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1

The Last Days of New Paris

6
terms
3
notes

scifi: Paris in 1950 is simultaneously overrun by weird surrealist creatures and occupied by Nazis (with some French resistance). turns out that in 1941, a chain of events led to the accidental activation of a magical device that turned ("manifested") the Surrealist drawings of a French Resistance group into reality. the climax is when the Nazis try to manifest a version of Adolf Hitler.

Miéville, C. (2016). The Last Days of New Paris. In Miéville, C. The Last Days of New Paris. Del Rey, pp. 1-170

political (originally communist) propaganda, especially in art or literature

10

a grim collage, an agitprop warning.

—p.10 by China Miéville
notable
6 years ago

a grim collage, an agitprop warning.

—p.10 by China Miéville
notable
6 years ago

(noun) a pet lamb / (noun) pet / (verb) to treat as a pet; pamper

11

They cosset the skeletons of the fallen.

—p.11 by China Miéville
uncertain
6 years ago

They cosset the skeletons of the fallen.

—p.11 by China Miéville
uncertain
6 years ago

(psychoanalysis) the process of investment of mental or emotional energy in a person, object, or idea

26

he could perform cathexis

probably has a manif-specific meaning here but I assume the general idea is the same

—p.26 by China Miéville
uncertain
6 years ago

he could perform cathexis

probably has a manif-specific meaning here but I assume the general idea is the same

—p.26 by China Miéville
uncertain
6 years ago
32

[...] "The Führer himself," Virginie said heavily, "is an artist, after all." Reproductions of his barely competent watercolors, his hesitant lines, his featureless faces, his vacuous, pretty, empty urban façades, had circulated as curios in occult Paris. Virginie and Thibault shared a glance of contempt.

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—p.32 by China Miéville 6 years ago

[...] "The Führer himself," Virginie said heavily, "is an artist, after all." Reproductions of his barely competent watercolors, his hesitant lines, his featureless faces, his vacuous, pretty, empty urban façades, had circulated as curios in occult Paris. Virginie and Thibault shared a glance of contempt.

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—p.32 by China Miéville 6 years ago

(verb) slowly decay or disintegrate, especially because of neglect

76

Out again, over railways where rolling stock moldered.

—p.76 by China Miéville
uncertain
6 years ago

Out again, over railways where rolling stock moldered.

—p.76 by China Miéville
uncertain
6 years ago

(verb) moo

96

He can hear a cow lowing in the cellar.

—p.96 by China Miéville
strange
6 years ago

He can hear a cow lowing in the cellar.

—p.96 by China Miéville
strange
6 years ago

(noun) a usually temporary encampment under little or no shelter / (noun) encampment usually for a night / (noun) a temporary or casual shelter or lodging / (verb) to make a bivouac; camp

98

They bivouac in a preserved café.

—p.98 by China Miéville
confirm
6 years ago

They bivouac in a preserved café.

—p.98 by China Miéville
confirm
6 years ago
159

I saved Paris, Thibault makes himself think. Destroyed a new utter demon. I saved th world. He feels flat. Outside, the sunlight hits them differently than it did within the old city.

Is this it? Are they done?

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—p.159 by China Miéville 6 years ago

I saved Paris, Thibault makes himself think. Destroyed a new utter demon. I saved th world. He feels flat. Outside, the sunlight hits them differently than it did within the old city.

Is this it? Are they done?

You must be logged in to see the comments.

—p.159 by China Miéville 6 years ago
162

"He never could paint people," Sam whispers. "He always left them out. Painted everything empty. Even when he drew himself, he couldn't do features ..."

The figure turns and Thibault glimpses its faceless face. Empty. A faint graphite sweep where there should be eyes. Blank as an egg. A poor, cowardly rendition, by a young bad artist.

"It's a self-portrait," he hears Sam repeat. She and Thibault reach for each other, hold each other up in fear.

Thibault says, "Of Adolf Hitler."

—p.162 by China Miéville 6 years ago

"He never could paint people," Sam whispers. "He always left them out. Painted everything empty. Even when he drew himself, he couldn't do features ..."

The figure turns and Thibault glimpses its faceless face. Empty. A faint graphite sweep where there should be eyes. Blank as an egg. A poor, cowardly rendition, by a young bad artist.

"It's a self-portrait," he hears Sam repeat. She and Thibault reach for each other, hold each other up in fear.

Thibault says, "Of Adolf Hitler."

—p.162 by China Miéville 6 years ago