Critic Reviews
Great
Based on 6 reviews on
LOCUS AWARD FINALIST FOR BEST ANTHOLOGY
Sixteen short stories from China's groundbreaking science fiction writers, edited and translated by award-winning author Ken Liu.
In Hugo award-winner Liu Cixin's 'Moonlight, ' a man is contacted by three future versions of himself, each trying to save their world from destruction. Hao Jingfang's 'The New Year Train' sees 1,500 passengers go missing on a train that vanishes into space. In the title story by Tang Fei, a young girl is shown how the stars can reveal the future.
In addition, three essays explore the history and rise of Chinese science fiction publishing, contemporary Chinese fandom, and how the growing interest in Chinese SF has impacted writers who had long laboured in obscurity.
By turns dazzling, melancholy and thought-provoking, Broken Stars celebrates the vibrancy and diversity of SFF voices emerging from China.
Stories include:
"Goodnight, Melancholy" by Xia Jia
"The Snow of Jinyang" by Zhang Ran
"Broken Stars" by Tang Fei
"Submarines" by Han Song
"Salinger and the Koreans" by Han Song
"Under a Dangling Sky" by Cheng Jingbo
"What Has Passed Shall in Kinder Light Appear" by Baoshu
"The New Year Train" by Hao Jingfang
"The Robot Who Liked to Tell Tall Tales" by Fei Dao
"Moonlight" by Liu Cixin
"The Restaurant at the End of the Universe: Laba Porridge" by Anna Wu
"The First Emperor's Games" by Ma Boyong
"Reflection" by Gu Shi
"The Brain Box" by Regina Kanyu Wang
"Coming of the Light" by Chen Qiufan
"A History of Future Illnesses" by Chen Qiufan
Essays:
"A Brief Introduction to Chinese Science Fiction and Fandom," by Regina Kanyu Wang,
"A New Continent for China Scholars: Chinese Science Fiction Studies" by Mingwei Song
"Science Fiction: Embarrassing No More" by Fei Dao
For more Chinese SF in translation, check out Invisible Planets.
Emily St. John Mandel is a novelist and essayist.
@JayWatt1 An anthology of contemporary Chinese science fiction called Broken Stars, selected and edited by Ken Liu. I've been reading it on and off for months because I don't want the reading experience to end.
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We like the Ken Liu-edited anthologies Invisible Planets and Broken Stars for readers looking to explore the breadth of what modern Chinese science fiction has to offer. #AskALibrarian https://t.co/JQwyeLsZDX
SHOPPING OR THE END OF TIME (@uwiscpress), etc emilybludworthdebarrios@gmail.com
Bookmarking for myself & will add Invisible Planets: Contemporary Chinese Science Fiction in Translation (Ken Liu, ed.) & will recommend @levarburton's podcast LeVar Burton Reads, which has gripping selections https://t.co/zErf0ka591 https://t.co/DQnc9YMfae
Praise for Broken Stars
"This anthology is a must-read." --Booklist (starred review)
"Surprising, Exciting, and engrossing" --Tor.com
Praise for Invisible Planets
"Ken Liu's smooth translation makes this a must-read for any who truly wish to explore bold, new perspectives." --David Brin, bestselling author of Existence
"Vibrant collection... lush, inventive, and heartbreaking." --Mary Robinette Kowal
"Phenomenal." --Kirkus (starred review)