Miévillians discussion

Check out this book on Goodreads: The Book of Elsewhere https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

Any thoughts?

Mark

On hold from the library, reviews here on GR appear mixed which is understandable given the authorial configuration.

The library app Libby offers a sample of the first few pages. From the very little I've read, I believe the reviews. Sigh. In my opinion, he's great at beginnings and development, but weak at figuring out how to conclude his mayhem.

Yes, there's a few of his books published in the last few years that we haven't covered here yet. I was thinking just the other day, after seeing Keanu Reeves on the Stephen Colbert show, and, in the audience, our Mr Miéville, that we'll have to revive this group a bit, but then I keep forgetting, so thanks for the reminder!

I am going to put giving this group some love on my calender right now, and will make my deadline by the end of this coming week, so watch this space. 😋

Mark wrote: " In my opinion, he's great at beginnings and development, but weak at figuring out how to conclude his mayhem."

Not too sure if I agree, depending on what kind of ending you prefer. I find that with him, the actual story is the ride, and I don't mind too much how it ends, since the journey is usually quite satisfying for me. Besides, many authors do endings in a way that leaves me feeling depressed or empty, and I can't say I've felt that way with a Miéville novel, despite the fact that I don't always agree with Miéville's ideas or sentiments.

Oh! Huh. I see it's in text. Now why did I have the impression it was a graphic novel? I suppose because I could swear I heard Keaunu Reeves said it had to be based on a comic-book hero, or wasn't I paying attention? Well, I suppose I'll have to get reading very soon, then....

There was an interview recently published in Wired (https://www.wired.com/story/china-mie...) that covers a lot of the background and the collaboration itself. The Book of Elsewhere is based on Keanu Reeves's long-lived antihero named "B" from the BRZRKR comic series, but the writing is all China Miéville. It's not a graphic novel, though I can see such an adaptation in the future as a follow-on to BRZRKR itself. It's decent, plenty weird, and there's a bit of philosophy along with the action elements.

On an even more positive note, the article notes that China's next book is more than 1,000 pages, and I recall reading somewhere else that it just recently went to the publisher.

Matthew wrote: "There was an interview recently published in Wired (https://www.wired.com/story/china-mie...) that covers a lot of the background ..."

Thanks so much for the feedback, Matthew, will definitely follow up on that.

Traveller wrote: "Not too sure if I agree, depending on what kind of ending you prefer. I find that with him, the actual story is the ride, and I don't mind too much how it ends, since the journey is usually quite satisfying for me. "

Totally. I didn't like the ending to Perdido Street Station but still enjoyed the book. I think I liked the endings of all his others. But for me, it's mostly his language.

Interview about the book at https://www.cbc.ca/arts/q/keanu-reeve.... My wife says it's great, I still haven't checked it out :-)

But I understand the "writing is [not] all China Miéville".

Derek wrote: "But I understand the "writing is [not] all China Miéville..."

I do hope so, and that this is not a future Miéville trend.
I had a quick look at TBOE, and... err... all I can say for now is that it didn't draw me in like his works usually do, and it seemed fragmented and weird, and not weird in the good way that his works usually are, I mean writing-style weird. Maybe I just need to stretch my mind a bit more... 😜