Embassytown

As much about writing as it is about thinking, a sometimes fascinating book that feels like it's only just getting started by the time it's almost finished. A worthy addition to the Mieville canon, I'd love to read some more stories from this universe. A word of caution - don't let this book be your first Mieville. Try something a little less out there first and come back when you're ready!

Certainly worth a read, but it suffers from a flaw I've felt with a number of Mieville's books... There's a lot of superficial cleverness but ultimately the story leaves me feeling a little flat and empty. The central conceit, of Language, is a nice one, but it feels as if Mieville expects you to be so amazed by it that you'll just sit back in awe and allow other, slightly flat, elements of the plot and story construction to flow past without comment. That said, it's miles above the standard SF story!

Very interesting and rather weird. Many words I had to look up to understand and what appears to me, non native english speaker, to be strange gramar. I have read many speculative fiction but all the aliens where always like us in many ways. These aliens that Mieville has cooked up are the best attempt I have seen of true strangeness, true alienness. Enjoyable read.