virentiris's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
loe_ming's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
4.75/5 stars
Pros: This book actually the short stories collection I've finished and feel content
Cons: Some of the short stories need extra brain work, specially the sci-fi ones
Pros: This book actually the short stories collection I've finished and feel content
Cons: Some of the short stories need extra brain work, specially the sci-fi ones
grid's review against another edition
4.0
I liked some of these stories very much. Others… not as much. The titular story is quite memorable.
nuclearpotato's review against another edition
5.0
My Rating: 9.5/10
After I read Ken Liu's translation of The Three-body Problem, I found out that he wrote a short story which swept the Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy Awards. So I was very intrigued and read this book.
Ken's writing far exceeded my expectations in that he excels at bringing out the emotions from words. And the fact that his tales were inspired from Asian culture makes the stories resonate with me as I'm also a Chinese. It's amazing how much Ken Liu knows about Asian history, mythology, and culture despite the fact that he moved to the US when he was 11. I can imagine the amount of research and readings he put into the writing of those short stories. Almost all the stories are emotional, philosophical, and imaginative at the same time.
The central topic around which most of the short stories revolve is the clash of Eastern and Western Cultures. In The Literomancer, a young American girl learns about Chinese characters and stories, while in The Paper Menagerie and All the Flavors it's about how Chinese adapt to Western Culture. I'll review two of my favorites in this compilation below: The Perfect Match and The Paper Menagerie.
The Perfect Match
The Perfect Match is about a dystopian world where everyone's daily decisions are dictated by AI. On the surface, the setting does not look dystopian at all, in fact, it's more of a utopia. Who would not want the perfect recommendations on everything and the feel that your life is all sorted and planned out? The main character gradually realizes though that he is not having independent thinking anymore. Humans are becoming controlled by machines. If AI technology advances to a certain level, I think this might actually be a possible future. It's captivating and horrifying at the same time.
The Paper Menagerie
The Paper Menagerie is a truly magical story. Fun Fact: It's the only short story to ever win the Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy awards in a single year. This story really resonates with me because as a Chinese who has lived in the US before I've somewhat experienced the things described in this story. Sometimes in a foreign environment we are inclined to hide things about us that we feel embarrassing because everyone longs to be accepted into their surroundings. The acceptance of your own race's culture/history combined with motherly love into one single mesmerizing and very emotional tale. I would rate this as the best short story I've ever read.
After I read Ken Liu's translation of The Three-body Problem, I found out that he wrote a short story which swept the Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy Awards. So I was very intrigued and read this book.
Ken's writing far exceeded my expectations in that he excels at bringing out the emotions from words. And the fact that his tales were inspired from Asian culture makes the stories resonate with me as I'm also a Chinese. It's amazing how much Ken Liu knows about Asian history, mythology, and culture despite the fact that he moved to the US when he was 11. I can imagine the amount of research and readings he put into the writing of those short stories. Almost all the stories are emotional, philosophical, and imaginative at the same time.
The central topic around which most of the short stories revolve is the clash of Eastern and Western Cultures. In The Literomancer, a young American girl learns about Chinese characters and stories, while in The Paper Menagerie and All the Flavors it's about how Chinese adapt to Western Culture. I'll review two of my favorites in this compilation below: The Perfect Match and The Paper Menagerie.
The Perfect Match
The Perfect Match is about a dystopian world where everyone's daily decisions are dictated by AI. On the surface, the setting does not look dystopian at all, in fact, it's more of a utopia. Who would not want the perfect recommendations on everything and the feel that your life is all sorted and planned out? The main character gradually realizes though that he is not having independent thinking anymore. Humans are becoming controlled by machines. If AI technology advances to a certain level, I think this might actually be a possible future. It's captivating and horrifying at the same time.
The Paper Menagerie
The Paper Menagerie is a truly magical story. Fun Fact: It's the only short story to ever win the Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy awards in a single year. This story really resonates with me because as a Chinese who has lived in the US before I've somewhat experienced the things described in this story. Sometimes in a foreign environment we are inclined to hide things about us that we feel embarrassing because everyone longs to be accepted into their surroundings. The acceptance of your own race's culture/history combined with motherly love into one single mesmerizing and very emotional tale. I would rate this as the best short story I've ever read.
lindril's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
laviskrg's review against another edition
5.0
This amazing collection of gems and works of art both breaks and mends souls. Superb. Devastating. Immense! Ken Liu is a genius!
dkai's review against another edition
5.0
It is rare for a collection of short fiction to have no duds. Somehow, Ken Liu has achieved this. Even the ordering of the stories feels right. The fantastical, scifi, and historical elements all beautifully support the humanity at the heart of every page. It is also personally exciting to have so many Asian and Asian American characters. Someone else please read it so we can discuss.