La estación de la calle Perdido

La estación de la calle Perdido

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  • Create Date:2021-08-02 01:51:59
  • Update Date:2025-09-06
  • Status:finish
  • Author:China Miéville
  • ISBN:8466660852
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Summary

La metrópolis de Nueva Crobuzon se extiende desde el centro del mundo。 Humanos, mutantes y razas arcanas malviven en la penumbra bajo sus chimeneas, donde el río se trona viscoso por los afluentes artificiales, donde las fábricas y fundiciones amartillan la noche。 Durante más de mil años, el Parlamento y su brutal milicia han gobernado una vasta economía de obreros y artistas, espías y soldados, magos, yonquis y prostitutas。 Pero acaba de llegar un extraño con el bolsillo lleno y una demanda imposible。 De forma torpe, inadvertida, algo imposible es liberado。

Dotado de un especial talento para las ambientaciones exóticas, China Miéville convierte a Nueva Crobuzon en un vigoros escenario en el que se dan cita los ecos de un Londres victoriano, la distopía más agria, la poderosa imaginería de la literatura gótica y originales razas atropomórficas。 Sirviéndose de los recursos clásicos de la literatura fantástica y de anticipación, inaugura una fórmula narrativa fresca y novedosa, capaz de fascinar por igual a público y crítica hasta convertir La estación de la calle Perdido en la gran revelación de 2000 en el Reino Unido, donde ha sido galardonada con los principales premios literarios。

«La estación de la calle Perdido transporta al lector, a lo largo de más de ochocientas páginas rebosantes de imaginación, a Nueva Corbuzon, una metrópoli bulliciosa y brutalmente estratificada: un Parlamento compuesto por miembros de las elites, y sostenido por la fuerza militar, rige los destinos de una población marginal, ingente y prácticamente paria, de drogodependientes, prostitutas, artesanos y delincuentes。 Sin ser del todo un libro steampunk, La estación de la calle Perdido tiene algo de parábola victoriana, de versión sci-fi de Oliver Twist en la manera de describir la suciedad y la miseria en las calles。 A lo que Miéville añadía un ingrediente más: la xenofobia。»

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Reviews

Kevl4r

9/10

Danny Tuttle

Started slow, but built into an interesting story。

Paula Silvonen

Hirviömäisen runsas ja mielikuvituksellinen kirja, joka onnistui myös koskettamaan。 Pidin tästä lopulta aivan valtavasti, mutta alkupuoli oli runsaudessaan niin ylitsevuotavainen, että sen lukeminen oli välillä melkoista pakkopullaa。 Siitä siis yksi tähti miinusta。On nights like that one, when rain and streetlamp light made all the lines and edges of the city complex - a palimpsest of gusting streets and architecture and sound, ancient ruins, darkness, catacombs, building sites, guesthouses, bar Hirviömäisen runsas ja mielikuvituksellinen kirja, joka onnistui myös koskettamaan。 Pidin tästä lopulta aivan valtavasti, mutta alkupuoli oli runsaudessaan niin ylitsevuotavainen, että sen lukeminen oli välillä melkoista pakkopullaa。 Siitä siis yksi tähti miinusta。On nights like that one, when rain and streetlamp light made all the lines and edges of the city complex - a palimpsest of gusting streets and architecture and sound, ancient ruins, darkness, catacombs, building sites, guesthouses, barren land, lights and pubs and sewers - it was an endless, recursive, secretive place。 。。。more

A。R。 Davis

This is an unforgettable journey into a dark world。 New Crobuzon is more complex than Middle Earth, more mysterious than Delaney’s Bellona, as great a castle of thought as Peake’s Gormenghast。 The main characters rise from the muck like the landmarks of the city。 Its impossible supporting characters populate the story like the city’s dead end streets and alleys。 Now that I have escaped, I realize I should not have been surprised that the characters that inhabit this city are as dirty and flawed This is an unforgettable journey into a dark world。 New Crobuzon is more complex than Middle Earth, more mysterious than Delaney’s Bellona, as great a castle of thought as Peake’s Gormenghast。 The main characters rise from the muck like the landmarks of the city。 Its impossible supporting characters populate the story like the city’s dead end streets and alleys。 Now that I have escaped, I realize I should not have been surprised that the characters that inhabit this city are as dirty and flawed as the streets and buildings themselves。 I had hoped for a happy ending, but this is fantasy, not fairy tale。 Still, my visit leaves me wanting to know more about what others saw on their travels through。 。。。more

Matthew

I think he was just trying to do too much in one book unfortunately。 Still think it's worth a read, though。 I think he was just trying to do too much in one book unfortunately。 Still think it's worth a read, though。 。。。more

Feral Academic

Wish I hadn't listened to the audiobook; this deserved a slower pass。 Vivid world building, rich characters, interesting multispecies internationalism (cosmopolitanism?), and compelling plot。 Wish I hadn't listened to the audiobook; this deserved a slower pass。 Vivid world building, rich characters, interesting multispecies internationalism (cosmopolitanism?), and compelling plot。 。。。more

Basil Eagle

Very immersive read with excellent world-building, lavish descriptions and a high octane plot。

Nick Fuller

I need a breath of fresh air。 I’m two-thirds through Perdido Street Station, and not going to continue。 His imagination can’t be faulted, but a lot of it is revolting。 It's full of shit (on every second page), drool, vomit, blood, and mire。 One critic said it was the Wizard of Oz written by the Marquis de Sade。 Perhaps they were thinking of the scenes where the main character has alien head sex with an insect, or the brothel of bioengineered monstrosities。 At the moment, the characters are wande I need a breath of fresh air。 I’m two-thirds through Perdido Street Station, and not going to continue。 His imagination can’t be faulted, but a lot of it is revolting。 It's full of shit (on every second page), drool, vomit, blood, and mire。 One critic said it was the Wizard of Oz written by the Marquis de Sade。 Perhaps they were thinking of the scenes where the main character has alien head sex with an insect, or the brothel of bioengineered monstrosities。 At the moment, the characters are wandering round a sewer。 And their ears have been cut off by a reality-weaving giant spider。 And they find a tortured corpse。 Says it all, really。 。。。more

Sara Cunningham

Fucjing finally。 This book has several positive qualities, such that the story was incredibly unique and the world building well-done。 This book has several negative qualities, such as the unnecessarily opaque vocabulary words, the very slow beginning and unsatisfactory ending, and the fact that it felt like the book didn’t know which character(s) it wanted to develop。 I’m glad I read because there truly was some crazy sci-fi uniqueness in here, but I wouldn’t recommend to anyone who isn’t prepa Fucjing finally。 This book has several positive qualities, such that the story was incredibly unique and the world building well-done。 This book has several negative qualities, such as the unnecessarily opaque vocabulary words, the very slow beginning and unsatisfactory ending, and the fact that it felt like the book didn’t know which character(s) it wanted to develop。 I’m glad I read because there truly was some crazy sci-fi uniqueness in here, but I wouldn’t recommend to anyone who isn’t prepared for a grueling journey filled with confusing sentences and often-gratuitous descriptions of violence。 。。。more

Chase

i love it

Kartik

Incredible, one of the best books I have ever read。 The first quarter of the book is almost overwhelming with descriptions of places, races and explosion of imagination but slowly coalesces into the story from a thousand threads。。。I am exhausted having finished this book, worried that I will never read its like again。 Astonishing。

Pinar Celebi

Öncelikle utanarak belirteyim ki bu kitap neredeyse 9 senedir kütüphanemde boynu bükük okunmayı bekliyordu。 Kulübümüz olmasa daha beklerdi belki de。 Teee zamanında yazarımız Miéville'in Kral Fare, Şehir ve Şehir, Un Lun Dun ve Perdido Sokağı İstasyonu kitaplarını set olarak almıştım。 Neyse ki Perdido dışındakileri okumuşum。Çok severek okudum bu kitabı。 Miéville'in şu ana kadar okuduğum her kitabında yarattığı dünyalara, Türkçe okusak bile başarılı çeviriler sayesinde aralarda yakaladığımız kelim Öncelikle utanarak belirteyim ki bu kitap neredeyse 9 senedir kütüphanemde boynu bükük okunmayı bekliyordu。 Kulübümüz olmasa daha beklerdi belki de。 Teee zamanında yazarımız Miéville'in Kral Fare, Şehir ve Şehir, Un Lun Dun ve Perdido Sokağı İstasyonu kitaplarını set olarak almıştım。 Neyse ki Perdido dışındakileri okumuşum。Çok severek okudum bu kitabı。 Miéville'in şu ana kadar okuduğum her kitabında yarattığı dünyalara, Türkçe okusak bile başarılı çeviriler sayesinde aralarda yakaladığımız kelime oyunlarına, yarattığı karakterlerin, evrenlerin orijinalliğine hep hayran kaldım。 Yeni Crobuzon da öyle bir dünya oldu benim için。 Zaten kitap biter bitmez devam kitaplarını aldım。Hikâyedeki farklı türlerin ayrıksılıklarına karşın birbirleriyle etkileşimleri en sevdiğim yönlerden biriydi。 Elbette dostane değil di bu etkileşimlerin her biri ama bir ucunun aşka, öbür ucunun nefrete, kine uzanması çok hoşuma gitti。 Karakterlerin metin boyunca hem kendi kişiliklerinin, dünya görüşlerinin geçirdikleri değişim hem de teknoloji ve büyünün birlikte varolduğu Yeni Crobuzon'un dinamiklerindeki değişim sonraki kitaplar için ilgimi tetikledi。 Miéville'in Yeni Crobuzon isimli dünyasında yaşayan her çeşit doğal türden yeniden yapım türe, siyasi dinamiklerden, tercihlerden ekonomik dengelere, teknolojik gelişmelerden büyünün derinliğine verdiği detayların hiçbiri beni sıkmadı。 Bazı okurlar kitapta aksiyonun hızlandığı yerde araya giren evreni netleştirmeye yönelik betimlemelerden sıkılmış ama her biri keyifti benim için。 Yazarımız Perdido Sokağı İstasyonu'nu yazmadan önce yaklaşık 10 yıl Yeni Crobuzon evrenini zihninde ve sayfalarca notu defterlerinde yaşattığını söylüyor。 Öyle çok detay var ki bu evrende okuyup zihnimde canlandırmak (ara ara korksam da) eğlenceliydi benim için。Peki bu kitap fantastik bir kitap mı sadece? Bence çok ötesi。 Fantastik öğelerin ve dünyanın ortasına ilmek ilmek işlenmiş bilim kurgu, steampunk ve korku öğeleri bu kitabı çok sevmemdeki bir başka etken oldu。 Zaten Miéville de "weird fiction" diye adlandırılan türün yaratıcısı olarak kabul ediliyor。Sözün özü, fantastik kurgu, bilim kurgu ve korku türlerinden en az ikisini seviyorsanız bu kitabı okuyun lütfen。 。。。more

Muriel (The Purple Book Wyrm)

More accurate rating: 7。5/10。I really enjoyed this one, though not quite as much as Kraken or the almost-perfect Embassytown。 The writing was gorgeous, as expected。 The created world of Bas-Lag in general, and the city-state of New Crobuzon in particular, were rich, dark, mysterious and convincingly realized。 The author introduced a variety of interesting world-building and thematic concepts, but didn't always follow through with them。 This wasn't exactly disappointing, but it definitely left me More accurate rating: 7。5/10。I really enjoyed this one, though not quite as much as Kraken or the almost-perfect Embassytown。 The writing was gorgeous, as expected。 The created world of Bas-Lag in general, and the city-state of New Crobuzon in particular, were rich, dark, mysterious and convincingly realized。 The author introduced a variety of interesting world-building and thematic concepts, but didn't always follow through with them。 This wasn't exactly disappointing, but it definitely left me wanting more。 I enjoyed the main cast of characters, and was delightfully repulsed by some of New Crobuzon's less savoury features。。。 😆 I appreciated the steam-punky blend of magic (here called thaumaturgy, neat!) and technology (steam-powered AIs, neat!)。 Not to mention the more imaginative plot-line involving dream-feeding and nightmare-excreting multi-dimensional moths。 This shit is cool, plain and simple; and when the author threw complementary philosophical musings in the mix I squeed with glee。 I'll even tip my metaphorical hat off to the ethical quandary squeezed in right at the end of the novel: it could've felt rushed or forced, but it actually completes an important character arc fairly gracefully, and left me with stuff to think about after I'd turned the very last page。 (view spoiler)[Also, whatever you think about that conclusion, I just want to say I really appreciated seeing a male character standing against sexual violence by not recompensing another male character - who'd become his friend in the meantime too - with an over-turning of justice。 (hide spoiler)]I did have a slight issue with the pacing overall, and found it a bit weird to only get to the thick of the main plot what。。。 a quarter of the way in? Like I said I was left wanting with regards to some elements of the world-building and theming as well。 And whilst I enjoyed the main cast of characters as previously stated, I wasn't that enamoured with any one of them either, and didn't become as deeply invested in the story as I was with other works by Mr Miéville。 I would still definitely recommend this one, and add that it also pairs nicely with something like City of Saints of Madmen by Jeff VanderMeer (though I'd argue it isn't as dark as Perdido Street Station)。 Indeed, it is interesting to compare the way each author explores urban fantasy and/or having a city(-state) as a main "character" or world-building element。And I'll definitely continue on with The Scar and Iron Council。 。。。more

DS25

Sono rimasto sul bordo delle 5 stelle per un po' di tempo, ma onestamente sebbene lo stile generale dell'opera, classico steampunk, e i temi trattati e la filosofia dell'autore non siano sempre compatibili con il mio pensiero (in particolar modo un fatalismo quasi neoclassico), non riesco ad immaginare questo romanzo se non come un capolavoro。 Magari non unico nel suo genere, ma con un modo di impostare i temi e con una fantasia esplosiva, sia a livello di trama che di worldbuilding。 Avrei gradi Sono rimasto sul bordo delle 5 stelle per un po' di tempo, ma onestamente sebbene lo stile generale dell'opera, classico steampunk, e i temi trattati e la filosofia dell'autore non siano sempre compatibili con il mio pensiero (in particolar modo un fatalismo quasi neoclassico), non riesco ad immaginare questo romanzo se non come un capolavoro。 Magari non unico nel suo genere, ma con un modo di impostare i temi e con una fantasia esplosiva, sia a livello di trama che di worldbuilding。 Avrei gradito una mappa di New Corbuzon nell'ebook。。。 me la sono cercata in giro, ma questo è comunque un limite dell'edizione (inglese)。"Computo quindi sono" 。。。more

Ole Peter

Just awesome

Gabi

I really wanted to like this book, but every page was a struggle for me。 I admit the world building was breathtaking, but it was like nothing but world building; and even after 200 pages, the wtf/page ratio was too high for my taste。 DNFed at 25%。

Vlad Kovsky

The book is made remarkable by an unconstrained imagination of the writer。 The amount of weird stuff is extraordinary and some of it is actually quite good。 My favorites were the ambassador and the Weaver。 There are clear misses as well。 As is often the case, science is the weakest point of this work of science fiction。 Both the "constructed intelligence" and the math of the "crisis theory" show the author out of his depth。Despite all the weirdness and the abundance of action scenes, the book br The book is made remarkable by an unconstrained imagination of the writer。 The amount of weird stuff is extraordinary and some of it is actually quite good。 My favorites were the ambassador and the Weaver。 There are clear misses as well。 As is often the case, science is the weakest point of this work of science fiction。 Both the "constructed intelligence" and the math of the "crisis theory" show the author out of his depth。Despite all the weirdness and the abundance of action scenes, the book brings up some important social issues that are as relevant to our societies as they are for New Crobuzon。 The most obvious ones are environmental problems, inequality, and xenophobia。 One of the central discussions is about relationships between individuals: matters of friendship, love, trust, betrayal。 An excellent discourse on abstract versus concrete individuality in the "garuda" society deserves a place in textbooks on social norms。 From the point of view of the writing style, it is Yagharek's sections at the end of each part that stand out。 These sections require more attention from readers but they do come across as pieces of beautiful prose。 Acceleration of pace in the middle of the novel keeps the reader involved, the action scenes multiply, the quality of writing drops accordingly。 Overall, the book reads easily despite its 800+ pages and a fairly rich vocabulary。 The train is leaving Perdido Street Station and this passenger has had enough of the eerie city and its inhabitants。 The passenger's head is spinning - quiet introspection and beautiful natural scenery are essential for recovery。 Next stop is Magic Mountain。 。。。more

Rlsalvati

Had to stop midway into chapter 4。 The Remades squick me out too much。 Not rating, I usually like Mieville but I can't handle this one。 Had to stop midway into chapter 4。 The Remades squick me out too much。 Not rating, I usually like Mieville but I can't handle this one。 。。。more

Paul Emerson

I am so glad I discovered this author。 This is a monster of a book。 This introduced me to reading fantasy novels。 I've read a few other books by him, and I'll be reading more。 He creates a fantasy world that feels alive and full of characters I felt for。 I am so glad I discovered this author。 This is a monster of a book。 This introduced me to reading fantasy novels。 I've read a few other books by him, and I'll be reading more。 He creates a fantasy world that feels alive and full of characters I felt for。 。。。more

Lori Puma

I loved 2 other Miéville books - Railsea and The City & The City -- but this one was not as good。The story is creative and unique in terms of worldbuilding and characters, but it tries to do way too much and there wasn't a clear recognition of what was interesting about the story and what wasn't。 There is so much infodumping about stuff that doesn't matter。 And a lot of interesting stuff happened off the page。 The information overload and lack of focus took away any feelings I might have had abo I loved 2 other Miéville books - Railsea and The City & The City -- but this one was not as good。The story is creative and unique in terms of worldbuilding and characters, but it tries to do way too much and there wasn't a clear recognition of what was interesting about the story and what wasn't。 There is so much infodumping about stuff that doesn't matter。 And a lot of interesting stuff happened off the page。 The information overload and lack of focus took away any feelings I might have had about the characters。 There also was inconsistency in genre。 The story starts with a jaunty comic tone, then becomes almost a horror plot with a kill-off sequence。 However, new characters keep getting added in, so the kill-off sequence didn't function as it does in a horror novel, making you feel like the danger is closing in on all sides and there's no escape。 Who knows what new character will appear in the next chapter and bring new skills that can change everything?Most of the characters I didn't care about at all。 I did kind of care about Isaac and Lin, but I found Lin's arc very unsatisfying。 The story also uses an omniscient POV, which is my least favorite。 。。。more

Mr。 M

This was a fascinating book albeit a touch shallow in regards to symbolism and theme。 What this book does, and does well, is character。 The imagery is colorful and the characters all seem to have their own motives and attitudes that distinguishes one from another。 This felt like reading a Weird Lit version of a DnD setting novelization。 Think Planescape (this would actually be a great reference for a Planescape campaign)。 If weird, anthropomorphic creatures and an invasive, person-eating monster This was a fascinating book albeit a touch shallow in regards to symbolism and theme。 What this book does, and does well, is character。 The imagery is colorful and the characters all seem to have their own motives and attitudes that distinguishes one from another。 This felt like reading a Weird Lit version of a DnD setting novelization。 Think Planescape (this would actually be a great reference for a Planescape campaign)。 If weird, anthropomorphic creatures and an invasive, person-eating monster is not appealing to you, you’d do better to skip this book。 I wouldn’t say anything in it gave me pause for reflection, but I did really enjoy the ride for what is was。 Mieville’s prose is pretty pragmatic。 It is written with clarity as far as being able to easily visualize the different character interactions, their appearances, and the details of the setting。 I fully intend to return to Mieville’s world one of these days, but there are other authors who I’m more interested in for the time being。 。。。more

Wolfgang

Weird, nightmarish。 To be frank, I hated many of what felt like a thousand pages, but couldn't put it down。 Mieville made me feel empathy with INSECTS, which was no small feat, but - again - weird。 Expertly so。Would only recommend for people with too much time on their hands and a feeling of ennui at the petty world of humanity。 Weird, nightmarish。 To be frank, I hated many of what felt like a thousand pages, but couldn't put it down。 Mieville made me feel empathy with INSECTS, which was no small feat, but - again - weird。 Expertly so。Would only recommend for people with too much time on their hands and a feeling of ennui at the petty world of humanity。 。。。more

Marc

El libro tiene un worldbuilding impresionante, puedes ver que Miéville AMA el mundo que ha creado。。。 Pero lo puedes ver demasiado。 Pasa páginas y páginas insistiendo en cosas que ya has entendido, con descripciones en exceso que resultan algo redundantes。 Hay un montón de subtramas que no llevan a ninguna parte y me ha dado la sensación de estar perdiendo un poco el tiempo, sobre todo porque la mayoría de personajes nunca han llegado a interesarme demasiado Eso sí, el tercer acto funciona genial El libro tiene un worldbuilding impresionante, puedes ver que Miéville AMA el mundo que ha creado。。。 Pero lo puedes ver demasiado。 Pasa páginas y páginas insistiendo en cosas que ya has entendido, con descripciones en exceso que resultan algo redundantes。 Hay un montón de subtramas que no llevan a ninguna parte y me ha dado la sensación de estar perdiendo un poco el tiempo, sobre todo porque la mayoría de personajes nunca han llegado a interesarme demasiado Eso sí, el tercer acto funciona genial。 Me deja un sabor agridulce。 。。。more

Pip

The interesting world, the unique species and characters, the intriguing tech, everything oozes imagination and wonder。 There's so much crammed in here, that no wonder the book is as lengthy as it is。 Unfortunately, even with all the length, some characters never get their arcs completed (to a degree I would have liked), some important events simply fade into the background, the last fifth of the book is straight action with quickly curtailed story strings, as if the writer was running out of pa The interesting world, the unique species and characters, the intriguing tech, everything oozes imagination and wonder。 There's so much crammed in here, that no wonder the book is as lengthy as it is。 Unfortunately, even with all the length, some characters never get their arcs completed (to a degree I would have liked), some important events simply fade into the background, the last fifth of the book is straight action with quickly curtailed story strings, as if the writer was running out of paper and had to wrap everything up。 And the ending is quite flaccid。 There's some spatterings of deus ex machina, there's some dubious narrative choices, and a little too much of different-but-all-too-human smeared across the different species living in New Crobuzon, but even with all that, it's still a marvelous read。 Still giving it 5 stars even with the problems, because of how much I enjoyed the journey。 。。。more

jennet wheatstonelllsl

Skks

Seth

Final fantasy meets steampunk noir。

Samia Schiller

Miéville é desses autores que não substimam leitoras。 Um autor para quem gosta de apreciar uma história escrita com estilo, frases elaboradas, referências literárias e místicas, com construção de mundo e de personagens caprichada e inventiva。。。 Vou avisando que precisa tempo, disciplina, imaginação, mas a recompensa é grande。 Gostei dos personagens, imaginei com detalhes a cidade e seus estranhos habitantes, vivi aventuras, gelei de horror, senti cheiros, amor, repulsa, expectativa, compreendi e Miéville é desses autores que não substimam leitoras。 Um autor para quem gosta de apreciar uma história escrita com estilo, frases elaboradas, referências literárias e místicas, com construção de mundo e de personagens caprichada e inventiva。。。 Vou avisando que precisa tempo, disciplina, imaginação, mas a recompensa é grande。 Gostei dos personagens, imaginei com detalhes a cidade e seus estranhos habitantes, vivi aventuras, gelei de horror, senti cheiros, amor, repulsa, expectativa, compreendi e desentendi。Foi uma leitura viva, trabalhosa, intensa。Daqueles livros que quem gosta de ler está sempre procurando e, de vez em quando, acha。 。。。more

Guina Guina

The first time I read this book it really changed the way I looked at fantasy。 Before that, I had read mostly 'typical' swords and sorcery fantasy inspired by or descended from the tradition Tolkien started when he published the Lord of the Rings or more modern urban fantasy。 I also remember having to look up quite a few words (what does peristaltic mean? palimpsest? puissance? lotta 'p' words going on here) which I liked because I like words--the weirder the better (look up bdelygmia sometime)W The first time I read this book it really changed the way I looked at fantasy。 Before that, I had read mostly 'typical' swords and sorcery fantasy inspired by or descended from the tradition Tolkien started when he published the Lord of the Rings or more modern urban fantasy。 I also remember having to look up quite a few words (what does peristaltic mean? palimpsest? puissance? lotta 'p' words going on here) which I liked because I like words--the weirder the better (look up bdelygmia sometime)While I have grown as a consumer of literature and have since seen many of the things I found new and exciting in Mieville's work in other places, this book still reads like something new and special to me。 Granted, I knew what was coming in the story, but the little flourishes--the descriptions of a filthy yet vibrant city like something straight out of Dickens, the classism and racism that so often happen when you cram a whole bunch of people into a confined space, positive things too, I promise!--make this such a fun read。And the monsters。 Oh, the monsters。 I love a good monster, and Mieville has some of my favorite of all time--some of them 'human' and some of them so utterly other, so unique to my experience。So, I'm still giving this bad boy a five-star rating。 I still loved it, even after almost fifteen years。 。。。more

Dylan

The clouds swirled in the city’s filthy microclimate。 It seemed as if all of New Crobuzon’s weather was formed by a massive, gradual crawling hurricane that centred around the city’s heart, the enormous mongrel building that squatted at the core of the commercial zone known as The Crow, the coagulate of miles of railway line and years of architectural styles and violations: Perdido Street Station。This is an epic work, a masterclass in New Weird world-building and a compelling character study of The clouds swirled in the city’s filthy microclimate。 It seemed as if all of New Crobuzon’s weather was formed by a massive, gradual crawling hurricane that centred around the city’s heart, the enormous mongrel building that squatted at the core of the commercial zone known as The Crow, the coagulate of miles of railway line and years of architectural styles and violations: Perdido Street Station。This is an epic work, a masterclass in New Weird world-building and a compelling character study of a determined scientist and a whole host of excellent side characters。 Mieville deftly explores social issues in one sentence, while in the next describing some decrepit part of sprawling, disgusting New Crobuzon in his poetic prose。 Excellent stuff。 。。。more

Jan Kjellin

It should go without saying that reading fantasy requires that the reader actually has fantasy。 Even so, a lot of fantasy seems to revolve around pages upon pages of lengthy descriptions of creatures, races and phenomenon that - given the presupposition that the author has a story to tell -leaves little to no room for the reader's own ability to fantasize。 Given this sad fact, it's quite refreshing to read a book that chooses to introduce a whole new world without bothering to explain more than It should go without saying that reading fantasy requires that the reader actually has fantasy。 Even so, a lot of fantasy seems to revolve around pages upon pages of lengthy descriptions of creatures, races and phenomenon that - given the presupposition that the author has a story to tell -leaves little to no room for the reader's own ability to fantasize。 Given this sad fact, it's quite refreshing to read a book that chooses to introduce a whole new world without bothering to explain more than absolutely has to be known to make sense of the story。 It does make me want to read more, just to know more about the garuda - or whatever, actually。 I like how Miéville takes it for granted that his world (Bas-Lag) is perfectly well known to the reader, even though he's perfectly aware that it's not。 It's humbling, in a way。 Like being a stranger in a strange land, not a visitor with a guidebook like in so many colourless Lord Of The Rings-ripoffs that have been written over the years。 It keeps the reader on his/her toes。I sort of lose interest in the story after a while, though。 It's like there's no real room to get to know and care about the main characters before getting to know the city and the world。 Of course even a sightseeing tour needs a guide, and I understand fully well that 800+ pages of New Crobuzon facts wouldn't work。 But I expected a little more from Miéville and the book, than a fantastic (because it is fantastic, even though I said I lost interest in it) story that ends in what can only be described as an anticlimax with a handful of loose threads。 The ride was nice enough, though。 I just might read one more。 。。。more