Recent reading

[luzula]

Railsea by China Miéville
Who gets the idea "Hey, how about a Moby Dick AU where the whale is a GIANT MOLE and the ships are trains!" and then doesn't dismiss it as a random crackfic idea, but actually goes ahead and writes it? The worldbuilding in this book is pretty ridiculous, when you think about it. That said, it's oddly compelling--I think it's in the details and the language. Random sample: As long as humanity has rolled on the railsea, the rigours & vigours & bloody triggers of the underground have been legendary. Yes, the ampersands are all through the book. I guess you'll know on the first few pages if this is for you or not, but I enjoyed it! Miéville is sometimes too grim and squalid for me, but this wasn't--"swashbuckling" would describe it, rather. Also it reminded me of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (without the Christian symbolism). Towards the end I wondered how he'd pull it together, but he did so very satisfyingly! I am delighted and charmed.

Thomas Piketty's Kapitalet i det 21:a århundradet by Jesper Roine
A summary of Piketty's Capital in the 21st Century in Swedish, with a view to Swedish conditions. Does what it says on the tin.

Comments

[china_shop]

Was Piketty a good read?

[luzula]

I don't know if "a good read" is how I'd describe it, and I haven't actually read Piketty himself, just someone else's summary of him. But that said, the material was quite interesting, in the way of someone actually having hard data on lots of stuff, and not just theorizing in empty air.

[china_shop]

Oh right. Reading fail on my part, sorry. :-)

I should give Piketty a try some time and see how it goes.

[jesse_the_k]

Wow, now I'm imagining C.S. Lewis & China Miéville having tea and biscuits. Lewis is completely hornswoggled by China's physical presence.* China is dying to poke Lewis about "the problem of Susan." Where's the camera?

* Very tall, knee-high Doc Martins, kilts, many earrings. Could sub for Spider-man.

[luzula]

Would totally watch that! China Mieville kind of looks like a character from one of his own books, actually. Also, it looks like C S Lewis is wearing the exact same clothing in every photo of him?

Now I'm reminded of a story I read/heard once, I can't remember where. Apparently C S Lewis was so upset by Arthur C Clarke's conception of what SF should be like that he challenged him to a duel and brought Tolkien as his second (I forget who Clarke's second was). But instead they all ended up drinking together at the local pub. That was probably a fun conversation to hear, too. : )

[brigantine]

Ooo, I might need to get hold of "Railsea." I enjoyed "Perdido Street Station." As you say, China Mieville can be a bit grim, but it was interesting, too. The giant mole concept sounds fun. :)

[luzula]

It's been fairly long since I read Perdido Street Station, but I remember it being a bit too grim for me. I do also recommend The City & the City, and I intend to check out Iron Council some time.

And yes, the giant mole concept is indeed fun. : )

[espresso_addict]

I enjoyed The City and the City but was rather put off by my f'list's negative reactions to the man; might try this one, it sounds wonderful!

[luzula]

I really enjoyed The City & the City (the man likes his ampersands), so going by that, you might enjoy this one, too. Though they're rather different, actually.

What were the negative reactions of your flist?

[espresso_addict]

I might be misremembering or overinterpreting but I got the impression some considered Miéville rather misogynist.

[luzula]

Oh, hmm. Not that I have noticed, but I haven't read all of his books. Railsea is not, IMO. The captain of the whaler moler is female, and the crew is mixed gender. Various other important characters are female, too, and it passes the Bechdel test. No gratuitous killing of female characters or anything, either.

[espresso_addict]

I'm pledged not to read anything unrelated to my Yuletide story till I've finished it (it's turning out a monster, sigh) but I'll put Railsea on my Christmas list.