| The Scar | |
.jpg/200px-TheScar(1stEd).jpg) Cover of first edition (hardcover) |
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| Author | China Miéville |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Science fiction/ Steampunk novel |
| Publisher | Macmillan Publishers |
| Publication date | June 2002 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover & Paperback) |
| Pages | 717 pp |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-333-78174-0 |
| Preceded by | Perdido Street Station |
| Followed by | The Tain |
The Scar is the third novel written by China Miéville, a self-described "weird fiction" writer from London, England. China Tom Miéville (ˈtʃɑinɑ ˈmieɪˌvɪl (born September 6, 1972 in Norwich) is an award-winning English "fantastic fiction" The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Steampunk is a subgenre of fantasy and Speculative fiction that came into prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s A novel (from Italian novella, Spanish novela, French nouvelle for "new" "news" or "short story Publishing is the process of production and dissemination of Literature or Information &ndash the activity of making information available for public view Macmillan Publishers Ltd, also known as The Macmillan Group, is a privately-held International Publishing company owned by Georg von Holtzbrinck See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. A hardcover (or hardback or hardbound) is a Book bound with rigid protective covers (typically of cardboard covered with Cloth Paperback, softback, or softcover describe and refer to a Book by the nature of its binding. Perdido Street Station is the second novel written by China Miéville, and the first set in New Crobuzon. The Tain is a Fantasy Novella by British author China Miéville. China Tom Miéville (ˈtʃɑinɑ ˈmieɪˌvɪl (born September 6, 1972 in Norwich) is an award-winning English "fantastic fiction" Weird fiction is a subgenre of Speculative literature written in the late 19th and early 20th century The Scar won the 2003 British Fantasy Award and was shortlisted for the 2003 Arthur C. Clarke Award. The British Fantasy Awards are administered annually by the British Fantasy Society and were first awarded in 1971 This article describes the Arthur C Clarke Award For the awards that recognise British space achievement see Sir Arthur Clarke Award. Miéville won both these awards in 2001 for his previous novel, Perdido Street Station, and won the Arthur C. Clarke Award again in 2005 for Iron Council. Perdido Street Station is the second novel written by China Miéville, and the first set in New Crobuzon. This article describes the Arthur C Clarke Award For the awards that recognise British space achievement see Sir Arthur Clarke Award. Iron Council (2004 is the fourth novel by China Miéville, set in the same universe as his previous books Perdido Street Station (2000
The Scar was additionally nominated for the Philip K. Dick Award in 2002 and the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 2003. The Philip K Dick Award is a science fiction award given annually at Norwescon sponsored by the Philadelphia Science Fiction Society and (since 2005 supported The Hugo Awards are given every year for the best Science fiction or Fantasy works and achievements of the previous year Winners of the Hugo Award for best science fiction or fantasy Novel, along with all the nominees are presented here
Although set in the same universe as Perdido Street Station, The Scar is not a sequel to that novel, though it is set directly after the events described in Perdido Street Station. The Scar features different characters and settings, and can be read independently of Perdido Street Station.
Contents |
Plot summary
The Scar opens with the introduction of Bellis Coldwine, a cold, reserved linguist from New Crobuzon, the setting of Perdido Street Station. New Crobuzon is a Fictional City-state created by China Miéville. Bellis is attempting to reach Nova Esperium safely before agents of New Crobuzon can find her. The only other passenger Bellis speaks at any length with is the bookish Johannes Tearfly, a scientist whose interests lie in megafauna and underwater sealife.
During this time aboard the ship, the reader is also introduced to another two important characters aboard the ship. Shekel, a cabin boy, befriends Tanner Sack, a Remade (an individual whose body was modified through science or magic, usually as punishment for a crime) who is to be sold into slavery once the ship reaches Nova Esperium. The Remade are re-constructed people in the series of books written by China Miéville that take place in the world of Bas-Lag.
Before that can happen, Bellis, Shekel, Tanner and the rest of the crew are captured by pirates. After killing the captain and first-mate, a mysterious figure in grey announces that the raiding party is from the floating city called Armada. Armada is the name of the fictional floating city in China Miéville 's novel The Scar. None of the captives are faced with any choice; they must return with the pirates to Armada and become equal citizens of the city, or face imprisonment and 'reeducation', until they accept life in the city.
Bellis and Tanner each react to their new surroundings in very different ways. Bellis finds herself longing for New Crobuzon, though ironically she was fleeing it for her life. New Crobuzon is a Fictional City-state created by China Miéville. Tanner, on the other hand, takes to his new home like a Remade duck to water. Facing a life of slavery, prison or worse, Tanner realizes that Armada provides him a new chance at life. He collects his savings and undergoes further augmentation of his body, remaking himself into an amphibious sea-creature.
Related books
Below is a list of titles that influenced the writing of The Scar. Many are referenced in the book, the most obvious through the names of characters, ships and locations:
- The Blue World, by Jack Vance
- The Boats of the "Glen Carrig", by William Hope Hodgson
- The Gormenghast novels, by Mervyn Peake
- The Hunting of the Snark, by Lewis Carroll
- Moby-Dick, by Herman Melville
- Snow Crash, by Neal Stephenson
- The Viriconium cycle, by M. John Harrison
See also
External links
- The Scar publication history at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
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