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A review by nini23
Broken Stars: Contemporary Chinese Science Fiction in Translation by Ken Liu
5.0
4.5 ⭐ These science fiction short stories were first published in Chinese in China, the superb translation is by Kenneth Liu who is also an acclaimed SFF writer in his own right (Dandelion Dynasty [The Grace of Kings (The Dandelion Dynasty, #1), The Wall of Storms (The Dandelion Dynasty, #2), The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories, The Hidden Girl and Other Stories].
Unlike Invisible Planets: Contemporary Chinese Science Fiction in Translation|28220730|Invisible Planets Contemporary Chinese Science Fiction in Translation |Ken Liu|, only one story per author was chosen instead of a sampling chosen by Ken Liu, on the basis of his enjoyment of them. They're also more varied, being from gaming and fashion magazines, online and literary journals. As mentioned, I think he's done a superb job both with his selection and translation. There are also three non-fiction analytical essays by SF scholars at the end of the book discussing various aspects of Chinese SF.
The stories themselves retain richly the flavour of China with the weight of its history, philosophy, technological advancements, societal attitude and culture. The authors are highly qualified in their fields with advanced degrees eg quantum physics, engineering, theoretical physics, literature.
Some of my favourites although the whole anthology had a consistently high quality:
Laba Porridge by Anna Wu - Derives inspiration from Adam Douglas' Restaurant at The End of the World including depressed robot Marvin. Uses it as a springboard. Unique contents of Laba porridge imparts a distinct Chinese flavour to this story (pun intended). Curious to know if the famous creative people that protagonist got the talent from - did the author have someone in mind? The price to pay for creativity.
The First Emperor's Games by Ma Boyong - lol, Qin Shi Huang wants to take a break from being emperor and play video games instead. So entertaining but also contains philosophical aspects about schools of thinking behind ruling and leadership.
The New Year Train by Hao Jingfang - This is an author I've wanted to read more of since reading her award winning novelette 'Folding Beijing' and short story 'Invisible Planets.' This story is about the annual migration of workers back to their hometown during Chinese New Year. A new method of transportation via train has been invented by manipulating local gravitational fields to create an alternate space-time continuum. Light-hearted and very suited for reading now since we're in the Spring Festival and approaching Lunar New Year.
The Robot Who Liked to Tell Tall Tales by Fei Dao - How does one thwart Death? Through paintings, poetry and alcohol. Also touches on telling tall tales, fibbing, bullshitting very reminiscent of someone who just left office. Described as Calvinoesque but I detected more of a Vonnegut/Terry Pratchett mix.
Broken Stars by Tang Fei - Disturbing and dark.
Snow of Jinyang by Zhang Ran - Chuanyue (time travel) story. It's complicated with some insider wink wink jokes to the modern reader. Loved the extensive footnotes providing historical and background context to this period of Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms. A city under seige is beset from the inside with competing power players. Well worth a second read as Ken Liu suggests to grasp the full implications.
Other noteworthy ones:
Goodbye Melancholy by Xie Jia - Thought-provoking. Can a computer be a friend?
Moonlight by Liu Cixin - About alternative energy, a little dated.
I'm excited by this Tor announcement:
https://www.tor.com/2020/10/27/book-announcements-the-way-spring-arrives-and-other-stories/
Lindsey Hall and Ruoxi Chen have acquired World English rights to The Way Spring Arrives and Other Stories, a new anthology of Chinese science fiction and fantasy, written, edited, and translated by women and nonbinary creators, from Regina Kanyu Wang, Zhang Yiwen, and Emily Xueni Jin at Storycom. The collection will be available in hardcover and ebook in Spring 2022.
As the home of the critically acclaimed Broken Stars and Invisible Planets, Tom Doherty Associates continues to expand its Chinese science fiction and fantasy program with this brand new collection. It will feature stories by award-winning authors Anna Wu, Xia Jia, Gu Shi, and Wang Nuonuo, among others, with a star-studded team of translators including R. F. Kuang, Carmen Yiling Yan, and Gigi C. Chang, and many more. The collection will also feature critical essays on the art of translation, the state of science fiction and fantasy in China and the United States.
Unlike Invisible Planets: Contemporary Chinese Science Fiction in Translation|28220730|Invisible Planets Contemporary Chinese Science Fiction in Translation |Ken Liu|, only one story per author was chosen instead of a sampling chosen by Ken Liu, on the basis of his enjoyment of them. They're also more varied, being from gaming and fashion magazines, online and literary journals. As mentioned, I think he's done a superb job both with his selection and translation. There are also three non-fiction analytical essays by SF scholars at the end of the book discussing various aspects of Chinese SF.
The stories themselves retain richly the flavour of China with the weight of its history, philosophy, technological advancements, societal attitude and culture. The authors are highly qualified in their fields with advanced degrees eg quantum physics, engineering, theoretical physics, literature.
Some of my favourites although the whole anthology had a consistently high quality:
Laba Porridge by Anna Wu - Derives inspiration from Adam Douglas' Restaurant at The End of the World including depressed robot Marvin. Uses it as a springboard. Unique contents of Laba porridge imparts a distinct Chinese flavour to this story (pun intended). Curious to know if the famous creative people that protagonist got the talent from - did the author have someone in mind? The price to pay for creativity.
The First Emperor's Games by Ma Boyong - lol, Qin Shi Huang wants to take a break from being emperor and play video games instead. So entertaining but also contains philosophical aspects about schools of thinking behind ruling and leadership.
The New Year Train by Hao Jingfang - This is an author I've wanted to read more of since reading her award winning novelette 'Folding Beijing' and short story 'Invisible Planets.' This story is about the annual migration of workers back to their hometown during Chinese New Year. A new method of transportation via train has been invented by manipulating local gravitational fields to create an alternate space-time continuum. Light-hearted and very suited for reading now since we're in the Spring Festival and approaching Lunar New Year.
The Robot Who Liked to Tell Tall Tales by Fei Dao - How does one thwart Death? Through paintings, poetry and alcohol. Also touches on telling tall tales, fibbing, bullshitting very reminiscent of someone who just left office. Described as Calvinoesque but I detected more of a Vonnegut/Terry Pratchett mix.
Broken Stars by Tang Fei - Disturbing and dark.
Snow of Jinyang by Zhang Ran - Chuanyue (time travel) story. It's complicated with some insider wink wink jokes to the modern reader. Loved the extensive footnotes providing historical and background context to this period of Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms. A city under seige is beset from the inside with competing power players. Well worth a second read as Ken Liu suggests to grasp the full implications.
Other noteworthy ones:
Goodbye Melancholy by Xie Jia - Thought-provoking. Can a computer be a friend?
Moonlight by Liu Cixin - About alternative energy, a little dated.
I'm excited by this Tor announcement:
https://www.tor.com/2020/10/27/book-announcements-the-way-spring-arrives-and-other-stories/
Lindsey Hall and Ruoxi Chen have acquired World English rights to The Way Spring Arrives and Other Stories, a new anthology of Chinese science fiction and fantasy, written, edited, and translated by women and nonbinary creators, from Regina Kanyu Wang, Zhang Yiwen, and Emily Xueni Jin at Storycom. The collection will be available in hardcover and ebook in Spring 2022.
As the home of the critically acclaimed Broken Stars and Invisible Planets, Tom Doherty Associates continues to expand its Chinese science fiction and fantasy program with this brand new collection. It will feature stories by award-winning authors Anna Wu, Xia Jia, Gu Shi, and Wang Nuonuo, among others, with a star-studded team of translators including R. F. Kuang, Carmen Yiling Yan, and Gigi C. Chang, and many more. The collection will also feature critical essays on the art of translation, the state of science fiction and fantasy in China and the United States.