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its_kievan's review against another edition
challenging
informative
tense
medium-paced
3.0
About 30% of this book is fantastic: tense, gripping prose evoking the frantic atmosphere of revolutionary Russia, Miéville’s craft on full display as the book rushes breathlessly through freezing pre-dawn streets to cramped meetings roaring with radical power.
The other 70% is long lists of people, places, and committees, with no effort made to explain the difference between, say, a Menshevik and a Left SR, or what the hell a Soviet actually is. Miéville’s research and passion are undeniable, but writing accessible history is not the same thing as writing fiction - and however good he is at the latter, he needs some practice at the former.
The other 70% is long lists of people, places, and committees, with no effort made to explain the difference between, say, a Menshevik and a Left SR, or what the hell a Soviet actually is. Miéville’s research and passion are undeniable, but writing accessible history is not the same thing as writing fiction - and however good he is at the latter, he needs some practice at the former.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Gun violence and Rape