This is exactly what I was talking about above with respect to his value to me as a model for humanism even more than a critic. Who the eff cares how he felt about Cop and a Half when a "review" like this speaks to the poetic and ineffable connection between us all in a profoundly unknowable universe.

I was never a huge Ebert fan early on and was probably one of those who, never having actually taken the time to read his work, agreed with some of that whole dumbing down shite. However, in his later years, I became more aware of him and respected him as a humanist more than a critic. I was astounded by his courage…

A flower?

A flower?

Yes that confused me as well.  Angel's Game was also set primarily in the '20s which is important given the attempts to create a fascist narrative/mythology at the center.  They clearly do share the same world along with the bookstore and the Library (Cemetary?) of Forgotten Books, but they are different in terms of…

Yes that confused me as well.  Angel's Game was also set primarily in the '20s which is important given the attempts to create a fascist narrative/mythology at the center.  They clearly do share the same world along with the bookstore and the Library (Cemetary?) of Forgotten Books, but they are different in terms of…

Did not expect to find a reference to Strake here (well frankly anywhere as I assumed that most of us alumni seek to bury the experience deep in our subconscious with the exception of having to ignore the constant fundraising requests).

Did not expect to find a reference to Strake here (well frankly anywhere as I assumed that most of us alumni seek to bury the experience deep in our subconscious with the exception of having to ignore the constant fundraising requests).

My God man, I recently tried to reread the firs couple books since I first read the first five or six 13 or so years ago. I found it slow going. So made the mistake of buying the second book on tape.

Anybody else ever watch this with their kids?

Oh and btw my primary issue with Mieville is that I think the use of the word "vertiginous" should be limited to under 100 times in the same novel.

I agree about Mieville and he is hardly my favorite here and its a bit of a continuum. And I don't need labels at all. However, have to say that stuff like Vandermeer is of an entirely different order though, as is Gene Wolfe's stuff (e.g., Books of the New Sun).

I also enjoy Mieville (with some occasional reservations) but I tend to think of these books and others like them to be a slightly different genre than fantasy, maybe fantasist.

IMHO, Joe Abercrombie's stuff is the best of the current crop by far. Don't remember enjoying anything as much since the early Martin Ice and Fire books.

Just found the post, it was by Jason Heller from back in February of last year ("Bookbroken" Feb 22 2008). I have to say after rereading, I think I still agree with him based on what I read.

Actually my opinion may have been affected by the fact that some reviewer on the blog here had a post about the fact that this is the first book that they had given up on and had become hugely disappointed with Mieville. Can't remember who that was exactly.

Can this possibly make me overlook Iron Council?
Enjoyed Perdido and the Scar, but Iron Council was pretty awful and I never finished. Either that or I got sick of reading "vertiginously" every other sentence.

Dr. Strangelove!!!?
No mention of this goldmine?

I would agree that Tecumseh Valley is not lyrically or thematically anywhere near as good as much of his other work. However, Tecumseh Valley did get me into Townes.

Re: Townes
Regardless of how one feels about Steve Earle (and I am lukewarm at best about much of his later stuff), I am simply glad someone is shedding some light on Townes.