Railsea

Wow! What a trip. When I first started this one I thought it was perhaps a great read for young adults. Upon reflection, I realize just how beautifully complex this man's mind must be. Imagine a world covered by railway tracks. All the kingdoms of this world are linked by these tracks the same way oceans link ours. And what travels these tracks? Why trains of course. Except that there are trains powered by sails, slaves, clockwork mechanisms, diesel, just to name a few. There are moletrains (those that hunt the giant moles), Salvors (those that salvage train wrecks and unusual technology), pirates, military and so on.

Apart from giant moles, there are a number of dangerous creatures that live in the ground beneath the rails: owls, antlions and worms to name a few. Mieville has conjured up a fully realized world complete with philosophies, railsea theology and bizarre cartography. Think of a distant future mashed-up with steampunk, 'Moby Dick' and 'Kidnapped' and you might begin to see where Mieville's head is at. While 'Railsea' can be read as pure escapism and it would make for a good film. The book also examines some of the short-sighted thinking that plagues our present society. A read for young adults only, I think not.

Just such a wild and good book. It could be described as "Moby Dick, except that instead of chasing a whale in a sailing ship, they're chasing a giant mole in a railroad train", and that would be accurate but also not. And it sounds ridiculous, and it is, but it works, and it's terrific.

It's also steampunk of a sort, but steampunk that's fresh and unique and not Just Steampunk.

It is a wonderful time, a rollicking adventure, a sweet romp, complete in itself, the loose ends not exactly tied up but not exactly left dangling. It is easy to imagine (and even long for) sequels, or other stories in the same universe, but it's also easy to imagine there won't be any; this was about perfect.

Highly highly recommended.