King (U. of Melbourne) examines the relationship between the Malay cities of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, noting how the former is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary as the capital while the latter is enjoying the spotlight as the new and culturally rich administrative center. Using plenty of maps and photographs, the author describes Putrajaya's recent development into Muslim utopia, with the architecture of the city reflecting the Middle East more than Southeast Asia. Written for students and practitioners of urban planning, architecture and urban design, this book also provides glimpses into the political and social forces that drive modern Malaysian urban development. Annotation 2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
