The Borrible Trilogy is a series of young adult books written by English writer Michael de Larrabeiti.

The Borribles' antagonists, the Rumbles, who play a significant part in the first book, are satires of perennial children's favorites, The Wombles.

Visually very similar to the mischievous elves and pixies of English folklore, Borribles wear woolen hats pulled low over their ears to avoid being easily identified by the police "Woollies".

Being caught by the police is a prospect worse than death for Borribles, as it will signify the end of their lifestyle and they will become boring adults.

They have many sayings and practices, such as: "Fruit of the barrow is enough for a Borrible"; "Never stand behind a door when someone is coming through the other side"; "It is sad to pass through life without one good adventure"; and "It is better to die young than to be caught."

The Rumbles are rat-like creatures that live in an underground bunker in Rumbledom and are hated by the Borribles for their riches, power, and haughtiness.

The Borribles decide to escort Sam the horse to safety in Neasden and then return to the old way of life of independence and freedom.

Without going all preachy, the author makes it clear that this kind of fun adventure is liable to get you killed: half the main characters are nastily betrayed and die futilely.

[2] Langford's review of The Borribles Go For Broke, in the May 1984 issue of White Dwarf, states: Sussworth and his minion Sergeant Hanks are brilliantly awful grotesques, like Dickens characters; with their ghastly dedication they'd burn any number of ideologically unsound books, especially this one.

[3] Langford's review of The Borribles: Across the Dark Metropolis, in the December 1986 issue of White Dwarf, states: Again London's underside is the nightmare background for a quest, and the torturous journey from Battersea to Neasden has a far higher death toll than that relatively cosy toddle through Mordor.