RaveThe Arts Fuse\"...poses considerable difficulties, even for determined readers. But the effort is worth it: this cinderblock of a tome delivers a chilling message for our time. The spectre-laden storyline taps into our deepest fears, exploring the horror of confronting uncertainty with little to no comprehension or hope of guidance ... those desiring a horror novel of the Stephen King variety know they will have to look elsewhere. This is true not only in terms of plot but also in terms of style: the narrative’s prose ranges from clipped realism and modernist splatter lyricism to cinema-inspired horror scenes and parapsychological dialogue exchanges. Miéville includes text from at least five different languages and multisyllabic words (be prepared for multiple ... The reader’s reward is the invigorating challenge of resisting impatience as Miéville piles on extended descriptions of characters scattered across the globe. This is a book that demands to be read multiple times and with close attention. In an era of easily digestible fiction—fiction that privileges minimal effort and meager prose—The Rouse presents considerable difficulties. For many pages, you won’t know what’s going on. (After completing the novel I remained in the dark about how the plot fit together, unclear about the relationships among its many secondary characters and overlapping conspiracies.) The book’s expansive storylines and ideas demand time and effort—and that is what gives it lasting value.\
