Rarely, except for in the previous book in this series, Perdido Street Station, have I felt the feeling that this book gives me: that of being immersed in a truly alien world, yet being able to relate to it through the vibrant characters that Mieville creates. Never does it get too cheesy or outlandish. This book is expansive in the world it creates, and I feel like I have truly been on a journey while reading it. For all fans of fantasy and sci fi, this is a must read. I hope one day someone turns it into a TV show. I think it would dwarf even Game of Thrones with its world-building and depth of characters, not to mention its philosophical intrigue. Well done Mieville, you have created true art and entertainment at the highest level.

The Scar is an amazing follow up to Perdido Street Station. Though you don't have to have read it to enjoy The Scar. Mieville has an extremely vivid imagination and a profound ability to create unthinkable creatures and somehow paint them in our minds as if they were memories of familiar animal at a zoo. Cactacae, avanc, and grindylow may mean nothing to you now but after finishing The Scar you will have encountered ( or re-encountered) the vegetal cactus people, a mythical leviathan, and a monster of nightmarish shadow. The novel builds in momentum, never losing pace, but knowing when to stop and paint an intricate scene so we, the reader, are able to envision a floating city of a millennia's worth of scavenged and pirated ships where our central character, Bellis, finds herself press-ganged. You will not be dissatisfied with this read. Lots of fun, but filled with emotion and character.