This time we are taking a look at Perdido Street Station, by China Mieville. This is a book set in a more industrial revolution version of fantasy, partially as a counter to the ideals of a certain fantasy author.. The article we talk about where he mentions Tolkien is over at the Socialist Review.
Nov 08 2011
How To Murder Time – Perdido Street Station
Permanent link to this article: http://howtomurdertime.com/blog/2011/11/08/how-to-murder-time-perdido-street-station.html
3 comments
mbp
November 8, 2011 at 1:26 pm (UTC 0)
I put Mieville in the same category as Ian M. Banks. A really terrific writer who writes compelling stories that have such a dark twist to them that I am not sure I would like to meet the author in real life. At least Banks stories generally have a “happy” ending but Mieville’s endings are generally depressing even if the good guys win.
cardi
November 21, 2011 at 12:44 pm (UTC 0)
On the back of this podcast, I am reading this book now.
I’m just getting involved with it now. The Mayor of the city is talking to a certain ambassador.
TBH, while the plot and world-building sounded great, I was put off by the horrible pompous verbosity of the excerpt you read out. It might be worth pointing out that although the book is quite ‘wordy’ it isn’t like that all the way through.
Anyway, really enjoying it so far.
I think it really needs a good half an hour to convince someone you have never met to spend their money and time, and sit down and read a book. So if you ever do another book review please make sure it is at least as long as this podcast.
That old Eve podcast (can’t remember the name, the one where the american and the brit are snide with each other) used to give homework, like watch movie A or read book B. Trouble was, with just 5 minutes of review I couldn’t tell if it was something I would like. It’s the same with the twitter #nowreading. Need more info!
Anyhows, I really enjoyed the review/introduction/recommendation and I would be keen for another.
Tim
November 23, 2011 at 2:28 pm (UTC 0)
To be fair, that passage appears in the book in italics (the same way much of Tolkien’s more skipable poetry is) and right at the start, more a prelude piece of textural poetry than actual narrative – maybe not the best choice of excerpt. Glad you’re liking it anyway – things get really hectic once The Weaver shows up!
The podcast was Warp Drive Active with Winterblink and Urbanmongrel. I don’t think it is still going now, but can find the back-episodes here: http://www.virginworlds.com/podcast.php?show=9&ep=49
I think I even did a Comedy Voice on one of their Comedy Intro sketches once! The homework bit was always interesting, long after my own interest in EVE had waned.
I’m almost as passionate about sci-fi and fantasy literature as I am about computer games and have so many more fine works of fiction I’d like to talk about. Its only now, with the new format, that I feel I can. Hopefully I’ll get better at it with more practice! Plenty more Book shows to come.