Miévillians discussion

Here are some possible starting points for discussion when the group read formally commences:

1. In UQ. Negotiates passage through Copula Hall.

2. Unseeing tests.

3. Unless someone saw the sign in the windscreen, people would assume that a visiting Besz van should remain unseen.

4. Mahalia's friend, Yolanda Rodriguez. Disappears.

5. Borlu to Corwi: "I think I'm his you."

6. UQ is secular state.

7. Code phrases between Borlu and Corwi. They suspect a conspiracy.

8. Topolganger = physically corresponding area of other city.

9. Borlu goes to dig at night. Caught by security guards.

10. Returns following day with Inspector Dhatt. Meet David Bowden, who is supervising Yolanda.

11. Mahalia had "simmered down" after talking to.

12. "Precursor Age"

13. Meet fellow students. Aikam Tsueh.

14. "Weird stuff?" "Orciny?"

15. How was the CCTV footage found? Who compiled it?

16. Source of phone call from UQ. Seeing van was a breach. Unificationist.

17. Silver Renewal a century ago. (Like Turkey?)

18. Visit Unificationists. Yohan.

19. There were folktales of renegades who breach and avoid Breach to live between the cities, not exiles but insiles, evading justice and retribution by consummate ignorability. Pahlaniuk’s novel Diary of an Insilehad been illegal in Besźel (and, I was sure, in Ul Qoma), but like most people I had skimmed a pirated edition.

By this point, I'm really seeing the whole thing. It would make a brilliant film; the more complicated the seeing/unseeing, the cleverer it could be - or might it be too distracting?

On the other hand, I'm surprised how fuzzy my impressions of the political, social and cultural differences between the two cities, even though I'm half way through. It may be a failing of my reading, but although I know the UQ is more economically and technologically advanced, and with better archaeological digs, I can't think of much else. Do any other first time readers feel the same?

I think the fuzziness is part of the experience of detection. Only by applying concentration and focus can we really see.

Let's see what response you get and what precision we emerge with.

There is a temptation to idealise UQ, because of its modernity, but I wonder whether CM sentimentalises the "old" culture of Beszel.

The fuzziness isn't necessarily a criticism, but I'm surprised how much is held back, for how long. It is (amongst other things), a detective story, after all!

I agree. The question is: is it a deliberate stylistic choice, and regardless, is it a success or a failure or a bit of both?

Has CM simply cherry picked the devices of crime fiction that he wanted and added himself into the equation?

Ian wrote: "...Has CM simply cherry picked the devices of crime fiction that he wanted and added him into the equation? "

Yes, of course - that's his prerogative.

I have as distinct impression that I'm Qoma is warmer than Bezel it must be the background

colors.

"Topolganger" ...love it! Topology + doppelganger = topological doppelganger!

I also love his allusions to RL stuff- heh, like the allusion to Chuck Phalanuik's novel "Diary" which Mieville had modified a bit...