China Miéville's "Bas-Lag" Series: A Critical Companion (Palgrave Science Fiction and Fantasy: A New Canon)

This book offers a critical overview focused on the Bas-Lag trilogy of novels by British speculative fiction writer, China Miéville.The Bas-Lag trilogy is a significant re-evaluation of the fantasy fiction genre, infused with contemporary political commentary presented through recognisable, albeit subverted, conventions associated with the canon.Filled with monstrous creations, the world of the Bas-Lag books utilises the effectiveness of teratology to critically explore ideas around capitalism, imperialism, urban space, concepts of the body and utopian and revolutionary ideals.The Bas-Lag books are a product of the time within which they were written, beautifully evoking the late-capitalist society from which Miéville writes.As a writer, Miéville extrapolates concepts and perceptions of genre, urban landscapes and socio-political concerns through the lenses of fantastika and teratology.This critical companion will explore this approach by focusing on his celebrated Bas-Lag trilogy, com