Pashazade
Jon Courtney Grimwood
2001 Earthlight 328pp HB
2001 Earthlight 328pp HB
"The sound of fountains came in stereo."
I have to admit to slight trepidation when initially picking up this book. Despite a funky cover, 'The Bookseller' raved about "Vivid gore, sex and high-octane adventure" on the back cover and in the author photo was classic China Mieville, all baldness and brooding black leather. But it was a slow week at my local library and sometimes a girl just has to take a risk.
Well, I can only say that Mr Bookseller was taking some serious drugs and maybe Mr Grimwood always dresses like this, but 'Perdido Street Station' this is not. Not that I have anything against the powerful imagination and fine penmanship of Mr Mieville, but sometimes he is abit 'icky' for me. (Not very scientific I know, but think 'vivid gore and sex' and psychotropics and just a great deal of 'ick'.)
Regardless of crinolines or monastorys or laser pistols, what we are NEED is a really good story and an interesting setting should be secondary to a good plot, I always think. And that is what we have here, in Mr "Surprisingly-Good" Grimwood.
Near future, The Nazis won the First World War and the Ottoman Empire rules the East. El Iskandryia is a North African city (Alexandria??) and our hero Ashref Bey is broken out of a North American Prison and sent to marry the daughter of a rich industrialist. Turns out he is the son of the Emir of Tunis or somesuch. Ashref also has lots of cool 'augmentations' - little AI in his head, night vision, nictating - lets say that word again shall we - Nictating eyelids etc. There is a messy murder in which he is implicated, lots of conspiraries, a 9 year old cousin to look after and the girl he was meant to marry to fall in love with.
So - a very interesting murder mystery, a VERY interesting alternative world, cool complex characters and a VERY charmingly understated ending.
I think I already regret my library only having one of his other novels.
Well, I can only say that Mr Bookseller was taking some serious drugs and maybe Mr Grimwood always dresses like this, but 'Perdido Street Station' this is not. Not that I have anything against the powerful imagination and fine penmanship of Mr Mieville, but sometimes he is abit 'icky' for me. (Not very scientific I know, but think 'vivid gore and sex' and psychotropics and just a great deal of 'ick'.)
Regardless of crinolines or monastorys or laser pistols, what we are NEED is a really good story and an interesting setting should be secondary to a good plot, I always think. And that is what we have here, in Mr "Surprisingly-Good" Grimwood.
Near future, The Nazis won the First World War and the Ottoman Empire rules the East. El Iskandryia is a North African city (Alexandria??) and our hero Ashref Bey is broken out of a North American Prison and sent to marry the daughter of a rich industrialist. Turns out he is the son of the Emir of Tunis or somesuch. Ashref also has lots of cool 'augmentations' - little AI in his head, night vision, nictating - lets say that word again shall we - Nictating eyelids etc. There is a messy murder in which he is implicated, lots of conspiraries, a 9 year old cousin to look after and the girl he was meant to marry to fall in love with.
So - a very interesting murder mystery, a VERY interesting alternative world, cool complex characters and a VERY charmingly understated ending.
I think I already regret my library only having one of his other novels.
- posted by FuschiaReads @ 10:53 AM
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