The Works of Vermin by Hiron Ennes

New Weird does not get much weirder than Hiron Ennes’ second novel The Works of Vermin, an incredible mix of biopunk, steampunk and baroque (among others) styling that still manages to deliver more than one emotional gut punch. The Works of Vermin delivers a fully realised, utterly confounding world and takes readers from the top to the bottom of its society to tell a story of revenge and revolution (more than one).

The Works of Vermin is set in a city called Tiliard. Tiliard is a city set into the boughs of a giant tree. It has a literal underground in the root system that takes citizens down to the toxic Catopric River and an above ground where the well-to-do live. The city is also beset by giant insects and rats that harry the populace and destroy property.

The story revolves around two characters who are at different ends of the spectrum Guy is an exterminator who has crawled out of the undercity but is still very much in debt and trying to care for and protect his sister Tyro. Guy and his partner (and ex-soldier) Dawn are almost undone by a new type of creature that looks like a giant millipede, feeds off culture and exudes a poison that does not kill so much as transform its victims. The other thread of the story takes place in the above and centres on Asteritha Vost, master perfumier to the Marshall and best friend of the woman who is bound to wed the Chancellor. Aster is beguiled by a newcomer to town – Mallory van Passant – a man with a mysterious past and an agenda.

The two story threads twine around each other and do eventually come together but not in a way that readers are likely to expect. This is particularly as they will have spent more of their time marvelling at the visceral-meets-florid imagery and building out the city of Tiliard in their minds. Suffice to say that this is a book that would benefit a second reading if only to savour the breadcrumbs that Ennes had laid down, particularly through the first half.

There is a lot going on in The Works of Vermin but Ennes also has a lot to say. This is a book about the power of art (opera and theatre in particular are important in the world of Tiliard). But also makes visceral conflict between different schools of art – in this case the Revivalists versus the Extemporists. It is a book about power and the use and abuse of power. And it is a book about transformation – of people, of political structure and of a city itself.

But The Works of Vermin is first and foremost a stunning piece of New Weird fiction. Building on the tradition of authors like China Miéville and his city of Bas Lag and Jeff VanderMeer and his mushroom filled City of Saints and Sinners. More recent example of this magpie-like genre is Jeff Noon and Greg Bead’s Chronicles of Ludwich series. Ennes demonstrates the genre is alive and well and fully capable of delivering not only a mind-bending scenario and setting but political and social commentary and devastating emotional beats.

The Works of Vermin by Hiron Ennes

9

9.0/10