Looking for Jake

Stories

By: China Miéville

Narrated by: Various

A groundbreaking collection of stories, including four never-before-published tales, from the award-winning author of Perdido Street Station

What William Gibson did for science fiction, China Miéville has done for fantasy, shattering old paradigms with fiercely imaginative works of startling, often shocking, intensity. Among the fourteen superb fictions in Looking for Jake, including one set in Miéville’s signature fantasy world of New Crobuzon, are:

“Jack”—Following the events of his acclaimed novel Perdido Street Station, this tale of twisted attachment and horrific revenge traces the rise and fall of the Remade Robin Hood known as Jack Half-a-Prayer.

“Familiar”—Spurned by its creator, a sorceress’s familiar embarks on a strange and unsettling odyssey of self-discovery in a coming-of-age story like no other.

“Reports of Certain Events in London”—In which a writer named China Miéville receives a package containing clues to a vast and ongoing—yet utterly secret—war . . . a war about to turn a most unexpected corner.

“The Tain”—In this major story, winner of the Locus Award for Best Novella, a postapocalyptic London is overrun by vampires and monsters, alien yet weirdly familiar—and one man holds the future of humanity in his hands.

Plus ten other tales—including “On the Way to the Front,” a graphic short story illustrated by Eisner Award–nominated Liam Sharp

Uneven collection of tidbits

My expectations for anything by China Mieville are very high. This collection is disappointing. It contains several good short stories, but sure seems like some half-baked early drafts for novels got thrown in to up the page count.

Graze Into It

I'm not too sure why no one else has yet to write a review for "Looking for Jake" by China Miéville. I first got introduce to this author from my friends five months ago and I can't wait for more. This is just one of these authors that I would had never discover through social media. It just shows you that word of mouth has more reach than Oprah's book club.

China Miéville is the best contemporary writer that my friends has recommended.

I'm not into novellas because I find them to be too short for my mind to grasp to, but "Looking for Jake" makes you want to say "WOW" after each story.

It has a little something for everyone. Vampires for teens, sci-fi for geeks, twisted Christmas story for the change of season, and those monsters.

For anyone that knows this author, you are fully aware of what you are about to get yourself into when you open any of his books. For those who has never read anything from China Miéville, "Looking for Jake" is a great way to graze into his style, until you are ready for more.

Excellent work

I've only recently started reading China Mieville, but he's become a fast favorite. While many of these short stories share themes, each comes at the concepts from different angles and avoids feeling redundant.