August 20th, 2009 / 2:27 pm
Author Spotlight
Adam Robinson
Author Spotlight
A Book That Books What A Book Would Do
Does anybody know anything about this book, The City and the City? I heard it discussed on Morning Edition today and had one of those driveway moments or whatever. It sounds flabbergasting. Apparently, it’s a detective story that takes place in a city that has another city right on top of it — but not, like, above it — both cities occupy the same space. It was funny to hear Robert Siegel trying to wrap his mind around it.
I don’t know more than that, but here’s a good review at The Guardian. I’ve never read anything by China Miéville, but this concept has me intrigued enough to maybe buy his book from wherever people buy these books from and bring it on the road with me next week.
Tags: China Mieville
I know people who really like his work. I know other who really hate it. Polarizing, I guess.
I know people who really like his work. I know other who really hate it. Polarizing, I guess.
I’ve been looking forward to reading this book.
I remember enjoying the hell out of China Miéville’s Perdido Street Station, when I read it a few years ago. Can’t speak for any of his other titles, but I liked P.S.S. in much the same way I liked Vollman’s You Bright and Risen Angels — insect weirdness.
Anyway, The City and The City looks cool. You can read the first chapter here: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124241081107924569.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
I’ve been looking forward to reading this book.
I remember enjoying the hell out of China Miéville’s Perdido Street Station, when I read it a few years ago. Can’t speak for any of his other titles, but I liked P.S.S. in much the same way I liked Vollman’s You Bright and Risen Angels — insect weirdness.
Anyway, The City and The City looks cool. You can read the first chapter here: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124241081107924569.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
I’ve never read this either, but in the genre battle the other day, somebody brought up Mieville as their example of good genre unfalrly side-lined by prejudice. I countered that I had read Mieville’s King Rat, which sucks absolutely and unequivocally. That person told me I had the ‘wrong’ Mieville, and to read this book or PSS instead. Not sure if I’m going to, but it seemed to be advice from someone who would know. Also, it’s worth pointing out that every Mieville-advocate I’ve ever encountered has told me King Rat was “the wrong” Mieville. So I guess I’d be interested to hear what you think of this if you do read it.
I’ve never read this either, but in the genre battle the other day, somebody brought up Mieville as their example of good genre unfalrly side-lined by prejudice. I countered that I had read Mieville’s King Rat, which sucks absolutely and unequivocally. That person told me I had the ‘wrong’ Mieville, and to read this book or PSS instead. Not sure if I’m going to, but it seemed to be advice from someone who would know. Also, it’s worth pointing out that every Mieville-advocate I’ve ever encountered has told me King Rat was “the wrong” Mieville. So I guess I’d be interested to hear what you think of this if you do read it.
That someone was me! And it really was the wrong one. I don’t really know how to explain it — he went from a totally unspectacular novel with a few cute ideas to one of the best fantasy/sci-fi/horror/things in existence, and he’s only gotten better since.
That being said, Mieville is best when he doesn’t worry about economy — that was probably a big part of the difference between King Rat and PSS. King Rat is simple and straightforward, and it suffers for it. PSS is massive and complex and bizarre, and those are the things he’s good at. In The City & The City, he does worry about economy. That means that the really cool ideas aren’t as fully explored as in his Baslag books, and the characters are a bit thinner, but on the other hand, TC&TC does have a really sweet concept. Basically the idea is that there are two cities (in legal and cultural terms) coexisting in what is physically one city. In order to maintain their seperate identities, they legally require their citizens to “unsee” the other city, its citizens, and its contents. Of course there are violations, etc. It’s really cool! It’s not absolutely his best work, but you’ll have fun.
That someone was me! And it really was the wrong one. I don’t really know how to explain it — he went from a totally unspectacular novel with a few cute ideas to one of the best fantasy/sci-fi/horror/things in existence, and he’s only gotten better since.
That being said, Mieville is best when he doesn’t worry about economy — that was probably a big part of the difference between King Rat and PSS. King Rat is simple and straightforward, and it suffers for it. PSS is massive and complex and bizarre, and those are the things he’s good at. In The City & The City, he does worry about economy. That means that the really cool ideas aren’t as fully explored as in his Baslag books, and the characters are a bit thinner, but on the other hand, TC&TC does have a really sweet concept. Basically the idea is that there are two cities (in legal and cultural terms) coexisting in what is physically one city. In order to maintain their seperate identities, they legally require their citizens to “unsee” the other city, its citizens, and its contents. Of course there are violations, etc. It’s really cool! It’s not absolutely his best work, but you’ll have fun.
I read The City & the City about a month ago. I’d never read any of Mieville’s stuff before. It was really interesting, but like Mike said, not fully developed. Even after 250 pages I still didn’t have a real clear picture of how this whole two cities thing worked. I mean, I had how I had worked it out in my head, but I’m not sure the story itself presented it very clearly. That’s partially intentional as Mieville builds his world, and after all it is a mystery so there’s got to be something mysterious going on, but the writing fails to adequately articulate Mieville’s vision of the how the world works. In other words, I had to meet him halfway. Overall, I’d recommend it. There’s a lot of interesting stuff going on there, but it left me wanting more, and not in a good way.
I read The City & the City about a month ago. I’d never read any of Mieville’s stuff before. It was really interesting, but like Mike said, not fully developed. Even after 250 pages I still didn’t have a real clear picture of how this whole two cities thing worked. I mean, I had how I had worked it out in my head, but I’m not sure the story itself presented it very clearly. That’s partially intentional as Mieville builds his world, and after all it is a mystery so there’s got to be something mysterious going on, but the writing fails to adequately articulate Mieville’s vision of the how the world works. In other words, I had to meet him halfway. Overall, I’d recommend it. There’s a lot of interesting stuff going on there, but it left me wanting more, and not in a good way.
Well, I went to BN to buy it — it was out of my way in annoying traffic — and when I got there I couldn’t bring myself to buy it. I’ll check out PSS first because it doesn’t cost $26.
Thanks everyone, I enjoyed reading these comments.
Well, I went to BN to buy it — it was out of my way in annoying traffic — and when I got there I couldn’t bring myself to buy it. I’ll check out PSS first because it doesn’t cost $26.
Thanks everyone, I enjoyed reading these comments.
I did a show with China Mieville and Japanther a couple of months ago; it’s at http://www.bn.com/upstairs
I did a show with China Mieville and Japanther a couple of months ago; it’s at http://www.bn.com/upstairs
Japanther!
Japanther!
Japanther was the last show I danced on stage with Adam Robinson. What the hell were we doing? Didn’t you pick up and drop my girlfriend that night?
I can give you a copy of my Perdido Street… it’s a trip, but I didn’t finish it.
Japanther was the last show I danced on stage with Adam Robinson. What the hell were we doing? Didn’t you pick up and drop my girlfriend that night?
I can give you a copy of my Perdido Street… it’s a trip, but I didn’t finish it.
I just read this. It starts out slow, but it is so good. Iron Council and Perdido Street Station, and The Scar are rad too, if yer into sci-fi/fantasy/steampunk sort of thing.
I just read this. It starts out slow, but it is so good. Iron Council and Perdido Street Station, and The Scar are rad too, if yer into sci-fi/fantasy/steampunk sort of thing.
Read it. Wrote a mini-review on goodreads:
Mieville isn’t very good at writing first person narrative at first, but he gets a bit better as the book progresses. The narrative resembles his third person narratives in his other books and jars with the protagonist’s dialogue, which is entirely different. Baroque description, noir-ish dialogue.
The book gets really good around page 80 or so when I actually figured out what was going on. And it’s an excellent concept. I don’t know if I was a poor reader up until this point or Mieville failed to explain things.
After this, it’s a “can’t put down” sort of book until near the end, where it starts to get a little tiresome. Would have been better if it were a little shorter.
Read it. Wrote a mini-review on goodreads:
Mieville isn’t very good at writing first person narrative at first, but he gets a bit better as the book progresses. The narrative resembles his third person narratives in his other books and jars with the protagonist’s dialogue, which is entirely different. Baroque description, noir-ish dialogue.
The book gets really good around page 80 or so when I actually figured out what was going on. And it’s an excellent concept. I don’t know if I was a poor reader up until this point or Mieville failed to explain things.
After this, it’s a “can’t put down” sort of book until near the end, where it starts to get a little tiresome. Would have been better if it were a little shorter.
Japanther!!! They’re great. Last time I saw them was at Lit in NYC, and the lead singer was trying to be cute/silly and started shouting “cheeseburger” and then all these like middle school vegan punx started shouting NO MEAT NO MEAT and they got mad at him. It made me love everyone in that whole room, just for being who they were.
Japanther!!! They’re great. Last time I saw them was at Lit in NYC, and the lead singer was trying to be cute/silly and started shouting “cheeseburger” and then all these like middle school vegan punx started shouting NO MEAT NO MEAT and they got mad at him. It made me love everyone in that whole room, just for being who they were.