“The City and The City” by China Mielville is a mystery novel with a peculiar premise. There are two cities, side-by-side, yet separated by a highly guarded border. The city inhabitants are strictly prohibited from interacting with each other across that border. In fact, they must go so far as to “unsee” each other when walking side-by-side down streets that are split between the two cities. Any interaction across the border results in “breach.”
The story is told by Inspector Tyador Borlú, the detective assigned to investigate the death of a woman whose body turns up in his city, Beszel. His investigation leads him to the neighboring city, Ul Qoma, where his life changes forever. Conspiracy is rampant and the plot twists and turns.
The descriptions of the differences between the two cities are intricate and fascinating. The fear of breach among the citizens of both cities is complex and surprising. The people must fight instincts of human interaction to live within the forced worlds of these two opposing cities.
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