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tonyleachsf's review against another edition
5.0
I love Ken Liu’s short story collections. They’re haunting and full of terror - but also of love.
Many of these could be made into great video games. Others should be left as they are, untouched.
Many of these could be made into great video games. Others should be left as they are, untouched.
o_oliviarose_o's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.0
lauralhart's review against another edition
2.0
I’d heard good things about The Paper Menagerie, so I decided to try The Hidden Girl as an intro to Ken Liu. This is a collection of speculative and scifi short stories, most of which were extremely disappointing. When these stories were best (ex. the trilogy of stories about Maddie), they painted clear pictures of different worlds and followed the arc of active protagonists facing wild challenges. At their worst (The Message, Thoughts and Prayers), the stories were hard to visualize, relied too heavily on clichés, and ended before the real excitement began. It was also often difficult for me to reconcile whether the stories were all supposed to be connected; some of the threads were obvious, but others left me scratching my head. I’ve already forgotten most of the stories here, but may eventually return to the few I connected with. Overall, I don’t recommend this title.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy in exchange for an honest review.
orwellwasright's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Absolutely phenomenal. Speculative, insightful, imaginative. What a wild ride. I loved every page. Can't wait to read more from Ken Liu.
ddillon154's review against another edition
5.0
A fantastical blend of classic genre tropes and stories that couldn't possibly have been conceived by anyone else. Favorites include: "Byzantine Empathy," "Altogether Elsewhere, Vast Herds of Reindeer," "Grey Rabbit, Crimson Mare, Coal Leopard," and "Lost Girl."
ellanarose's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
fast-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
4.75
Every story in this shows that hope is necessary. Each one is tragic and beautifully written, but there's a thread of hope running through them all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mass/school shootings, Child death, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Bullying, Death, and Colonisation
Minor: Blood, Sexism, Xenophobia, Genocide, Dementia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Medical content, Rape, and War
librarianmage's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia, Racism, Violence, and Blood
andyjacksson's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
tricapra's review against another edition
5.0
If you haven't heard of Ken Liu yet, I promise that you'll hear his name everywhere soon.
This collection is breathtaking. I read (and enjoyed) Liu's first collection, The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories. It's excellent, but this assembly of stories enthralled me. I cried on an airplane, in a coffee shop, on the beach. Hope, for the future, for humanity, for the possibility that we can be better people is the throughline through all these stories. I simply can't say enough positive things about this book and I'm sure I'll annoy everyone I know by singing its praises.
If you are in the mood for some hopeful, soul-searching sci-fi this is the collection for you. Even if his Dandelion Dynasty series didn't appeal to you, give this a shot.
For fans of Ted Chiang, Becky Chambers, This review is based on the Netgalley ARC.
This collection is breathtaking. I read (and enjoyed) Liu's first collection, The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories. It's excellent, but this assembly of stories enthralled me. I cried on an airplane, in a coffee shop, on the beach. Hope, for the future, for humanity, for the possibility that we can be better people is the throughline through all these stories. I simply can't say enough positive things about this book and I'm sure I'll annoy everyone I know by singing its praises.
If you are in the mood for some hopeful, soul-searching sci-fi this is the collection for you. Even if his Dandelion Dynasty series didn't appeal to you, give this a shot.
For fans of Ted Chiang, Becky Chambers, This review is based on the Netgalley ARC.