This is an another exciting novel by China Mieville. On board the moletrain Medes, Sham Yes ap Soorap watches in awe as he witnesses his first moldywarpe hunt. The giant mole bursting from the earth, the harpoonists targeting their prey, the battle resulting in one's death and the other's glory are extraordinary. But no matter how spectacular it is, travelling the endless rails of the railsea, Sham can't shake the sense that there is more to life. Even if his philosophy-seeking captain can think only of the hunt for the ivory-coloured mole she's been chasing - ever since it took her arm all those years ago. When they come across a wrecked train, at first it's a welcome distraction. But the impossible salvage Sham finds in the derelict leads to considerably more than he'd bargained for. Soon he's hunted on all sides: by pirates, trainsfolk, monsters and salvage-scrabblers. And it might not be just Sham's life that's about to change. It could be the whole of the railsea.
Railsea
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"'Fiction of the new century' Neil Gaiman 'Mieville's work is thrillingly imaginative... immensely witty and utterly unforgettable' Scotland on Sunday 'One of the most imaginative young writers around in any kind of fiction' Guardian 'Mieville's imagined societies may be fantastic, but they are utterly coherent... wonderfully infectious' Daily Telegraph"
Book Description
On board the moletrain Medes, a boy called Sham watches in awe as he witnesses his first moldywarpe hunt. The giant mole bursting from the earth, the harpoonists targeting their prey, the battle resulting in one’s death and the other’s glory are extraordinary. But no matter how spectacular it is, travelling the endless rails of the railsea, Sham senses that there’s more to life. Even if his captain can think only of her obsessive hunt for one savage mole. When they find a wrecked train, it's a welcome distraction. But the impossible salvage Sham finds there leads to trouble. Soon he's hunted on all sides: by pirates, trainsfolk, monsters and salvage-scrabblers. And it might not be just Sham's life that's about to change. It could be the whole of the railsea. Praise for China Miéville: ‘Fiction of the new century’ Neil Gaiman. ‘Miéville’s work is thrillingly imaginative … immensely witty & utterly unforgettable’ Scotland on Sunday. ‘One of the most imaginative young writers around in any kind of fiction’ Guardian. ‘Miéville’s imagined societies may be fantastic, but they are utterly coherent . . . wonderfully infectious’ Daily Telegraph.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Another great book from Miéville, this is a fantastic starting point if you haven't read him before. In a world covered in rails, where if you touch the bare earth you're likely to be devoured, a young man named Sham Yes ap Soorap goes on his first mouldywarp hunt. Borrowing from moby dick, treasure island and others, this is a book I devoured so fast and felt sad when I'd finished because the characters are so well written you'll know you'll miss them.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By John M. Ford
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Kindle Edition
Railsea is a "big idea" book. This is not unusual for China Miéville. This book does the same thing for trains that Embassytown does for language. It expands the idea of rail-traveling trains in new directions, stretching our understanding while remaining faithful to their basic nature. The author has covered some of this ground before. In Iron Council he showed what might happen when a train's crew strikes out on their own, removing the tracks behind them and building a new route ahead. Railsea takes things a bit further.
Readers explore a world in which, unsurprisingly, train tracks cover most of the surface much like our ocean covers everything below... well, sea level. Some rocky islands are free of rails and of the poisoned soil beneath them. On these islands are the world's ports and cities. A variety of trains traverse the sea of rails. Some perform tasks similar to our familiar ocean-going ships: trade, exploration, "naval" military engagement, and even piracy. Others have stranger missions. There are trains that hunt the dangerous animals that burrow rapidly though the toxic soil. And there are the mysterious Angels that repair the rails for reasons of their own.
The railsea itself is such a well-crafted integration of the familiar and fantastic that it easily steals the reader's attention from the book's human characters. The characters' actions are interesting, but seem incidental compared to the continuing flow of new information about the railsea. It is enough to know that a young doctor's apprentice on a train that hunts giant moles finds pictures taken by a lost expedition. Soon joined by others, he follows this expedition's trail toward something new, interesting, and perhaps financially rewarding on the furthest shores of the railsea. You will have to join them to learn what they find.
I recommend this book highly. It is entertaining, imaginative and engaging. China Miéville's skills as a writer and storyteller have enabled him to create a reading experience well worth your time and attention. Enjoy!
Readers explore a world in which, unsurprisingly, train tracks cover most of the surface much like our ocean covers everything below... well, sea level. Some rocky islands are free of rails and of the poisoned soil beneath them. On these islands are the world's ports and cities. A variety of trains traverse the sea of rails. Some perform tasks similar to our familiar ocean-going ships: trade, exploration, "naval" military engagement, and even piracy. Others have stranger missions. There are trains that hunt the dangerous animals that burrow rapidly though the toxic soil. And there are the mysterious Angels that repair the rails for reasons of their own.
The railsea itself is such a well-crafted integration of the familiar and fantastic that it easily steals the reader's attention from the book's human characters. The characters' actions are interesting, but seem incidental compared to the continuing flow of new information about the railsea. It is enough to know that a young doctor's apprentice on a train that hunts giant moles finds pictures taken by a lost expedition. Soon joined by others, he follows this expedition's trail toward something new, interesting, and perhaps financially rewarding on the furthest shores of the railsea. You will have to join them to learn what they find.
I recommend this book highly. It is entertaining, imaginative and engaging. China Miéville's skills as a writer and storyteller have enabled him to create a reading experience well worth your time and attention. Enjoy!
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I've read all of Mieville's books. & I have to say I have loved every one of them.
The book feels familar from page 1, you very quickly get to know the characters and will sadly speed through each chapter. Great read.
The book feels familar from page 1, you very quickly get to know the characters and will sadly speed through each chapter. Great read.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
The death of the fat controller
It was never as tight as it could have been. It ticked along at times, rather then pulling you forward. Read more
Published 7 days ago by True Thomas
5.0 out of 5 stars
Different
Fantasy with a difference. Very original and ends with opening for another book. Readable, and gets you to believe in an unbelievable world.
Published 11 days ago by Delboystride
4.0 out of 5 stars
Certainly an imaginative world worthy of exploration!!!
This is the second of Miéville's books that I've read. The first was the uneven and clunky 'Perrido Street Station' which I enjoyed until half way through, when it got... Read more
Published 18 days ago by Mr. J. Gardner
4.0 out of 5 stars
A return to form
After the mess that was Kraken and the characterless drivel of Embassytown, Railsea is a much welcome return to innovative and exciting storytelling. Read more
Published 3 months ago by A. Gibb
5.0 out of 5 stars
Grandson loved it!
This was a present for my grandson who chose it and he was thrilled when he received it from me.
Published 3 months ago by MLD
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very imaginative
A retelling of Moby Dick, but there's far more to it than that. China Mieville produces another highly imaginative and original story with engaging characters, a gripping plot, and... Read more
Published 3 months ago by scratchetta
5.0 out of 5 stars
A gem of the writers craft
Even the novice China reader will enjoy this well paced ultimately uplifting journey through the railsea.A very welcome addition to my library,more please.
Published 4 months ago by fewnotbusydays
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thankyou
a great adventure story with another of mieville's imagined, fully detailed and unexplained worlds with engaging characters and an unexpected ending. Read more
Published 4 months ago by GeeJay
3.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting but ultimately unsatisfying
A world where the sea is railway lines, and trains set off to hunt the giant moles that live beneath the surface. Read more
Published 4 months ago by jacw2000
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Most Captivating Borrowing of Melville Courtesy of Mieville
Simultaneously compelling and captivating, China Mieville has offered a most brilliant reimaging of Herman Melville's "Moby Dick" in his epic steampunk fantasy novel "Railsea"... Read more
Published 5 months ago by John Kwok
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