Invisible Planets - books.exposed

No cover — Ken Liu, Chen Qiufan, Xia Jia, Ma Boyong, Tang Fei, Cheng Jingbo, Hao Jingfang, Cixin Liu: Invisible Planets (Hardcover, 2016, Tor Books)

Hardcover, 383 pages

English language

Published Nov. 1, 2016 by Tor Books.

ISBN:: 978-0-7653-8419-5
OCLC Number:: 961118723

Award-winning translator and author Ken Liu presents a collection of short speculative fiction from China. Some stories have won awards; some have been included in various 'Year's Best' anthologies; some have been well reviewed by critics and readers; and some are simply Ken's personal favorites. Many of the authors collected here (with the obvious exception of Liu Cixin) belong to the younger generation of 'rising stars'.

In addition, three essays at the end of the book explore Chinese science fiction. Liu Cixin's essay, The Worst of All Possible Universes and The Best of All Possible Earths, gives a historical overview of SF in China and situates his own rise to prominence as the premier Chinese author within that context. Chen Qiufan's The Torn Generation gives the view of a younger generation of authors trying to come to terms with the tumultuous transformations around them. Finally, Xia Jia, who holds …

Award-winning translator and author Ken Liu presents a collection of short speculative fiction from China. Some stories have won awards; some have been included in various 'Year's Best' anthologies; some have been well reviewed by critics and readers; and some are simply Ken's personal favorites. Many of the authors collected here (with the obvious exception of Liu Cixin) belong to the younger generation of 'rising stars'.

In addition, three essays at the end of the book explore Chinese science fiction. Liu Cixin's essay, The Worst of All Possible Universes and The Best of All Possible Earths, gives a historical overview of SF in China and situates his own rise to prominence as the premier Chinese author within that context. Chen Qiufan's The Torn Generation gives the view of a younger generation of authors trying to come to terms with the tumultuous transformations around them. Finally, Xia Jia, who holds the first Ph.D. issued for the study of Chinese SF, asks What Makes Chinese Science Fiction Chinese?.

1 edition

projectgus@bookwyrm.social reviewed Invisible Planets by Cixin Liu (Contemporary Chinese Science Fiction in Translation, #1)

Fantastic collection, expertly translated

4 stars

Like any anthology it's unlikely every story will speak to you. However, the overall standard is very high and there's an abundance of interesting ideas and perspectives.

Subjects

Science fiction, Chinese--Translations into English.
Short stories, Chinese--Translations into English.
Chinese fiction--20th century--Translations into English.