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xnyhps's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
rymrgard's review
4.0
I will link this goodreads review down below as I wholeheartedly agree that anamnesis: the perpetual train is the best part of the novel and could easily serve as a stand alone novella:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/132825427
So far I‘ve read The Scar, Iron Council and The City & The City by Miéville —yes, I haven‘t read PSS yet. Yes, I know it doesn‘t make sense.
For me, The Scar and Iron Council are definitely the stronger works, I gave both of them 4 stars. Can‘t yet decide which one I think is stronger overall. If not for the aforementioned Anamnesis, probably — almost certainly — The Scar.
Well. If not for Anamnesis and the last paragraph (which I won‘t quote here, for obvious reasons). Finding the right way to end a book is even more difficult than finding the right way to start it and many authors I otherwise adore struggle with it.
In this particular case though — it couldn‘t have been any better.
Addendum March 2024: I will link another review here — as usual with her reviews she can put my feelings and thoughts into words better than I ever could. I find myself looking through her digital bookshelves from time to time and the number of downloaded samples on my e-device keep growing everytime I do:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/324964138
But back to the reason why I‘ve decided to add to my review, two months after I finished it.
Sometimes you read a book you like. You may even think you love it. You give it a good review, glowing recommendations, put it on your favourite shelf, tell everyone about it. And weeks later, having finished another book, having found another obsession, having just discovered this new shiny thing you now like and love and cherish — you realise (or may not even realise at all) that you have forgotten all about the book you thought you loved.
Sometimes you read a book you like. You don‘t think you love it. It‘s good. But you read better. You put it back onto your shelf. It‘s good enough to stay. Not good enough to join your favourites.
And weeks later, having finished another book, having found another obsession — you realise you couldn‘t stop thinking about the book you thought you simply found enjoyable.
The Perpetual Train has not stopped for me. It has been ploughing on —persevering, persisting, unrelenting.
I can now confidently say: I love the Iron Council. I love it more than the Scar.
(I, by the way, still haven‘t read PSS — nor any other book by Miéville for that matter — for the simple irrational fear that always grips me once I have discovered an author whose books I — universally or for the most part — liked or loved: I‘m scared of being disappointed. I‘m scared of finding out I have already discovered the gems and gold nuggets among the dirt. I‘m scared of it all going down hill from here.
I will conquer that fear — for fear is the mindkiller — one day.
For now I will keep marvelling about the love I now hold in my hands.)
________
4.5 stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/132825427
So far I‘ve read The Scar, Iron Council and The City & The City by Miéville —yes, I haven‘t read PSS yet. Yes, I know it doesn‘t make sense.
For me, The Scar and Iron Council are definitely the stronger works, I gave both of them 4 stars. Can‘t yet decide which one I think is stronger overall. If not for the aforementioned Anamnesis, probably — almost certainly — The Scar.
Well. If not for Anamnesis and the last paragraph (which I won‘t quote here, for obvious reasons). Finding the right way to end a book is even more difficult than finding the right way to start it and many authors I otherwise adore struggle with it.
In this particular case though — it couldn‘t have been any better.
Addendum March 2024: I will link another review here — as usual with her reviews she can put my feelings and thoughts into words better than I ever could. I find myself looking through her digital bookshelves from time to time and the number of downloaded samples on my e-device keep growing everytime I do:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/324964138
But back to the reason why I‘ve decided to add to my review, two months after I finished it.
Sometimes you read a book you like. You may even think you love it. You give it a good review, glowing recommendations, put it on your favourite shelf, tell everyone about it. And weeks later, having finished another book, having found another obsession, having just discovered this new shiny thing you now like and love and cherish — you realise (or may not even realise at all) that you have forgotten all about the book you thought you loved.
Sometimes you read a book you like. You don‘t think you love it. It‘s good. But you read better. You put it back onto your shelf. It‘s good enough to stay. Not good enough to join your favourites.
And weeks later, having finished another book, having found another obsession — you realise you couldn‘t stop thinking about the book you thought you simply found enjoyable.
The Perpetual Train has not stopped for me. It has been ploughing on —persevering, persisting, unrelenting.
I can now confidently say: I love the Iron Council. I love it more than the Scar.
(I, by the way, still haven‘t read PSS — nor any other book by Miéville for that matter — for the simple irrational fear that always grips me once I have discovered an author whose books I — universally or for the most part — liked or loved: I‘m scared of being disappointed. I‘m scared of finding out I have already discovered the gems and gold nuggets among the dirt. I‘m scared of it all going down hill from here.
I will conquer that fear — for fear is the mindkiller — one day.
For now I will keep marvelling about the love I now hold in my hands.)
________
4.5 stars
nia_guy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
jakob's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
outcolder's review against another edition
4.0
But was the character Ori sort of autobiographical, China?
squaternutbosch's review against another edition
3.0
Really tough read, can't say I enjoyed it anywhere near as much as the first two books from the Baslag series. It had some great moments though.
danielcasey's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
traitorjoe's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
canaanmerchant's review against another edition
4.0
Do you like your fantasy weird? Like really weird? Like so weird sometimes it skirts ridiculous but also it’s so compelling you keep going? Do you also want some heavy socialist plot involving a proletariat struggle against the state? Most of all? Should there be a train? Well do I have the book for you!