I didn't enjoy it as much as his other stuff either
It seemed like he'd read the Bas-Lag stuff by China Mieville and decided to have a crack at it too. Story doesn't go anywhere, it's just adventure tourism
( Theoban What of it, Thu 16 Jun 2011, 14:09, archived)

I read the city and the city and the kraken recently and really enjoyed them
then I went to see the actual squid in the natural history museum and it just a squid you know

what's else is good by china mieville?
( glued eel /questions/questionsyoudliketoask/post1648081, Thu 16 Jun 2011, 14:17, archived)

I haven't read his latest one yet
But I really enjoyed Iron Council, but you might have to read Perdido Street Station at least to get everything about that world first.
( Theoban What of it, Thu 16 Jun 2011, 14:23, archived)