Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch

I reviewed Kraken by Mieville recently. I was underwhelmed. For a novel so bursting with ideas and potential it felt that it lost it's way and failed to grasp some of the central questions of both mythology and the nature of cities. Now you could forgive a book that didn't achieve these things if  it hadn't set out so consciously to grapple with them. Kraken wasn't bad, more a heroic failure (in the best sense)

Aaronovitch is more prosaic a writer but he achieves what Kraken didn't - a coherent, engaging romp through the idea of London. It's writ through with gentle humour but what helps it work is that places itself within a much broader canvas but doesn't get lost in it. I feel that Aaronovitch has some detailed ontology of the world he's writing about but has very wisely introduced the reader to it via a narrow vista that, although hinting at the big wide world he has in mind, doesn't drown the story or the reader's interest in trying to get it all onto the page.

I read the whole of this on the way to and from Brussels - so it's a quick read, but that shouldn't make you think it's simple or dumb.

If you like fun, boys own, adventures with interesting ideas about the world then this is one for you.