The City and the City (Novel)

"The City and the City" is a novel by China Miéville that blends crime fiction with speculative elements. It follows Inspector Tyador Borlú as he investigates a murder in the fictional city of Besźel, which exists alongside its sister city, Ul Qoma. The two cities have distinct cultures and governance but share the same physical space, and residents are trained to "unsee" the other city to maintain separation. The story explores themes of perception, identity, and social constructs, ultimately questioning the nature of reality and how we understand the world around us.