China Miéville's novel Kraken is a meandering fantasy comedy full of political themes and a love for weird monsters. How does this author manage to weave together so many themes and genres into one book? And why does he think J.R.R. Tolkien is a "wen on the arse of fantasy"?

Additional Resources:

• Reveling in Genre: An Interview with China Miéville
• Kraken: China Miéville interview
• A Category Unto Himself: The Works of China Miéville
• China Miéville: My new book takes the idea of the squid cult very seriously
• CHINA MIÉVILLE [SCIENCE-FICTION AUTHOR]
• This Squidpocalypse Makes Its Own Fun: Kraken by China Miéville
• Tolkien - Middle Earth Meets Middle England
• Making Squid the Meat of a Story
• With "Kraken," China Miéville sinks tentacles into contemporary London