pauljames
12/8/2012
I have read some reviews of this book and thought I should offer my opinion. This is the first China Mieville I have read and will certainly read more. At over 800 pages I thought it would take long to read but I was surprised how easy it was, a page-turner but with good depth at the same time. I found the map very useful and this helped in my imagining of the city.
The mix of characters is good, some human others alien/mutant all very good creations and a pleasure to read and learn about. I was most impressed by the story and how it was slowly revealed and i felt it came full circle. I found it fascinating to piece the characters and storyline together.
There was also a good political theme running in the book which I enjoyed. Going into more detail I particularly enjoyed the relationship between the main character and his lover and the person who sought out his services. And I really enjoyed the section that happened above the city, the amount of creativity in all the characters involved in this part of the story was exceptional.
All in all the book worked for me. Summing up in one word - creative.