China Tom Miéville was born in Norwich in 1972. The City and the City is his seventh book. He is fond of describing his work as "weird fiction" (after early 20the century pulp and horror writers such as H. P. Lovecraft), and belongs to a loose group of writers sometimes called New Weird. He is also active in left-wing politics as a member of the Socialist Workers Party. He has stood for the House of Commons for the Socialist Alliance, and published a book on Marxism and International Law. He teaches creative writing at Warwick University.
Mieville's early books are now uncommon and highly collectible in first editions. Perdido Street Station was recommended to me in 2000, and I have picked up signed firsts of it and all of his later books, including the two limited editions, along with an unsigned copy of his earlier book, King Rat. The early books are now relatively expensive, but worth keeping an eye open for. The City & the City may appeal to a broader audience than his earlier genre books, and has been highlighted in a couple of national papers.
" When the body of a murdered woman is found in the extraordinary, decaying city of Bes el, somewhere at the edge of Europe, it looks like a routine case for Inspector Tyador Borlu of the Extreme Crime Squad. But as he probes, the evidence begins to point to conspiracies far stranger, and more deadly, than anything he could have imagined. Soon his work puts him and those he cares for in danger. Borlu must travel to the only metropolis on Earth as strange as his own, across a border like no other. With shades of Kafka and Philip K. Dick, Raymond Chandler and 1984 , "The City & The City" is a murder mystery taken to dazzling metaphysical and artistic heights."
Bibliography and guide values (May 2009) (signed copies significantly more unless stated).
King Rat (1998, MacMillan, London, paperback). Can still be picked less than £20. (May 2010 update - £30).
Mieville's early books are now uncommon and highly collectible in first editions. Perdido Street Station was recommended to me in 2000, and I have picked up signed firsts of it and all of his later books, including the two limited editions, along with an unsigned copy of his earlier book, King Rat. The early books are now relatively expensive, but worth keeping an eye open for. The City & the City may appeal to a broader audience than his earlier genre books, and has been highlighted in a couple of national papers.
" When the body of a murdered woman is found in the extraordinary, decaying city of Bes el, somewhere at the edge of Europe, it looks like a routine case for Inspector Tyador Borlu of the Extreme Crime Squad. But as he probes, the evidence begins to point to conspiracies far stranger, and more deadly, than anything he could have imagined. Soon his work puts him and those he cares for in danger. Borlu must travel to the only metropolis on Earth as strange as his own, across a border like no other. With shades of Kafka and Philip K. Dick, Raymond Chandler and 1984 , "The City & The City" is a murder mystery taken to dazzling metaphysical and artistic heights."
Bibliography and guide values (May 2009) (signed copies significantly more unless stated).
King Rat (1998, MacMillan, London, paperback). Can still be picked less than £20. (May 2010 update - £30).
Perdido Street Station (2000, MacMillan, London, Hardcover). Around £50. (May 2010 update £100-120).
The Scar (2002, MacMillan, London). Hardcover and a limited edition paperback of 600 copies, signed. Each can be obtained for around £15. (May 2010 update - no change).
The Tain (2002, PS Publishing). A novella, 300 signed hardcover copies according to the publisher's website, and 500 paperback. Currently £140 for the paperback and £200 for the hardcover. (May 2010 update - no change).
Iron Council (2004, MacMillan, London). 1000 signed slipcased copies (£20 currently), and a trade edition (£10). (May 2010 update - no change).
Looking for Jake (2005, MacMillan). Includes The Tain and some short stories. £10. (May 2010 update - £20).
Un Lun Dun (2007, MacMillan, London). A children's book. £10. (May 2010 update - has become uncommon. £20 - 50).
The City & the City (2009, MacMillan, London). (May 2010 update £35-45).
Also published as a limited edition by Subterranean Press - Limited: 500 signed numbered cloth bound copies (£50 on the secondary market) Lettered: 26 deluxe bound copies, housed in a custom traycase (sold out).
The Kraken (2010, Macmillan, London).
Also published as a limited edition by Subterranean Press - Limited: 500 signed numbered cloth bound copies ($75) Lettered: 26 deluxe bound copies, housed in a custom traycase ($250).
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