Perdido Street Station (New Crobuzon, #1) in The Alternative Worlds

Jun 11, 2011 mark monday rated it it was ok

Shelves: i-gave-up, fantasy-modern

my dear Perdido Street Station,

perhaps it is fated not to be. or perhaps i need to grow a bit more, until i am able to understand and appreciate your unique charms. but for now, i am just not ready. please don't take this personally - i promise that i shall try you out again sometime, perhaps soon. too many people love you, and they love you too, too much for me to give up on you altogether.

i will admit that my first impression was off-putting - the way you talked and gestured and sought attent my dear Perdido Street Station,

perhaps it is fated not to be. or perhaps i need to grow a bit more, until i am able to understand and appreciate your unique charms. but for now, i am just not ready. please don't take this personally - i promise that i shall try you out again sometime, perhaps soon. too many people love you, and they love you too, too much for me to give up on you altogether.

i will admit that my first impression was off-putting - the way you talked and gestured and sought attention only created annoyance. but still, i was determined to soldier on, knowing of the wonders that many others have enjoyed in your embrace. i thought that there must be something there, some quality underneath all of the affectation and all of the almost-desperate attempts to dazzle and to provoke. i felt confident that beneath all of the ruffles and ribbons and silky trifles and shiny buttons that there would be something interesting and of value, buried down deep. but as i undressed you, instead of a warm beating heart, i found only more rococo haberdashery. there was no there there!

but you know, once i felt the same way about samuel delany, about ronald firbank - and lo & behold: i now admire them both, i respond rather quickly to their bold instigations, their often sharp tongues, their secretly dreamy temperaments. it just took time. and i'm sure yours will come as well. but not now! i simply haven't the energy or patience to get to know you. and i am certain, in the end, my affection must mean little to you, Perdido... you are too beloved by all to be wounded too deeply by this minor affront. please do forgive my rash bout of grappling and its abrupt finish, this lectio interruptus. i take full responsibility.

this i do promise: to be continued! we will once again tumble into each other's arms, hoping for some kind of delight or satisfaction. this evening was... simply not meant to be. the housekeeper will take care of the sheets and mess; please do me a kind favor and take your leave through the servants' entrance.

'til the time of our sweet reunion,
yours,

mark monday ...more

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May 11, 2015 Brad rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: audio-book, mieville

I took the time to listen to John Lee's audio performance of Perdido, and it didn't disappoint. My love for the book remains intact. There is something magnificent about a book whose prose strives to evoke the cracks and fetidness of a city while lying dormant on the page, then doubles down its evocation when the words are given breath. It sounds as good as it reads, which makes the listening truly worthwhile. ...more

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Jun 04, 2011 Lori rated it it was amazing

My goodness, my mind is blown away by the phenomenon that is China Melvielle. I was quite sure that this would rate a 4, because it does have problems, but as soon as I came to the computer it was clearly a 5. I don't think I'll ever forget it. New Crubuzon will flash on me at weird times. The sight of a moth will momentarily agitate and still me probably forever. Hopefully this won't extend to butterflies, but even they might be suspect for awhile. Maybe I should go to the zoo and sit in the bu ...more

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Mar 12, 2011 Ryandake rated it it was amazing

Shelves: the-good-shit

damn if it wasn't even better the third time around.

the first time i read a book, i read it to find out what happens. the second time, i read it to catch on to all the little bits that i missed the first time, and to make a beginning at digging in to the deeper levels of the novel. the third time i read it, i read it as a spelunker--i want to get to the beating heart of the book, i want to work all the way down.

the truth is, not many books will reward even a second read. very few (and even fewer ...more

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Oct 29, 2011 Taueret rated it really liked it

Shelves: audiobook, speculative-fiction, have, literary

hmm. I haven't read any other reviews yet, I wanted to do my own first, in case I am being really dumb.

I tolerate, no, enjoy Mievelle even though he is often labelled "fantasy"- and I'm not a big fantasy fan. Sometimes I'm a bit unsure that I really understand why certain books and authors are classed as fantasy instead of sci-fi. Sometimes I'm confused about what makes sci-fi Sci-fi. I know a lot of people think the idea of genre labels is stupid and shows how small-minded I am, so you know. S ...more

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Jul 28, 2011 Maree added it

Shelves: unfinished

And...my second attempt at this book fails. I don't know why, but I'm just not captured by it. The world building is great, the characters are complex, but I just don't care about what happens to them. I'm disappointed, because I really want to like this book, but it's just not working for me. ...more

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