58 Book Three, Chapter Eight

Published: March 30, 2008, 7:51 p.m.

"Assam & Darjeeling" is the story of two children who set out to rescue their dead mother from the Underworld -- a nightmare place where the mythological desperately tries to keep pace with the world above. The children encounter cell-phone carrying demons, forgotten deities from defunct pantheons waiting tables, and one nasty character called Juniper who takes a particular, personal interest in their quest. It's tough to wake up after an uncomfortable night to find only cold tea and hastily sketched toast, but the children manage to make do in the eighth chapter of Book Three.