Vurt

by Jeff Noon
Vurt cover
Good Books rating 4.17
Fantasy
Technical:
  • ID: 1917
  • Added: 2025-10-11
  • Updated: 2025-10-11
  • ISBN: 9781915202963
  • Publisher: Watkins Media Limited
  • Published: 2023-10-10
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3
Buy online
Waterstones
Paperback • £9.99

Vurt, hailed as a groundbreaking cyberpunk novel, takes readers on a surreal adventure through an alternate Manchester. Scribble and the Stash Riders seek the ultimate Vurt Feather, Curious Yellow, which promises to reunite Scribble with his lost love. Each feather offers a different immersive experience, blending dreams and mythologies into shared realities. The novel defies categorization, blending noir and surrealism into a unique, influential narrative that has captivated readers for decades. First published in 1993, Vurt remains a testament to Jeff Noon's extraordinary storytelling, transcending traditional science fiction boundaries and leaving a lasting impact on the genre.

Reviews
I Love Manchester · Emily Oldfield · 2025-10-11
innovative 4.00

This novel is celebrated for its innovative storytelling and vivid setting. The reviewer appreciates its unique blend of cyberpunk and psychedelic elements.

Emily Oldfield highlights how Vurt stands out as a winner of the Arthur C. Clarke Award, praising its immersive depiction of a futuristic Manchester. She notes the novel's ability to blend cyberpunk aesthetics with a psychedelic, dreamlike quality, making it a standout of the nineties. The reviewer finds the world-building particularly engaging, drawing readers into a world that feels both familiar and utterly alien. Oldfield also commends Noon's ability to balance complex themes with an accessible narrative, making the book a must-read for fans of speculative fiction.

Quick quotes

    Winner of the 1994 Arthur C. Clarke Award and often described as one of the best novels of the nineties

    Set on the streets and in the suburbs of an alternate Manchester

    Noon's debut is a triumph of imaginative storytelling

Hypercritic · 2025-04-26
profound 4.50

The reviewer describes Vurt as a beautiful hallucination that pushes the boundaries of written fiction. They appreciate its depth and the way it engages with the reader's imagination.

This reviewer sees Vurt as more than just a story; it's an experience that taps into the full potential of what literature can achieve. The novel's psychedelic elements are not just surface-level descriptions but a deep dive into the human psyche, making it a profound read. The reviewer applauds Noon's ability to create a world that feels both surreal and deeply personal, inviting readers to explore the boundaries of reality and perception. They find the language and imagery to be particularly striking, making the book a standout in the genre.

Quick quotes

    Way beyond the apparent correlation with drugs, Vurt is a beautiful hallucination

    Taps into the full potential of what only the written word can do

    A profound and engaging exploration of reality and perception

Speculiction · 2013-09-29
exhilarating 4.00

The reviewer describes Vurt as an action-packed story filled with psychedelic imagery and punchy language. They find it to be a wild and exhilarating ride.

This reviewer is taken on a whirlwind adventure through Vurt's pages, praising the novel's relentless pace and vivid descriptions. The psychedelic imagery is not just a backdrop but a central character in the story, adding layers of complexity and intrigue. They appreciate Noon's use of language, which is both poetic and punchy, making the reading experience as exciting as it is thought-provoking. The reviewer finds the story to be a wild ride that keeps readers on the edge of their seats, making it a must-read for those who enjoy speculative fiction with a twist.

Quick quotes

    A wiiiiild ride

    An action-packed story filled with psychedelic imagery and punchy language

    Noon's debut novel is a triumph of imaginative storytelling

Appears in Lists