This Census Taker

Description

In a remote house on a hilltop, a lonely boy witnesses a traumatic event. He tries - and fails - to flee. Left alone with his increasingly deranged parent, he dreams of safety, of joining the other children in the town below, of escape. When at last a stranger knocks at his door, the boy senses that his days of isolation might be over. But by what authority does this man keep the meticulous records he carries? What is the purpose behind his questions? Is he friend? Enemy? Or something else altogether? A novella filled with beauty, terror and strangeness, This Census-Taker is a poignant and riveting exploration of memory and identity.

Awards

Shortlisted for Folio Prize 2017.

Author description

China Mieville is the multiple award-winning author of many books, including The City & The City, Embassytown and Perdido Street Station. In addition to This Census-Taker, he is also the author of the novella The Last Days of New Paris, and the short story collections Three Moments of an Explosion and Looking for Jake and Other Stories. He lives and works in London.