The Great When - A Long London Novel By Alan Moore

From the legendary storyteller Alan Moore comes the first installment of a captivating new fantasy series, set against the gritty backdrop of post-WWII London. In The Smoke, the year is 1949, and the city is a labyrinth of smog and shadows. Eighteen-year-old Dennis Knuckleyard, an unassuming employee at a second-hand bookshop, embarks on a mundane errand that spirals into the extraordinary.

When Dennis stumbles upon a novel that should not exist—a book from the Great When, a magical realm where fiction intertwines with reality—his life takes a perilous turn. This other London is populated by incarnations of Crime and Poetry, where the boundaries of existence blur, and unimaginable wonders—and dangers—await. However, Dennis soon learns that this secret world cannot be revealed, and returning the book to its rightful place is imperative; failure could result in horrific consequences, including being turned inside out.

As Dennis delves into the city's occult underbelly, he encounters an eccentric cast of sorcerers, gangsters, and murderers—some drawn from legend, others disturbingly real. With each twist and turn, he becomes embroiled in an explosive series of events that could threaten both Londons. With Moore’s masterful storytelling and vivid imagination, The Smoke promises a spellbinding journey through magic, murder, and madness that will leave readers eagerly anticipating what lies ahead.