Incidentally, I have read an absolutely hilarious novel, actually a professional Dr. Who fanfic, which involves fictionalized versions of Lewis, Tolkien, and the sadly neglected Charles Williams, Tolkien's epic, and brightly colored talking poodles with rayguns. Mad Dogs and Englishmen is the title, and if you liked Time Bandits, you might find this book diverting for a few hours. Not Dickens, but laugh-out-loud funny.