erithtotl, so you have a rule that you have to finish any book you start, even if you realize after the first chapter that you don't like the writer's style? That seems like a pretty pedantic rule that would waste a lot of time. There are many more good books than any one person has time read in their lifetime, even if that's all they did, so if I find a particular book doesn't seem to be for me, I move on to another one. Why compound one mistake?

As for Mieville, I read Perdido Street Station, and was impressed by his imagination and vision. However I felt that the last 1/4 of the book degenerated into generic horror/suspense and left me disappointed.

I would not criticize a reviewer for not liking something. I might choose not to use them as a guide if I fine their taste doesn't match with my own, but critics must certainly hold to their opinions.

Rather, what I was commenting on was that Laura Miller had not made it past the first CHAPTER of any of Meiville's books. It's one thing to criticize, it's another to critize on vastly incomplete information. And while she might not formally be reviewing his other works, someone who would give up so quickly on an acclaimed (though admittedly there is a vocal minority of detractors) novelist is not someone whose opinion I would respect.

As for Un Lun Dun, it has received strong praise in other publications as well, I have no doubt it will be excellent, despite my reservations about Ms. Miller's critical abilities.

I don't read for critical evaluation and I don't stick to any one genre. I just like a good story. Perdido Street Station, his second, just blew me away. The psychedelic moths? How could a place so fantastic possibly exist? How could a place so well detailed not exist? I'm in the middle of Un Lun Dun and still love Mr. Mieville's ability to create the unique.

Until I neared the end of the first paragraph, I thought that China Mieville was a woman. Dang -- that would have been interesting.

I'm a life-long reader of science fiction and fantasy, and I have to say, much of Mieville's work leaves me cold. If I want to read Gormenghast, I stick with the Peake originals. Attacking her credibility because she doesn't like something you do is spurious and reflects more poorly on you.

But the beauty of books is that we don't have to all like the same thing, and if we like one book by an author, we are not contractually obligated to like them all. And best of all, even if we've hated every book an author has ever written, there is still the chance that the next one will blow us away.

Every book deserves a shot, and despite my earlier disappointments, I am likely to give this one a go.

While it's wonderful Laura Miller loved "Un Lun Dun," it would be nice to read a review written by someone who actually knows children's literature. Laura Miller is certainly a good writer, but this review doesn't actually tell us what we need to know.

First of all, alternative worlds are everywhere. Second, alternative Londons are everywhere. This isn't new. I'd like to know how "Un Lun Dun" is different from the other alternative London books out there, not just that it's "inventive."

I certainly plan on reading "Un Lun Dun," despite its truly awful title (I can't see a kid picking up a book with such a ridiculous name) and this review.

I'm still puzzled by this whole blog reactions Technorati thing, and have no idea how to make my blog reaction appear here, so here's a link http://mylifeyourknife.blogspot.com/2007/03/another-marvelous-failure.html

instead.

I agree with erithtotl. Mieville's earlier books are just about the only science fiction (or whatever you call it) I can read these days. So if you didn't like them but DO like his latest book, what do I make of that?

...erithtotl. It's every bit as good as you want it to be. I've read everything that Mieville has published even though my heart broke towards the end of "The Iron Council". Un Lun Dun is well worth the cover price.

you haven't gotten past the first chapter of any of his other books? I'm sorry, but that doesn't give you a lot of credibility as a book reviewer. It'd be one thing if his work was universally considered crap, but as you mention yourself, he's one of the most acclaimed fantastic fiction writers of the last decade.

I look forward to reading Un Lun Dun, but I'll also make sure to not put a lot of weight on your reviews in the future!

...and I left Salon and headed for Amazon.com.

I really believe that in every book I've opened in my 51 years, I'm looking for the rapture I experienced reading Norton Juster's gift to us all 40 years ago.

So I have high hopes for Un Lun Dun! Thanks for the referral.