The ScarThe Scar
Score Modern
What it's about
A ship carrying prisoners to exile is captured by pirates and taken to Armada, a floating city of lashed-together ships hauled across the oceans. There, a fugitive linguist, Bellis Coldwine, is drawn into the city's secret quest: to find a hidden people, a colossal sea beast, and a fabled place, a wound in reality of unthinkable power.
Why it's worth reading
It was a Hugo Award finalist. It's a dazzling, inventive fantasy, often considered China Miéville's best.
You'll love it if you liked
The City & the City
Perdido Street Station
The Lies of Locke LamoraGood to know
It's set in the world of Perdido Street Station but stands alone. It's long and dense.
By the numbers
- Readers79 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics25 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller25 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #560 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1074 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Epic
More by China Miéville
The City & the CityPerdido Street Station
Embassytown
Iron CouncilIf you like this, read next
Explore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Scar worth reading?
Yes. It was a Hugo Award finalist. It ranks #1,074 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 72.2 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Scar about?
A ship carrying prisoners to exile is captured by pirates and taken to Armada, a floating city of lashed-together ships hauled across the oceans. There, a fugitive linguist, Bellis Coldwine, is drawn into the city's secret quest: to find a hidden people, a colossal sea beast, and a fabled place, a wound in reality of unthinkable power.
How long does it take to read The Scar?
About 20 hours (794 pages), or about 6 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Scar?
If you liked it, try The City & the City by China Miéville, Perdido Street Station by China Miéville or The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch.