts off with the usual premise. Dad disappears leaving his equally enthusiastic-about-digging son, Will Burrows to search for him. This task leads Will along with his friend Chester into a dark world beneath the...more
I was browsing the library when i stumbled across this book and read the back summary. I decided that the book was worth my time. The story is about a 14 year old named Will Burrows, who sets out with his friend Chester to find his missing father, but when they stumble across an ancient civilization they aren't ready for what hits them. Will has to find a way out and rescue his friend with the help of his new found family."This was home for them. This was all they had ever known, and i knew i co
...more
This book was a bit disappointing for me. The concept for the story was good and could have been the basis for a truly captivating read, but the delivery fell flat. There were too many pages of very slow plot development before anything all that interesting would happen, and I found my attention wandering more than once. The curiosity that I felt in the beginning of the story started to wane about halfway through, and what moments of suspense it contained were so brief that they were barely a bl...more
Tunnels
Rodrick Gordon
Brian Williams
469 pages
This is the story of a boy named Will and his friend Chester. Will and his dad, Dr. Burrows, loved digging deep holes in the ground. When Will and Chester become friends at school Will had to tell Chester his passion for digging. When Dr. Burrows goes missing Will and Chester have to investigate. They find a tunnel that is clogged up leading to Will's basement so they un-clog the tunnel and find a cavern. There is an elevator in the cavern that leads...more
Rodrick Gordon
Brian Williams
469 pages
This is the story of a boy named Will and his friend Chester. Will and his dad, Dr. Burrows, loved digging deep holes in the ground. When Will and Chester become friends at school Will had to tell Chester his passion for digging. When Dr. Burrows goes missing Will and Chester have to investigate. They find a tunnel that is clogged up leading to Will's basement so they un-clog the tunnel and find a cavern. There is an elevator in the cavern that leads...more
Rating: 3.8/5
I’ve always had a fascination with stories that take you beneath the surface of the Earth. So I absolutely had to read this book oh so many years ago. I enjoyed every bit off it to say the least.
It starts off with the usual premise. Dad disappears leaving his equally enthusiastic-about-digging son, Will Burrows to search for him. This task leads Will along with his friend Chester into a dark world beneath the surface. The rulers of The Colony, the Styx go out of their way to make Wi...more
I’ve always had a fascination with stories that take you beneath the surface of the Earth. So I absolutely had to read this book oh so many years ago. I enjoyed every bit off it to say the least.
It starts off with the usual premise. Dad disappears leaving his equally enthusiastic-about-digging son, Will Burrows to search for him. This task leads Will along with his friend Chester into a dark world beneath the surface. The rulers of The Colony, the Styx go out of their way to make Wi...more
It was a great book! I really like how it began and how the chapters ended with something interesting- which usually was a loose end- which kept me wanting to read more.
Yes, I was reminded of Harry Potter, but even though that's a different story, any good book will leave a print in anyone's head. (And most of us will automatically compare)
The covers are clever because had it not been for the strangely unique colouring and character design, I would have only seen the title and walked away.
Befor...more
Yes, I was reminded of Harry Potter, but even though that's a different story, any good book will leave a print in anyone's head. (And most of us will automatically compare)
The covers are clever because had it not been for the strangely unique colouring and character design, I would have only seen the title and walked away.
Befor...more
This book is long.
That's a big part of why I love it!
It's also a big part of why 313 people on this site and counting did not like it.
I love it because of its complexity, its incredible world-building, and every well-thought-out and well-executed detail of Gordon's underground world.
I didn't find this book; my friend did.
I told him about the book I was reading, and how I didn't like it because it was so dull and flat.
He told me about the book he was reading, and how he didn't like it because...more
That's a big part of why I love it!
It's also a big part of why 313 people on this site and counting did not like it.
I love it because of its complexity, its incredible world-building, and every well-thought-out and well-executed detail of Gordon's underground world.
I didn't find this book; my friend did.
I told him about the book I was reading, and how I didn't like it because it was so dull and flat.
He told me about the book he was reading, and how he didn't like it because...more
Tunnels takes you deeper into the world of imagination and creation. Something that people will enjoy about this book is that it's not just another recycled idea, but instead something new and intriguing. Some people might think it's slow and boring at first, but thats because it's sort of like an introduction to the family and their lives so you could understand the plot better. The author describes every place perfectly until the last little detail which makes you feel as if you were actually...more
Tunnels by Roderick Gordon tells of Will Burroughs, a 14 year old boy with a passion for digging. After his father's mysterious disappearance, He and his best friend Chester rummage through his dad's notes and finds an old tunnel that leads to great secrets. A giant yet old fashioned city lies beneath civilization and Will and Chester are desperate to escape the clutches of the Styx, the city's secret police. Will learns more about his past, and realizes that he was originally from the Colony, e...more
Will Burrows and his father share a love of archaeology...or really, just plain digging. Will's mom never leaves the house and just watches tv in a dark room and his sister takes care of everything.
Then suddenly Will's dad disappears and Will knows it involves their digging. He gets his friend Chester to help him and what they find is amazing. There's an entire colony of people living under their city.
The characters are done decently enough, but I didn't end up feeling attached to any of them....more
Then suddenly Will's dad disappears and Will knows it involves their digging. He gets his friend Chester to help him and what they find is amazing. There's an entire colony of people living under their city.
The characters are done decently enough, but I didn't end up feeling attached to any of them....more
May 03, 2012
Steven R. McEvoy
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
2011-best-of,
read-2011
Few books that I have read were as compelling and addictive as this one, and with 3 more published in the series and a 5th on the way, it will provide many more hours of entertainment. This book was hard to put down. I just kept saying to myself as reading, one more section, one more chapter, and yet kept reading when I should have put it down. I had to stop reading it at work because I would not want my break or lunch to end. The story is fast paced, the plot twists uncanny, the characters incr...more
Will Burrows no es un chico común de catorce años, él tiene un pasatiempo bastante peculiar: excavar. Le encanta estar bajo tierra y descubrir cosas que para otra gente no pasan de ser basura pero él las encuentra fascinantes y las considera tesoros. Su padre, el doctor Burrows ha “creado” e “estimulado” ese pasatiempo en su hijo, después de todo él es igual o peor. En cambio, Rebecca Burrows, la hija menor, es la cara de otra moneda, completamente ordenada, centrada en su vida y concentrada en...more
This book tells about the adventures of a boy named Will Burrows. Will an adventure to find her father who suddenly disappeared. Will then look for his father in the basement in his house, then in the tunnel that he discovered a tunnel. after he traced the tunnel. amazing things happen. he found an underground housing in that a colony. in the colony he was arrested by the Styx, as he entered the place without permission. Will this is where the adventure began. of her escape from the Styx, meetin...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Tunnels can be described as a typical fictional book that places the protagonist in an unbelievable, yet believable fictional world and adventure with the goal to venture through it.
Tunnels starts with a young boy named Will Burrows. He lives in a family which is described as slowly-sinking wreck. His mother spends the whole day behind the TV, his sister doesent care for him. The only people Will can relate or feel good with is his good friend Chester and his dad, Dr Burrows, of which he shares...more
Tunnels starts with a young boy named Will Burrows. He lives in a family which is described as slowly-sinking wreck. His mother spends the whole day behind the TV, his sister doesent care for him. The only people Will can relate or feel good with is his good friend Chester and his dad, Dr Burrows, of which he shares...more
Will and his friend Chester discover a subterranean world underneath the city of London. They encounter lots of dangers and obstacles as they search for Will's missing father. Plenty of action and suspense - I kept turning the pages and wanted to know what would happen next. But the plot gets pretty outlandish, there are some parts of the story that didn't make much sense to me, and there are some disturbing torture scenes. Middle school kids who like fantasies may enjoy the excitement, the myst...more
Like City of Ember this is another underground dystopia story. The main character is Will Burroughs, a young adolescent boy who lives in London with his a dysfunctional family: an aloof, absent-minded archeologist father, a distant depressed mother, and a hostile older teenage sister. Will takes after his father with a keen interest in excavation. He helps with his father's "digs" and conducts his own assisted by his friend Chester. The father is the curator of a local museum which gives him ac...more
2 likes · like · see review
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| awsome book | 2 | 14 | Oct 14, 2012 03:56am | |
| This book | 11 | 65 | Nov 20, 2011 06:19am |
Roderick 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 jo...more
More about Roderick Gordon...
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