Quote:
Originally Posted by jackhammer
Has anybody read anything by either China Mieville or Neil Gaiman? I keep meaning to check them out.
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Mieville is hands down my favourite author, in particular his books set in the world of Bas-lag (Perdido Street Station and The Scar) although King Rat is a good book also. Building atmosphere is his strong point, he has a brilliant imagination and captures it in beautful densely written imagery. Although sometimes he can be a bit confrontational to read, he doesn't shy away from depicting some pretty ugly scenes.
Solid characterisation and plots that alway give you that 'wow this is ****ing bat**** awsome' feeling that I love in fantasy.
My only real fault with him is that his endings sometimes feel a little undercooked, and on rare occasions I get the feeling that he is trying a little too hard to be unpredictable and creative.
Gaiman is also good, stylistically he has a much lighter tone than Mieville and his prose is a more clear and straightforward. I'd start with American Gods and Anansi Boys.