Embassytown

Imaginative and thought provoking

First of all, I really enjoyed this book and I would recommend it without hesitation; the consistent complexity of the world that China Mieville creates is astonishing. I read a good deal of Sci-Fi and I like what traditionalists call 'the hard stuff', that is Sci-Fi needs to be believable and in keeping with known science - none of this dodging around asteroids or visible laser shot. The best stuff (for me) is explorations of how societies and individuals react given an incredible but ultimately believable backdrop. This is exactly what China Mieville does in this book and it is done very well.

So, why the 4 stars and not 5? Well, the main characters are very well formed - but some of the most important secondary characters in the book are a little two dimensional - we see some signs of clichéd 'bad guys' and 'good guys'. The alien race has build a complex and (at least) continent spanning civilisation, is capable of interacting with advance human visitors and yet, at the end, begins to operate with single unchallenged purpose - it feels as if the end was rushed, in contrast to the rest of the book which keeps a fairly measured (and some would say slow) pace.

This is a minor gripe and I don't want this review to sound negative - the book is very good and the narration is of high quality. It is because of the high standards that the book sets itself that such trivial niggles reveal themselves - I doubt a less accomplished story teller would have pulled this off with anything like the flair China does. All in all a good listen.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

A bit of a corker

This is a proper, muscular SF novel that grabs you by the arm and pulls you right in. It sets the stage magnificently, laying out a believable society with enjoyably mind-boggling features. At first, quite a lot is left half-explained, and only make sense later: this is really delicious, and skilfully done.

This stage-setting takes up a huge chunk of the book, but it’s so fascinating I could have lapped up quite a lot more. When the plot gets going, things get a bit hectic, but it’s worth holding on tight right to the end. There are some nice twists, plenty of momentum, and a good resolution.

The whole issue of language is so often dismissed or sidestepped in SF, but here it’s at the heart of things. China Mieville has actually done something new here.

There’s a special kind of shivery exhilaration that only high-class SF can deliver, and this story comes across with the goods. It’s also excellently read by Susan Duerden, who deftly fleshes out the characters (I particularly liked the way she voices the aliens and the AI) and makes them a bit more 3-D.

Basically, it’s a bit of a corker.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Poetic sci-fi

If you're looking for someone who brings something new to world of sci-fi you've come to the right place. If you took Arthur C Clarke and somehow blended him with Lewis Carrol I think you'd end up with someone like Chine Mieville. If you're looking for bland, formulaic sci-fi then this isn't the book for you but if you want something with an almost poetic language then you'll enjoy this reading. Susan Duerden does a fine job of narrating this - there's some very difficult language in use in this story, I've had to look up a couple of the words myself and I like to think I've got quite a broad vocabulary. A great story teller, I'd recommend this and Perdido Street Station just for the sheer imagination of them.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Narrator destroys an interesting story

If you could sum up Embassytown in three words, what would they be?

Interesting, imaginative language

Who might you have cast as narrator instead of Susan Duerden?

Anyone. Toby Longworth maybe.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Frustrated by reader. Couldn't bear to finish it.

Any additional comments?

Any chance of another edition with another reader?

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Such a good book! Fascinating for linguistics stud

Where does Embassytown rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Way up there. I love this author's imagination.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The concept of the paired speakers was amazing.

What three words best describe Susan Duerden’s performance?

Slightly disappointing, monotonous intonation patterns

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Do you understand what I'm saying?

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Gripping, moving and mind expanding

A story about philosophies of language, truth and thought becomes an action based adventure in Mieville's deft hands.

The world of a human city, the Embassy Town of the title, embedded within the strange and exotic City of the real inhabitants of the planet is vivid and fascinating. I've just started getting into Mieville, and I love the way he mixes the familar with the strange to create alien worlds that could be somewhere in another country on Earth whilst at the same time as being on the outer edges of the universe.

Susan Duerden gives an excellent reading, especially when, with aide of a little digital magic, creating the voices of the double mouthed inhabitants of the Embassytown world,

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

This review is for AUDIO book not the paper copy

I had to write a review because I am completely mortified and would like to find out who allowed such an interesting and fascinating book to be destroyed with an absolutely ridiculous audio edition.

The woman reading the text has such an annoying voice and reading style I was ready to tear my hair out halfway through the first chapter. I kept listening to it, telling myself let's give her a chance after all what is so difficult in reading out loud an excellent book.
I was wrong. This woman should never be allowed to read further audio books.
HORRIBLE!

There are no feelings in her voice. No passion, no curiosity. One doesn't know whether a sentence was a questions, statement, conversation or what. After every single sentence the intonation of her voice curves upwards almost finishing with a breahtless half cry like she is saying really?! at the end of each sentence. But there is ZERO EMOTION in that breathless upwards intonation. NOTHING.

I wanted to shout, to say, wake up for goodness sake, speak out, feel the book, feel the characters.

It was one of the worst experiences in my life.
DO NOT DOWNLOAD this audiobook!

Get the paper version and you are not going to regret it. Don't decide on the quality of the book on this horrible audio edition.

Susan Duerden has been added on my blacklist to avoid like plague.
Thanks for making a fantastic book awful.

By the way. The 4 and 5 star reviews are for the PAPER EDITION, they are from amazon. So yes, they are true. Because they speak about the paper copy of the book not of this horror.

14 of 25 people found this review helpful

Hold on for the ride

Mieville weaves in post-modernism with semiotics in this engrossing saga. It’s overlong and there’s plot holes but it’s different, discombobulating and entertaining.

A new take on the zombie genre

A meandering tale. I was never entirely sure where it was going or, more importantly, why. Ultimately a fairly convoluted zombie story. Engaging enough, but not great.

Masterclass from China Mieville

Any additional comments?

Great story, well read. The performance may seem a bit monotonous at first but Susan Duerden nails the performance.
China Mieville is a top-notch writer and at times he leaves you to fill in a few blanks but the experience is all the better for it.