From the Bookshelf of Beyond Reality…

The City & the City

China Miéville

Start date: February 1, 2018

Finish date: February 28, 2018

Discussion: Previous BotM--DISCUSSIONS

Why we're reading this: The group previously read this book in Sept. 2009.
[close] The group previously read this book in Sept. 2009.

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Previous BotM--DISCUSSIONS

Mockingbird (6/25): Finished Reading (Spoilers OK)
By Kathi , Moderator & Book Lover · 8 posts · 13 views

last updated Jun 28, 2025 02:11PM

Mockingbird (6/25): Roll Call *No Spoilers*
By Kathi , Moderator & Book Lover · 3 posts · 14 views

last updated Jun 14, 2025 05:06PM

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What Members Thought

Feb 21, 2009 Sandi rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2009, library-books-read, cross-genre, hugo-nominees-2010

The City & the City is a book that defies explanation. On the surface, it's a murder mystery about an archeology student whose body is found in one city, Beszel, but she was murdered in the city that borders it, Ul Qoma. The two cities are very different from each other and it's very difficult to get permission to cross the border. Those who cross illegally are subject to Breach.

As the story starts, the relationship between the two cities seems kind of like the relationship between West and Eas ...more

17 likes · Like · see review

May 28, 2009 Sarah rated it really liked it

Shelves: speculative-fiction, mystery

This is the first Mieville that I have finished, and I think the people who guessed that this would be the one I would enjoy were correct. The visceral descriptions of the city in Perdido Street Station (which I have been dragging myself through on my iPod for two years now) give way to descriptions of decrepit Eastern European grandeur. The cities of the title are by far my favorite characters in the book; they are alive and filled with history. Sadly, I can't say the same for the narrator, a p ...more

16 likes · Like · see review

Apr 02, 2011 Snail in Danger (Sid) Nicolaides rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-fiction

I enjoyed this book. But honestly, after a couple re-readings, I think my enjoyment is of the concept and sometimes the language, more than of the book as a story-whole. (Though it keeps tempting me to re-read it, despite this uncertainty. So take that with a grain of salt.) But it is an awesome undertaking. I recommend it to all fans of speculative fiction, particularly those who enjoy police procedurals and/or live in cities. I also recommend taking a look at the author interview at the back o ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jun 19, 2009 Megan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: quirky-fiction

I stopped reading this book twice (and once almost threw it across the room) before it grabbed me hard. Impossible to describe, I will just say that its surreal Kafka-esque setup is so bizarre that it takes a while to sink it what the full extent of the weirdness is. Mieville drops you into his setting with a character who is himself completely immersed there and so is unable to explain what the nature of the city (or the city) really is. He is a detective investigating a murder, but his task is ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Aug 05, 2009 Snail in Danger (Sid) Nicolaides rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy-fiction, mystery-genre, science-fiction

Okay, maybe strictly speaking it doesn't belong on the mystery genre shelf, but there are strong elements of the police procedural, so it can sit right there. I very much enjoyed this one. "Topolgänger" may well be the best portmanteau/neologism ever.

The setting is very interesting - two cities occupy the same geographical space. I know, it sounds crazy, but if you live in even a moderately sized town, there are probably things that you're accustomed to just ... overlooking, and there are so man ...more

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Aug 29, 2009 Zen rated it liked it

Shelves: scifi-fantasy, the-alternate-reality, the-thriller

I really like this book. However, after putting it down, I could never get around other books long enough to want to finish the last third. Does that make it bad? I think not. The writing is intriguing and the characters, solid. The author makes a great social commentary though the book and doesn't fall into his own habit of being too convoluted to follow. Read at your own preference. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Mar 27, 2010 Deedee rated it did not like it

Shelves: science-fiction, arthur-c-clarke-award-nominee, hugo-award-winner, world-fantasy-award-winner, hugo-award-nominee, nebula-award-nominee, arthur-c-clarke-award-winner, world-fantasy-award-nominee, john-w-campbell-memorial-award-nom, beyond-reality-fantasy

I didn't care for this one. I put it down quarter-read and haven't picked it up again. I found the premise hard to accept, so that's probably why, as I've read and enjoyed other novels written by China Mieville. ...more

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