Perdido Street Station
10 journalers for this copy...
This book caught my eye today when I was releasing some books to the Paperback Swap shelf at the Wiesbaden Army Airfield Library.
Blurb from back cover: "Beneath the towering bleached ribs of a dead, ancient beast lies the city of New Crobuzon, where the unsavory deal is stranger to no one--not even to Isaac, a gifted and eccentric scientist who has spent a lifetime quietly carrying out his unique research. But when a half-bird, half-human creature known as the Garuda comes to him from afar, Isaac is faced with challenges he has never before encountered. Though the Garuda's request is scientifically daunting, Isaac is sparked by his own curiosity and an uncanny reverence for this curious stranger. Soon an eerie metamorphosis will occur that will permeate every fiber of New Crobuzon--and not even the Ambassador of Hell will challenge the malignant terror it evokes."
Blurb from back cover: "Beneath the towering bleached ribs of a dead, ancient beast lies the city of New Crobuzon, where the unsavory deal is stranger to no one--not even to Isaac, a gifted and eccentric scientist who has spent a lifetime quietly carrying out his unique research. But when a half-bird, half-human creature known as the Garuda comes to him from afar, Isaac is faced with challenges he has never before encountered. Though the Garuda's request is scientifically daunting, Isaac is sparked by his own curiosity and an uncanny reverence for this curious stranger. Soon an eerie metamorphosis will occur that will permeate every fiber of New Crobuzon--and not even the Ambassador of Hell will challenge the malignant terror it evokes."
Bookray!
1. silentmiaouw--Switzerland
2. Molyneux--United Kingdom
3. miriam2--United States
4. caligula03--United States
5. Sherria--United States
1. silentmiaouw--Switzerland
2. Molyneux--United Kingdom
3. miriam2--United States
4. caligula03--United States
5. Sherria--United States
Wow! What a great book! I'm terrible at book reviews so I'll just say that this is one of the few books that I actually agree with the praise printed on the back cover: "Continuously fascinating", "Outrageous inventiveness", "Rocked my world", "Compulsively readable".
THE SCAR and IRON COUNCIL are the next two New Crobuzon books. I'll definitely be on the lookout for them!
THE SCAR and IRON COUNCIL are the next two New Crobuzon books. I'll definitely be on the lookout for them!
It arrived! thanks tracyshannon, will quickly finish my other book then dig into this.
Not for the faint-hearted!
It is vast and bewildering, complex, exciting, frightening, mind-boggling, utterly horrible and totally gripping.
I recognize the place from the map. But the time is somewhere beyond my comprehension. We are in a city, a city-state, full of filth and slime, peopled by humans, cactus men, insect women, Remades (criminals who have been remade into something else by grafting on various metal or animal bits), Constructs (robots such as vacuum cleaners), garudas, undines, creatures that can sculpt water, demons, flying wyrmen, a big spider - and the things the caterpillars turn into. It's a polluted world where things work by gas, steam and clockwork, with drug dealers, corrupt politicians, fanatic religions, militia, and the nastily motley Mr Motley. Miéville's imagination knows no bounds - and somehow he suspends belief. Everything is so weird that when I read a simple sentence such as "the curtains moved" I was taken aback as I wouldn't have imagined anything so ordinary as curtains in this alien world.
A great read.
Waiting for Molyneux's addy.
update 19 June: still waiting for Molyneux's addy.
It is vast and bewildering, complex, exciting, frightening, mind-boggling, utterly horrible and totally gripping.
I recognize the place from the map. But the time is somewhere beyond my comprehension. We are in a city, a city-state, full of filth and slime, peopled by humans, cactus men, insect women, Remades (criminals who have been remade into something else by grafting on various metal or animal bits), Constructs (robots such as vacuum cleaners), garudas, undines, creatures that can sculpt water, demons, flying wyrmen, a big spider - and the things the caterpillars turn into. It's a polluted world where things work by gas, steam and clockwork, with drug dealers, corrupt politicians, fanatic religions, militia, and the nastily motley Mr Motley. Miéville's imagination knows no bounds - and somehow he suspends belief. Everything is so weird that when I read a simple sentence such as "the curtains moved" I was taken aback as I wouldn't have imagined anything so ordinary as curtains in this alien world.
A great read.
Waiting for Molyneux's addy.
update 19 June: still waiting for Molyneux's addy.
mailed to molyneux today
ooops! I really thought I'd journalled this when I received it...I had meant to! So apologies for leaving it so long, and also for keeping the book so long too.
A strange, dark book...what an imagination this author has I've read nothing like it before! Thank you for sharing it. Now off to miriam2
A strange, dark book...what an imagination this author has I've read nothing like it before! Thank you for sharing it. Now off to miriam2
This book has washed ashore at the Lost Book Island after not being heard from for many months. This new arrival will be shown to a room and be allowed a bit of rest before being introduced to the many fun things to do here at the island.
All around there are books sipping cool drinks under shady palms while other books participate in a wide variety of beach sports. There is plenty of sand, surf and sun here for all of the lost and wayward books to enjoy.
It is hoped that very soon a new journal entry will come to rescue this book from the island and send it back out into the BookCrossing world so that it may continue on its journey. It is hoped that the new journal entry will tell all the interested parties where this book has been this long time and where it will be traveling to next.
All around there are books sipping cool drinks under shady palms while other books participate in a wide variety of beach sports. There is plenty of sand, surf and sun here for all of the lost and wayward books to enjoy.
It is hoped that very soon a new journal entry will come to rescue this book from the island and send it back out into the BookCrossing world so that it may continue on its journey. It is hoped that the new journal entry will tell all the interested parties where this book has been this long time and where it will be traveling to next.
This book was in a bag of books given to me by Molyneux when she moved house. I see that it was in a bookray 6 years ago. The reason I picked this out of the bag is because it is on the wishlist of my not so secret partner at the UK Uncon. I would like her to have it first with the request that after she has read it she gets in touch with the bookcrossers who were on the bookray 6 years ago to see if they still want it. Won't they be surprised to see it turn up after 6 years. It is very suntanned after being on the island for several years!
Journal Entry 10 by Vekiki at -- Somewhere in London 🤷♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom on Monday, October 1, 2012
I certainly will try to re-start this ray once I'm done with this :) It's a great opportunity to really surprise people! I've really enjoyed China Mieville's work before so I have high hopes for this one too
Thank you so much for such a lovely NSS parcel - I really love the teas too, Redbush is one of my favourite as it's decaf so good before bedtime. And earl gray is perfect for days when 'm feeling ladylike.
Sorry for the delay in journalling these, I think I'm the only person left who doesn't have mobile internet access, and I just got home so this is the first chance I've had :D
Thank you so much for such a lovely NSS parcel - I really love the teas too, Redbush is one of my favourite as it's decaf so good before bedtime. And earl gray is perfect for days when 'm feeling ladylike.
Sorry for the delay in journalling these, I think I'm the only person left who doesn't have mobile internet access, and I just got home so this is the first chance I've had :D
Journal Entry 11 by Vekiki at -- Somewhere in London 🤷♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom on Thursday, February 7, 2013
*** BOOKRAY *** BOOKRAY *** BOOKRAY***
As requested, I have restarted this ray. I contacted all the previous participants but havne't heard back from any of them.
anyway, ususal ray rules apply:
- journal the book when you recieve it
- PM the next reader for there address; read the book and have it in the post to them within 2 months (if you need longer, that's ok but please let me know so I don't worry)
- Make release notes letting us know it's on it's way and if you have any thoughts to share :)
*** Participants in postal order
- Greenbadger (Uk, intl)
- Lamilla (Belarus, Europe/japan/china/aus/nz/africa) <----- book here
- Flambard (UK, ?)
- Lilyklip (Germny, intl)
last person can do as they see fit with the book - pass it on to someone else!
As requested, I have restarted this ray. I contacted all the previous participants but havne't heard back from any of them.
anyway, ususal ray rules apply:
- journal the book when you recieve it
- PM the next reader for there address; read the book and have it in the post to them within 2 months (if you need longer, that's ok but please let me know so I don't worry)
- Make release notes letting us know it's on it's way and if you have any thoughts to share :)
*** Participants in postal order
- Greenbadger (Uk, intl)
- Lamilla (Belarus, Europe/japan/china/aus/nz/africa) <----- book here
- Flambard (UK, ?)
- Lilyklip (Germny, intl)
last person can do as they see fit with the book - pass it on to someone else!
Journal Entry 12 by Vekiki at -- Somewhere in London 🤷♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom on Thursday, February 7, 2013
Released 11 yrs ago (2/7/2013 UTC) at -- Somewhere in London 🤷♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
In the post on it's way to the next reader
Journal Entry 13 by 
greenbadger
at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Sunday, February 10, 2013
greenbadger at St Albans, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Sunday, February 10, 2013
Sent this in a book ray by Vekiki - thank you very much!
Journal Entry 14 by greenbadger at -- Somewhere in London 🤷♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom on Sunday, March 3, 2013
greenbadger at -- Somewhere in London 🤷♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom on Sunday, March 3, 2013
Miéville's densely descriptive writing style brings the fantasy city of New Crobuzon to life. Humans mingle with creatures from other races and the tortured 'Remade'. Isaac, a renegade scientist, and Lin, a talented artist who shuns the communal life of her people, are lovers, in an illicit mixed-race relationship, and each struggling for recognition in their respective fields. Each is given a dangerous and difficult commission: Isaac to help one of the strange, bird-like Garuda and Lin to create an artwork for a drug baron. When great peril comes to the city both are caught up in it. Totally gripping.
Journal Entry 15 by greenbadger at Kings Langley, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Monday, March 4, 2013
greenbadger at Kings Langley, Hertfordshire United Kingdom on Monday, March 4, 2013
Released 11 yrs ago (3/4/2013 UTC) at Kings Langley, Hertfordshire United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Sent to Lamilla who is next in the ray. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.
Thank you for organising this ray Vekiki.
Thank you for organising this ray Vekiki.
Arrived today, thank you!
The parcel with this book was opened by our customs! Apparently, CN22 was missing. I got a nice piece of official paper [presumably] confirming nothing was lost. I wonder if some of the staff googled bookcrossing after that!
The parcel with this book was opened by our customs! Apparently, CN22 was missing. I got a nice piece of official paper [presumably] confirming nothing was lost. I wonder if some of the staff googled bookcrossing after that!
Started reading it not long ago. Apparently, I can't manage to finish it before May holidays, so it will be with me for some more time
Sent to the next reader.
Track: RR965405375BY
Track: RR965405375BY
Arrived safely! A lovely collection of stamps and a very interesting postcard too - many thanks Lamilla! And thanks Vekiki for organising!
Full of energy and imagination. Brutal too. A bit of a brick, which seemed to lose momentum about two-thirds of the way through, although it regained it by the climax. I like books which do not have obvious endings, and, despite the inevitable victory over the slake-moths, the fates of the main protagonists were not riven by cliches. Worth reading, but I would have preferred a tighter, tauter tale!
Ready to pass on.
Picture by Johan Svensson on Flickr:
Ready to pass on.
Picture by Johan Svensson on Flickr:
Released 10 yrs ago (7/14/2013 UTC) at by Post, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
To Iowa
Received in today's mail. Thanks so much for sending this my way. I should have checked Flambard's profile as I didn't realize that he was sending clear from the UK.
