Dispatches from a Troubled City: Art Inspired by the Works of China Mieville

China Mieville, one of my favorite authors, has a brand new book coming out at the end of the month called Kraken. In honor of the book, I invited a few artists to create art based on his novels. But before getting to the art, here's a brief introduction courtesy of Wikipedia:

His first novel, King Rat, was nominated for both an International Horror Guild and a Bram Stoker award.

His second novel, Perdido Street Station, won the 2001 Arthur C. Clarke Award and the 2001 British Fantasy Award, and was nominated for the Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy, Locus and British Science Fiction awards.

His third novel, The Scar, won the 2003 British Fantasy Award and the 2003 Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel, was nominated for the Hugo, Arthur C. Clarke, World Fantasy, Locus, Philip K. Dick, and British Science Fiction awards, and received a Philip K. Dick Award special citation.

His fourth novel, Iron Council, won the 2005 Arthur C. Clarke Award and the 2005 Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel, and was nominated for the Hugo and World Fantasy Awards.
His short story "Reports of Certain Events in London" (featured in the anthology McSweeney's Enchanted Chamber of Astonishing Stories) was nominated for a 2005 World Fantasy Award and tied for the 2005 Locus Award for Best Novelette.

His fifth novel, Un Lun Dun, won the 2008 Locus Award for Best Young Adult Book.

The City & the City won the 2010 Arthur C. Clarke Award and is a 2010 Hugo Award and Nebula Award nominee in the Best Novel category.

You can read substantial excerpts from his novels and full short stories at these links:

Perdido Street Station
The Scar
Reports of Certain Events in London
'Tis The Season

Like any good art show, there's a giveaway as described below, but first, without further ado, the art:



Obaday Fing sculpture by Paul Pape, who takes commissions as described here.



Spiral Jacobs art show flyer by Steve Thomas, who has art on sale here.



Avanc propaganda leaflet by Steve Thomas.




Human and Khepri couple by Chris Haley on sale here.







Weaver/handlinger box by Myke Amend. The complete "Red Hand Assemblage," as well as prints of "Red Right Hand" and "Weaving Spiders Come Not Here" are available here.




Remade militia assault team by Rory Phillips.





Grindylow Idol and alternate cover for The Scar by Jason Chalker, who has art on sale here.






Kraken bookmark by Greg Gilday, who has art on sale here and is selling the bookmarks for $1 each, shipping included.




Armada by Franco Brambilla, who has art on sale here.




Silas Fennec and Uther Doul by M.S. Corley.







Armada, Iron Council, New Crobuzon and Salkrikaltor City posters by Joe D!, who has art on sale here.



Grossbottle by Rick Sardinha, who has art on sale here.




Yagharek by Shane Parker.



The Lovers by Amanda Chronister.




Obaday Fing by JSalvador, who has art on sale here.

If you've enjoyed this terrific artwork and especially if you're tired of the endless 80's nostalgia art shows dominating galleries right now, then please send this link to your friends and support the participating artists. And to show my thanks to you, the reader, I'll give a $50 Threadless credit to a random commenter on this post. For a chance to win, simply comment and tell me which work of art is your favorite. Make sure your comment includes your email so I can get in touch.

If you've been inspired to create your own Mieville fan art, send it to me and I'll post it here.

And of course, please try Mieville's books. They're available at a discount at Amazon.

UPDATE: Here's more.


The Clock and Cockerel by Cormac McEvoy.



Perdido Street Station Memento Box by Jared Axelrod, featuring der Grimnebulin’s notebook, Dreamshit vials, scissors (for the Weaver) and more.