NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE LOS ANGELES TIMES, THE SEATTLE TIMES, AND PUBLISHERS WEEKLY. When a murdered woman is found in the city of Beszel, somewhere at the edge of Europe, it looks to be a routine case for Inspector Tyador Borlú of the Extreme Crime Squad. To investigate, Borlú must travel from the decaying Beszel to its equal, rival, and intimate neighbor, the vibrant … intimate neighbor, the vibrant city of Ul Qoma. But this is a border crossing like no other, a journey as psychic as it is physical, a seeing of the unseen. With Ul Qoman detective Qussim Dhatt, Borlú is enmeshed in a sordid underworld of nationalists intent on destroying their neighboring city, and unificationists who dream of dissolving the two into one. As the detectives uncover the dead woman’s secrets, they begin to suspect a truth that could cost them more than their lives. What stands against them are murderous powers in Beszel and in Ul Qoma: and, most terrifying of all, that which lies between these two cities.
BONUS: This edition contains a The City & The City discussion guide and excerpts from China Miéville’s Kraken and Embassytown.
more
This book was just as complicated and mindblowing as I had heard it was. My first foray in Miéville, but it won’t be my last for sure!
Two societies living together and apart. Maybe the future for us?
I like China Miéville a lot and the main idea of the locale in this book, the two cities coexisting together (no more details so I don’t spoil it) didn’t disappoint. The crime plot is OK but for me it didn’t matter much, I just enjoyed a lot the way common actions are made to work in this mind bending backdrop. A definite pick for me.
I truly loved this book! Wow! I was wanting to read something that was original. Something that is completely of it’s own. China Mieville’s creativity is like no other. I found myself not wanting to put it down. I needed to know what happens next. Personally, I appreciate that it’s told in the first person point of view. The author’s style of …
The setting for this mystery takes a little time to understand but the concept is an incredible way to view the world. Such an interesting read
This is slow to get into, as are many of Mieville’s stories, but if one can resist the need to make sense of things immediately and embrace the wierd, the story will entice. On the surface this is a detective/police/noir investigation of a murdered girl, but surfaces are what this is all about. This is about 2 cities, but not in the way of Buda …
It was a mistake to believe that after a quite long time, I would like China Meiville style and writing. I did not like his Perdido Station, of such fame which I never understand, I have not liked any other book by Mr. Meiville. The story of The City & The City sounded different, and I took a chance. Total failure, it is still China Meiville …
Original, thought provoking.
Big fan of this author’s work. Like all of his novels, you need some patience. But the worlds he build are fascinating.
Boring overdone ill conceived
I was disappointed by the end, though it seemed like it had a lot of potential. Good world building and a fairly original story line, but somehow it just didn’t all come together for me.
Not an easy read. But that’s what I liked about it. It was weird and thought provoking.
Conflicted about this book…I like the author, but not sure what the actual point of the world building was.
This was a very interesting twist on a police procedural novel. One of Mieville’s better books.
SPOILER FREE RUN DOWN…
THE CITY & THE CITY was amazing. It’s mystery meets urban fantasy. The story is told in the first person by Inspector Tyador Borlú of the Extreme Crime Squad. He is investigating a murder that will take him from his home city of Besźel to its neighboring city, Ul Qoma. Imagine a city on a glass map that was stomped on. …
Rarely have I read a book that was entirely based on metaphors, that was filled with what I can only describe as sub-metaphors. ‘The City & The City” is indeed a book that makes you think. Yes, I know that is an over-used phrase, but a month later, this book still haints me. I will reread this, and soon, in an effort to gain greater insight to …
One of the most original books I ever read. It takes a special mind to build this story of two intertwined cities, and to keep this world building consistent in all respect including the police investigation, the legal system, and the lives of people. A thriller like no other in a wolrd you cannot rationally believe in, but which still imposes its …
Fantastical, eerily allegorical, great characters
Imagine two cities occupying one space – and after you wrap your mind around that, imagine that one city is bustling and modern, while the other is poor and full of the type of buildings poured in poor quality concrete by the Soviets helping a client state. Got it? Now, imagine you live in one of these cities, and you can’t see the other one… …
The sideways twist of a divided city. It kept me riveted until the very end.