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Content snapshot
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Violence
Some
Some noir detective violence including murders and a thriller confrontation; moderate
Language
Some
Some adult language in the hard-boiled detective register
Sexual Content
Barely any
Minimal sexual content
Substance Use
Barely any
Minimal; some social drinking in the noir context
Emotional Intensity
Some
Moderate; the psychological implications of training yourself not to see what is directly in front of you carry real philosophical weight
What this book is about
Inspector Tyador Borlú investigates a murder in the city of Besźel — but the evidence points to Ul Qoma, a separate city that occupies the same physical geography. Citizens of each city are trained not to see the other. China Miéville's award-winning novel is a noir detective procedural, a political fable about willful blindness, and one of the most formally original SFF novels of the 21st century.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
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