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mark_b 's review for:
Embassytown
by China Miéville
Embassytown is about the power of language, and the effects of communication between alien species. The story is set on the planet Ariekei in the distant future. Ariekei is a colony, far removed from its colonial overseers. Human colonist Avice Benner Cho returns to Ariekei after a stint as a crew member aboard intersteller space ships, and is thrown into a stew of political intrigue involving colonial ambassadors and the native host species. The host/human language gap is so great that only specially-trained and surgically-modified pairs of twins can become human ambassadors and communicate with the hosts. This leads to escalating conflicts between the native hosts and the human colonists, which form the book’s plot.
I’ve read three of Mieville’s books, and while I very much enjoyed them, I also found Mieville’s writing style challenging. Embassytown isn’t a particularly long book but, for me anyway, it required more than average concentration. I had to backtrack frequently. The slightest distraction derailed me. I’d probably benefit from rereading Embassytown. Still, I’m glad I read it. Highly recommended.
I’ve read three of Mieville’s books, and while I very much enjoyed them, I also found Mieville’s writing style challenging. Embassytown isn’t a particularly long book but, for me anyway, it required more than average concentration. I had to backtrack frequently. The slightest distraction derailed me. I’d probably benefit from rereading Embassytown. Still, I’m glad I read it. Highly recommended.