The Etched City
by K.J. Bishop
List Price:
Our Price: $10.96
You Save: $12.04 (52%)
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy Used: from $6.37 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: K.J. BishopEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2004-11-23
ISBN: 0553382918
Number of pages: 400
Publisher: Spectra
Book Reviews of The Etched City
Book Review: "No one can kill all the people all the time."
Summary: 5 Stars
In one of those few moments where I actually agree with Publisher's Weekly, there is no question that The Etched City bears a stylistic resemblance to Mieville's Perdido Street Station. Even so, this story of two ex-adventurers who come to the city of Ashamoil each seeking employment and finding something approximating redemption, is original enough in concept and delivery to make worthy of attention on its own,
Raule, a physician who spent much of her career as either a revolutionary or a bandit crosses the path of Glynn, an old companion of her marauding days, and a set of happenstances set them off together seeking a way out of the Copper Country deserts on into the cities of the plateau a thousand feet above the Salt Desert. In a series of narrow escapes they make there way to Ashamoil, a complex city of dreams, harsh reality, and more than its share of decadence.
Raule takes a position as doctor in a charity hospital, and Glynn assumes the job of a hired hand for one of the criminal masters of Ashamoil who, as often or not produces the victims that people the hospitals beds. Raule doctors and collects monstrous births, searching for her conscience amongst the unconscionable. Glynn takes up the life of a cavalier, a dandy killer, but his fascination with a woman who by virtue of her skill as an etcher captures his essence and things even darker.
Bishop does not dwell on Ashamoil the way Mieville does on New Crobuzon, but in both cases they draw worlds of baroque grotesquery where beauty frequently takes on unexpected forms. Ashamoil is the reflection of Raule's unnerving collection of failed births, and the source of Beth's etched imaginings. There is a dire sort of good humor to this story as well often reflected in the actions of characters on the periphery of the story, like the alcoholic priest who serves the hospital's dying, argues religion with Glynn, and then yields to the temptations of the flesh.
Sanity in this world comes with a high price, and most manage to evade it. The story climaxes in a combination of betrayal and an inexorable justice which is boh whimsical and chilling. Put aside any memories of Perdido and pick up this tale for its own quaint flavors. You won't be disappointed.
Literature & Fiction Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Literature & Fiction Books
Little Womenby Louisa May Alcott
Scribner; Published: 1986-06-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.49
Price in other shops:
The Killing Groundby JACK HIGGINS
HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS LTD; Published: 2007; Hardcover; Book
Saving Fish from Drowningby Amy Tan
4th Estate; Published: 2005; Paperback; Book
Life Expectancyby Dean Koontz
Harpercollins Pb; Published: 2005-08-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.00
Constant Princessby Philippa Gregory
Touchstone/Simon & Schuster; Published: 2005; Hardcover; Book
Wolf of the Plains (Conqueror, Book 1)by Conn Iggulden
Harper; Published: 2007; Paperback; Book
Saharaby Clive Cussler
Harper Collins Pb; Published: 2005-03-21; Paperback; Book
Perelandra (Cosmic Trilogy)by C. S. Lewis
Voyager; Published: 2005-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.76
Price in other shops:
The Lord Of The Rings: Part 2 The Two Towersby J. R. R. Tolkien
Harper Collins Publishers; Published: 2001; Paperback; Book
Red Marsby Kim Stanley Robinson
Trafalgar Square; Published: 2001-06; Paperback; Book
Similar books summaries and other product reviews
The Gormenghast Novels (Titus Groan / Gormenghast / Titus Alone)by Mervyn Peake
Overlook Press; Published: 1995-12-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.96
Price in other shops:
A Cavern of Black Ice (Sword of Shadows)by J. V. Jones
Tor Fantasy; Published: 2005-03-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.20
Price in other shops:
The Blade Itself (The First Law: Book One)by Joe Abercrombie
Pyr; Published: 2007-09-06; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.77
Price in other shops:
Dune, 40th Anniversary Edition (Dune Chronicles, Book 1)by Frank Herbert
Ace Trade; Published: 2005-08-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.25
Price in other shops:
The Darkness that Comes Before (Prince of Nothing)by R. Scott Bakker
Overlook TP; Published: 2008-09-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.58
Price in other shops:
Requiemby Graham Joyce
Tor Books; Published: 1998-01-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.85
Price in other shops:
Viriconiumby M. John Harrison
Spectra; Published: 2005-10-25; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.90
Price in other shops:
Embassytownby China Mieville
Del Rey; Published: 2011-05-17; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $10.99
Price in other shops:
Market Forcesby Richard K. Morgan
Ballantine Books; Published: 2005-03-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.77
Price in other shops:
Black Sun Rising: The Coldfire Trilogy #1by C.S. Friedman
DAW Trade; Published: 2005-09-06; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.85
Price in other shops: