The Scar (New Crobuzon, #2) in Building a SciFi/Fantasy Library

Sep 06, 2007 Tracey rated it really liked it

Shelves: no-longer-owned

Set in the same universe & just after Perdido Street Station, the main character gets kidnapped onto a large floating pirate island & involved in a conspiracy. Mieville creates grand, sweeping environments and compelling characters - I really liked this.
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Feb 18, 2013 Peter rated it really liked it

Shelves: sciencefiction

I was tempted to give this 5 stars, but thought that might be slightly too generous. I was, initially, disappointed that this wasn't a continuation of the characters / story of Perdido Street Station, but grew to like the characters and new settings as well. Mieville has a lot of interesting science-fictional concepts he explores (in this book, particularly, the idea of possible realities) but almost never lets them bog down the trajectory of the story. I can't wait to see what he comes up with ...more

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Sep 13, 2009 Leon rated it really liked it

This was excellent, and I was tempted to give it a 5. But I need to save some room at the top.

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Sep 03, 2007 Cindywho rated it liked it

I read Perdido Street Station several months ago and had mostly liked it, but there were aspects I didn't like. The Scar is set in the same world and I liked it better. Mieville batters his characters relentlessly and his prose is a little battering also (he could never use the world "spew" again and it would not be too soon) But I loved the world building, the grotesquerie, the hardness and sharpness of the characters. It's dark but fascinating. (January 12, 2004) ...more

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Oct 23, 2011 hh rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction, reread, sff, 2011, 2025

such a thrill to reread this; it was like a new book. is there a more wonderful world to visit than bas-lag?

THE SCAR is both discursive and tightly packaged, nothing feels superfluous despite the length.

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