It seems like a long time since we’ve read something aimed at adults by China Mieville, and even longer since we read a short story – but finally his publishers have put us out of our misery and confirmed that a new collection is coming in June 2015.
Rumors initially settled on the final third of this year being the time we could expect such a collection (I believe a Blogger found a link to a Tor catalog that suggested as much), but it seems that was not to be. Obviously realising that Mieville fans would be devastated that they’ve still got another year to wait until they can enjoy something new from the popular writing Professor of Warwick University – which will make it about 4 years since the release of Railsea – Tor have compromised by releasing a short story this week for free!
Tor describe the story, “Polynia”, as follows:
When the narrator was a boy, cold titanic masses appeared in the skies above London: Icebergs. As explorers both official and amateur try to climb the snowy pekas, packs of children follow in their frigid shadows.
It is a story that deals with the reactions of people to things they cannot explain. As with everything Mieville writes it bridges the gap between literary and Science-Fiction / Fantasy very well. Check it out, as one early review states: ‘a treat. Delicious in concept and form.’
That link you are looking for is right here!
Jennie Ivins