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clairewritesthings's review against another edition
4.0
As a reader, I have a comfort zone. It’s sci-fi/fantasy, it’s murder mysteries, it’s books about America, or 20th century Hollywood or Victorian England. I haven’t read anything in translation since I finished undergrad years ago. Reading The Way Spring Arrives was like jumping in and out of my comfort zone repeatedly. It’s a genre I’m used to, but from a culture I know pathetically little about.
There’s some top notch, will-recommend-to-my-short-story-book-club-later, sci-fi and fantasy in here (“The Way Spring Arrives” and “Baby, I Love You” come to mind though there were many others). There were also some stories that were just absolutely wild— stories that walk that very sci-fi line of so imaginative you’re enthralled, but then spend the next several minutes going “wtf did I just read?” (“A Saccharophillic Earthworm,” what the heck happened there? Someone please swap theories with me). Others were simply delightful like “Restaurant at the End of the Universe: Tai-Chi Mashed Taro” which is a spin off of the Douglas Adams book and “What Does the Fox Say” a flash piece about linguistics and Ylvis.
And then there were a group of stories I would categorize as “I am a dumb American white person with no cultural context for this and need to do some further research.” I haven’t read a story in a while that I just fully did not understand, and this anthology had a few. That’s on me, though, not the book. The book tried to help me understand wherever possible.
There were a bunch of really good essays about translation that helped me understand not only the challenges the translators were facing, but also some of the broader context of Chinese sci-fi. Rebecca F. Kuang (author of The Poppy War) has an excellent essay about it as does Yilin Wang. Yilin Wang’s is particularly interesting as it is an essay about translating two stories that appear in the book after the essay. So, unlike some of the others, you know the translator’s thoughts and have some context going into the two short stories.
I also found Jing Tsu’s “The Futures of Genders in Chinese Science Fiction” really engaging. It told me a lot about women in Chinese literature historically and about how China first encountered the sci-fi genre (as we know it) as an import in the era of Jules Verne. It’s one of those essays that helps you understand while showing you just how much there is you don’t know.
Each story and essay is entirely its own thing. There are all types of subgenres, tones, subjects, and styles. If you can pick this up and find nothing you like, I’d be shocked. I learned a ton reading this and enjoyed some quality short stories that I hope I can nominate for awards next year. Excellent read for international women's day.
Who this is for: Anyone who likes sci-fi and/or short fiction. Also, anyone who has ever thought about translating something and went “wow, that seems hard, I can’t believe people can do that.”
There’s some top notch, will-recommend-to-my-short-story-book-club-later, sci-fi and fantasy in here (“The Way Spring Arrives” and “Baby, I Love You” come to mind though there were many others). There were also some stories that were just absolutely wild— stories that walk that very sci-fi line of so imaginative you’re enthralled, but then spend the next several minutes going “wtf did I just read?” (“A Saccharophillic Earthworm,” what the heck happened there? Someone please swap theories with me). Others were simply delightful like “Restaurant at the End of the Universe: Tai-Chi Mashed Taro” which is a spin off of the Douglas Adams book and “What Does the Fox Say” a flash piece about linguistics and Ylvis.
And then there were a group of stories I would categorize as “I am a dumb American white person with no cultural context for this and need to do some further research.” I haven’t read a story in a while that I just fully did not understand, and this anthology had a few. That’s on me, though, not the book. The book tried to help me understand wherever possible.
There were a bunch of really good essays about translation that helped me understand not only the challenges the translators were facing, but also some of the broader context of Chinese sci-fi. Rebecca F. Kuang (author of The Poppy War) has an excellent essay about it as does Yilin Wang. Yilin Wang’s is particularly interesting as it is an essay about translating two stories that appear in the book after the essay. So, unlike some of the others, you know the translator’s thoughts and have some context going into the two short stories.
I also found Jing Tsu’s “The Futures of Genders in Chinese Science Fiction” really engaging. It told me a lot about women in Chinese literature historically and about how China first encountered the sci-fi genre (as we know it) as an import in the era of Jules Verne. It’s one of those essays that helps you understand while showing you just how much there is you don’t know.
Each story and essay is entirely its own thing. There are all types of subgenres, tones, subjects, and styles. If you can pick this up and find nothing you like, I’d be shocked. I learned a ton reading this and enjoyed some quality short stories that I hope I can nominate for awards next year. Excellent read for international women's day.
Who this is for: Anyone who likes sci-fi and/or short fiction. Also, anyone who has ever thought about translating something and went “wow, that seems hard, I can’t believe people can do that.”
ihlonial's review
adventurous
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
This is an anthology of female and non-binary authors writing Chinese short stories and essays and possesses so much talent from so many people. We need more books like these that show how expansive and inclusive sci-fi/fantasy can be when we include all voices.
Not every story landed with me. Some definitely are more symbolic while others are more literal. Many of them reminded me of the style of writing I've encountered from books like "The Monkey King' and "Legend of the Condor Heroes."
The thing I loved the most about this particular anthology is that it also includes non-fiction essays about gender roles in China, about how translation has an affect on the storytelling. This book is not only just a collection stories, but a deep study on the role China has in storytelling, and the women who can influence it.
Not every story landed with me. Some definitely are more symbolic while others are more literal. Many of them reminded me of the style of writing I've encountered from books like "The Monkey King' and "Legend of the Condor Heroes."
The thing I loved the most about this particular anthology is that it also includes non-fiction essays about gender roles in China, about how translation has an affect on the storytelling. This book is not only just a collection stories, but a deep study on the role China has in storytelling, and the women who can influence it.
serenedancer's review against another edition
2.75
I was hoping to really enjoyed the stories but it didn't really click for me and I had to push myself to keep reading. Overall there was nothing wrong it but I think it was a me thing.
wylovat's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
pageglue's review against another edition
These stories are very… simple? Boring? Extremely light on fantasy and sci-fi elements. The essays on translation are really basic.
jarichan's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
em_harring's review against another edition
4.0
I don't have much to say about this collection other than that I enjoyed it! Some stories are stronger than others, but that's par for the course when it comes to short story collections, anthologies, etc. I do think each story offered an interesting perspective. I also enjoyed the inclusion of short essays about either the genre or women writers in China. Those were a great addition.
I would recommend to folks who enjoy the genres and are wanting to expand the breadth of experiences and perspectives that they read.
I would recommend to folks who enjoy the genres and are wanting to expand the breadth of experiences and perspectives that they read.
ian_christopher's review against another edition
3.0
Very cool to have a volume compiled of all female and non-binary writers and translators. Even more so to have those stories coming from a country (China) which I haven't read a lot of fantasy from! They interspersed sections of non fiction that went into some of the nuances & subtleties of translating works, which I enjoyed. The trouble with short stories though, some grab my attention and others I found myself reading the same page over again, forgetting what was happening. Maybe that's just my own struggles with collections like this.
cozy_reading_times's review against another edition
4.0
4.25*
A fascinating and innovative anthology that offers a broad variety of stories and essays.
Mabye not every single story was an absolute hit, but there was no real flop either. Even half a month after finishing this book, much of this book stays in my head and some of what I read still makes me emotional.
Definitely one of the better short story collections I've read and one I would reread.
It simply was very well-rounded.
A fascinating and innovative anthology that offers a broad variety of stories and essays.
Mabye not every single story was an absolute hit, but there was no real flop either. Even half a month after finishing this book, much of this book stays in my head and some of what I read still makes me emotional.
Definitely one of the better short story collections I've read and one I would reread.
It simply was very well-rounded.
wild_and_freckless's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75