Your Mom's Basement Interviews author China Miéville.

[siobyone]

I also thought Mr. Mieville was a woman. Then when I read that he was a man I certainly had a VERY different picture in my mind of what he'd look like. It's very appropriate that he defies expectations in appearance just as in his writing. He seems likable in this interview, although his body language was quite defensive- i was hoping he'd uncross his arms at some point. I loved Un Lun Dun & i hope it doesn't take him too long to get to the sequel!

[VmkSunny4ever]

He has a big nose =]

[JayinMovingPictures]

fucking hell, he's massive

[Tomskicat]

I think China's t-shirt is too small for him. :)

[SweetPurpleOlive]

Un Lun Dun is a great book, though I did not expect him to look like this! With a fantasy story about 2 girls, and with a name like China, you would think it was some little old lady. But, I have to say I am pleasantly surprised! He is my new favorite author!

[TheManIsEl]

i love that even in his APPEARANCE he bucks expectations

[RJOPhoto]

great questions, thanks for posting. on to watch part 2 now..

[FractalBolt]

Fuck, I wouldn't want to piss Mieville off. He looks like a no bullshit tough hombre.

[DragonBallZmanga]

he's a skinhead

[ireadtoomuch]

@DragonBallZmanga He may have a shaved head but he's definitely not a "skinhead." In fact, he's a Marxist. Literally. See his book "Between Equal Rights: A Marxist Theory of International Law."

[lickaboot]

I don't care how nervous you are (and you rightly should be when talking to such a big sexy brain like China) you should NEVER chew flippin' chewing gum throughout the interview.

[QwoPhasaArius]

@lickaboot The poor fellah may have planned to try his luck with a kiss at the end. It's alright, I think we can all find it in our hearts to forgive him.

[periqa]

Y'know..

[SpicedNoob]

omg, i thought China mieville was a woman!!!!!!!!

[DrinkOfTheCloud]

@SpicedNoob he is

[whackadoodlydoo]

lol he looks less like a fantasy writer and more like a cage fighter.

[JustAPrayer]

I've only ever read Un Lun Dun, but I am definetely going to be reading more of his books. Un Lun Dun was fantastic.

[whackadoodlydoo]

go for perdido street station. i'm about halfway through, it's like a perpetual literary orgasm. X3 the scar is, as well, but thus far i like perdido street station a bit better. his short stories in looking for jake are fantastic, too.

[pugnaciousboxer2]

What a badass.

[youngLaraCroft]

UnLunDun is trully captivating and interesting with a touch of genius and originality!

[finhand]

My god, what an absurdly cool dude.

[ArranoGris]

I'm reading The City & The City right now and it's fuckin' awesome. This guy is truly creative and has some pretty amazing writing chops. Check him out.

[timr9]

He needs to get some shirtless shots of himself on the internet. Would definitely increase his popularity among certain groups of people. Maybe a cover of Men's Fitness?

[AcuAwaGomu]

at certain points at the right camera angle he looks exactally what i thought obaday looked like with the needles in his head from the spiky thing behind him.

[sweetbunny128]

China has 4 earrings on his ear.

AWESOME!

[jaybird321]

His writing is ok if you like stories that are imaginative, descriptive, intense and entertaining. What is it with these english authors anyway? It seems like whenever I read a great book or comic it's always written by someone from England.

[DIsillusionedCupOTea]

Okay?! Okay?! 'e's brilliant!!

[jaybird321]

I agree his writing is brilliant. I was just kind of understating my point.

[ArranoGris]

I always wonder the same thing....like why EVERY clip I see on YouTube from a British comedy show is FUCKING HILARIOUS.

[misharcks]

I HAVE UNLUNDUN OMG

[freakscene218]

an imposing figure........i imagine him working out and looking into a mirror and saying like" so you think writers are fags huh huh, do you?" then kisses his biceps

[ArranoGris]

He doesn't fool me. I know a nerd when I see one. We can smell our own kind.

[mikisaikano]

wtf¡ someone who says: im nerd. is a fucking idiot.

cthulhu forever¡

[sqoll]

China looks like he's going to back hand this dude at any moment.

[Lyesmith]

China is a wonderful writer, and seems like a really cool guy as well. :)

[wafi84]

China Mieville's books are incredible, I bloody love 'em!

Favourite has got to be Perdido Street Station, followed by all the others in no particular order.

I'm teaching English in Vietnam so it's hard to get hold of a copy of Un Lun Dun, which I haven't read yet. Damn it!

First time I've seen a video of him, seems like a nice guy.

I agree, the interviewer seems a bit unprofessional, but at the end of the day I don't think it matters because it's an interesting interview.

[amindbody]

Is the interviewer chewing gum, sucking on a mint or playing with his tongue? Either way, he seems to be an unprofessional dunce.

[oyaboy1978]

He looked bored and asked questions that really didn't have anything to do with what China was saying. And yes the jaw clenching is distracting.

[rikascience]

He was less bulky up at Clare. I guess Riccardo never fed him right.Can he talk ploperlee?

[Sriad]

Thanks to this video I finally know how to pronounce China Miéville's name!

Turns out, it's pronounced "China".

[IbarRatan]

Yeah - Un Lun Dun is great! Greetings from "Czech Bas-Lag" !!! :)

[tikidoki]

i JUST finished reading Un Lun Dun today and it is BRILLIANT!!!

he is such a fantastic writer (and a very fit one! lol) haahah

job well done! i'll try and read his previous ones.

[renonumber1fan]

this has to be the best book i ever read i hope he comes out with a second one! :D

[thickjustice]

i have read everything except for on london

and i have to say

he touches a pulse

[gordzie]

i also really liked perdido street station, even more than the scar, hsi writing sets up these character-rich environments without getting overly bogged-down in backsstory or detail, the major flaw of tolkein. he is a breath of fresh air and the hero of the steampunk genre.

[mickflip]

When I first read Perdido back in 2001, I was awe-struck at the world and characters he created. I realized that this person is amazingly brilliant & ingenious. Definitely "ahead of his time!" His writings vaguely seemed very Burroughs-ian (who happens to be one of my favorite writers). Reading each sentence of Mieville's is akin to poetry, in the sense of characterization and the environment they inhabit. Definitely a writer who will be recognized for years to come.

[Konigsdisziplin]

there always has to be one pseudo-intellectual, post-hippie, half-wit critic in the bunch who's faltering ego is only synthetically sustained by a desperate need to "poison the well" of one's credentials as to redeem their superficial poise in an attempt to displace their failures...oh, and pretentious name too, marble in space...a failed attempt at sounding abstract and meta-aesthetic. *lamen's*: YOU ARE GAY

[SaviourX]

Hahah, I see all those words in your comment and all I can think of is the 'Language' skit from Fry and Laurie.

[macekjirik]

He looks like a bouncer,but he is soooo much good in writing.I love his books

[casualocean]

Perdidio Street Station...fantastic book....highly recommended!!!

[quaidberry]

awesome. such an intelligent man. thanks for posting!

[thestingrayassasin]

not only is this a good interview from the mind of a great writer, but now i know how to say his fucking last name

[swannplastique]

Hello from Dublin, Ireland. I saw China Mieville read here in Dublin. He is a witty, interesting man. I think a very original writer.

[LaughingAstarael]

I had the deep honor of meeting Mr. Miéville at the NYCC, and he was so, so nice. I had painted a scene from The Scar for him, and he seemed as honestly excited to recieve it as I was to give it to him. He signed my copy of Perdido and let me take a picture with him, and I don't know if I've ever been that happy. He does look a bit intimidating but this is a case of not judging a book by its cover (:

Thank you for posting this! :D

[amarbleinspace]

im reading perdido street station. the dude cant write dialouge to save his life.good though

[kaleidopunk]

You believe that YOU are qualified to write dialogue? Classic, a person who posts comments with no grammar, no skill at spelling and no punctuation. Holy shit, the only word for it is ironic.

[asdfhuliashduflasihf]

But he does have a point really... I didn't really like the line where his lover tries to wake him up and he mutters a string of labels. He is a fantastic observer for detail though, that's doubtless.

[stylofone]

He's one of my favourite authors. The people and places of Bas Lag (all three novels but especially "Perdido Street Station") are stuck in my brain, and the story about the copyriots in "Looking for Jake" is HILARIOUS! I can't wait to read "Un Lun Dun!"

[jrgoddess]

He does look really intimidating. I don't think that I could approach him for an autograph...then again I'm a fan, so I would be afraid anyway.

I'm glad I got to see this. I've read his interviews, but it's difficult because he is so long-winded. Good for novel writing, bad for conversation. Thank you!

[Krimflame]

By the sound of him in interviews and whatnot, he is a nice person. But that is just a plain out kickass looking guy. He'd be great to hang out with.

[kokobeng]

I hope he is nicer than he looks.

[YourMomsBasement]

China may look a little scary but he is nice as can be in person. I can see where he could be a little intimidating but he was great with us and was really nice with everyone in line to meet him.