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A review by elenavarg
On the Origin of Species and Other Stories by Kim Bo-young
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
Every single one of Kim’s short-stories gave me a lot to feel and to think about, but the two title stories (”On the Origin of Species” and ”On the Origin of Species— And What Might Have Happened Thereafter”) shook me to my core. I don’t know what is it about them, but the world Kim created in these stories is so meticulously thought through and well written, they left me in awe. The way all the relevant plot points and twists were so well foreshadowed, my heart dropped every single time. The collection deserves full five stars on these stories alone.
I can’t wait to read more of Kim’s work. Every short-story in this collection reminded me why I love to read (and write) speculative fiction. Although I thought the title stories were the best of the collection, ”An Evolutionary Tale” is the most unique and genre bending of them. This mix of folklore and scifi is exactly what I wish to convey in my own writing.
I can’t wait to read more of Kim’s work. Every short-story in this collection reminded me why I love to read (and write) speculative fiction. Although I thought the title stories were the best of the collection, ”An Evolutionary Tale” is the most unique and genre bending of them. This mix of folklore and scifi is exactly what I wish to convey in my own writing.