The Scar

By: China Miéville

Narrated by: Gildart Jackson

A mythmaker of the highest order, China Miéville has emblazoned the fantasy novel with fresh language, startling images, and stunning originality. Set in the same sprawling world of Miéville’s Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning novel, Perdido Street Station, this latest epic introduces a whole new cast of intriguing characters and dazzling creations.

Aboard a vast seafaring vessel, a band of prisoners and slaves, their bodies remade into grotesque biological oddities, is being transported to the fledgling colony of New Crobuzon. But the journey is not theirs alone. They are joined by a handful of travelers, each with a reason for fleeing the city. Among them is Bellis Coldwine, a renowned linguist whose services as an interpreter grant her passage—and escape from horrific punishment. For she is linked to Isaac Dan der Grimnebulin, the brilliant renegade scientist who has unwittingly unleashed a nightmare upon New Crobuzon.

For Bellis, the plan is clear: live among the new frontiersmen of the colony until it is safe to return home. But when the ship is besieged by pirates on the Swollen Ocean, the senior officers are summarily executed. The surviving passengers are brought to Armada, a city constructed from the hulls of pirated ships, a floating, landless mass ruled by the bizarre duality called the Lovers. On Armada, everyone is given work, and even Remades live as equals to humans, Cactae, and Cray. Yet no one may ever leave.

Lonely and embittered in her captivity, Bellis knows that to show dissent is a death sentence. Instead, she must furtively seek information about Armada’s agenda. The answer lies in the dark, amorphous shapes that float undetected miles below the waters—terrifying entities with a singular, chilling mission. . . .

China Miéville is a writer for a new era—and The Scar is a luminous, brilliantly imagined novel that is nothing short of spectacular.

It's good

Be patient. A lot of unique and fun ideas throughout the book. Best book of this series.

the author has grown since his first book

I loved this book and how it ties loosely to the events in Perdido Street Station. the writing has gotten tighter and the characters are all very interesting

It's good, but verbose

This was a good and complex story. However, the main protagonist has a very whiney internal monolog, despite her cold and calm outer demenor.

Brilliant

I had enjoyed The previous novel, which is not necessary to read to enjoy this one, nor does this give any significant spoilers for, but the clever use of story mechanics which are stitched seamlessly into the compelling story, is remarkable.

A weird and wonderful grim reality is weaved around this compelling story of exiles and castaways. Loved it

Vivid, terrifying and largely unhappy world

Amazing world building. And to avoid spoilers, suffice to say that China Mieville’s creativeness is on full display. Narration was expertly done but I found the pacing of dialogue in particular a bit frustrating, with a choppy beat that pervaded most of the voiced characters. This blurred their distinctiveness despite the other voice acting attributes like tone and gravel. I listened at 1.4x but dialogue but still found the dialogue slow. Any faster and the narrator’s voice would become too rapid. Still, a great performance (I am sure these criticisms are a matter of personal taste). Strong story with nice twists and turns, that is relentlessly and unapologetically miserable. Definitely recommend!!