China Mieville- The City & The City

[deer of the dawn]

Just finished this and am a definite Mieville fan!! The dual city was intriguing but it never overshadowed the characters, the matchless dialogue, and an interesting enough plot that I didn't have it all figured out halfway through the book (not bragging but that happens disconcertingly often). Mieville tantalizes with details about the cities but doesn't dwell on them or show them off.

I read it carefully and yet I'm still not really sure if there is some supernatural element to the division of the two cities or if it's simply something created in the minds of its citizens. I kind of like that and imagine that Mieville kept it ambiguous on purpose as part of the atmosphere of the book. Way cool.

[stonemaybe]

I liked this book. the setting was typically Mieville (as in, imaginative enough to make your jaw drop, once you understand what's going on), but I thought the plotline was a bit weaker than the Bas-lag books.

Still well worth the read though!

[I'm Murrin]

I finished this a few weeks back, it took me a while but I finally posted up my review.

anotherplace.wordpress.com/2010/04/05/the-city-the-city/

[Endymion9]

I thought this book was fabulous! I didn't expect to like it as much when I started it, but within the first 50 pages, I was hooked. What a creative mind to imagine such a combination of cities and at the same time explain them where the reader can actually follow the high concept.

[Fist and Faith]

I've never read anything by CM. Never imagined it would be fan/sci-fi. Don't even know if it's a man or woman, and nothing any of you said gives an indication.

[I'm Murrin]

He's one of the most creative writers working in the Fantasy genre right now. You should try him out.

As I noted in my review, there's actually not much actual Fantasy in The City & The City, it's all explained through perception, but it fits in the genre because of the Weird-ness of it all. This makes it unique in China's work, though, because his other novels are wildly imaginative fantasy.

[Fist and Faith]

Good to know. Thanks. Maybe I'll see what's at the local used store tomorrow.

[Lord Mhoram]

Is this a good place to start with Mieville? He's on my to-read list.

[Endymion9]

Perdido Street Station was the most creative, wow, scifi I had read since Dan Simmons "Hyperion".

[I'm Murrin]

As good a place as any, it's a great book and completely stand-alone.