strongest image - don't read before the book!

[bibliojim]

I wonder what people find to be the strongest image in Iron Council. I felt the book continuously built to something, but in the end the failure of the revolution was disappointing and at first I didn't know what to make of the frozen IC. But with time, I've come to see the resolution as one of the most powerful in any book I've read, with the Iron Council in stasis being an inspiration of hope that could never be destroyed; and ultimately there must be victory. It's extremely moving.

What do others find the most memorable thing about the book?

[Curufea]

I've had friends often mention their dislike of the seemingly anti-climactic nature of all three books. But I view this as a bit too much "expecting a traditional fantasy novel".

What Judah did is the only thing he could have done. And in my opinion was the best thing he could have done. The Council could not have won - and it is a living icon to the hopes of the underclasses in New Crobuzon now.

I also understand the reasons for him to be shot, and that also seems very appropriate for the character and circumstance. It's almost like burying the pyramid architect with the pyramid. In this case it also kills a legendary figure in the prime of his life, and ensures future memory. I can well see Judah being as well quoted and remembered as Jabber.

But to me, the strongest images are of the strangeness of the Stain - and the final battle before entering New Crobuzon. China is very evokative in his description of the Flesh Elementals, and I quite vividly imagine the battle.

Possibly the next strongest image to me is the Handlinger pursuit. The taint on the ground and in the air as it warps nature for its transport.

[Rob]

I found the strongest image to be the postlude. It was the first of the three books where the ending left you, motivated?, I guess. I got that sensation you get after reading a good book when I finished reading it. All the others "....as a man,(p.s.s)" "....in person(scar)", didn't have the same finality to them i didn't think, although I definietly enjoyed reading the previous 2 more than iron council. But it was such a strong image, that the Iron Council is always coming, a perfect finish? although it will never end.

also the description of the swamp and the stiltspear playing with Judah as a kid seems to stick with me. I could really imagine that. And the entire journey up until they meet up with the iron council is very intense. I never really could imagine that 'murderspirit', or whatever that atomic bomb of thaumaturgy Spiral Jacobs was trying to summon.

Even if china mieville never writes another book (knock on wood), the Bas-Lag series has made my life so much more........disturbed. In a deep and full way. ;D

[Habit]

the perpetual train - ever moving onward, in its inevitable journey home

Toro's final confrontation with the Mayor and the Magister. I really like the idea of a big plan, a chain of events effecting so many people's lives and deaths, and at the centre of it all is one person's secret, selfish need for revenge. I really did like the way it tied in with the woman sentanced to remaking in PSS, the sense that an action relatively insignificant a long time ago can snowball and come back to wreak havoc later on.