The New Weird discussion

Has anyone read Kraken by China Mieville? I've been hearing mixed reviews and wanted to get some more opinions.

Yes, I've read it. It's his weakest book so far. Too much exposition, too many cool and bizarre ideas with few ties to a fully imagined world. I recommend THE SCAR or PERDIDO STREET STATION or even IRON COUNCIL instead. If you're in the mood for a really good and haunting story that plays with ideas of gods, unreal spirits and barely understood supernatural forces, Tim Power's STRESS OF HER REGARD is a much better read.

Yeah, I'm a big fan of the three Mieville books you've mentioned, but was hoping Kraken would be as good.

What about the City and the City?

Ah, the vagaries of taste. I thought Kraken was one of Mieville's better efforts.

The City & The City is good but I thought China was very restrained in his writing style. I'd probably like it more on a reread.

His latest, Embassytown, is excellent.

I guess I'll just have to decide for myself.

I really loved Kraken. For comparison, The City & The City is one of my favourite books ever, but I couldn't finish Perdido Street Station. So it's all a matter of taste really :)

I'm waiting for Embassytown to get a bit cheaper on Kindle, it sounds interesting too.

Rachel wrote: "I really loved Kraken. For comparison, The City & The City is one of my favourite books ever, but I couldn't finish Perdido Street Station. So it's all a matter of taste really :)

I'm waiting for ..."

Perdido is one of my favorites; I also liked Scar, and to a less degree Iron Council. I'll have to get Kraken and the City & the City so I can add my two cents.