Perdido Street StationPerdido Street Station
Score Modern
What it's about
New Crobuzon is a vast, filthy, magical city of humans, insect-headed khepri, cactus people and 'Remade' criminals altered as punishment. Isaac, a brilliant, unconventional scientist, is hired by a garuda, a bird-man whose wings were cut off, who wants to fly again. Isaac's experiments accidentally release creatures that feed on the dreams of the city's people.
Why it's worth reading
It was a finalist for both the Hugo and the Nebula and won the Arthur C. Clarke Award. It's a dazzling, grotesque, unforgettable fantasy world.
You'll love it if you liked
The City & the City
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
NeuromancerGood to know
It's long, with dense, ornate prose and a slow start. There's body horror and an interspecies romance.
By the numbers
- Readers39 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics43 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller34 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #923 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1710 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Epic
More by China Miéville
The ScarThe City & the City
Embassytown
Iron CouncilIf you like this, read next
Explore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Perdido Street Station worth reading?
Yes. It was a finalist for both the Hugo and the Nebula and won the Arthur C. It ranks #1,710 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 66.5 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Perdido Street Station about?
New Crobuzon is a vast, filthy, magical city of humans, insect-headed khepri, cactus people and 'Remade' criminals altered as punishment. Isaac, a brilliant, unconventional scientist, is hired by a garuda, a bird-man whose wings were cut off, who wants to fly again. Isaac's experiments accidentally release creatures that feed on the dreams of the city's people.
How long does it take to read Perdido Street Station?
About 22 hours (867 pages), or about 6 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Perdido Street Station?
If you liked it, try The City & the City by China Miéville, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke or Neuromancer by William Gibson.