Tuesday 10 August, 2004
Iron Council, more thoughts
I'm still digesting Iron Council - in fact so much so that I got into a heated argument with Henri about "good" and "important" books, and as result I ordered Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game and Speaker for the Dead (that I haven't read) and he recommended to me as both important and good, and he promised to go and buy Perdido Street Station which in my opinion is good and important (yes, there's a difference).
I've also been reading other people's opinions about Iron Council - but I almost wish I haven't: to be perfectly honest I've always hated hearing criticism about things I love. There's a mixed reaction to this book from Miéville's hardcore fans - some love it, but to my utter surprise some hate it. Yes, it is a bit slow to start up - but there's a purpose to that and the background story it tells, and the end's events wouldn't mean much without it. Some people complain about the fact that there are over ten central characters to this story (instead of one like in Miéville's other books) - but again that didn't bother me. In a very Miéville-like fashion there are many plots going on that form the main story, and we follow different people that are involved in different sides of the story. Still, I think he manages to make the characters multidimensional (although - true enough - none of them are as good as Isaac Dan der Grimnebulin), and the desperate love story in the book is a good lesson to any writer on how to write bi- and homosexual characters to be just like any other people.
In fact, he says it so well in his essay On World Building (which is an excellent read too):
And once you've invented your race, remember that race, culture and character are three very different things. Few things in fantasy annoy me more than having a particular race act as a signifier for a particular kind of character. Why are elves all clever and fey? Are there any dwarfs out there who aren't gruff and good with their hands? And what happens if you're an orc but you're not, you know, evil?
That's one of the reasons his characters work so well - they are all foremost people, and only then members of the race or culture - or indeed sexuality. The same feelings of love and passion and jealousy are still there, and motives for good and bad intentions and money still apply.
Posted by kolibri at 10 August 11:14, 2004Finished Iron Council two days ago. I still don't know what to say except 'Wow'. I think I'll have to wait a little time and reread the book before any proper comments, but shortly: I loved the book.
Perdido Street Station was nearly perfect and I loved the Scar's slower and more ponderous approach, but I may have to raise Iron Council above both of them. The construction of the book's themes worked better than in PSS, and the overall quality of writing was better than in Mieville's previous novels. I have to disagree on the characters not being as good as Isaac; I never found Isaac a particularly interesting main character. What was done with - and to - the character, yes, but not the character as such.
The only minus was that the damn book quite likely made me fail two literature exams I should have been studying for instead of reading the book. ;)
M
# 2 - Kolibri (on August 10, 2004 01:08 PM):
I'm so glad you agree!
My problem now is that the book I was reading (Neil Asher's Cowl) when Iron Council arrived and I've now got back to, is ruined. Previously I thought Cowl was interesting and clever, and after Iron Council... well, it's just another book, not too interesting or too clever. Mieville's books have that effect on other books.
But you're right - Iron Council might rise even above Perdido Street... but neither book is easily digestable so it all requires a bit more thought.
# 3 - Orava (on August 10, 2004 03:18 PM):
Imho, Ender's Game and Speaker for the Dead are ok, but very much overrated. Worth reading, yes, but I wouldn't put them in the same league as Mieville.
Individual human beings are all tools, that the others use to help us all survive. I finished Ender's Game on Friday evening - despite it being good and pretty exiting, it took better part of a month to finish it......
Read more on Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card as tracked on September 19, 2004 07:27 PM
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