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jwinn's review against another edition
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
0.5
emaxan's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
moonii's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
r_coon's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
inspiring
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
joshualeggs's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.25
Great short stories.
litchyn's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.75
rujein's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Generally enjoyed this collection of short stories, had some interesting ideas even if I wasn't very riveted by the writing style (fault of translation?). Few stories which stood out:
The Village Teacher. Enjoyed the idea that a village teacher who had poured his life into teaching children would ultimately save the world through his teaching because of a minor coincidence.
Fire in the Earth. Perhaps because I wonder about this myself at work, I liked this story about a technocrat with a new idea persisting despite the advice of more experienced ground workers, and eventually being disastrously proven wrong, although in the further future, his technology becomes widely adopted.
Ode to Joy and Sea of Dreams. These two stories made me think about the power of art, which is novel to me. Ode to Joy shows how art can be a force for unity and good; whereas Sea of Dreams questions whether art and beauty are so important as to outweigh even survival (the answer is no, although art can still be appreciated and needed in tough times).
The Village Teacher. Enjoyed the idea that a village teacher who had poured his life into teaching children would ultimately save the world through his teaching because of a minor coincidence.
Fire in the Earth. Perhaps because I wonder about this myself at work, I liked this story about a technocrat with a new idea persisting despite the advice of more experienced ground workers, and eventually being disastrously proven wrong, although in the further future, his technology becomes widely adopted.
Ode to Joy and Sea of Dreams. These two stories made me think about the power of art, which is novel to me. Ode to Joy shows how art can be a force for unity and good; whereas Sea of Dreams questions whether art and beauty are so important as to outweigh even survival (the answer is no, although art can still be appreciated and needed in tough times).
kurtisfulmer's review against another edition
4.0
I fell in love with Liu's writing earlier this year when I read his 'Remembrance of Earth's Past' trilogy. He is a master at evoking a grand sense of scale to drive home his philosophical themes on the peaks and valleys inherent to the human condition. Of course, all of this is bolstered by the realism of the hard scientific concepts he incorporates.
Happily, all of the qualities that make his so special are maintained in this collection of short fiction. There is a broad array of creative concepts on display here, but my personal favorite selections are:
'The Village Teacher', where a poor man's commitment to his students plays an unexpected role in an ancient cosmic war
'Ode to Joy' , featuring a musician whose unique work gives humanity a new hope for the future
'The Thinker', where the twinkling of the stars reflects our own inner workings
'Cloud of Poems' I truly don't know how to describe this one..
Overall I really loved this little collection and would recomend it to anybody, especially those who are curious about 'The Three Body Problem' but want a taste of Liu's writing before committing to a trilogy.
Happily, all of the qualities that make his so special are maintained in this collection of short fiction. There is a broad array of creative concepts on display here, but my personal favorite selections are:
'The Village Teacher', where a poor man's commitment to his students plays an unexpected role in an ancient cosmic war
'Ode to Joy' , featuring a musician whose unique work gives humanity a new hope for the future
'The Thinker', where the twinkling of the stars reflects our own inner workings
'Cloud of Poems' I truly don't know how to describe this one..
Overall I really loved this little collection and would recomend it to anybody, especially those who are curious about 'The Three Body Problem' but want a taste of Liu's writing before committing to a trilogy.
billybear72's review against another edition
5.0
Cixin brings his spectacular flair for writing in this nook of short stories; poetic, poignant perfection!
lifepluspreston's review against another edition
4.0
Often wide in scope and singularly focused on impact, this collection of short stories will be familiar to anyone reading Liu again. Broad and galaxy-spanning problems have specific consequences for individuals the reader can quickly invest in. Each story, despite these constraints, remains relatively unique, and even beautiful. Thumbs up.