The Scar (Bas-Lag Book 2)

This is the middle volume of Mievilles trilogy of novel about New Crobuzon. I think the easiest way to describe these books is as fantasy novels, or a sort, which are highly politicl, and set in a steam punk type world, of a sort, which elements of horror. Mieville likes to refer to these books as weird fiction and I guess that suits as well as any other description. Anyway you look at it, all three books are well worth reading. I think this is my favorite of Mievilles trilogy of novels set in the world in and surrounding New Crobuzon. I cant say why I like this one best, I think because the monsters in Perdido Street Station were too... monstery, and the socialism in the Iron Council was too... socialist. Plus, I am a total sucker for sea stories, and this one is a sea story. Here we have a floating armada of misfits and strange creatures guided by a strange couple, on their way to the end of the world. It a fast and gripping read. I wish Mieville would quit writing childrens stories and get back to writing really smart weird fiction.

This is another powerhouse of the imagination from China Mieville, who certainly deserves the praise he has gotten as one of SF/Fantasys most important new writers. This book is not as gut-wrenching or action-packed as its stupendous predecessor Perdido Street Station, but it still demonstrates the range of Mievilles raw talent, although his lack of focus is also evident. Sheer imagination is the key to Mievilles work, and the most imaginative feature here is the books setting. The drama takes place on a floating city made up of thousands of ships tethered together, on which Mieville creates a highly unique society and cast of characters. Other outlandish feats of the imagination are a reverse fantastic voyage along the skin of a mile-wide monster, and a beach consisting of the rust of ancient forgotten machines. And dont miss at least two truly terrifying battle scenes. Mieville can also create intriguing characters. Winners here include the interpersonally bizarre Lovers and the supernaturally swashbuckling Uther Doul, although the action is hampered a bit by a pretty lackluster lead character in Bellis. Sadly, this book also displays some of Mievilles inherent weaknesses, which are merely a function of having just too darn many ideas that should be reined in more effectively. The book cant quite justify its 600+ page length, and in the final third things start to unravel and run out of steam with just too many plot elements appearing and disappearing. The supernatural concepts that Mieville introduces are not explored fully (especially the intriguing possibility mining concept), while the conclusion really fizzles out after such an extensive build-up. However, this is still an immensely enjoyable work and China Mieville has a real future as one of the most talented new writers of the modern age. [~doomsdayer520~]

It took me a while to get into this book. At first I was taken aback by all the new words and references that were just thrown at me, without any explanation. I dont want to give away the plot, since that is one of the things that drew me into this book. Suffice it to say, this is a about a woman captured by pirates, in a world that is very different from ours. Kudos to Mieville for describing this strange world in such detail, so vividly. Now, when I say pirates, dont imagine its a cliched pirate-fantasy story; its much more than that. If I had one quibble, it would be the ending: it left me unsatisfied, and seemed rather anti-climactic. Another slight obstacle is the highly descriptive language (though that is also a strength); it can get a bit much at times, almost as if you could see the author physically straining to paint a picture with words. Overall, though, if you are looking to be immersed in a world that is weirdly different from ours, intricate, frightening and intriguing, this is the book to read.

For anyone who spent days in the nightmarish thrall of Perdido Street Station, China Mievilles breathtakingly literate and imaginative monstravaganza, the first question about The Scar must be, was he able do it again? The answer is no, but this turns out to be a good thing. Particularly in its opening, this sea quest tale disappoints in relation to Perdido Street: though the floating city of Aramada is a marvelous creation, it lacks the incredible density of detail and heights of grotesquerie of New Crobuzon, which here plays a supporting, offstage role. One appreciates Armada without loving and fearing it like New Crobuzon. Yet as the novel picks up steam we find these feelings precisely mirrored in perfectly named protagonist Bellis Coldwine. As the wickedly sharp plot begins to twist and turn, Mieville again conjures tales of wonder from the far corners of Bas-Lag, provides us with lovingly bizarre set-pieces and characters, and his story begins to fascinate. The Scar isnt the once in a lifetime book of nightmares Perdido Street Station was, but it is a better novel. The characters are far stronger: Coldwine, Uther Doul, Tanner Sack, Sheckel and Angevine, drive the story rather than vanishing beneath it. The narrative is purposeful, surprising and satisfying. Mieville has taken his protean talents of worldbuilding and description and harnessed them to a serious, adult story. Perdido Street, for all its genre-blending, was a horror story at heart. The Scar is less gruesome and nihlistic, though still refreshingly far from sentimental. Its palette and worldview are broader, its characters its heart. One could argue that among its few flaws, the book is too brief -- I could have gladly learned more of The Lovers, the Brucolac. With this intelligent, exhilarating adventure story, Mieville stakes his claim as a first rate novelist -- no apologizing for genre -- hes the real thing.

First of all, I found this book to be vivid and engaging. I love the story and characters, and the picture Mieville paints of this world is just gorgeous. However, I find his writing to be alternately beautiful and amatuerish. Some passages are virtually poetic and some are plain ridiculous. And really, how many times can one author use the words puissant, and juddering in one book? Apparently an infinite, exhausting, countless number of times. My point is, he strives to employ unusual descriptives and then just beats them to death. If the story wasnt so good, it would have been laughable. So, yes, I am torn--is The Scar a veritable work of art or a pretentious, overwrought vocabulary exercise? Maybe its both, which is why I found myself re-reading particularly beautiful passages for the sheer enjoyment and then finding myself snickering and rolling my eyes.

As a new novelist, I find this book to be astonishing from beginning to end. I truly enjoyed it and it was a great read!!!! Anthony D. Woods c/o Velvet Tears: Breaking the Silence

A second novel to be set in China Mievilles fantasy world of Bas-Lag, The Scar once more displays the authors prodigious imagination and command of language. Sea battles, weird science, fantastical creatures, monsters of the deep and a piratical floating city feature in this compelling story. The characterisation is subtle, with a main protagonist who is somewhat cold and inexpressive. Some plotlines are not developed too well and go nowhere, but there is more than enough great stuff to compensate. Most impressive creature has to be the avanc. Scariest creatures, in my opinion are the anophelii, mosquito women from hell!

I really enjoyed Perdido Street Station, but this story took a lot of work to get through. It was mostly boring with a completely terrible ending.

Great book. China is the king of world building.

Let me start by saying that this novel is beautifully written and it has unique and interesting characters. Before reading it I was concerned that the author would just rehash some of the same weirdness from Perdido Street Station but gratefully, he didnt. He invented new creatures and situations that were just as imaginative as the ones from Perdido Street Station yet still completely original. The descriptions of Armada, the mosquito people, the avanc, and the vampir--all great stuff. However, I had several problems with this novel. Starting with the characters: it seemed like the author took great pains to describe Uther Doul and his mysteriousness but then gave no ultimate explanation for his behavior. As an earlier reviewer said, he is the one who originally motivates the Lovers to seek out the Scar but then at the last minute he indicates that Bellis should stop the mission--why? We really get no insight into his character, yet earlier on in the novel he promises to be complex and interesting. Theres the same problem with the Lovers themselves, theyre built up to be so fascinating when we first meet them but we never really know anything more about them after their original introduction. They just turn out to be regular people with weird ways of expressing their feelings for each other. There was also a huge build up about the grindylow but when they finally appear its for a very brief time and then you find out that their actions are all based on the threat of New Crobuzon building a canal--blah. Finally, the ending was completely anti-climactic. To begin with this novel was impossible to resolve in a satisfactory way because there were too many plot lines going on simultaneously and I felt confused about what was the main issue/goal here. Having one plot and then adding layers and twists to it is one thing (like in Perdido Street Station) but The Scar just seemed messy. The last chapter was like a summing up of everything we still dont know. If the ultimate plot line is about getting to the Scar, then all were left with is Hedrigalls hallucination but no confirmation, is he crazy or is the Scar really nightmarish?--we dont get to find out. I realize that every novel isnt going to be neatly wrapped up but this just seemed particularly unsatisfying. I think Perdido Street Station was a much tighter novel in terms of character, plot and resolution. I know some complained about its deus ex machina ending but Id rather have that than nothing at all.