This is a London where things disappear, where magic is called "knacking," where iPods protect you, where cults might save your life, where tattoos can be sentient -- basically, this a London that is pretty fucked up. Mieville always manages to make the most absurd things seem logical because he starts in a small corner of the picture and backs up slowly so by the time the story ends you close the book more than slightly disappointed that the ocean will not actually respond to bottle messages and there are no creepy angels protecting museums. This book is undoubtedly weird, and I'm not sure what type of person to recommend it to, but if weird is your thing, check it out.