Vera

I was gripped by Perdido Street Station right to the end, when it managed to suck like a Hoover. Miéville is an interesting enough world-builder that he gets another chance, but my God, what a doorstop. At least it's in one volume.Bellis Coldwine is a fascinating character but I'm - ah, I don't know quite what - this insistence on her complete lack of agency unsettles me. Miéville is a bit creepy writing women characters. It's like he creates a bunch of intriguing characters and then paints all the women with a little extra abjection.