The City & the City in On Paths Unknown

Feb 22, 2019 Saski rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

China Mieville is one of my all-time favorite authors, and not just because he writes (mostly) in my favorite genre. Case in point, crime is rarely higher than the bottom of my list, and yet I was deep into this book in the first two minutes. He’s brilliant and I truly admire him for his versatility.

I have to say that I was mildly annoyed that Mieville didn’t include Nicosia in his list of split cities (see page 90).

Quotes that caught my eye

Few citizens realise that our tradition of jokes about China Mieville is one of my all-time favorite authors, and not just because he writes (mostly) in my favorite genre. Case in point, crime is rarely higher than the bottom of my list, and yet I was deep into this book in the first two minutes. He’s brilliant and I truly admire him for his versatility.

I have to say that I was mildly annoyed that Mieville didn’t include Nicosia in his list of split cities (see page 90).

Quotes that caught my eye

Few citizens realise that our tradition of jokes about the foolishness of the middle child derives from a centuries-old humourous dialogue between Besźel’s head rabbi and its chief imam about the intemperance of the Besźel Orthodox Church. It had, they agreed, neither the wisdom of the oldest Abrahamic faith, nor the vigour of its youngest. (25-26)

There were forty-two people around the table (antique, would there ever be question?, and me. (71)

There were folktales of renegades who breach and avoid Breach to live between the cities, not exiles but in-siles, evading justice and retribution by consummate ignorability. (161)

I went through the bedside cupboard. There was not even a Gideon Bible. I didn’t know whether that was because Ul Qoma is secular, or because of lobbying by its disestablished but respected Lux Templars. (169)

Attack both and he would be in Breach, which, unbelievably, he was not yet. He walked with equipoise, possibly in either city. Schrödinger’s pedestrian. (352)

Borlú, I can kill you where you stand and, do you realise, no one will even know where we are. If you were in one place or the other they might come for me, but you’re not. The thing is, and I know it wouldn’t work this way and so do you but that’s because on one in this place, and that includes Breach, obeys the rules, their own rules, and if they did it would work this way, the thing is that if you were to be killed by someone who no one was sure which city they were in and they weren’t sure where you were either, your body would have to lie therer, rotting, forever. People would have to step over you. Because no one breached. Neither Besźel nor Ul Qoma could risk clearing you up. You’d lie there stinking up both cities until you were just a stain. I am going, Borlú. You think Besźel will come for you if I shoot you? Ul Qoma? (356)

“How could he do it? Walk like that?”
“He’s been a student of the cities…. Maybe it took an outsider to really see how citizens mark themselves, so as to walk between it.” (368)

Volunteering’s an early and strong indication that you’re not suited…. (371)

My task is changed: not to uphold the law, or another law, but to maintain the skin that keeps law in place. Two laws in two places, in fact. (373)
...more

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Feb 09, 2015 Dustin Wilson rated it did not like it

It is rather difficult sometimes to go against the grain on something, but unlike most who have written glowing reviews of this book I'm among the few who didn't like it. I consider it a complete failure of a book. I couldn't visualize the locations the characters inhabited because crucial information needed for visualizing locations that don't really exist weren't given when needed. I also couldn't sympathize nor care for any of the characters in the book.

The premise of the story is fantastic. ...more

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Jul 02, 2013 Ken rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

In The City & The City, China Mieville artfully juxtaposes dissonant political systems, social norms, and geography - in an urban palimpsest that devilishly turns and twists through back alleys of noir detective themes and speculative fiction superbness. Recommended to fans of whodunit detective tales, readers interested in the politics of geography and associated psychological effects, and to people who appreciate a subtle case of fantasy in an urban environment.

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May 13, 2015 Gregoire rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: sf, en-français, prêt-emprunt-bibliothèque

Mon premier China Miéville J'avoue n'avoir pas été autrement accroché par l'enquête Ce qui m'a plu est ce qui est le fondement de l'histoire : l'idée de deux villes deux univers et leurs habitants se partageant le même espace et comment les habitants sont tenus de coexister en s'ignorant et comment les conflits inhérents à la nature humaine peuvent ils être (ou non) jugulés par la loi) Mais après tout, certains d'entre nous ne vivent ils pas déjà cette ségrégation volontaire ?
Après, c'est beauc ...more

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