The City and the City

*The City & The City* by China Miéville is a novel set in two overlapping cities—Besźel and Ul Qoma—that share the same physical space but are culturally and legally separate. Citizens must "unsee" and avoid recognizing the other city’s existence to maintain social order, enforced by a mysterious police force. The story follows a detective investigating a murder that crosses these boundaries, exploring themes of perception, identity, and politics. The book uses this unique setting as a metaphor for division, prejudice, and the ways societies enforce social boundaries to preserve their distinct realities.