varsha_ravi 's review for:

The City & The City by China Miéville

3.75

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The City and The City was my introduction to China Miéville, and what a compelling entry point it turned out to be. A metaphysical murder mystery at its core, the novel seamlessly blends speculative fiction with the structure of a classic police procedural. I was fascinated by the premise: two cities—Besźel and Ul Qoma—occupying the same geographic space, yet entirely separate in the minds of their residents. Citizens are trained to "unsee" people, buildings, and even colors that belong to the other city, creating an eerie psychological split that feels both surreal and strangely believable. 

Miéville builds this world with remarkable precision. The concept of the "breach zone"—a liminal space between the cities—and the hidden city of Orciny, which belongs to neither, adds further layers of mystery and tension. The investigation into the murder of a foreign student draws Inspector Tyador Borlú of Besźel and his Ul Qoman counterpart, Dhatt, deeper into the murky politics and fragile fabric that binds and divides the two cities. 

While I felt the novel lost some of its momentum in the final third, and the tension tapered slightly before the conclusion, I still found the ending satisfying and thought-provoking. This was a thoroughly original and intellectually engaging read—and a fantastic introduction to Miéville’s work. I’m definitely keen to explore more of his writing.