Really need to get round to reading more Miéville. Only read one, Perdido Street Station, which is seriously head-fucking, and I read it when I was seriously head-fucked already, so probably not the best timing.

Miéville is a hard-core Marxist, and former member of the SWP (he left over their shameful handling of rape allegations against a member of the leadership). So I don't think he's really playing a trope in the not trusting authority thing...