RAILSEA

This cross between MOBY-DICK and DUNE pits various heroes against a range of villains and perils in an earth-like postapocalyptic world. The story is sometimes wild and outlandish and sometimes mundane. Jonathan Cowley’s narration is acceptable in every way but not gripping. Consequently, the author’s quirky narrative is not much amplified on audio—and might have been stronger for it. Cowley strives mightily to deliver the story’s minimal excitement, and he often succeeds. Further, his pacing is good. But his voicings of Mieville’s sometimes jerky dialogue fail to rescue the weaknesses in the writing. M.C. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2012]