“The world is full of secrets, and some of them are buried deep.”
— Opening line of the novel, setting the mysterious tone.
Archivist's Choice
Tunnels
Roderick Gordon (2007)
Genre
Fantasy / Children's / Mystery / Science Fiction / Young Adult
Reading Time
500 min
Key Themes
See below
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When his amateur archaeologist father vanishes, 14-year-old Will Burrows unearths a hidden, century-old subterranean society ruled by the tyrannical Styx, forcing him to dig deeper than ever to rescue his dad and spark a revolution.
Synopsis
Fourteen-year-old Will Burrows lives with his unusual family, sharing only a strong interest in archaeological excavation with his father, Dr. Burrows. When his father disappears, Will and his friend Chester investigate Dr. Burrows's latest dig site. They find a hidden tunnel system under London, leading them into a large, underground world called 'The Colony.' This society, untouched by surface time for a century, is ruled by the Styx. Will learns his father is imprisoned in the Colony. While trying to rescue him, Will finds out things about his own past and his connection to this underground world. He and Chester go through dangerous tunnels, avoid the Styx, and meet both allies and enemies, including Rebecca and Mr. Yount. Will's journey to free his father connects with a growing resistance against the Styx. He eventually escapes to the surface, but the conflict between the surface and the Deeper Earth is not over.
Reading time
500 min
Difficulty
Medium
Pacing
Fast
Mood
Mysterious, Adventurous, Dark, Suspenseful
✓ Read this if...
You love adventure stories with intricate world-building, secret societies, and a blend of mystery, fantasy, and sci-fi, especially if you enjoy books where young protagonists uncover hidden worlds.
✗ Skip this if...
You prefer realistic fiction, dislike cliffhangers, or are not keen on stories with dark undertones and elements of dystopian societies.
Plot Summary
A Peculiar Family and a Mysterious Disappearance
Fourteen-year-old Will Burrows lives in London with his unusual family. He feels like an outsider because of his pale skin and albinism, unlike his dark-haired parents and sister, Rebecca. His only shared interest with his father, Dr. Burrows, is archaeology. One day, Dr. Burrows disappears from his secret excavation site. Will and his friend Chester Rawls decide to investigate the site themselves. They find a hidden tunnel entrance under an abandoned house. Will goes into the darkness to find his father, with Chester reluctantly following. This is the start of their journey into the unknown.
Descent into the Deeper Earth
Will and Chester go down a long, winding shaft and reach a large, old tunnel system. They find signs of advanced, but old, technology, including a strong light source and air with a strange, organic smell. They find underground chambers and passages, some natural, some clearly man-made. The deeper they go, the warmer the air gets, and it carries a distinct, earthy smell. They find strange, glowing fungi and other unique plants. Their journey is full of unknowns, as they realize they are far beneath the surface, in a world completely new to them.
The Discovery of the Colony
After going through the tunnels, Will and Chester find a huge, cavernous space lit by artificial suns – the Colony. This underground city is a sprawling place, appearing frozen in the Victorian era, with gas lamps, horse-drawn carriages, and people in 19th-century clothes. The boys are surprised by the size and old-fashioned nature of the place. They quickly realize they are in a hidden society that has existed under London for over a century, cut off from the surface world. Their initial wonder soon turns to worry as they try to blend in and understand this new, confusing environment.
A Glimpse of the Styx and a Rescue Attempt
While exploring the Colony, Will and Chester see the harsh life of its people, especially their fear of the Styx, the ruling class. The Styx are pale, thin people who control everything and punish disagreement severely. The boys' attempt to stay unnoticed does not last long. They meet a mysterious man who calls himself 'Uncle Joe,' claiming to be Will's mother's brother and offering help. Uncle Joe is a Styx member, but he seems to be working against them, subtly guiding Will and Chester and giving them information about the Colony and Will's father, who is imprisoned by the Styx.
The Truth About Will's Heritage
Uncle Joe tells Will a surprising truth: he is not Dr. Burrows's son. Will is a Styx, born underground, and was smuggled to the surface as a baby and adopted by the Burrows family. His pale skin and albinism are typical Styx traits. This news changes how Will sees himself. Uncle Joe explains that Dr. Burrows was captured because his archaeological work led him too close to Styx secrets, specifically the location of the 'Deepers' – an older, more mysterious civilization deeper under the earth. The Styx want Dr. Burrows's knowledge to get into these deeper tunnels.
Escape and Capture
With Uncle Joe's help, Will and Chester plan to rescue Dr. Burrows from the Styx prison. They get into the heavily guarded facility, using their knowledge of the tunnels and some clever tricks. However, their escape does not work. The Styx, led by Rebecca (who is Will's actual sister and a high-ranking Styx officer, sent to the surface to get him), anticipate their moves. Will, Chester, and Dr. Burrows are captured. This confrontation shows Rebecca's loyalty to the Styx and her cold nature, leaving Will upset by the betrayal.
Imprisonment and a New Ally
Will is separated from Chester and put in a cold, damp cell with his father, Dr. Burrows. Here, Will learns more about his father's discoveries and his refusal to help the Styx. They also meet Cal, a young boy imprisoned by the Styx for a long time. Cal is clever and resourceful, giving Will and his father valuable information about the prison's layout and the Styx's operations. Despite the bad situation, Will and Cal form a bond, offering some hope. Cal's knowledge of the tunnels and the Colony is very helpful.
Chester's Plight and the Styx's Schemes
Meanwhile, Chester is not imprisoned but forced into slave labor in the Styx-controlled mines. He experiences the harsh life of the Colony's lower class. He sees the Styx's constant search for the deeper tunnels, realizing the power and resources they are using for this goal. The Styx believe that getting into the Deeper Earth will give them great power or resources, and Dr. Burrows's knowledge is important to their plans. Chester, though separate from Will, observes the Styx's true goals and their growing need to enter the Deeper Earth.
A Daring Escape and the Deeper Earth
Using Cal's knowledge of the prison and tunnels, Will and Dr. Burrows plan an escape. They overpower their guards and navigate the complex underground passages. Their goal is not to return to the surface, but to go deeper into the earth, towards the Deeper Earth, a place of old power and mystery that even the Styx fear. Dr. Burrows believes the answers to Will's heritage and the Styx's origins are there. This escape changes their situation from being captives to actively seeking truth and survival.
Confrontation and a Glimmer of Hope
Will, Dr. Burrows, and Cal eventually face Rebecca and the Styx forces as they are about to enter the Deeper Earth. A tense confrontation happens, during which Rebecca's dedication to the Styx cause and her relationship with Will are explored. The Styx's need to get into the Deeper Earth becomes clear, as does the danger of disturbing it. The book ends with Will and his companions facing an uncertain future, having escaped the Styx and on the edge of an even greater mystery, with the chance of learning more about Will's true family and the secrets of the Deeper Earth.
Principal Figures
Will Burrows
The Protagonist
Will evolves from a somewhat naive, sheltered boy to a courageous, determined individual grappling with a complex identity and fighting for his family.
Dr. Burrows
The Supporting
Dr. Burrows maintains his integrity and love for Will, even when faced with the truth of Will's origins and the dangers of the Styx.
Chester Rawls
The Supporting
Chester starts as a reluctant follower but develops courage and resilience through his harrowing experiences.
Rebecca Burrows
The Antagonist
Rebecca's true identity and allegiance are revealed, solidifying her role as a primary antagonist and a complex figure in Will's personal journey.
Uncle Joe
The Supporting
Uncle Joe's role shifts from a helpful guide to a more enigmatic figure whose ultimate loyalties are unclear.
Cal
The Supporting
Cal moves from a helpless captive to an active participant and vital ally in Will's escape.
The Styx
The Antagonist
The Styx maintain their oppressive control, relentlessly pursuing their goals of accessing the Deeper Earth, becoming increasingly desperate as Will and his allies thwart their plans.
Themes & Insights
Identity and Self-Discovery
Will's journey is about finding out who he is. His albinism makes him feel different in his surface family, and this feeling grows when he learns he is a Styx, adopted by surface dwellers. This news makes him face his true origins and question his place in the world, leading to a new understanding of himself. He deals with feeling 'other' and what it means to be part of a ruthless underground society.
“"He was a Styx. He had been born down here, in the cold, dark earth, not up there in the sun and rain."”
Family and Belonging
Family is a central idea, shown through Will's relationships. He feels disconnected from his adopted surface family (except his father) and then faces betrayal from his adopted sister, Rebecca, who is his biological Styx sister and an enemy. His bond with his adopted father, Dr. Burrows, stays strong, showing that family is about love and loyalty, not just blood. He also forms a new family with Chester and Cal, highlighting the search for belonging.
“"He had always felt different, but now he knew why. He was a stranger in his own home, a creature of the dark brought into the light."”
Oppression and Revolution
The Colony is a society controlled by the Styx, a ruthless ruling class. The people live in fear and are used for labor, as seen with Chester's forced work. The strict social order and the Styx's control create a strong sense of unfairness. Will's arrival and the Styx's actions accidentally start the possibility of rebellion, as his fight for freedom could begin a wider uprising against the current system.
“"The Styx ruled with an iron fist, their power absolute, their punishments swift and brutal."”
Exploration and the Unknown
The whole book is about exploration – both physical and internal. Will and Dr. Burrows are driven by curiosity about what is beneath the earth. Their trip into the tunnels and the discovery of the Colony, and then the search for the Deeper Earth, show humanity's natural drive to explore the unknown and push limits. This theme is connected to the dangers and wonders that such exploration brings, constantly challenging the characters' ideas about their world.
“"There was a whole world beneath their feet, teeming with secrets and dangers, waiting to be discovered."”
Technology vs. Nature
The book compares the advanced, but decaying, technology of the Colony with the raw, untamed nature of the deeper, older tunnels and the promise of the Deeper Earth. The Styx use their technology to maintain control, while the natural, organic parts of the underground world hold old secrets and unknown powers. This shows a tension between human attempts to control nature and the power and mystery of the natural world beyond their reach.
“"The Colony was a marvel of engineering, a city built against nature, yet the earth still breathed around it, a constant, silent reminder of its power."”
Plot Devices & Literary Techniques
The Colony
A subterranean Victorian-era city, hidden beneath London.
The Colony serves as a major setting and a central plot device. It is a vast, anachronistic underground city, frozen in a Victorian aesthetic, that has existed for over a century, completely unknown to the surface world. Its existence drives much of the mystery and conflict, acting as both a prison and a catalyst for Will's journey. It symbolizes a society trapped in time, governed by harsh rules, and provides the backdrop for the Styx's oppressive rule and the struggle for survival.
The Deeper Earth
An ancient, mysterious realm beneath the Colony, sought by the Styx.
The Deeper Earth functions as the ultimate MacGuffin and a symbol of the unknown. It is an even more profound and ancient subterranean realm, rumored to hold immense power or secrets. The Styx are obsessed with accessing it, believing it will grant them ultimate control, driving much of their actions and the plot's forward momentum. For Will and Dr. Burrows, it represents the potential source of answers about Will's origins and the ultimate truth of the underground world, a place of both immense danger and potential revelation.
Will's Albinism
A physical trait that signifies Will's true heritage and 'otherness'.
Will's albinism is a crucial plot device, initially marking him as different in his surface family and later revealed as a key indicator of his Styx heritage. It serves as a visual metaphor for his 'otherness' and his struggle with identity. This physical characteristic directly links him to the Styx, making his discovery of his true parentage more impactful and providing a tangible connection to the underground world, even before he descends into it.
The Tunnels
An intricate network of passages connecting the surface to the Colony and beyond.
The tunnels are more than just pathways; they are a character in themselves, a complex labyrinth that both connects and separates worlds. They represent the journey into the unknown, the passage between different realities, and the challenges faced by the characters. The design and nature of the tunnels – some ancient and natural, others man-made and technologically advanced – reflect the different civilizations and mysteries hidden beneath the earth. Navigating them requires skill, courage, and often, luck.
Critical analysis
Notable Quotes
“Sometimes the most ordinary things hide the most extraordinary truths.”
— Will reflects on discovering the tunnel entrance.
“Courage isn't the absence of fear, but the decision to act in spite of it.”
— Will encourages Chester during their descent.
“The past has a way of reaching into the present, whether we want it to or not.”
— Dr. Burrows discusses archaeological finds.
“Not all treasure is gold; sometimes it's knowledge.”
— Will contemplates his father's obsession with discovery.
“In the darkness, you learn who you really are.”
— Will and Chester navigate the tunnels.
“Every tunnel has an end, but not every journey does.”
— Reflection on their ongoing adventure.
“The earth remembers what we forget.”
— Reference to ancient civilizations underground.
“Trust is the light in the darkest places.”
— Will and Chester rely on each other underground.
“Curiosity is a compass that points to danger as often as discovery.”
— Warning about exploring the unknown.
“Home isn't always a place; sometimes it's the people you're with.”
— Will misses his family but finds solace in friendship.
“The deepest tunnels are the ones we dig within ourselves.”
— Metaphorical reflection on personal challenges.
“Fear of the unknown is the first obstacle to overcome.”
— Before entering the tunnel for the first time.
“Some doors are meant to stay closed, but once opened, they change everything.”
— Discovering the hidden entrance.
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Key Questions (FAQ)
'Tunnels' follows 14-year-old Will Burrows, an amateur archaeologist who discovers a hidden subterranean society called the Colony while searching for his missing father. The Colony is ruled by the oppressive Styx, and Will must navigate this dangerous underground world to rescue his father and potentially spark a rebellion.
About the author
Biography coming soon.
