Not an author, a novel- Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Strange_&_Mr_Norrell) by Susanna Clarke. And thanks for the info on Mieville. 1974, yes, his parents were my generation and called their kids strange things. Though being named for 'China plate' certainly beats being called Banyan.

I wouldn't call Perdido 'perceived intellectual' either. Just intelligent and literate fantasy-- with a tendency to overdo the pluperfect tense, a tic I notice because I have it too.