New York Times bestselling author China Miéville delivers his most accomplished novel yet, an existential thriller set in a city unlike any other–real or imagined. 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. But as he investigates, the evidence points to conspiracies far stranger and more deadly than anything he could have imagined. Borlú must travel from the decaying Beszel to the only metropolis on Earth as strange as his own. This is a border crossing like no other, a journey as psychic as it is physical, a shift in perception, a seeing of the unseen. His destination is Beszel’s equal, rival, and intimate neighbor, the rich and vibrant city of Ul Qoma. With Ul Qoman detective Qussim Dhatt, and struggling with his own transition, Borlú is enmeshed in a sordid underworld of rabid 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 and those they care about 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. Casting shades of Kafka and Philip K. Dick, Raymond Chandler and 1984, The City & the City is a murder mystery taken to dazzling metaphysical and artistic heights.
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"This book is one of those that make me forgive the cross-generessness. It's a part fantasy, part political thriller, part police procedural and I have no idea what else, but I'm pretty sure some other genres could be assigned. The way it was interwoven, though, is everything. It is seamless, a whole. Author's way with words, with language is rare and astonishing. The world he created is, to me, detailed and complete, to the point where you can see the "mood" of the place, feel it, hear it and smell it. The plot gets your attention, even if, at first, I have to admit, I had no idea what the plot is, and I had a hard time figuring out the setting. Once I did, I was riveted. Even thought I think the premise is unrealistic in our world (we evolved to SEE and HEAR and REGISTER as much as we can in order for our species to survive, and I don't think UNSEEING, UNHEARING and UNNOTICING can be accomplished by our species at this point, and maybe ever), who is to say that in alternative world that could not be done? Anyhow, it makes for a great novel. It is the firs one I read by China Miéville and, even thought some reviews stated it's not one of is best I think it was an excellent introduction of the new (to me ) author."
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Notme (5 out of 5 stars)