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geller's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Very nice and thought-provoking short stories. Quaint, often emotional, and deeply human. The prologue essay, "A Reflection on Breasts," provides some helpful context for what to expect. In short, while the stories certainly invoke elements of science fiction, they cannot be reduced to that. The titular story, "On The Origin of Species," and its sequel, were my favorites. A couple stories dragged a bit, but overall, it's highly enjoyable. Was not expecting the graphic descriptions of child murder at the end, but in retrospect I think it was necessary.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
mar's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
From the Afterword by Sunyoung Park:
Overcoming human form, in Kim's world, is not quite a way of transcending our limits, as is often the case in superhero narratives, but rather a desperate attempt to survive by the marginalized and the vulnerable.
this is genuinely one of the best short story collections i've ever read, and i do not say that lightly.
evolution and devolution, themes of marginality and struggle for survival (even in the face of the unforgiving passing of time and impermanence of life), a boundless creativity in exploring alternate scientific realities that i've only seen rivalled in the works of Ted Chiang, the familiar made alien and the alien made familiar so thoroughly it makes you question the subjectivity of not only your lived experience, but also of the reality humans take for granted... oh i fear this book will live in my mind forever
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder, and Child death
Moderate: Slavery
mworrell's review against another edition
fast-paced
This is an anthology of short science fiction stories. As I read, I began to sense a rhythm to the way Kim germinates her stories. Many, but not all, of these stories explore societies where there is a widely accepted premise—something almost common sense—that a character challenges and refutes. What if this commonly held fact is only due to our limited understanding? Due to our arrogant assumption that all other experiences besides our own are simply unimaginable?
These stories wiggle that idea like a sore tooth, turning it this way and that. Not all the stories are fully fleshed, but they’re perfect for a quick read on the train. Like glimpses of skin.
Admittedly, the stories dealing with familiar sci fi concepts like time travel and robots engaged me a lot more than the ones dealing with human transmogrification. But if you’re into the fleshiness of transhumanism you might like them. There was one that I couldn’t help but imagine as some strange retelling of Cats (2019).
I need to get Kaya Press’ other anthology of South Korean science fiction, Readymade Bodhisattva. I read some early translations from Professor Sunyoung Park since I took (and failed—ha) several of her classes. (She provides an afterword for this book.) If you want to get into South Korean science fiction, either of their collections are good starting points.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Body horror
ironic_melody17's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
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? N/A
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Murder
Moderate: Suicide
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