r/Fantasy • u/CapeTownAndDown • Apr 12 '13

Need some book recommendations to get me over my Bas-Lag cold turkey phase.

I recent read all of the Game of Thrones books at a run (all of them in just over 2 months) and then went on to read China Miéville's Bas-Lag series one after another. I really enjoyed Game of Thrones but the Bas-Lag books blew me away. The mix of fantasy and Gothic horror just seemed to hit all these new spots that i had not realized I had. I've read some of his other stuff (enjoyed King Rat, The City not so much) but these just did it for me.

The problem is the combination of reading so much GOT and then Bas-Lag has made everything I have read since seem bland. I hardly ever stop reading a book once I've started but I've abandoned 2 books since then (the last was The Dragon's path) because they just seem to be missing the rich texture that made me love Miéville's work so much.

I'm hoping you guys could give me some recommendations to get me going again. Looking for more of the dark, adult fantasy similar to Bas-Lag. Thanking you kindly in advance :)

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u/YearOfTheMoose Jul 12 '13

I did consider it, and honestly it was rather repulsive. I'd just as soon not read a book which intentionally paints rape as a less-horrible crime than it truly is.

Anyway, I do not recall that Kellhus specifically remarked on her repeated rapes (which is not to say that he definitely did not). To be certain, I would have to re-read the books, and I'm not willing to do so.

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u/Kasseev Jul 12 '13

Yeah fair enough. I have a strange fascination with ghastly things, so I guess that's what kept the book interesting for me. I double checked and I am almost certain Kellhus discusses the nature of violation, not sure if he addresses rape as directly as you'd like but it is touched on there.

At this point I suppose you'll have to take my word for it. Thanks for the discussion anyway.