This collection contains a novella and 13 short stories, of visionary cityscapes and urban paranoia, ghosts, monsters and impossible diseases. Step into a London ravaged by unearthly creatures at once utterly alien and chillingly familiar. In China Miéville's award-winning novella 'The Tain', we learn the reason for the invaders' terrible revenge. One survivor must trek through the ruins of the city with a desperate plan to stand against their assault. In addition there are thirteen short stories, several of them published here for the first time: these include one set in New Crobuzon, the location of the award-winning series of novels that began with Perdido Street Station; The story in comic-strip form has been omitted from this recording.