Vile Visitors

by Diana Wynne Jones

Two hilarious stories from the bestselling and well-loved author Diana Wynne Jones, about the worst visitors in the world coming to stay.

In VILE VISITORS, we meet Angus Flint and Chair Person – the worst guests in the world. In Who Got Rid of Angus Flint? We meet a man so mean, he even insults the furniture! Despite the children’s best pranks, he just won’t leave. But when the furniture has had enough, it’s time to rise up and get rid of this most vile of visitors…�In Chair Person, that old armchair with the broken crystal ball spilled on it has been locked in the shed. But then the children find a mysterious visitor… Transformed into the most annoying visitor ever, they are desperate to get rid of him. But can they turn him back into a chair before he ruins them forever?

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens, Humor, Middle Grade, Fiction

ebook

First published September 27, 2012

About the author

Diana Wynne Jones was a celebrated British writer best known for her inventive and influential works of fantasy for children and young adults. Her stories often combined magical worlds with science fiction elements, parallel universes, and a sharp sense of humor. Among her most beloved books are Howl's Moving Castle, the Chrestomanci series, The Dalemark Quartet, Dark Lord of Derkholm, and the satirical The Tough Guide to Fantasyland. Her work gained renewed attention and readership with the popularity of the Harry Potter series, to which her books have frequently been compared.

Admired by authors such as Neil Gaiman, Philip Pullman, and J.K. Rowling, Jones was a major influence on the landscape of modern fantasy. She received numerous accolades throughout her career, including the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, two Mythopoeic Awards, the Karl Edward Wagner Award, and the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement. In 2004, Howl's Moving Castle was adapted into an acclaimed animated film by Hayao Miyazaki, further expanding her global audience.

Jones studied at Oxford, where she attended lectures by both C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. She began writing professionally in the 1960s and remained active until her death in 2011. Her final novel, The Islands of Chaldea, was completed posthumously by her sister Ursula Jones.

Reviews

[Ayse_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Diana Wynne Jones is best known for her Howl's Moving Castle series, also made into a Miyazaki movie. This little book of 2 short stories is published after her death.

The stories are very funny, perfect for reading with kids. They are about awful visitors a family deals with, one of them not even human. Great book to cheer up anyone ..

[Rachel (Kalanadi) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. This just happens to be two stories I've read before and don't enjoy. "Chair Person" has always grossed me out. I've read it multiple times since I was a kid and the slobby, pushy chair person gets to me every time. 10 year old me did not like it, 31 year old me found it insufferable.

"Who Got Rid of Angus Flint" should have the charm of a classic DWJ whacky romp but Angus Flint is truly such a vile, abusive, rude visitor that the only reaction I can have is "call the cops on this guy before he hurts you and your kids again". Not fun! But I would have liked it far more as a kid for sure.

[Ming · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remembered reading Who Got Rid of Angus Flint many years ago, and I enjoyed it, and thought it was quite funny. In fact, I think I pretty much started developing a sense of humour because of DWJ - I liked things that were funny, and I wanted to be funny too. Returning to this short story, it was still a pleasant quick read, not much more I can say about that. Other than, I always like how willful the children are in DWJ.

As for the second short story, I liked Chair Person a little less. I don't know why it took me this long to realise that the inspiration of this story probably came from the word "chairperson". The resolution to this story was a bit of a cheat, it wasn't even a deux ex machina that made much sense... things just got resolved i.e. the Chair Person became a chair again just by dumb luck. And we don't even understand why that worked, so it was a bit arbitrary.

Still, all in all, this book wasn't a bad read. Didn't mind it.

[Kiwian Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dos historias muy curiosas, graciosas y mágicas. He pasado un rato agradable y gracioso leyendo a la maestra, si bien reconozco que no están entre sus mejores historias. Ambas se complementan bien y tienen puntos de partida muy imaginativos que Dan lugar a situaciones disparatadas. Buena adquisición, espero que mi hija los lea en unos años.

[Annette McIntyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some more of Ms Jones stories published together that show that visitors sometimes should not be allowed into the house.

[Yipin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A funny book, suitable for 6-7 year olds. Easy to read. Will be boring for older kids but younger kids will find it funny.

[Nicte Yuen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yo también he tenido visitas incómodas, por lo que la lectura se volvió muy divertida. No es una novela, sino cuentos repletos de personajes entrañables. Una lectura para disfrutar en familia

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Diana Wynne Jones writes good books so I'll read any of them. This particular book isn't that great.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very silly. Hard to read as an adult (the title is accurate), but I bet a kid would find it pretty hilarious.

[Maria Longley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The worst guests in the world come to stay!! Two stories in one cover about two families who each end up with an unwanted, and unwelcome, guest which of course causes chaos and mayhem (and perhaps a little fire). The parents in both stories are real cowards running off and leaving the children to deal with the guests...

[Gabriel Clarke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two novellas, two not dissimilar families, two eruptions of the menacingly banal that both turn very nasty. DWJ's mean streak in full force. Not as explicitly peculiar and fantastical as the similarly packaged Earwig and the Witch but you'll never look at your old armchairs in quite the same way again...

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, but not Diana Wynne Jones's best work. 2 stars for Who Got Rid of Angus Flint (nothing really wrong with it, just not what I expect from a DWJ story--it was written VERY early in her career, though, so standard disclaimers may not apply), 3.5 or so for Chair Person (which moved a bit faster and placed magic in more of a starring role).

[Jannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trademark humor ♥