I’m about 200 pages in. There are two storylines, the Maur sections, and the Allardyce (on gray paper). Getting some ideas about how they might go together, but it’s mostly tone and scene setting so far. It comes across as emotionally flat, almost like reading a report. Pushing along, only 1,000 pages to go.  

I will say that the extremely deliberate obscure style  of the story telling supports the quite obscure subject matter,, but it can be quite irritating . In particular, I object to the short passages between the Maur and the Steve parts, which seem to have no connection to the rest of the text and certainly no apparent stand-alone meaning. GRRR  I am afraid that an immediate reread will be indicated but I doubt I’ll have the patience. 
But I am persisting, without a lot of resistence at this point. I do want to know what happens to both of the protagonists, and there is plenty of action at this point. And Mieville is skillful. 

Another thing: the language is rich, full of metaphor and imagery, but it is all about ugliness, so far as I have noticed. His Britain holds no charm for him, nor do any of the places Allardyce travels to. It’s a dark book. 

I have been wondering how much of Maur's tale may have been semi-autobiographical given the similarities with Mieville's age and childhood circumstances - born at the same time as Ewan in the book and also raised in a single parent family situation in London.

Still, onward!  Another 1000 or so pages to go.