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The Scar

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description The Scar Overview

The Scar is a 2002 speculative-fiction novel by China Miéville and the second published novel set in his Bas-Lag world. It follows Bellis Coldwine after her ship is captured and its passengers are absorbed into Armada, a mobile city assembled from vessels on the open ocean. The novel combines maritime adventure, political intrigue, invented species, and grotesque technologies in the mode commonly described as weird fiction.

help The Scar FAQ

What is the floating city of Armada in The Scar?

Armada is a massive, lawless pirate city constructed from the lashed-together hulls of hundreds of captured ships. It is ruled by a bizarre duo known as the Lovers and constantly sails across the oceans of the Bas-Lag universe.

Is The Scar a direct sequel to Perdido Street Station?

The Scar is set in the same Bas-Lag universe as China Miéville's prior novel Perdido Street Station, but it is not a direct sequel. It follows a new cast of characters in a different location, though a few minor characters from the first book do appear.

Who is the main protagonist in The Scar?

The central character is Bellis Coldwine, a linguist who is fleeing the city of New Crobuzon after the events of Perdido Street Station. She is captured by pirates and forced to live in Armada, where she becomes embroiled in a plot to raise a massive creature from the deep.

Does The Scar feature the same races and magic as Perdido Street Station?

Yes, the novel continues to utilize the rich weird fiction elements of the Bas-Lag universe, including the Remade and various aquatic races. Miéville introduces new elements like the anophelii (vampiric mosquitoes) and explores the mystical concept of possibility mining.

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