Given China Miéville’s reputation for writing challenging fiction about alternative worlds, this foray into history, dealing with the Russian Revolution, might have been expected to be a genre-defying kaleidoscope of ideas and themes. In fact, it’s his most straightforward book to date. Providing you share his belief that the revolution represented a glorious moment when a nation cast off the shackles of a hated tyranny, it’s an inspirational account that lends itself to troubled times. He makes no claims as to original research, but brings a storyteller’s eye to “liberty’s dim light” and its brief, doomed flowering.

• October: The Story of the Russian Revolution by China Miéville is published by Verso (£18.99). To order a copy for £14.24 go to bookshop.theguardian.com or call 0330 333 6846. Free UK p&p over £10, online orders only. Phone orders min p&p of £1.99