Embassytown reminds me a lot of Ursula K. Le Guin's book The Dispossessed: An Ambiguous Utopia, in the sense that it focuses on some really heavy concepts but the plot doesn't really go anywhere. This book is more like China Mieville playing with language more than telling a story; so maybe he should be remind me of James Joyce. The books main focus is the aliens and the communication they have with the people of Embassytown. Genetically-engineered linguists known as Ambassadors have the task of keeping the peace between the people and the aliens (known as hosts). This is a book explores not only political aspects but the role of language in the world; taking insights from theoretical and philosophical like Jacques Derrida or Paul Ricoeur. 
 I really like China Mieville's writing style and I wanted to like this book more, it was a little too heavy on exploring his weird concepts and langague and a little too light on the story line to give this book a higher rating. Mieville is an amazing and weird writing, if you ever get the chance to read his works, do it, don't let my reviews put you off. I will be reading more of his works later, I won't give up on this writer. I loved The City & The City, so I know what he is capable, its just a matter of him finding the balance between concepts and plots.