was in a used bookstore the other night (a Sunday night after the shop had closed and the owner wasn’t around – don’t ask). Nosed around the scifi section as I am wont to do. And there was RailSea, one of my favorite China Mieville novels. And here’s my review from when it first hit the stands in 2012.

RailSea Revew

So there I am in a darkened bookstore, where books that might be orphaned, unloved, old, gifted or simply given up on end up. And yes, I’ve floggedd RailSea to a lot of friends (even bought a copy for friends’ kids (never read)). Like Watership Down, I consider this novel a true classic, thoughtful and well-written. But yes, Harry Potter gets all the fame by a public too jaded to go out of their literary back yards and explore the wide world of literature.

So yes, back to me. The owner wasn’t around and I wanted the book. I’ve loitered around the shop long enough to know how this works, where the cash box is, how books are priced. Slipped $5 into the till and carried it into the night with me. And even though I have my own copy (hardback!) on my favorites shelf, I started to reread it again. It’s a shame I cannot review it a second time – I’m just rediscovering my love for it all over again.

Daybe the bat. Man, I love the bat.

So I’m sitting here with a nearly-read redundant book, wondering who I can give it to. My nieces? They have no time. My friends’ kids? They don’t give a shit. The guys in my train club? They only read Clive Cussler pulp. Wait, but maybe there is one guy at the club I might slip this to.

I’m considering this from all angles. Maybe I’ll give it to him.

Or if that doesn’t work, maybe I’ll leave it on a bench for a passing reader to find. I’d rather exposed this wonderfully imaginative novel to the elements than leave it caged in a (abet-nice) used bookstore.

Booooorn Free! As free as the wind blows!

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