This is the fourth time I’ve started to write about The Scar. Not that I find it hard to phrase or anything, it just keeps slipping since I have so bloody many things to do and a schedule from Hell, as in Hell.

Perdido Street Station, by author China Miéville, was truly a masterpiece which you all know by now (shame on you otherwise). That book review was a lot harder to write because the book is written on a whole different level, and also introducing the twisted world of Bas-Lag. Perdido Street Station is, on top of that, pretty hard to grasp and not for those of you with poor English.

The Scar takes us to the floating pirate city of Armada, far from New Crobuzon and its intricate designs. By exploring the sea that Armada sails (well…) everything suddenly got a lot easier. Sure, after Perdido Street Station I think I’ve got a pretty good view of Bas-Lag and its inhabitants so that’s not an obstacle this time, but nevertheless – The Scar is a lot easier to both read and grasp. In comparison I almost find it a bit simple, more like an adventure novel actually.

Not that that is such a bad thing, The Scar I thoroughly enjoyable and it didn’t rest on my bedside for all that long. Of course, it didn’t help that I lost the book for two weeks, finally showing up in a bag and never entering my bedroom again but that’s beside the point.

The Scar is a great novel but I won’t compare it to Perdido Street Station because they feel so different. I almost feel as they’re working on different planes and that Mr. Miéville hadn’t decided where to go with his remarkable world and writing. Also, it sometimes feel as if the publisher decided that the language needed to be simplified, while still being very rich and powerful it sure is a lot easier to understand.

Go buy The Scar, read it and enjoy it. Just don’t expect the same thing as in Perdido Street Station, on any level really.

Get it from Amazon!
Give me a piece of the action by buying The Scar from Amazon. You’re a doll, thanks!