I started reading China Mieville’s novel Perdido Street Station this month, and I’ve found it tough going. The writing is dense and disgusting, purposefully so. The world he’s created is a sort of steampunk Victorian dystopia. Part Diamond Age, part coroner’s textbook. He does a thorough job of painting a clear picture, but it’s a jarringly unwelcoming one.
I feel like I’m wading through words, each more off-putting than the last. I’m finding him a challenging writer to read, and that’s not a strike against him. But I keep longing for a break in the filth and grime, hoping that he’ll take me somewhere clean and green for even a single chapter. I was not aware there were so many ways to describe viscera, disfigurement, discomfort and pain.
I’m going to stick with Perdido Street Station, but I have a feeling it will take me a while to finish. So far, I’ve only been able to chip away at it in brief bursts. Traveling mentally to the oppressive city of New Crobuzon while riding a packed commuter train (my usual reading time) somehow magnifies the feeling of horrible squalor Mieville’s novel oozes.
Every once in a while I host IGN’s Daily Fix. Here’s my most recent appearance, from Tuesday, when Sony’s online services imploded even harder than usual. Check out that awesome thumbnail image, in which I appear to be an undead creature. Also, nice scraggly beard. If I would have known I was hosting that day, I would have made myself more presentable.
Most of what I do these days at IGN is behind the scenes, but I try to write articles and create video whenever I find time. Here are some recent examples:
Gears of War 3: Lamest Ways to Die – I’ve been playing the chicken out of the Gears of War beta. This is just a fun piece that any Gears player can relate to.
Minecraft For Noobs – If you haven’t played Minecraft, you’re missing out (just like I was before I made this live YouTube video with IGN’s Charles Onyett).
Top 10 Gods of the Elder Scrolls – this isn’t really a typical top-ten list. I really created it as a framework within which to subtly make fun of elves. Read the comments if you want to laugh.
Last week Bethesda Softworks released the first gameplay trailer for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. IGN PC Executive Editor Charles Onyett drafted me into a hardcore dissection of the video. We nerded out to the extreme on this one. So much fun.
I feel like I’m wading through words, each more off-putting than the last. I’m finding him a challenging writer to read, and that’s not a strike against him. But I keep longing for a break in the filth and grime, hoping that he’ll take me somewhere clean and green for even a single chapter. I was not aware there were so many ways to describe viscera, disfigurement, discomfort and pain.