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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
For a China Mieville, I got through this book pretty quick. It was a fun read and short stories definitely suit Mieville better. I would suggest this to any new reader of China's stuff. If you really like this then it is prob worth going on to the longer books.
This was an amazing collection of remarkably original works from an author with a very unique voice.
Firstly, Mieville's writing style is delicious. It somehow maintains a degree of coarseness that lends it impact, despite its fluid eloquence.
The stories themselves are each a unique approach to their subject matter. The titular 'Looking for Jake' is a sort of post-apocalyptic romance, 'The Ball Room' is a modern approach to a classically-crafted ghost story, and 'The Tain' features (amongst other things) a very interesting take on the nature and origins of vampires.
I don't want to go into any greater detail on any of the stories for fear that I would be robbing any prospective reader of even a fraction of the enjoyment that they would experience from reading the stories 'cold'. Please just allow me to impress upon you exactly how brilliant this collection is. I would suggest it highly to anyone interested in the new-weird movement, to those seeking the perfect entry-point to Mieville's works, and to just about everyone else anyway!
Firstly, Mieville's writing style is delicious. It somehow maintains a degree of coarseness that lends it impact, despite its fluid eloquence.
The stories themselves are each a unique approach to their subject matter. The titular 'Looking for Jake' is a sort of post-apocalyptic romance, 'The Ball Room' is a modern approach to a classically-crafted ghost story, and 'The Tain' features (amongst other things) a very interesting take on the nature and origins of vampires.
I don't want to go into any greater detail on any of the stories for fear that I would be robbing any prospective reader of even a fraction of the enjoyment that they would experience from reading the stories 'cold'. Please just allow me to impress upon you exactly how brilliant this collection is. I would suggest it highly to anyone interested in the new-weird movement, to those seeking the perfect entry-point to Mieville's works, and to just about everyone else anyway!
While some people may not like Looking For Jake (probably just that one guy, because there aren't large characters to simp over to the point of making it their personality - oops I mean write passionate fanfics about it), I actually like it.
Mieville can sure write short fiction. I really enjoyed that a lot of this was set in very normal, contemporary settings with something magical or fantastic thrown in - it was very Gaimanesque but very original at the same time. What I am trying to say is that you should read this.
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
If one of the biggest body horror fans in the world doesn't like it, then I definitely do like it.
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
i think my only massive complaint with this collection of short stories is its overwhelming focus on horror - the stories aren't bad at doing that, but i've sort of come to expect short story collections as an opportunity for an author to play around with different genres, and mieville sticks almost resolutely to New Weird Horror, which makes "'Tis the Season", a darkly comedic romp about a world where christmas has been privatised, a fun little standout.
otherwise, i was very compelled by "The Tain"'s mirror world inhabitants, and how their lives and reality functioned, and i think the best one is probably the shortest - "Entry from a Medical Encyclopedia" is a wonderfully concise and well realized concept, perfectly poised to ruin your day the moment you finish it. less effective is its comparatively similar piece, "Reports of Certain Events in London" - while the via ferae concept is compelling, and the holes in the story made by the "missing pieces" of the report compel. i think its meta presentation doesn't really work for it. nice to a see a little bit more of Bas-Lag in "Jack", and my other favorite is the pareidolia fable "Details" - feels like a scarier doctor who episode.
otherwise, i was very compelled by "The Tain"'s mirror world inhabitants, and how their lives and reality functioned, and i think the best one is probably the shortest - "Entry from a Medical Encyclopedia" is a wonderfully concise and well realized concept, perfectly poised to ruin your day the moment you finish it. less effective is its comparatively similar piece, "Reports of Certain Events in London" - while the via ferae concept is compelling, and the holes in the story made by the "missing pieces" of the report compel. i think its meta presentation doesn't really work for it. nice to a see a little bit more of Bas-Lag in "Jack", and my other favorite is the pareidolia fable "Details" - feels like a scarier doctor who episode.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
short stories aren't my jam but I do love China so I had to read this. many of them were quite good, China's signature unique style quite on display. Def a recommendation to China M fans.
For me, this was very reminiscent of the Yellow Wallpaper.
definitely a good mieville intro. much more toned-down language and some of the stories read almost like a normal person with a wild imagination could have written them. that said - a lot of them were quite slight, and i preferred the ones that reminded me more of his other work. warning to kindle readers - there is a cartoon/graphic installation, which does not come out well in the kindle version, and you can't expand the size of the panels.