Savage large moles, rail pirates, and explorers abound in China Miéville’s thrilling young adult novel, Railsea.

On board the moletrain Medes, Sham Yes ap Soorap watches in awe as he witnesses his 1st moldywarpe hunt. The large mole bursting from the planet earth, the harpoonists targeting their victim, the battle leading to one’s death as well as the other’s glory – are amazing. But regardless of how spectacular it is, exploring the endless rails of the railsea, Sham senses that there surely is more to life. Also if his captain can believe just of her obsessive hunt for one savage mole.

When they find a wrecked train, it’s a welcome distraction. However the impossible salvage Sham finds there prospects to trouble. Quickly he’s hunted on all sides: by pirates, trainsfolk, monsters & salvage-scrabblers. And it might not be just Sham’s lifestyle that’s going to change. It could be the entire railsea.

And it might not be simply Sham’s life that’s about to change. Maybe it’s the whole of the railsea.