Let's start with the nitpicking the article: It's Ul Qoma, not Ul Quoma. And if you were in Besźel when you lost your visa, it would have been on CrocodileStráz.

Obviously, I loved this book, or I wouldn't remember all of these random facts off the top of my head! The worldbuilding truly is fantastic, and it's a must-read.

But...I'll admit, around halfway through the book, I started to get annoyed. Really annoyed.

Spoilers Ahead!

because dangit if I was beginning to get the feeling that the entire separation of Beźal and Ul Quoma was just about the most pointless thing ever. It's a great and fun cultural quirk to play with (I loved details like each city having its own country web suffix, like .uq and .zb), but it began to strain my suspension of disbelief. Nationalism is one thing, but by the end, I was ready to join up with the unificationists and start throwing bricks.

That said, this is the first enjoyable and convincing depiction of (a) modern city/cities for me, (I actually want to visit them!) and China Miéville has truly, truly delivered.

 Reply

I used "Street of Crocodiles" as a shout out to the very cool Polish writer Bruno Schultz who Miéville used in his epigram. It inspired an amazing animated piece by the Brothers Quay I first saw in the 80s and led me to track down Schultz's surviving works. Check it out: [www.veoh.com]

Yeah, the 3rd act of the City & The City strains credulity but I found it worth the journey.

 Reply

*readies brick throwing arm*

We don't like cannibals 'round these here parts.

 Reply

Slightly off topic but concerning this thread I have just finished The City & The City and I must say that it was pretty friggin' awesome if not a little short.

 Reply

*wipes gold from nose* I huff gold DUST, sir.

 Reply