Two cities. One body. And a murder that defies borders—real or imagined.
In Besźel, a decaying Eastern European city, Inspector Tyador Borlú investigates the death of a murdered woman. But when evidence suggests she was killed in Ul Qoma—a vibrant city that exists in the same physical space as Besźel—Borlú must cross not just political lines, but mental ones.
To see Ul Qoma, you must unsee Besźel—and vice versa. Breaking this rule isn’t just taboo, it’s a crime.
As Borlú partners with Ul Qoman detective Qussim Dhatt, the mystery deepens into a surreal exploration of identity, nationalism, and the blurred lines of reality.
Winner of the Hugo, Locus, and World Fantasy Awards, The City & The City is a genre-defying masterpiece of noir, speculative fiction, and philosophical intrigue.
