From the Bookshelf of Apocalypse Whenever…

The City & the City

China Miéville

Start date: August 15, 2024

Finish date: September 1, 2024

Discussion: AW BOOK CLUB (spoilers)

Discussion leader: Gertie

Why we're reading this: Book selection for September 2024, read by Sept. 1st.
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AW BOOK CLUB (spoilers)

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last updated Aug 15, 2025 08:35AM

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What Members Thought

Mar 21, 2011 Christy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, mysteries, science-fiction-and-fantasy, 21st-century-british-lit, books-for-teaching

Originally I only gave this book four stars. I think I was disappointed that it wasn't more like Perdido Street Station, which I adored. But I am officially raising the score to five stars because, months after reading it, it is still with me. It isn't like Perdido Street Station, but it's not meant to be; it is wonderful in an entirely different way.

And that's just how awesome China Miéville is. ...more

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May 22, 2013 Gertie rated it liked it

I heard a story recently regarding the fact that many old writings have no reference to the color blue. Now when I say old, I mean ancient Greek and Japanese, in the New Testament, etc. Instances of blue are frequently referred to in other ways, a popular example being "wine" as in "the wine dark sea". Before this becomes too much of a tangent, my point is that one of the popular theories behind this is that it was a matter of perception (see link below for details). Blue existed, but people som I heard a story recently regarding the fact that many old writings have no reference to the color blue. Now when I say old, I mean ancient Greek and Japanese, in the New Testament, etc. Instances of blue are frequently referred to in other ways, a popular example being "wine" as in "the wine dark sea". Before this becomes too much of a tangent, my point is that one of the popular theories behind this is that it was a matter of perception (see link below for details). Blue existed, but people somehow didn't see it. It's really kind of fucked up and hard to understand — I mean blue is blue right? It's BLUE. Well, to us now, maybe.

The world in The City and the City is similar. There are things, people, places... all which exist, but only if you are allowed to see them. These people have trained themselves to only see what they are allowed to see, until it becomes second nature. It's really kind of a cool concept, if you can buy into it.

Therein lies the problem. I am sure my Mievellian friends will disagree or have reasons to explain why it does or should succeed regardless, but I think that unless the reader can accept that one aspect, the rest of the story doesn't really hold together. To a reader like me, who does enjoy a bit of weirdness in her books, this was just too much. Living in a world with such a high level of... well, BULLSHIT, just is too alien for my mind to comprehend.

What it comes down to is not that Mieville failed in writing this book, but that my mind just doesn't... "see" his writing properly. :-P Coupled with the fact that I found the characters to be wooden and uncompelling, and I was simply not engaged, and found myself looking forward to the ending.

Now, I must note, I do have respect for China Mieville's talent, he is clearly a skilled writer who can crank out original ideas in a fluid, clear, and not overly dumbed-down manner. Still, it's just not for me. Can't connect with every reader, right?

Memorability Factor: 7/10 (I will remember the general concept, but none of the details.)
Follow this author: I've read 2 books now, and am ready to call it quits.

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Now, about the color blue...
http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/hoffm... ...more

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Sep 21, 2009 Jed rated it it was ok

Shelves: public-library

No hate mail please. I loved Perdido Street Station and The Scar even more. Iron Council fell to 3 stars and this book, sorry, I barely gave it 2 and I'm so glad I didn't buy it.

Generally speaking, I have trouble with fantastical situations that occur in the modern world I am living in right now. That's why I don't do vampires. There ARE NO vampires. And no such city and no such city.

Sorry. ...more

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Sep 11, 2012 Robert rated it really liked it

Very very smart writing.

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Feb 12, 2011 Jess rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Really liked this book-- speculative fiction at its best, by which I mean that it takes a thinly veiled metaphor and runs with it, spinning it out as far as it can go. Adding in a decent mystery is just icing on the cake=)

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Jun 03, 2012 D rated it it was ok

Shelves: pomo-mofos

Interesting conceit, so-so execution. At times the descriptions of the cities went on far too long, and the dialogue sounded like any of the characters could be talking except for the two that swore all the time.

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