PSS: Part Two: Chapter 6-17

[Dara]

Please keep all discussion and thoughts to the events of Chapter 6 through Chapter 17.

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Do not discuss events from later chapters/books.

[Bill]

I don't really know what to say about this section as there was much action in the classic sense. Thought Lucky Gazid drugging Issac was pretty funny. Seems like Issac will try to use the voydanai water crafting to help Yag. I would have to think at some point that Issac's research will somehow lead him to Mr. Motley or I don't really see how Lin's story will progress.

[Dara]

I had a busy week last week and didn't have much time for reading.

It still feels like Lin and Isaac exist for the reader to explore New Crobuzon. I don't have any particular attachment or investment in either character.

The scene with the scientist feeding the thing in the cage was downright terrifying.

I'm really uncomfortable with the treatment of animals in this book. It's barbaric and it's a major turn off. Between that and my lack of investment in the characters, this book is a little difficult for me. I have to force myself to pick it up.

[Dara]

Also, I think New Crobuzon would work so much better as a video game. I'd be way more into it if I could create a character and explore the city that way. It would benefit from visuals so much, at least for me.

[Bill]

I agree the characters don't really do much for me. I am ok with the treatment of animals as it is a fictional world and it all adds to the kind of sickness or decay affecting the city. Visually it sounds amazing but it would be an awful place to live.

Also i still don't really care much for the plot at this point. It is pretty much the writing and world building that is carrying the load.

[Dara]

Bill wrote: "Also i still don't really care much for the plot at this point. It is pretty much the writing and world building that is carrying the load. "

I agree. It's not engaging me very much.

[Sky]

So far I am agreeing with the others. China Mieville writes beautiful prose, the world building is excellent, the ideas are great, but I need more plot and action in my books. It's a great book, but my motivation to finish reading it is about a 2/5, even though I can have 5/5 motivation on a 3/5 book, if that makes any sense :)

Yeah, the animal scenes are a little brutal, but luckily so far Isaac doesn't seem the cruel type. His experiment with the (pigeon? swallow?) reminded me a lot of Hooke's experiments on dogs and vocal chords during the scientific revolution (at least as described by Stephenson in Quicksilver).

One of the themes of the books seems to be boundaries/intermediary realms, where one thing turns to another, but at the intersection isn't quite either, which i find fascinating. I am looking forward to see how the theme is explored throughout the rest of the book.

The scene showing how Yagharek kicked ass in the fighting pits at the end of the section was fun. I hadn't made the connection that he was the narrator/1st person perspective at the start of the book. There seems to be a lot more to Yagharek than has been let on, so I look forward to learning more about him.

The steampunk elements are fun. It always tickles me to read descriptions about how steam powered analytical engines work, though i think the automatons are a little far fetched (yeah, thats the thing I pick out as being unrealistic! :))

I liked the drug lords (Mr Motley's) monologues while Lin was working. I don't have the exact quote, but when he went off on drugs being essentially an individual experience despite what the kids in the factory with the music think reminded me of ravers :)

I need to keep better notes, Mr. Mieville needs to get this plot movin'!

[Dara]

I'm glad I'm not the only one feeling this way about the book, Sky. I'm 75% done and still struggling to pick it up. I didn't expect this when I chose it. I likely would have given it up if I didn't have to read it for the club/I wasn't discussion leader/didn't choose it. I need more plot or character development. The Golem and the Jinni isn't an action-packed book but I fell in love with it because of its focus on characters. I expected more of Mieville.

[Sky]

I've only read one Mieville book, Kraken, and it actually had a moving plot, and given the rave reviews others gave PSS, you couldn't have known! I won't hold it against you :) I feel I have to finish it too...It builds character, or something.

[Dara]

People seriously love this book and I just don't see it. It's like this thread from the Sword and Laser group - I don't see what's in the tree.