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Miéville, China. Kraken. New York: Ballantine Books, 2010.
It's getting down to the end of 2010, and I have to say, this is one of the best books I've read all year. Why have I not seen it tearing up the internet? Because, seriously, it's so hugely awesome.
So. Our protagonist Billy Harrow is an unassuming curator at the Darwin Centre of the Natural History Museum in London, where our story takes place (because understand this: there is no other city like London). Billy had the singular indistinction of being the lead preserver of the museum's Architeuthis (i.e. giant squid) specimen, and he has the singular dishonor of being the guy leading the tour group who discovers that the squid has been stolen, tank and all, out of the center of the Centre. This impossible fact is the catalyst by which Billy discovers a whole other London, a Heresiopolis, which is peopled by people and beings with knacks for all sorts of knacks, from teleportation to Londonmancy, as well as cultists for gods of all kinds, including a sect that worships kraken and who think him their prophet, and a particularly unorthodox branch of the Metropolitan Police including the awesome and foul-mouthed witch Constable Collingswood.
I can't really say too much else without massive spoilers, but let me just say: this book is amazing, and it's really funny. ( Details, not spoilers per se )
Anyway, so much for Miéville does Lovecraft. Next up is Embassytown, which is apparently Miéville does space opera, and I can't wait.
It's getting down to the end of 2010, and I have to say, this is one of the best books I've read all year. Why have I not seen it tearing up the internet? Because, seriously, it's so hugely awesome.
So. Our protagonist Billy Harrow is an unassuming curator at the Darwin Centre of the Natural History Museum in London, where our story takes place (because understand this: there is no other city like London). Billy had the singular indistinction of being the lead preserver of the museum's Architeuthis (i.e. giant squid) specimen, and he has the singular dishonor of being the guy leading the tour group who discovers that the squid has been stolen, tank and all, out of the center of the Centre. This impossible fact is the catalyst by which Billy discovers a whole other London, a Heresiopolis, which is peopled by people and beings with knacks for all sorts of knacks, from teleportation to Londonmancy, as well as cultists for gods of all kinds, including a sect that worships kraken and who think him their prophet, and a particularly unorthodox branch of the Metropolitan Police including the awesome and foul-mouthed witch Constable Collingswood.
I can't really say too much else without massive spoilers, but let me just say: this book is amazing, and it's really funny. ( Details, not spoilers per se )
Anyway, so much for Miéville does Lovecraft. Next up is Embassytown, which is apparently Miéville does space opera, and I can't wait.