Perdido Street Station | Paperback

China Mieville writes a compelling story that, whilst a little slow to get going for some, is worth hanging on in there for. Complex issues that can be read into and related to the real world, interesting engaging characters and good plot intertwining all mean that I found it hard not to keep reading what seems at first like a rather thick tome. Comparisons with Mervyn Peake and Gormenghast are justified (though Mievilles language is easier to get on with) as are I think some comparison to Sci-Fi writers like Iain M. Banks and Alastair Reynolds though Perdido Street is on a smaller scale due to it's (mostly!) earthbound nature. Overall this was a good read leaving me wanting to read more of China Mievilles work.
Recommended for those who enjoy a Sci-Fi/fantasy cross-over, William Gibson, Gormenghast, and general intelligent engaging fiction.

I have now read this book four times, over four years and each time i get more from it. The "pictures" are brilliant . It has this amazing way of blending new technology into olden times yet still seeming up to date. It has magic, strange creatures, secret police, a city of passages and skyscrapers and a diverse list of characters. Read this book, and you will read something exciting, scary, and thought provoking, all at the same time.Reading this book just once will not be a waste of your time