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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
Not really for me. It’s just a classic crime novel with some sci-fi features. I liked the thought of the two cities merging, but would have liked to read more about that. The resolution, that should have been the most exciting part, was so boring I flipped through the pages. Read it in Swedish, probably would have been better in English.
There was so much lacking in this book. I think the premise was good, but I wasn't a fan of the execution of how it was done.
Great read, Mieville writes so beautifully that you just luxuriate in his prose sometimes. The central mystery is also compelling.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
this was very interesting! now, every other aspect of this book (characters, prose, mystery itself) is fine, but what i really enjoyed was the exploration of the book's core concept (that is, two cities occupying one space). i like it... how do i phrase this? speculative fiction authors often fail to really dissect how people, individually and as a society, would adapt to the worldbuilding ideas they introduce in their stories. so i like it that china miéville has followed his idea to all its logical conclusions. here are two cities, here's how they (don't) interact, here's how the rules are inforced, here's what happens when someone tries to get around said rules. i think i'd like it even more if it actually had some supernatural elements and/or leaned more into horror. i mean come on, you create such a great liminal space and you don't use it to unsettle me? but that's a personal preference.
“inspector borlú. fancy meeting you … here?” [...] “where’s here?” out of five.
“inspector borlú. fancy meeting you … here?” [...] “where’s here?” out of five.
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A multilayered and ‘normal’ noir detective story [without the usual depressed or alcoholic detective]. Though the mystery line isn’t the main focus at all.
A misty, cold atmosphere with strong cultural-urban undertones. It formed a surreal double-image in my imagination — and I love that kind of thing.
I found myself reflecting with the author on win-win strategies for societal boundaries and rules in our increasingly tangled world. If our future turns out like in this book… the Magical part of the MagicalRealism genre might need a rethink :’)
TRY IT IF YOU’RE ↝ into police mysteries or curious about the themes of social structures, ambiguous perception, and contemporary political questions
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
As usual, Miéville weaves a truly bizarre story that challenges the reader to follow along while stymieing them (albeit in entertaining and delightful ways). Creative but confusing. Which isn’t a bad thing.