Perdido Street Station

It's a fascinating third-person view of New Crobuzan, but I don't think it qualifies as a story, so much. The plotlines are so vague and abstract. Plus, this book is mega dense. I much prefer the City and the City to read, but I come back to Perdido Street Station for the awesome vividness and creativity of it.
 
I've never read any of these books, but obviously, i have seen them about often. I'm interested, but not yet sure. I read SF but don't really enjoy fantasy. Would these books appeal to me?
 
Why not skim through the first few pages? It pays to be less narrow minded about these things :)
 
Rodders said:
I've never read any of these books, but obviously, i have seen them about often. I'm interested, but not yet sure. I read SF but don't really enjoy fantasy. Would these books appeal to me?
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I'm primarily an SF, rather than fantasy, reader and I really enjoyed Perdido Street Station.
 
I've just started this book and have read about 150 pages so far. It is also my first book by Mieville. It is part of a conscious effort to include a few modern books in my reading these days which tends towards the archaic most of the time.

I've had it on my to-read shelf for a while and one of the main factors putting me off is the sheer size of it. I'm wondering does it really need to be nearly 900 pages long? Most books I read these days are less than 250 pages.

So far I'm quite enjoying it. The characters are interesting and the plot is developing nicely. I can see that Mieville is trying really hard to paint a detailed and textured portrait of New Crobuzan, to give it as much depth and character as possible. Hence the extended and detailed descriptions of what the characters see as they journey about the city from place to place. Whether this will get a little tiresome after a while, only time will tell. I also like that he is trying to avoid the fantasy cliches and keeps the imagination of the reader working hard.
 
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UPDATE: I've just gone past the 500 page mark and I am still enjoying it. The story is definitely picking up in pace as things are starting to kick off. Isaac and associates have just been rescued from being arrested by the militia by the Weaver (although they've all had to pay for it with an ear).

I think Mieville stayed just the right side of the line between painting a detailed picture of his world and bogging the reader down in unnecessary detail. It did slow down the pace of the story, particularly to begin with, but not tediously so although I can see how it might be for others. His prose is elegant enough to get away with it.

There's quite a mind boggling array of interesting concepts being we've into the story and I'm suitably impressed.
 
Well, I've finally finished it. All in all it was very good. My only criticism is that perhaps he was trying to cram a little too much into one story and perhaps it was a little too drawn out. Sometimes less is more. But that's a minor point really.

Now the question is where to go from here? "The Scar" maybe?
 
If it is, Gully, and you then find you don't like the book (it may happen: there are no guarantees in this life), be aware that I don't give refunds or compensation. :(:)
 
I've recently bought P.S.S, I'm looking at its cover right now, but I'm kind of afraid to read it- I'm trying to write a book and I'm scared the sheer vision of Perdido will seep in!

Guess I'll have to save it for a few months and read it as a treat when I'm all done scribbling...
 
Fried Egg said:
Well, I've finally finished it. All in all it was very good. My only criticism is that perhaps he was trying to cram a little too much into one story and perhaps it was a little too drawn out. Sometimes less is more. But that's a minor point really.

Now the question is where to go from here? "The Scar" maybe?
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Definitely the Scar. It's not quite as good as Perdido but still a very good read. Then there's Iron Council which completes the loose trilogy of books. IC was OK but Perdido and The Scar are the standouts IMO.

If you want a stand-alone you can try King Rat or Un Lun Dun.

His latest City and the City which I have is supposed to be excellent.

Then there's his short story collection Looking For Jake which is also very good.
 
gully_foyle said:
I saw it at a charity shop today for $5.50. If I had been armed with that bit of info I would have snapped it up. Will it be there when I go back?
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And it was. And now I have it to read.

Ursa, you are safe in the relative anonymity of the web, and also in the fact that I am too lazy/busy to hunt you down.
 
Wow, that was one heck of a trip! It was big and dense and ultimately bleak and I'd recommend it to anyone. Isaac and Lin has to be the all time great SFF love story.

I think I will wait a while before I tackle another of me ol' China's books though. Are they all this big? Are they set against the same background, i.e. New Crobuzon?
 
* Comes out of hiding. *

Glad you liked it, Gully.

I think Perdido Street Station is the longest of the three Bas-Lag books. The second, The Scar, starts off nearby to New Crobuzon, but is most concerned with other parts of the world. The third book, Iron Council, splits its narrative between New Crobuzon and parts of the continent on which it lies.
 
gully_foyle said:
Thanks, I'll keep an eye out for them when I recover from PSS.
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You'll love Scar......Iron Council less so. It's good but the weakest of the three books.

OH yeh....met China a couple of weeks ago and had a nice chat with him. He also personally signed a copy of PSS for me....I was very happy!.. :D
 
When I first read PSS, I must admit that, although I enjoyed it, I did not see why everyone seemed to be raving about it. It was after re-reading it, prior to reading the scar, that I really 'got' PSS, and saw it for the superb book it it.

I think this is because, as others have said, that you are plonked into world and it feels like the book assumes you know what the back history is, but you don't. When you re-read it, you understand it more, and the book really does shine.

If you are reading it and struggling, please persevere, and the second time it'll really be worth it.

Mr Mieville, if you are reading, can we have another story set New Crobuzon? That'd be lovely, ta.
 
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I've finished it and, gotta say, I'm going to miss New Crobuzon. Its like I'd just moved into a new city, was getting to know it, then had to leave. I swear I could make my way around, from Ravensgate to Dogfenn. Only one change on the rail, as memory serves.
 
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