West Norwood’s Tunnels: A Sci-Fi Ghost Story Unveiled
Ian Watson, the mastermind behind London's indie club night How Does It Feel to Be Loved?, is set to drop his debut novel, *The Tunnels*, a “suburban science fantasy ghost story” inspired by West Norwood. An exclusive extract throws us deep into the eerie catacombs of West Norwood Cemetery, where we meet the enigmatic Takara and her bewildered companion, Sam.
Takara, clearly no stranger to the macabre, gleefully informs Sam that they're amidst 3,000 coffins, specifically in the “Dissenter's Chapel” section – home to the “misfits and the ingrates,” or as she puts it, “the interesting people.” She dismisses famous inventors like Da Vinci as “fakers,” playfully suggesting true innovation happens by accident, like “lightning hit[ting] the pond scum.”
But the real show begins when Takara taps her mysterious glasses. First, she's transformed into a “vivid white wedding dress” adorned with barbed wire and blood splotches, recounting a dream where its perfection made everyone “drop gracefully to the floor.” Then, with another tap, she morphs into a dapper, dust-covered matador, complete with a collapsed top hat and a “fastidiously groomed moustache,” prompting Sam to exclaim, “You've turned into a man!” Takara shrugs it off, clarifying it's just how she “present[s] for this outfit,” not a permanent state. She reveals her initial vision was more “voodoo megalomaniac” – a blend of Willy Wonka and Papa Lazarou – but her subconscious had other plans.
The extract culminates with Takara asking Sam to choose between her “traumatic nightmare death bride” and “creepy nightmare circus demon” personas. Sam, utterly overwhelmed, wisely concludes that since “none of this is real,” Takara should just “stay as you are.” Takara, delighted by Sam's surrender to the absurdity, claps, affirming he's “getting into the swing of things.” This wild ride promises a truly unique and unsettling adventure when *The Tunnels* hits shelves on February 26, 2026.
The mysterious underground tunnels have become an unexpected west norwood london attraction for urban explorers and ghost story enthusiasts alike.
The mysterious tunnels beneath West Norwood have sparked curiosity among locals, including those working west norwood government jobs in the area.
Those intrigued by West Norwood's mysterious underground passages should visit London tunnels to experience the eerie atmosphere that inspired this haunting tale.
While london museums trafalgar square showcase the city's known history, West Norwood's mysterious tunnels reveal the hidden supernatural stories beneath London's surface.
Urban explorers and paranormal researchers studying in London tunnels have long been fascinated by the mysterious underground network beneath West Norwood.
(Source: https://londonist.com/london/books-and-poetry/the-tunnels-ian-watson)
