Perdido Street Station

China Mieville

The SF Site reviewers and readers raved about this book and voted it as one of the Top 10 Fantasy books of last year. So I had to read it. This is definitely not your standard fantasy fare. No kings and queens, lords and ladies in this one. No dragons either. In fact, I'm not even sure if it would be classed entirely as fantasy. I'd say this is a cross between sci-fi and fantasy.

The setting is New Crobuzon, a city that is teeming with diverse races. A city that is filled with the ghettos, enclaves, underworld, social strata in any civilised society. But the unique thing about this city is the diversity in race, not just human, but other types too. Races that include garuda (that seemed like a bird-man to me), khepri (insect-like being) and the vodyanoi (amphibian-like beings). The story starts slowly, as Mieville gradually fills your mind with a picture of the city and its inhabitants. Then he adds a story, a relatively usual adventure story, but made all the more enjoyable due to the colour added by the character of the city and the protagonists. The excitement gradually builds up until the last half of the story goes at quite a thrilling pace.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, though I admit that the first 100 pages or so had a fairly leisurely pace. The story itself was good enough, but it was enhanced by the imaginative setting and characters in the story. Mieville introduced many elements that I thought were very interesting and fairly well-developed and you kept seeing a new facet of life in New Crobuzon. I've deliberately not said much about the story because, for true enjoyment, you have to read the book and be surprised by all the new elements you keep discovering. I highly recommend it. Just don't be expecting swordfights and chivalry.

Some reviewers on the book cover have compared it to GORMENGHAST. I've not read it so don't know if the comparison holds.