he cut through the 21st Century Gallery, past the big plastic statues of Pluto and Mickey, animal headed gods of lost America

Godshawk looked surprised, the way that people generally do when you ask them philosophical questions in shrubberies in the middle of the night.

I used to be very fascinated by Victorian stuff, and my best known books, the Mortal Engines series, have a sort of retro, Victorian vibe, despite being set in the far future.

You aren't a hero and I'm not beautiful and we probably won't live happily ever after " she said. "But we're alive and together and we're going to be all right.

But boys will be boys, even the ones who are only girls dressed up: That's one of the rules of the world.

I was fascinated by The Lord of the Rings from about the age of eight and that lasted well into my teens.

But we're alive, and together, and we're going to be all right.