First post, and, get this, I'm gonna post about what I'm reading RIGHT NOW! ;) I have about 100 pages to go yet, so I can't give a final feeling about it, but its still an awesome book, even if the ending turns out to be terrible.
I picked this book up after reading another of his books (before which I'd had him recommended multiple times) which I really enjoyed, Un Lun Dun (I'll write about it later hopefully). That one was a great Young Adult book, but it also let me know that I'd like to see what he could do when he wasn't worried about his audience's level.
Let me start by saying one thing...this book is dark. From squalor & slums to mafioso's & necromancy, Miéville definitely pulls us into the quagmires of this world, and of the human (or otherwise) spirit. In that way, it reminds me of some of Clive Barker's fantasy books, like Weaveworld & Imajica. Having said that, the book also soars into the high spirits and hopes of its peoples; love, caring, friendship, community. Interweaving all aspects of reality, from the heights to the depths, is something that, for me, makes a read that much more fulfilling.
I suppose I should tell you a bit about the book. I'm sure you can find story synopses all over the place, so I'll touch more on the elements contained within...I think. Firstly, the world in the novel is very steampunk-y...with magic thrown in for good measure. Clockwork calculating engines and constructs interact with thaumaturgic and oneiric energies and devices. There's also a lot of discourse on consciousness from various perspectives, which you'll find always makes me love a book more! Deep (and not-so-deep) discourses on philosophy, aesthetics, "humanity", culture, & art blend with detailed characterizations, gritty storytelling, & twisted, liminal plots & sub-plots. A glorious melange of cacophonous concepts, that'll twist your mind as it pulls you deeper and deeper into its dark shadows.
Hmmmm...maybe I'm not so good at writing about books...maybe I'll get better! ;) Either way, I hope I can turn you on to some good books, even if you just click the links and look for yourself! =)
Perdido Street Station @ Amazon
Update: Ok, so I finished the book now, and the rest of it was awesome, even if I'm having a love/hate relationship with the ending. It is fitting...yet somehow still left me wanting a bit. On the other hand, there was even more consciousness exploration in the last bit. Or, possibly, I was paying more attention to it after having written earlier. Who's to tell, eh? =) Happy reading, everyone!
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