Book Review: This Census-Taker by China Miéville

This Census-Taker by China Miéville

Paperback, 210 pages

Published January 2016 by Del Rey

China Mieville is one of the most talented author of weird fantasy and high literature of our era. each time one of his books comes out it is a cause for celebration. A true genius writer who creates universes and tells stories are unique on a level that is hard to explain to people who have not experienced it for themselves. If there is any short coming to his work is that sometimes it is just a little too weird, and a little too long winded. If you love his use of language which I do it is times where you feel like the 600 or so pages is not enough. China Mieville is one of the most talented author of weird fantasy and high literature of our era. each time one of his books comes out it is a cause for celebration. A true genius writer who creates universes and tells stories are unique on a level that is hard to explain to people who have not experienced it for themselves. If there is any short coming to his work is that sometimes it is just a little too weird, and a little too long winded. If you love his use of language which I do it is times where you feel like the 600 or so pages is not enough.

My first reaction was that is was not that impressive of a book, then I spent time thinking about and in time the story grew on me. Days later I would myself thinking about it.

There are times with Mieville's work where I felt like it went over my head and I felt a little stupid reading it. You wont find many readers admitting to that but I do. I could see someone reading this short novel and saying what the fuck was that about. Like many of Mieville's more recent works this books is like a iceberg with alot below the surface. If you want the author to do all the work for you this is not the book to read.

That said if you give this weird atmospheric novel a chance and realize that you are in hands of very unreliable narrator you are in for interesting tale. Like many books by this author the setting is strangely beautiful. Less in your face but still realized. There is no real sense of what time or world we are living in during this story.

The setting and the structure is what makes the novel strange, but the fear and concerns of the young boy at the center of the story ground it. Our narrator, who I don't remember being named fears his father, but his father seems to love him. The relationship between then gave the story a suspenseful core that kept me engaged.

The atmosphere is unsettling and the story zigs and zags like a San Francisco street on hill side. Mieville makes the setting vivid with tiny little touches and are easy to miss. You can't skim and expect that you are getting this story. This is not a good book to read if you are looking for light easy breezy read, but if you are willing to challenge yourself with the novel of amazing depth then you need to check it out.

My first reaction was that is was not that impressive of a book, then I spent time thinking about and in time the story grew on me. Days later I would myself thinking about it.

There are times with Mieville's work where I felt like it went over my head and I felt a little stupid reading it. You wont find many readers admitting to that but I do. I could see someone reading this short novel and saying what the fuck was that about. Like many of Mieville's more recent works this books is like a iceberg with alot below the surface. If you want the author to do all the work for you this is not the book to read.

That said if you give this weird atmospheric novel a chance and realize that you are in hands of very unreliable narrator you are in for interesting tale. Like many books by this author the setting is strangely beautiful. Less in your face but still realized. There is no real sense of what time or world we are living in during this story.

The setting and the structure is what makes the novel strange, but the fear and concerns of the young boy at the center of the story ground it. Our narrator, who I don't remember being named fears his father, but his father seems to love him. The relationship between then gave the story a suspenseful core that kept me engaged.

The atmosphere is unsettling and the story zigs and zags like a San Francisco street on hill side. Mieville makes the setting vivid with tiny little touches and are easy to miss. You can't skim and expect that you are getting this story. This is not a good book to read if you are looking for light easy breezy read, but if you are willing to challenge yourself with the novel of amazing depth then you need to check it out.