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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Check out my review on BookGeeks: http://www.nudge-book.com/blog/bookgeek/2015/08/12/three-moments-explosion-china-mieville/
Another reminder of why I don't read short story collections. A rather mixed bag. Some stories are really good, others are pointless.
As with any short story collection, there are hits and misses. China Mieville really defies categorization because so many of his stories can be read on so many different levels. The ones in here that I liked, I really liked but there were many that I was simply meh about.
I love Mieville's work so much, and his short stories are certainly no disappointment. Some of these pieces are very short, some extra long, but each one is masterfully crafted. Every story in this collection is excellent, but I'd have to say my very favorites, the ones that made my jaw drop (often several times) included the title story, Polynia, The Condition of New Death, The Dowager of Bees, Dreaded Outcome, After the Festival, and The Bastard Prompt. I will probably want to revisit this one, but then I pretty much feel that way every time I finish a Mieville book!
Some of these stories were the fascinating, thought-provoking, welll written and complex writing I adore. The rest were the above, but too creepy for me. Thoughtful, insidious, creeping disturbances, but still not for me.
Some of these will absolutely stay with you - I still think about spelunking the sky glaciers far more often than I would have thought.
For a writer who is held in high critical acclaim and recommended by friends my first encounter with China Mieville's prose has been distinctly underwhelming on the whole.
Whilst some of the stories collected here are engrossing ventures which show impressive imagination many of them seem formless and aimless. I've read that this collection is comprised of the writers early work which may explain why it contrasts so starkly with what I have heard and read about Mieville's other writing.
Whilst some of the stories collected here are engrossing ventures which show impressive imagination many of them seem formless and aimless. I've read that this collection is comprised of the writers early work which may explain why it contrasts so starkly with what I have heard and read about Mieville's other writing.
I received my copy of this book through a Goodreads Giveaway.
An interesting collection. Lots of variety in the story style. I was unable to finish several of them but really enjoyed others. I would recommend reading: The Dowager of Bees, Dreaded Outcome, and After the Festival (though I didn't like the ending of this one). The Bastard Prompt was interesting but scattered. Not my favourite collection by my first experience with this author. I would consider reading his other works.
An interesting collection. Lots of variety in the story style. I was unable to finish several of them but really enjoyed others. I would recommend reading: The Dowager of Bees, Dreaded Outcome, and After the Festival (though I didn't like the ending of this one). The Bastard Prompt was interesting but scattered. Not my favourite collection by my first experience with this author. I would consider reading his other works.