Railsea

By: China Miéville

Narrated by: Tom Lawrence

Savage giant moles, rail pirates, and explorers abound in China Miéville's thrilling young adult novel, Railsea.

On board the moletrain Medes, Sham Yes ap Soorap watches in awe as he witnesses his first moldywarpe hunt. The giant mole bursting from the earth, the harpoonists targeting their prey, the battle resulting in one’s death and the other’s glory – are extraordinary. But no matter how spectacular it is, travelling the endless rails of the railsea, Sham senses that there’s more to life. Even if his captain can think only of her obsessive hunt for one savage mole.

When they find a wrecked train, it's a welcome distraction. But the impossible salvage Sham finds there leads to trouble. Soon he's hunted on all sides: by pirates, trainsfolk, monsters & salvage-scrabblers. And it might not be just Sham's life that's about to change. It could be the whole of the railsea.

And it might not be just Sham's life that's about to change. It could be the whole of the railsea.

Critic reviews

Miéville’s work is thrillingly imaginative . . . immensely witty and utterly unforgettable.

One of the most imaginative young writers around in any kind of fiction.

Miéville’s imagined societies may be fantastic, but they are utterly coherent . . . wonderfully infectious.

inventive and highly original. a wonderful story

with beautiful words and imagery - sometimes hard to grasp is ultimately rewarding to listen to.

not the deepest story in China's grand arsenal however highly appropriate for a teenage audience and rewarding till the last drop.

a great book for both seasoned ready of Mieville or a young audience just getting into steampunk, high fantasy or books I'm general.

highly recommended for anyone who values imagination and originality