China Miéville is one of those authors I had heard discussed in various quarters in glowing but controversial terms for years before finally taking the plunge with Embassytown, his only strictly sci-fi novel — although certainly not hard sci-fi, it’s more in the vein of fantasy in space with aliens.
Honestly I just loved this book. Perhaps my top 2 or 3 favourite books of all time. But I think the thing with the Bas-Lag books is actually that plot is secondary. What’s amazing is the world building - the plot of everything in the whole trilogy is kinda lame. It’s the force of imagination, and the scenes that are the hook. The bit where Doul fights the Brucolac is probably the greatest fight scene in any fantasy novel ever (maybe a tad hyperbolic, but I could just about recite it from memory). Obviously no accounting for taste - but I remain very disappointed that China is now writing comics with Keanu instead of being on Bas Lag book #27
The prose and world building of Perdido Street Station are exceptional, making it one of my favorite books. The highs are that high. But I refuse to accept the ending (specifically that Isaac gives up and does not help the Garuda) and I've been unable to get into subsequent books.
Honestly I just loved this book. Perhaps my top 2 or 3 favourite books of all time. But I think the thing with the Bas-Lag books is actually that plot is secondary. What’s amazing is the world building - the plot of everything in the whole trilogy is kinda lame. It’s the force of imagination, and the scenes that are the hook. The bit where Doul fights the Brucolac is probably the greatest fight scene in any fantasy novel ever (maybe a tad hyperbolic, but I could just about recite it from memory). Obviously no accounting for taste - but I remain very disappointed that China is now writing comics with Keanu instead of being on Bas Lag book #27
The prose and world building of Perdido Street Station are exceptional, making it one of my favorite books. The highs are that high. But I refuse to accept the ending (specifically that Isaac gives up and does not help the Garuda) and I've been unable to get into subsequent books.