From the Bookshelf of DC Public Library…

Railsea

China Miéville

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

No group discussions for this book yet.

What Members Thought

May 25, 2012 Craig Laurance rated it liked it

I get the impression that Railsea started out as an adult novel before it was press-ganged into YA book. It features Mieville’s dark industrial, monster-haunted landscapes, reminiscent of his Bas-Lag novels, but it is lighter in tone. The lighter tone is demonstrated through cutesy meta-narrative diversion (such as directly addressing the reader) and the monsters—giant moles and carnivorous insects, etc. are less sinister than the usual Mieville monsters. The language is less baroque, and the se ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Feb 11, 2014 Tony rated it it was amazing

Shelves: novels

I've always intended to read one of Mieville's books, but every time I've dipped into one, it hasn't hooked me. This one caught my eye based on title alone, and I thought I'd try it out as an audiobook. From the get-go, I loved the concept of a future in which massive clusters of railroad lines functioned as an ocean, upon which all manner of train travel, some hunting for animals, some hunting for salvage, some pirating. Mieville's taken the tropes and conventions of the swashbuckling sea life ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Jan 04, 2021 Jaq rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

All that I love about a Mieville book and more. A sheer delight of steampunk, dystopian and recycling, great characters and a romping good mystery. Would love a sequel but am content for how this finishes.

1 like · Like · see review

Dec 01, 2012 Jennifer rated it liked it

A steampunkian retelling of "Moby Dick." At times both brilliant and frustrating, I had a difficult time connecting to this book. I never become fully invested in the tale or the characters.

I appreciate Mieville's clever wording and world-building (I am a huge fan of his previous YA book "Un Lun Dun"), but this one didn't grab me. ...more

Like · see review

Dec 10, 2013 Keets rated it really liked it

Interesting from the moment it starts to the moment it ends. The most fascinating part is how Mielville builds an entire world and makes it distinct from any we know.

Like · see review