I’m going to Japan and planning takes a lot of time. I’m excited, but it’s also killing me, ‘cos I’m enjoying the book and would really like to finish it.

Better than Perdido Street Station. I’ve read comments that the characters are less sympathetic, but I didn’t find that to be so. Well, some of them, but they more than make up for it by being mysterious. Even though there’s more profanity than I tend to enjoy, China Miéville’s writing is definitely high quality and well worth it.
As in Perdido, a very ambitious plot, but the setting is far and away more interesting.