Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

*possible spoilers ahead*

I would have to echo what some of my friends have said before me: as a debut from Reeves, this is a fantastic piece. However, as a part of Mieville's oeuvre, it's mediocre at best (maybe on par with Iron Council, full acknowledging that this comparison might upset some fans). Don't get me wrong, the premise is pretty decent and Unute ('B') is clearly a complex, fully-formed and mesmerizing character. Which is maybe why the other ones seem to pale in comparison and come across as a wee bit flat. I should point out at this stage that I have not read the graphic novel.

I also felt the pacing had issues, which might explain why it took me just over 3 months to finish it. Would probably say that one could feel when Mieville's signature ornate prose took over, as the discrepancies between more simplistic dialogue and complex narration occasionally clash, in a slightly jarring way. And I feel that I'm missing out on quite a bit of the symbolism here, so would be really grateful if somebody could explain to me, in a 'what did the author want to say' style, what the hell was the deal with the pig.